1998 ATA Annual Conference Proceedings_Topics in Spanish Lexical Dialectology: The Home

1

(From “Topics in Spanish lexical dialectology: the home.” Proceedings of the 39th Annual

Conference of the American Translators Association, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina,

U.S.A., November 4-8, 1998. Ann G. Macfarlane, comp. American Translators Association,

1998. 221-253.)

TOPICS IN SPANISH LEXICAL DIALECTOLOGY: THE HOME

Andre Moskowitz

Keywords: The Home, Spanish, Regionalisms, Terminology, Dialectology, Lexicography,

Sociolinguistics.

Abstract: This paper presents information on regional Spanish-language terminology that relates

to the home.

0 INTRODUCTION

The paper indicates the terms used to refer to certain objects, components, places and

phrases__

referred to collectively as “items”__

that have two characteristics in common: The items

all have some relation to the home, and the term a Spanish speaker uses to refer to them is

primarily a function of where the speaker is from.

The title of each section is the item’s common name(s) or designation(s) in United States

English:

1) apartment, 2) baby bottle, 3) (baby’s) pacifier, 4) bag, 5) bathtub, 6) blanket, 7) bleach,

8) bucket or pail, 9) closet, 10) clothespin, 11) comb, 12) fan, 13) faucet, 14) flowerpot,

15) garbage can, 16) “hello” (answering the telephone), 17) light bulb, 18) living room,

19) match, 20) mop, 21) refrigerator, 22) safety pin, 23) (bathroom) sink, 24) (kitchen)

sink, 25) speaker (of a stereo), 26) stove, 27) stove burner, 28) swimming pool, 29) tape

recorder, 30) toilet, 31) to flush the toilet, and 32) (toilet) plunger.

Each section is divided into three subsections:

1) Terms by Country

2) Details

3) Real Academia Regional Review

0.1 Terms by Country

These subsections consist of lexico-geographic tables in which the terms used in the Spanish-

speaking regions of peninsular Spain and the nineteen Spanish-speaking countries of the Western

Hemisphere are presented. Unfortunately, no information was obtained on usage in the Canary

Islands, Equatorial Guinea or other Spanish-speaking regions outside of Europe and Latin

America. Since the countries are arranged in a geographical order, they often highlight ‘lexico-

geographic blocs,’ or groups of countries that are in geographic proximity and also share the

same lexical usage for a given item.

The information was gathered by the author from two hundred native speakers of Spanish, ten

from each country, by one of the following methods: 1) through observation in the countries

themselves; 2) by showing informants the item, or a picture of the item, or by giving them a

description of the item and asking them to give the term most commonly used in their region for

it; and 3) by asking informants who are highly proficient in English to give the equivalents of

English language terms that are used in their native regions.

Following each Spanish-language term, a percentage is given indicating the proportion of the

informants who used a particular term or gave it as their response to a question. Thus, in the first

table, ‘apartment,’

MEXICO departamento (90%), apartamento (50%).

is to be interpreted as, “Of the ten Mexicans who were observed referring to an ‘apartment’ or

were asked to give the term they used for this item, nine gave or used the term departamento and

five the term apartamento.” In many cases, the people interviewed indicated that more than one

term was commonly used in their homeland and, therefore, the percentages for the terms

frequently total more than 100%.

In order to consolidate the information, the data for groups of countries is sometimes presented

in a single line with the use of categories such as Hispanic Central America (Panama, Costa

Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala), Hispanic Antilles (Cuba, the

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and Rest of Spanish America (all Spanish-speaking Latin

American countries that are not listed in the table with an individual country specification). In

addition, the term Southern Cone is used to refer to Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.

When informants used or offered several similar variants, words or letters appear in parentheses

or separated by slashes. Thus, where lavatrastes/tos appears, informants indicated that both

lavatrastes and lavatrastos are used.

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It should be noted that peninsular Spanish usages such as altavoz (‘speaker’), biberón (‘baby

bottle’), bombilla (‘light bulb’), grifo (‘faucet’), and manta (‘blanket’) are understood and used

in Spanish America, especially by educated speakers. Some Latin Americans perceive these as

the “prestige” terms and prefer them to the words that are most common in their region.

0.2 Details

In these subsections more detailed information is provided on the usage of particular regions, and

of specific age and socio-economic groups within regions.

0.3 Real Academia Regional Review

These subsections present an evaluation of the 1992 edition of the Diccionario de la Lengua

Española (the Spanish Royal Academy Dictionary), henceforth referred to as the Real Academia.

Its coverage of the regional usages described in this article is evaluated using the following grade

scale:

A Corresponding definition, correct regions. This grade is given when the Real Academia

defines the term as used in the section of this article and correctly indicates the countries

and/or regions in which the term is used in this sense.

B Corresponding definition, incorrect regions. This grade is given when the Real Academia

defines the term as used in the section and specifies a region or regions but does not

specify them correctly. Its definition either fails to include regions in which the usage

occurs or includes regions where the usage does not occur. However, the grade of B is

raised to an A if the Real Academia’s definition is appropriate, “Amér.” (América, that is,

Spanish-speaking Latin America) is specified in the definition, and the term is used in ten

or more (over 50%) of the Spanish-speaking Latin American countries.

C Corresponding definition, no regions specified. This grade is given when the Real

Academia defines the term as used in the section but does not specify any countries or

regions in which the term is used in this sense. In essence, it fails to identify the usage as

regional. However, the grade of C is raised to an A if the term is used in at least ten

Spanish-speaking countries (at least 50% of them).

D No corresponding definition. This grade is given when the Real Academia does not

include in its definition of the term a sense that corresponds to the section.

F Term not in dictionary. This grade is given when the Real Academia does not list the

term at all.

The purpose of this evaluation is to expose gaps and inconsistencies in specific Real Academia

household item definitions in the hope that they will be modified in future editions to accurately

describe usage in the Spanish-speaking world from an international perspective. How receptive

the Real Academia will be to the suggested changes depends on the extent to which this

institution continues to shift from having a prescriptivist philosophy, whereby it denies entry to

those terms and usages which for whatever reason it finds objectionable, to that of taking a

global-descriptivist approach, that is, simply describing usage as it really is throughout the

Spanish-speaking world. For example, this approach would entail labeling common usages that

are regional, colloquial, slang or vulgar as such rather than omitting them entirely. In recent

decades, the Real Academia has made considerable strides in this direction.

