Hidden roots: 5 Spanish words with Catalan, Basque, and Portuguese origins
Catalan, Galician, Basque, and even Portuguese have influenced Spanish more than you think. Here are five great examples
In a previous post, we talked about Spanish words that come from other languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula. Today, we’re continuing that journey — but this time, we’re heading across the Atlantic to the Americas, where the majority of Spanish speakers live today.
Over the centuries, Spanish has absorbed many words from pre-Columbian languages, especially when it comes to food, music, and culture. Some of these words have even made their way into other languages like English, French, and Italian. Let’s explore a few of the most fascinating ones:
Even if you’re enjoying its sweet taste right now, the word chocolate actually means “bitter water.” It comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Mexica (Aztec) people. Originally, cacao was consumed as a bitter, frothy drink — very different from the delicious treat we know today.
You might associate barbecues with the United States, but the word barbacoa has its roots in the Caribbean. The term comes from indigenous languages spoken in the region and originally referred to a kind of “scaffold inside an oven.” It’s easy to imagine how this evolved into the grill we use today.
From food, let’s jump to sports. The word cancha, used in Spanish to refer to sports courts or fields (like a basketball court), comes from Quechua, the language of the Inca civilization. In Quechua, “kancha” simply means an enclosed space or courtyard.
Food? Check. Sports? Check. Let’s add music. The word maraca may sound Caribbean — and it’s certainly used widely in the region’s music — but its roots lie in the Guaraní language. In Guaraní, mbaraka means “gourd,” the material originally used to make the instrument. It all makes sense once you picture it.
We wrap things up with the word petate, a term that now refers to a woven mat or even a place to store things. Originally, in Nahuatl, petatl referred to a straw mat used for sleeping. How it went from bed to storage is a bit of a mystery, but the word has stayed with us through the centuries.
Although we’re based in Madrid, we love exploring the diverse roots of the Spanish language. Want to learn more about where Spanish comes from — and how it’s spoken around the world?
Come join one of our Spanish classes!
We’ll be waiting for you at Jaleo Madrid.
Catalan, Galician, Basque, and even Portuguese have influenced Spanish more than you think. Here are five great examples
Cuando tuvimos la loca idea de abrir nuestra propia escuela de español hubo varios puntos sobre los que discutimos. Si íbamos a usar un libro o no, cuántos estudiantes íbamos a tener en clase, e incluso conservamos una lista interminable de posibles nombres para nuestra escuela. Sin embargo, teníamos una cosa clara: teníamos que cambiar el método. Todos los miembros de Jaleo Madrid han pisado alguna vez una escuela de idiomas y se han sentado en el lugar del alumno. De hecho, entre los puntos que tenemos en común está haber sido estudiante de idiomas en otro país, haber vivido y trabajado en un lugar diferente a España, y estudiar una y otra vez cómo mejorar nuestras clases. Todos tenemos recuerdos similares de esas situaciones, a pesar de que hablamos
Estos días hemos vivido en España un temporal de frío. Tanto nuestros estudiantes, como nosotros, los profes, hemos disfrutado más que nunca de los cafés calentitos que nos tomamos en clase. Eso sí, todos nuestros alumnos nos han preguntado si se puede decir alguna expresión más allá de “hace mucho frío”. “Hace un frío negro”: A las ocho de la mañana o a las diez de la noche estamos ante una de las frases más repetidas en España durante estos días. Ese frío que cala los huesos tiene este reflejo en nuestro lenguaje. “Hace un frío que pela”: Esta expresión puede ser que sea la segunda más repetida después del “frío negro”. Si te has enfrentado a las temperaturas polares que hemos sufrido estos días en España, estamos seguros de