Because all other general Spanish-language dictionaries that have thus far achieved widespread

circulation are largely based on the Real Academia ’s dictionary, it is especially important that

this institution modernize its lexicographical practices. Indeed, it can be argued that because the

Real Academia is such a dominant player in Spanish lexicography, modernizing this field for all

intents and purposes means modernizing the lexicographical practices of the Real Academia.

1 APARTMENT

1.1 Terms by Country (3 terms)

SPAIN piso (100%), apartamento (70%).

MEXICO departamento (90%), apartamento (50%).

GUATEMALA apartamento (80%), departamento (30%).

REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA apartamento (100%).

HISPANIC ANTILLES apartamento (100%).

VENEZUELA apartamento (100%).

COLOMBIA apartamento (100%).

ECUADOR departamento (100%), apartamento (30%).

PERU departamento (100%), apartamento (30%).

BOLIVIA departamento (90%), apartamento (50%).

PARAGUAY departamento (100%), apartamento (60%).

URUGUAY apartamento (90%), departamento (50%).

ARGENTINA departamento (100%), apartamento (30%).

CHILE departamento (100%).

1.2 Details

Spain: Some consider a piso to be an apartment that is a primary residence and an apartamento

to be a secondary-residence apartment such as a vacation home. For others, a piso is a

larger apartment and an apartamento a smaller one, but different people have different

notions of where the cut-off point lies. Of these, some claim that apartamentos have two

bedrooms or less while others say that only one-bedroom apartments are apartamentos

and anything larger is a piso. Since vacation apartments are often smaller than primary

residence apartments, both criteria of what distinguishes pisos from apartamentos often

apply.

Mexico: Departamento is the preferred term among the middle and upper classes, some of whom

view apartamento as an anglicism that is to be avoided.


Apartamento (A), departamento (B), piso (C).

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Apartamiento is defined as “3. apartamento”. Are there currently Spanish speakers who

use apartamiento in this sense? If so, who and where are they?

Apartamento is defined as “2. Vivienda compuesta de uno o más aposentos, generalmente

con cocina y servicios higiénicos, situada en un edificio donde existen otras viviendas análogas”

and piso is defined as “4. Conjunto de habitaciones que constituyen vivienda independiente en

una casa de varios altos”. Both definitions describe essentially the same thing, an ‘apartment’. If

both terms refer to apartments but with different features (size, amenities, etc.), one of the words

should have a full definition and the other should be defined in terms of the first.

2 BABY BOTTLE

2.1 Terms by Country (7 standard terms plus 2 more colloquial ones)

SPAIN biberón (100%).

MEXICO mamila (100%).

GUATEMALA pacha (100%).

EL SALVADOR pacha (100%).

HONDURAS pepe (100%).

NICARAGUA pacha (100%).

COSTA RICA chupón (100%).

PANAMA mamadera (100%).

HISPANIC ANTILLES biberón (100%).

VENEZUELA tetero (100%).

COLOMBIA tetero (100%).

REST OF HISPANIC SOUTH AMERICA mamadera (100%).

2.2 Details

General: Teta also appears to be used colloquially in some countries.

Puerto Rico: Bibí is a colloquial form of biberón.


Biberón (A), bibí (F), chupón (B), mamadera (B), mamila (D), pacha (B), pepe (D), teta

(D), tetero (B).

3 (Baby’s) PACIFIER


SPAIN chupete (100%).

MEXICO chupón (100%).

GUATEMALA pepe (100%).

EL SALVADOR pepe (100%).

HONDURAS chupete (60%), chupón (60%), entretenedor (30%).

NICARAGUA chupeta (100%).

COSTA RICA chupeta (100%).

PANAMA consuelo (70%), mamón (60%).

CUBA tete (60%), tetera (40%), chupete (40%), chupeta (30%), teto (20%).

DOMIN. REP. bobo (100%).

PUERTO RICO bobo (100%).

VENEZUELA chupón (100%).

COLOMBIA chupo (100%).

ECUADOR chupón (100%).

PERU chupón (100%).

BOLIVIA chupón (100%).

PARAGUAY chupete (100%), chupador (30%).

URUGUAY chupete (100%).

ARGENTINA chupete (100%).

CHILE chupete (100%).


Bobo (D), consuelo (D), chupador (C), chupeta (D), chupete (C), chupo (D), chupón (D),

entretenedor (D), mamón (D), pepe (D), tete (F), tetera (D), teto (F).

Chupe is also defined as “And. chupador de los niños” and chupador, in turn, is defined

as “Pieza redondeada de marfil, pasta, caucho, etc., que se da a los niños en la época de la

primera dentición para que chupen y refresquen la boca.” This is slightly different from the

definition given for chupete: “Objeto con una parte de goma o materia similar en forma de pezón

que se da a los niños para que chupen.” Is the Real Academia stating that (in Spain)

chupe/chupador and chupete refer to two similar but different devices? If they are the same, one

of the terms should be defined with a complete description and the other two should be cross-

referenced.

4 BAG (disposable paper or plastic bag)


SPAIN bolsa (100%).

MEXICO bolsa (100%).

REST OF HISP. CENTRAL AMER. bolsa (100%).

PANAMA cartucho (80%), bolsa (80%).

CUBA cartucho (90%), bolsa (60%).

DOMIN. REP. funda (100%).

PUERTO RICO bolsa (90%), funda (50%).

COLOMBIA bolsa (90%), chuspa (50%), talega (50%), talego (20%).

ECUADOR funda (90%), bolsa (40%).

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PARAGUAY bolsa (100%), hule (90%).

CHILE bolsa (100%), cartucho (70%).

REST OF HISP. SOUTH AMER. bolsa (100%).

4.2 Details

General: The items in question are disposable, paper or plastic bags, rather than handbags, tote

bags, cloth bags, suitcases and other non-disposable type bags.

Spain: Is cartucho used in this sense in the Canary Islands?

Panama & Cuba: For some, cartucho refers to a paper bag and bolsa to a plastic bag. Others

claim size or other characteristics are what distinguish them and still others say the two

terms are synonymous.

Dominican Republic & Ecuador: Bolsa is a vulgar word for ‘testicle’ and for this reason is

avoided by many people.

Puerto Rico: Funda is used more by the older generations.

Colombia: Bolsa is the predominant term in most of the country; chuspa is especially

characteristic of Valle del Cauca, but is also used in other western departments such as

Caldas and Antioquia. Talego appears to be common in Bogota, but where else are talego

and talega used?

Bolivia: Chuspa refers to a type of handmade cloth bag used by some indigenous groups.

Paraguay: Hule is a plastic bag.

Chile: Cartucho is a paper bag.


Bolsa (A), cartucho (D), chuspa (B), funda (D), hule (D), talega (D), talego (D).

5 BATHTUB


SPAIN bañera (100%).

MEXICO tina (100%).

GUATEMALA tina (90%), bañera (30%).

EL SALVADOR tina (80%), bañera (70%).

HONDURAS bañera (100%), tina (40%).

NICARAGUA bañera (80%), tina (70%).

COSTA RICA tina (80%), bañera (60%).

PANAMA tina (100%).

CUBA bañadera (100%).

DOMIN. REP. bañera (100%).

PUERTO RICO bañera (100%).

VENEZUELA bañera (100%).

COLOMBIA tina (100%).

ECUADOR tina (100%).

PERU tina (100%).

BOLIVIA tina (100%).

PARAGUAY bañera (80%), tina (60%), bañadera (60%).

URUGUAY bañera (100%).

ARGENTINA bañadera (100%), bañera (40%).

CHILE tina (100%).

5.2 Details

General: Bathtubs are less common in tropical Spanish America than in Spain and the Southern

Cone.


Bañadera (B), bañera (A), tina (A).

Baño is defined as “4. Pila que sirve para bañar, o lavar todo el cuerpo o parte de él” and

tina as “4. Pila que sirve para bañarse todo o parte del cuerpo”; bañera is cross-referenced to

baño and bañadera is cross-referenced to bañera. Since tina and bañera are the most commonly

used terms for this item, one of the two should be defined with a full description and the

remaining terms should be cross-referenced to whichever one is listed with the complete

definition.

6 BLANKET


SPAIN manta (100%).

MEXICO cobija (100%).

GUATEMALA colcha (100%), frazada (70%), poncho (60%), chamarra (60%).

EL SALVADOR colcha (100%), cobija (70%), chiva (70%), frazada (50%).

HONDURAS colcha (100%), cobija (60%).

NICARAGUA colcha (100%), cobija (50%).

COSTA RICA cobija (100%).

PANAMA manta (100%), frazada (50%).

CUBA frazada (100%), colcha (70%).

DOMIN. REP. frisa (60%), frazada (40%), colcha (30%), cobija (30%).

PUERTO RICO frisa (90%), colcha (40%).

VENEZUELA cobija (100%).

COLOMBIA cobija (100%).

ECUADOR cobija (70%), colcha (70%).

PERU frazada (90%), colcha (40%).

BOLIVIA frazada (100%).

PARAGUAY frazada (100%), manta (60%).

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URUGUAY frazada (100%), cobija (60%), manta (60%).

ARGENTINA frazada (100%), cobija (50%), manta (50%).

CHILE frazada (100%).

6.2 Details

General: In countries where two or more terms are commonly used in the sense of ‘blanket’ there

are those who claim that some refer to warmer, thicker blankets and others to thinner

blankets. However, other people from the same countries make no such distinction and

state that the terms in question are synonyms or that they only use one of the terms for all

types of blankets. More research needs to be done to determine whether or not there is a

consensus in these countries regarding which refer to thicker blankets and which to

thinner ones or whether there are other distinguishing characteristics (material, size,

pattern, border, etc.). In those countries in which colcha is not used in the sense of

blanket, it is used to refer to a ‘bedspread’ or ‘comforter’ (cubrecama, sobrecama or

edredón). However, in regions with tropical climates, people generally do not need either

a ‘bedspread’ or a ‘blanket,’ rarely use both items together and often do not distinguish

between them. In fact, some Spanish speakers from tropical countries do not even

distinguish between ‘sheets’ and ‘blankets’ and use a single term to refer to anything that

serves as a bed covering.

Mexico: Sarape is a type of blanket often worn as clothing by campesinos.

Ecuador: Cobija is used more in the Highlands (la Sierra); colcha more in the Coast region (la

Costa).

Peru: Frazada is the most commonly used term in most of the country; colcha is used in the

sense of blanket primarily in northern regions.

Bolivia: Manta is a type of ‘shawl’ worn by indigenous women who are often referred to as

cholas.

Uruguay & Argentina: Frazada is used more in the capitals and by the younger generations;

cobija and manta more in the interior and by the elderly.


Cobija (B), colcha (D), chamarra (D), chiva (B), frazada (D), frisa (D), manta (C),

poncho (D).

7 BLEACH


SPAIN lejía (100%).

MEXICO cloro (70%), blanqueador (60%), clarasol (40%).

GUATEMALA cloro (70%), blanqueador (70%).

EL SALVADOR lejía (100%), cloro (30%), blanqueador (20%).

HONDURAS cloro(x) (100%), blanqueador (30%).

NICARAGUA cloro(x) (100%), blanqueador (40%).

COSTA RICA cloro(x) (100%), blanqueador (20%).

PANAMA cloro(x) (100%), blanqueador (50%).

CUBA cloro (90%), lejía (70%).

DOMIN. REP. cloro (100%).

PUERTO RICO cloro(x) (100%), blanqueador (50%).

VENEZUELA cloro (100%), lejía (60%).

COLOMBIA blanqueador (70%), cloro (50%), límpido (50%).

ECUADOR cloro (70%), cloretol (40%), blanqueador (30%).

PERU lejía (100%).

BOLIVIA lavandina (70%), blanqueador (60%).

PARAGUAY lavandina (100%), ayudín (60%), blanqueador (40%).

URUGUAY agua jane (100%), blanqueador (30%).

ARGENTINA lavandina (100%).

CHILE cloro (80%), agua de cuba (70%).

7.2 Details

Venezuela: Cloro refers to the more delicate, modern type of bleach; lejía to a stronger, more

caustic one.

Chile: Cloro is used more by the younger generations; agua de cuba more by the elderly.

Brand names: Ayudín, Agua Jane, Clarasol, Cloretol and Lavandina are (or were) brand names

that are often used generically in their respective countries.


Agua de cuba (F), agua jane (F), ayudín (F), blanqueador (D), clarasol (F), cloretol (F),

cloro (D), clorox (F), lavandina (B), lejía (D), límpido (D).

8 BUCKET or PAIL


SPAIN cubo (100%), balde (30%).

MEXICO cubeta (80%), balde (50%).

GUATEMALA cubeta (100%).

EL SALVADOR balde (100%), cumbo (50%).

HONDURAS balde (90%), cubeta (90%).

NICARAGUA balde (100%).

COSTA RICA balde (100%).

PANAMA balde (60%), cubo (60%).

CUBA cubo (80%), balde (40%).

DOMIN. REP. cubo (80%), cubeta (80%).

PUERTO RICO balde (80%), cubo (60%).

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VENEZUELA tobo (80%), balde (70%).

REST OF HISP. SOUTH AMER. balde (100%).

8.2 Details

General: In countries where two terms for ‘bucket’ compete, some consider the terms to be

synonymous while others claim that they refer to vessels of different sizes or materials.

Spain: Cubo refers to a standard bucket or pail with one semicircular handle across the top of the

vessel; balde to a wider, lower pail with two handles. Many people are unfamiliar with

baldes which are much less common than cubos.

El Salvador: Cumbo also refers to metal containers other than ‘buckets’.

Cuba: Cubo is the predominant term in most of the country; balde is used more in the Oriente.

(Me/le/nos/etc.) cayó como un balde de agua fría: This expression is used in a number of

Spanish-speaking countries with the meaning of, “all of a sudden something unexpected

and unpleasant happened (to me/her/him/us/etc.).” In which countries is this expression

commonly used? In all those in which balde is used in the sense of ‘bucket’? Are the

alternate terms for bucket substituted for balde in this expression in any of the non-balde

countries? In other words, are there native speakers of Spanish who spontaneously use

expressions such as “Me cayó como un cubo de agua fría,” “Me cayó como una cubeta de

agua fría” and, if so, where? Or are similes with caer como and other vessels and

substances used to form expressions with this same meaning?


Balde (A), cubeta (B), cubo (C), cumbo (D), tobo (F).

9 CLOSET (built-in)

9.1 Terms by Country (4 basic terms)

SPAIN armario (70%), ropero (60%).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA clóset (100%).

PARAGUAY placard (100%).

URUGUAY placard (100%).

ARGENTINA placard (100%).

9.2 Details

General: The item referred to in this section is the ‘built-in closet’ rather than a movable closet or

‘armoire’. Built-in closets are less common in Spain than in Spanish America, and less

widespread in Spanish America than in the United States. However, in new construction

they have become increasingly common throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Spain: Modifiers are often added to the terms ropero and armario or other compound terms are

used to distinguish ‘built-in closets’ from ‘armoires’ unless the context makes this

unnecessary. Thus the terms armario de pared, armario empotrado, armario ropero,

cuarto ropero, ropero de pared, etc.

Spanish America except Paraguay, Uruguay & Argentina: Clóset refers to a ‘built-in closet’ and

ropero, and less often armario, refer to ‘armoires’.

Paraguay, Uruguay & Argentina: Placard refers to a ‘built-in closet’ and ropero, and less often

armario, refer to ‘armoires’.


Armario (empotrado) (C), clóset (A), placard (F), ropero (C).

Armario is defined as “mueble con puertas y anaqueles o perchas para guardar ropa y

otros objetos” and armario empotrado, in turn, is defined (in a subentry of armario) as “El

[armario] construido en el espesor de un muro o hueco de una pared”. If the Real Academia

believes that armario empotrado includes closets that are rooms, then its definition of this

compound term should include a word indicating that it is a room, as it has done with the

definition of ropero, “5. Armario o cuarto donde se guarda ropa”. Also, armario empotrado and

ropero (empotrado) should be cross-referenced so the reader knows the terms can refer to one

and the same thing.

10 CLOTHESPIN

10.1 Terms by Country (13 basic terms plus variants)

SPAIN pinza (100%).

MEXICO pinza (80%), gancho (50%).

GUATEMALA gancho (100%).

EL SALVADOR chuch(it)o (80%), gancho (60%).

HONDURAS gancho (100%).

NICARAGUA gancho (70%), prensarropa (60%), prensador (de ropa) (50%).

COSTA RICA prensa (de ropa) (90%), gancho (20%).

PANAMA horquilla (100%).

CUBA palito (60%), palillo (50%), horquilla (20%).

DOMIN. REP. palito (70%), gancho (50%).

PUERTO RICO pinche (70%), palillo (40%), pincho (20%).

VENEZUELA gancho (80%), pinza (60%).

COLOMBIA gancho (90%), pinza (40%).

ECUADOR pinza (100%).

PERU gancho (100%).

BOLIVIA gancho (80%), pinza (30%).

PARAGUAY pinza (100%), pinche (50%).

URUGUAY palillo (100%).

ARGENTINA broche (100%).

CHILE perr(it)o (100%).

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10.2 Details

General: Many of the terms listed above are the short forms to which modifiers are added for

purposes of clarification. Thus gancho can be expanded to gancho de ropa, gancho de

tender (ropa), gancho para colgar (ropa), gancho para guindar, gancho de tendedera,

gancho de tendedero, etc. Similar expansions occur with chucho, palito, palillo, pinza

and others.

El Salvador: Chucho means ‘dog’ and has been applied to this item because of the way it grips or

“bites” the clothing (note the similarity with the Chilean usage).


Broche (D), broche de ropa (F), chucho (D), chucho de ropa (F), gancho (D), gancho de

ropa (F), horquilla (D), palillo (D), palillo de ropa (F), palito (F), palito de ropa (F), palito de

tendedera (F), perro (D), perro de ropa (F), pinche (D), pinche de ropa (F), pincho (D), pincho

de ropa (F), pinza (D), pinza de ropa (F), prensa (D), prensa de ropa (F), prensador (D),

prensador de ropa (F), prensarropa (F).

11 COMB


SPAIN peine (100%).

MEXICO peine (100%).

REST OF HISP. CENTRAL AMER. peine (100%).

PANAMA peinilla (100%).

CUBA peine (100%).

DOMIN. REP. peine (100%).

PUERTO RICO peinilla (100%).

VENEZUELA peine (100%).

COLOMBIA peinilla (80%), peineta (40%).

ECUADOR peinilla (100%).

PERU peine (100%), peinilla (30%).

CHILE peineta (100%).

REST OF HISP. SOUTH AMER. peine (100%).

11.2 Details

General: The item in question is a standard comb, that is, not ‘side combs’ (used to hold up

women’s hair), or extra fine tooth combs (such as for removing lice), or ‘picks’.

Colombia: Peinilla is used in most of the country; peineta primarily in the southwestern

departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño.

Peru: Peine is used in most of the country; peinilla was given by people from northern areas

(Paita, Piura, Tumbes).


Peine (A), peineta (D), peinilla (D).

12 (Electric) FAN


SPAIN ventilador (100%).

MEXICO ventilador (80%), abanico (70%).

GUATEMALA ventilador (100%).

EL SALVADOR ventilador (100%).

HONDURAS abanico (80%), ventilador (70%).

NICARAGUA abanico (100%).

COSTA RICA abanico (100%), ventilador (40%).

PANAMA abanico (100%).

CUBA ventilador (100%).

DOMIN. REP. abanico (100%).

PUERTO RICO abanico (100%).

VENEZUELA ventilador (100%), abanico (30%).

COLOMBIA ventilador (100%), abanico (30%).

REST OF HISP. SOUTH AMER. ventilador (100%).

12.2 Details

General: The item in question is the electric fan, not the hand-held manual fan that one often sees

Spanish women use at bull fights which is called abanico everywhere.

Mexico: For some, ventilador refers to a larger, often fixed fan, whereas abanico refers to a

smaller, portable fan, typically the round ones that rotate in a semicircle. Does this use of

abanico occur only in certain regions? There is a scene in the 1991 film Danzón, directed

by María Novaro, in which the main character, who is from Mexico City, is checking into

a hotel in Veracruz and the front-desk clerk asks her if she would like a room with or

without an abanico (the room is more expensive if it has one). The main character does

not understand and so the clerk uses the word ventilador and then she does. One might

deduce from this scene that the use of abanico is typical of Veracruz speech and that

people from Mexico City use only ventilador. However, in this study Mexicans from

regions other than the Caribbean coast, and including Mexico City, used or gave abanico

as a response, often distinguishing it from ventilador as indicated above.

Venezuela: Ventilador is used in most of the country; abanico was given by people from the

state of Zulia.

Colombia: Ventilador is used in most of the country; abanico was given by people from the

Atlantic Coast region (la Costa).

15


Abanico (D), ventilador (A).

13 FAUCET


SPAIN grifo (100%).

MEXICO llave (100%).

GUATEMALA chorro (80%), llave (80%).

EL SALVADOR chorro (90%), llave (50%).

HONDURAS llave (100%).

NICARAGUA paja (90%), llave (60%), chorro (20%).

COSTA RICA tubo (70%), llave (40%).

PANAMA pluma (100%), llave (40%).

CUBA pila (80%), llave (70%), pluma (50%).

DOMIN. REP. llave (80%), pluma (60%).

PUERTO RICO pluma (100%), llave (50%).

VENEZUELA llave (80%), chorro (50%), grifo (50%).

COLOMBIA llave (90%), pluma (40%), grifo (20%).

ECUADOR llave (100%).

PERU caño (100%), llave (50%).

BOLIVIA pila (90%), grifo (70%), llave (30%).

PARAGUAY canilla (100%).

URUGUAY canilla (100%).

ARGENTINA canilla (100%).

CHILE llave (100%).

13.2 Details

General: The above terms are used, in the respective countries, in the object spot in phrases of

the form “abrir or cerrar + article + object,” i.e. abrir/cerrar la llave, abrir/cerrar el

chorro, abrir/cerrar la pluma, etc., and in many other phrases. Whether the words refer

to the ‘faucet,’ the ‘pipe’ or the ‘stream of water coming out of the pipe that is regulated

by the faucet’ is debatable, but it does appear that many speakers do not make the

distinction in their everyday use of the terms.

Cuba: Pila and llave are used in most of the country; pluma mainly in the Oriente.

Colombia: Llave is used in most of the country; pluma primarily in the Atlantic Coast region.


Canilla (B), caño (D), chorro (D), grifo (C), llave (A), paja (B), pila (D), pluma (D),

tubo (D).

14 FLOWERPOT

14.1 Terms by Country (9 generic terms plus 2 more specific terms)

SPAIN maceta (90%), tiesto (70%).

MEXICO maceta (100%).

GUATEMALA maceta (100%), macetero (40%).

EL SALVADOR maceta (100%), macetera (20%).

HONDURAS macetera (90%), maceta (40%), macetero (40%).

NICARAGUA macetera (100%).

COSTA RICA maceta (100%), macetero (40%).

PANAMA pote (100%).

CUBA maceta (100%), macetero (20%).

DOMIN. REP. tarro (100%), maceta (20%).

PUERTO RICO tiesto (100%), maceta (20%).

VENEZUELA matero (90%), pote (30%), macetero (20%).

COLOMBIA matera (90%), maceta (40%), macetera (20%).

ECUADOR macetero (100%), maceta (60%).

PERU maceta (100%), macetero (40%).

BOLIVIA maceta (100%), macetero (60%).

PARAGUAY plantera (100%), maceta (30%).

URUGUAY maceta (100%).

ARGENTINA maceta (100%), macetero (20%).

CHILE macetero (100%).

14.2 Details

General: In many countries where maceta is used, the term macetero can refer to a frame or base

that holds flower pots, or to a larger flower pot. Also, some speakers use one term for

empty flower pots and another for ones that contain plants and soil.

Spain: According to some, tiesto and maceta are synonyms. Others claim that tiestos are smaller

than macetas and still others indicate that tiestos are empty flower pots whereas macetas

are ones with plants. There is also evidence to suggest that the elderly use tiesto more

than the younger generations in the general sense of flower pot and that younger people

tend to use maceta exclusively.

Cuba: Tinajón refers to a large, often non-portable flower pot.

Venezuela: Porrón refers to a large clay pot that can be used as a flower pot.

17


Maceta (A), macetera (F), macetero (D), matera (F), matero (D), plantera (F), pote (D),

tarro (D), tiesto (C).

Tina is defined as “Chile. Maceta para plantas de adorno”. Are there Chileans who use

this term in this sense? None were encountered during the course of this study.

15 GARBAGE CAN


SPAIN cubo de basura (100%), basurero (30%).

MEXICO bote de basura (80%), basurero (50%), cesto de basura (30%).

GUATEMALA bote de basura (80%), basurero (70%).

EL SALVADOR basurero (80%), bote de basura (70%), cumbo de basura (40%).

HONDURAS basurero (100%), bote de basura (30%).

NICARAGUA basurero (100%), bote de basura (20%).

COSTA RICA basurero (100%).

PANAMA basurero (100%), tinaco (80%), bote de basura (30%).

CUBA latón de basura (80%), basurero (40%), lata de basura (30%).

DOMIN. REP. zafacón (100%), lata de basura (40%).

PUERTO RICO zafacón (100%).

VENEZUELA pipote de basura (100%), basurero (50%), tambor de basura (20%).

COLOMBIA caneca (100%), basurero (40%), tarro de basura (30%).

ECUADOR basurero (60%), tarro de basura (60%), tacho de basura (50%).

PERU tacho de basura (70%), basurero (60%), lata de basura (30%).

BOLIVIA basurero (100%), lata de basura (20%).

PARAGUAY basurero (80%), tacho de basura (80%), tambor(a) de basura (40%).

URUGUAY tacho de basura (80%), lata de basura (20%).

ARGENTINA tacho de basura (100%), basurero (40%).

CHILE basurero (90%), tarro de basura (80%).

15.2 Details

General: Terms that are of the form “container + de basura” generally have variants such as

“container + para basura,” “container + de la basura,” etc. and are often shortened to

just “container” whenever context makes the qualifier unnecessary. Thus tacho de basura

is also called tacho para basura, tacho de la basura or simply tacho. Many countries

have several commonly used terms and there are speakers who distinguish between

different types of garbage cans, particularly larger, outdoor garbage cans as opposed to

smaller, indoor ones. However, others in the same countries use the terms

interchangeably.

Basurero: This term also means, among other things, a ‘dump’ or ‘area where garbage is placed’

and there are those in the countries where basurero is listed above that claim that it

should not be used in the sense of ‘garbage can’. They prefer the other terms of the form

“container + de basura”.

Papelera: This term is used in many countries to refer to a ‘wastepaper basket’. Is this usage

equally common everywhere?


Basurero (D), bote de basura (F), caneca (A), cesto de basura (F), cubo de basura (F),

cumbo de basura (F), lata de basura (F), latón de basura (F), pipote (D), pipote de basura (F),

tacho (B), tacho de basura (F), tambor de basura (F), tambora de basura (F), tarro de basura

(F), tinaco (D), zafacón (A).

Cesto de los papeles is defined (in a subentry of cesto) as “papelera, recipiente” but no

definition is provided for either cesto de basura or cesto de la basura. And caneca is defined as

“cubo o lata de la basura” but neither cubo de la basura nor lata de la basura is defined.

Although one can argue that compounds such as these are self-explanatory and do not need to be

defined, the fact is that if one examines the definitions of cesto, cubo and lata, one is hard-

pressed to conclude that cestos, cubos and latas de la basura are simply cestos, cubos or latas

that are used for garbage. Also, how much more self-explanatory are cesto de la basura and the

other compound terms that are not defined than cesto de los papeles for which the Real

Academia does provide a definition?

16 “HELLO” (answering the telephone)


SPAIN diga or dígame (100%).

MEXICO bueno (100%).

HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA aló (100%).

CUBA oigo (100%).

DOMIN. REP. aló (100%).

PUERTO RICO hello (70%), aló (50%).

REST OF HISP. SOUTH AMER. aló (100%).

BOLIVIA aló (60%), hola (40%).

PARAGUAY hola (100%).

URUGUAY hola (100%).

ARGENTINA hola (100%).

16.2 Details

General: The above chart represents the regionally weighted forms of answering the telephone.

However, many people use non-regionally weighted phrases such as sí and other more

formal, more colloquial or more idiosyncratic ones such as Casa de la familia De la

Vega, dímelo, dispara, qué hay, etc.

Puerto Rico: Hello is pronounced as if it were written jeló.

19


Aló (F), bueno (D), diga (C), dígame (C), hello (F), hola (D), oigo (D).

17 LIGHT BULB


SPAIN bombilla (100%).

MEXICO foco (100%).

GUATEMALA bombilla (80%), foco (60%).

EL SALVADOR foco (100%).

HONDURAS foco (100%), bombillo (30%).

NICARAGUA bujía (100%).

COSTA RICA bombillo (80%), bombilla (30%).

PANAMA foco (100%).

CUBA bombillo (90%), foco (40%).

DOMIN. REP. bombillo (100%).

PUERTO RICO bombilla (100%).

VENEZUELA bombillo (100%).

COLOMBIA bombillo (90%), foco (30%).

ECUADOR foco (100%).

PERU foco (100%).

BOLIVIA foco (100%).

PARAGUAY foco (100%).

URUGUAY lamparita (80%), bombita (70%).

ARGENTINA lamparita (70%), bombita (60%), foco (40%).

CHILE ampolleta (100%).

17.2 Details

General: In many countries in which foco is not commonly used to refer to a standard everyday

light bulb of the 60 or 100 watt variety, this term is used to refer to ‘spot lights,’ ‘car

lights,’ ‘street lamps and/or their light bulbs’ and other ‘large light bulbs’.


Ampolleta (A), bombilla (C), bombillo (B), bombita (F), bujía (D), foco (B), lamparita

(F).

18 LIVING ROOM


SPAIN sala de estar (70%), cuarto de estar (60%), salita (40%).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA sala (100%).

PERU sala (80%), living (50%).

BOLIVIA living (80%), sala (70%).

PARAGUAY living (90%), sala (90%).

URUGUAY living (100%).

ARGENTINA living (100%).

CHILE living (100%).

18.2 Details

General: Since houses vary considerably even within a single community and certainly from one

culture to the next, so too do their ‘living rooms’. Indeed, some would argue that in many

cultures ‘living rooms’ per se do not exist. The terms listed above can be thought of as

‘living rooms’ or ‘family rooms’ (or as rough equivalents to each other) only in the rather

broad sense that they are all rooms that are not bedrooms, kitchens or bathrooms and that

often contain a couch or sofa. Salón is also used to refer to a large living or entertainment

room, especially in Spain.


Cuarto de estar (C), living (F), sala (D), sala de estar (F), salita (F).

Cuarto de estar is defined as “Pieza de la casa en que habitualmente se reúnen las

personas de la familia y donde estas reciben a las de su confianza” whereas sala is defined as

“Pieza principal de la casa, donde se reciben las visitas de cumplimiento”. This last definition

may be valid for Spain but does not accurately describe the typical sala in Spanish America.

19 MATCH


SPAIN cerilla (100%), fósforo (40%), mixto (20%).

MEXICO cerillo (100%).

EL SALVADOR fósforo (100%), cerillo (40%).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA fósforo (100%).

21

19.2 Details

Spain: Cerilla is the predominant term. To what extent are fósforo and mixto currently used?

According to some, fósforo was used in spoken language until the 1940s or 1950s and

still appears printed on some boxes of matches. Mixto was given by native speakers of

Spanish from Cataluña and Galicia.

El Salvador: To what extent do fósforo and cerillo compete? Which people, if any, say cerillo

rather than fósforo? What are their characteristics?


Cerilla (C), cerillo (A?), fósforo (A), mixto (C).

Cerillo is defined as “2. And. y Méj. Cerilla, fósforo.” Do most people in Andalucía use

cerillo rather than cerilla? If not, what are the characteristics of the Andalusians who use cerillo?

20 MOP


SPAIN fregona (100%), mocho (20%).

MEXICO trapeador (100%), mechudo (50%), mapeador (40%).

GUATEMALA trapeador (100%).

EL SALVADOR trapeador (100%).

HONDURAS trapeador (100%).

NICARAGUA lampazo (100%).

COSTA RICA palo (de) piso (100%).

PANAMA trapeador (100%).

CUBA trapeador (70%), palo (de trapear) (60%).

DOMIN. REP. suape (100%).

PUERTO RICO mapo (100%).

VENEZUELA coleto (100%), mopa (60%), lampazo (30%), coleta (30%).

COLOMBIA trapeador (70%), trapero (60%), trapeadora (30%), mecha (20%).

ECUADOR trapeador (100%).

PERU trapeador (100%).

BOLIVIA trapeador (100%).

PARAGUAY repasador (80%), palo de piso (60%).

URUGUAY trapo de piso (100%), lampazo (40%).

ARGENTINA trapo de piso (70%), lampazo (40%).

CHILE trapero (70%), trapeador (30%).

20.2 Details

General: This section includes different types of mops that generally fall into one of two

categories, mops with strings (‘string mops’) and mops consisting of a pole with a board

attached horizontally to one end around which a cloth or rag is wrapped (‘trapo mops’).

‘Sponge mops’ are much less common.

Spain: Mocho was given by informants from Valencia and Cataluña.

Mexico: Trapeador is commonly used in most of the country; mapeador is typical of the

northern border zone and mechudo appears to be used in the central part of the country.

Costa Rica: Palo de piso is often shortened to palo-piso.

Cuba: Trapeador is used to refer to both string mops and trapo mops and palo de trapear or palo

de bayeta is specifically a trapo mop. (The cloth wrapped around the palo is often called

a bayeta.)

Venezuela: Some claim that a mopa refers specifically to a string mop whereas the other terms

refer to trapo mops; others do not make this distinction. Lampazo was given by people

from the state of Zulia.

Colombia: Trapero is used more in the eastern part of the country and trapeador more in the

western part (with the Cordillera Central generally dividing east from west), but both

terms were given by Bogotanos. Trapeadora was given by people from Caldas and

Antioquia and mecha by people from the Atlantic Coast region.

Paraguay: Repasador is the palo de piso together with the trapo.

Argentina & Uruguay: Trapo de piso refers to the cloth of the trapo mop. It appears that people

refer more to the ‘cloth’ than to the ‘mop’.


Coleta (D), coleto (D), fregona (C), lampazo (D), mapeador (F), mapo (F), mecha (D),

mechudo (D), mocho (D), mopa (F), palo de piso (F), palo de trapear (F), palo piso (F),

repasador (D), suape (F), trapeador (F), trapeadora (F), trapero (D).

21 REFRIGERATOR


SPAIN nevera (100%), frigorífico (80%).

MEXICO refrigerador (100%).

REST OF HISP. CENTRAL AMER. refrigerador(a) (100%).

PANAMA refrigeradora (90%), nevera (60%).

CUBA refrigerador (90%), frigidaire (50%).

DOMIN. REP. nevera (100%).

PUERTO RICO nevera (100%).

VENEZUELA nevera (100%).

COLOMBIA nevera (100%).

ECUADOR refrigeradora (100%).

PERU refrigerador(a) (100%), frigider (70%).

23

BOLIVIA refrigerador (80%), frigider (50%), heladera (50%).

PARAGUAY heladera (100%).

URUGUAY heladera (100%).

ARGENTINA heladera (100%).

CHILE refrigerador (90%), frigider (70%).

21.2 Details

General: In countries where refrigerador is not the predominant term for a standard, home-use

refrigerator, this term is often used to refer to commercial or industrial type refrigerators.

Refrigerador and refrigeradora are often shortened to refri in informal language.

Spain: Nevera tends to refer to standard, home-use refrigerators. Frigorífico is often used to refer

to commercial or industrial refrigerators, but there are those who use both terms

interchangeably and those that use just one term for both types. Frigo is a shortened,

colloquial form of frigorífico.

Peru & Hispanic Central America except Panama: Both refrigeradora and refrigerador compete,

but the feminine form was found to be more common in all of these countries.

Panama: Refrigeradora is the predominant term; nevera appears to be used primarily by older

people.

Cuba: Refrigerador is the predominant term; frigidaire appears to be used primarily by the

elderly. Frío is also used as a slang/colloquial word.

Frigidaire/frigider: These terms derive from the brand Frigidaire. In Cuba it is pronounced with 4

syllables as if it were written frigidaire, whereas in Peru, Bolivia and Chile it is

pronounced with 3 syllables as if it were written either frigider or friyider (with different

allophones of the /y/ phoneme being used depending on region).


Frigidaire (F), frigider (F), frigo (F), frigorífico (C), frío (C), heladera (C), nevera (C),

refrigerador (A), refrigeradora (A).

22 SAFETY PIN


SPAIN imperdible (100%).

MEXICO seguro (100%).

GUATEMALA gancho (100%).

EL SALVADOR gancho (100%).

HONDURAS gancho (100%).

NICARAGUA gacilla (100%).

COSTA RICA gacilla (100%).

PANAMA imperdible (60%), alfiler (60%).

CUBA imperdible (60%), alfiler de criandera (60%).

DOMIN. REP. chambra (70%), alfiler (50%).

PUERTO RICO imperdible (100%).

VENEZUELA imperdible (80%), gancho (50%).

COLOMBIA gancho (70%), nodriza (40%).

ECUADOR imperdible (100%).

PERU imperdible (100%).

BOLIVIA gancho (100%), imperdible (20%).

PARAGUAY prendedor (100%), alfiler de gancho (20%).

URUGUAY alfiler de gancho (100%).

ARGENTINA alfiler de gancho (100%).

CHILE alfiler de gancho (100%).

22.2 Details

General: Since the terms gancho and alfiler can have many other meanings, modifiers such as de

seguridad, de pañal, etc. are added to specify a ‘safety pin’.

Nicaragua & Costa Rica: Gacilla seems to derive from gaza. Many people, however, believe the

word to be spelled gasilla.

Colombia: Gancho is used in most of the country; nodriza was given by people in the Atlantic

Coast region.


Alfiler (D), alfiler de criandera (F), alfiler de gancho (B), chambra (D), gacilla (B),

gancho (D) imperdible (C), nodriza (D), prendedor (D), seguro (D).

23 (Bathroom) SINK


SPAIN lavabo (100%).

MEXICO lavabo (90%), lavamanos (30%).

REST OF HISP. CENTRAL AMER. lavamanos (100%).

COSTA RICA lavatorio (70%), lavamanos (30%).

CUBA lavabo (70%), lavamanos (70%).

DOMIN. REP. lavamanos (100%).

PUERTO RICO lavamanos (100%).

VENEZUELA lavamanos (100%).

COLOMBIA lavamanos (100%).

ECUADOR lavabo (70%), lavamanos (50%).

PERU lavatorio (100%).

BOLIVIA lavamanos (100%).

PARAGUAY lavatorio (100%).

URUGUAY pileta (80%), lavatorio (60%).

25

ARGENTINA pileta (70%), lavatorio (70%), lavabo (40%).

CHILE lavatorio (80%), lavamanos (40%).

23.2 Details

General: Although the section has been named ‘bathroom sink,’ the item in question is any small

sink that is generally used to wash one’s hands and face (rather than dishes, clothes, etc.),

regardless of whether or not it is located in a bathroom.

Uruguay & Argentina: According to some, lavatorio is more formal usage and pileta is more

everyday usage.


Lavabo (C), lavamanos (A), lavatorio (C), pileta (D).

Lavabo is defined as “Pila con grifos y otros accesorios que se utiliza para lavarse”

whereas lavamanos is defined as “Depósito de agua con caño, llave y pila para lavarse las

manos”. Does the Real Academia not consider lavabo and lavamanos to be synonyms? Could it

be that its editors are under the impression that a lavamanos is a sink that is only used to wash

one’s hands and not one’s face, etc.? This seems unlikely, but if the Real Academia concedes

that the two terms are synonyms, then one of them should be defined with a full description and

the other should be cross-referenced; this is exactly what they have done with lavatorio, defined

as “5. lavamanos”.

24 (Kitchen) SINK


SPAIN fregadero (100%), pila (20%).

MEXICO fregadero (100%), fregador (30%).

GUATEMALA lavatrastes/tos (70%), lavadero (50%), pila (30%).

EL SALVADOR lavadero (70%), lavatrastes/tos (50%), lavaplatos (40%).

HONDURAS lavatrastes/tos (90%), fregadero (40%), lavaplatos (40%).

NICARAGUA lavatrastes/tos (90%), lavaplatos (50%), pántry (40%).

COSTA RICA pila (80%), fregadero (50%).

PANAMA fregador (90%), fregadero (70%).

HISPANIC ANTILLES fregadero (100%).

VENEZUELA fregadero (80%), lavaplatos (60%).

COLOMBIA lavaplatos (100%).

ECUADOR lavadero (70%), fregadero (60%), lavaplatos (50%).

PERU lavadero (100%).

BOLIVIA lavaplatos (100%).

PARAGUAY pileta (100%).

URUGUAY pileta (100%).

ARGENTINA pileta (100%).

CHILE lavaplatos (100%).

24.2 Details

General: Sinks used for washing dishes and those used for clothes are sometimes different in

form and given separate names. However, many use the same name for both and many

have only one sink that serves both purposes. Terms such as lavadero and pila that can

refer to either type are expanded to lavadero de platos, pila de platos (or de trastes), etc.,

if specification is necessary.

Costa Rica: For some, pila refers to an enamel coated or cement sink while fregadero refers to a

more industrial type, metal sink. Others indicated that fregadero is just a fancy word for

pila.

Nicaragua: Pántry, pantry or pantri? The word is pronounced as if it were written pantri but how

should it be written?

Paraguay, Uruguay & Argentina: Pileta de cocina is used to distinguish this sink from the pileta

de baño and the pileta de natación (see sections 23 and 28, respectively).

Kitchen sink vs. dishwasher. The term lavaplatos is used by many Spanish speakers to refer to a

‘dishwasher’. Yet, in some countries it also refers to a ‘kitchen sink’ (see 24.1 above).

What, if any, regional variation is there in the words used for ‘dishwasher’? Lavaplatos,

lavador de platos, máquina de lavar platos, other terms? This may become a

dialectological issue in the future when dishwashers become widespread in the Spanish-

speaking world.


Fregadero (C), fregador (C), lavadero (D), lavaplatos (B), lavatrastes (F), lavatrastos

(F), pántry (F), pila (D), pileta (A?).

Pileta is defined as “4. And., Can., Argent., Par. y Urug. Pila de cocina o de lavar.” Is

this term used in this sense in Andalucía and the Canary Islands?

25 SPEAKER (of a stereo)


SPAIN altavoz (100%), bafle (30%).

MEXICO bocina (100%).

GUATEMALA bocina (100%).

EL SALVADOR (alto)parlante (80%), bocina (60%), bafle (50%).

HONDURAS (alto)parlante (80%), bocina (50%).

NICARAGUA (alto)parlante (100%).

COSTA RICA (alto)parlante (100%), bafle (60%).

PANAMA bocina (100%).

HISPANIC ANTILLES bocina (100%).

VENEZUELA corneta (90%), (alto)parlante (30%), bocina (20%).

27

COLOMBIA (alto)parlante (80%), bafle (60%).

ECUADOR (alto)parlante (100%).

PERU (alto)parlante (100%).

BOLIVIA (alto)parlante (90%), bafle (40%).

PARAGUAY (alto)parlante (100%), bafle (60%).

URUGUAY (alto)parlante (100%), bafle (40%).

ARGENTINA (alto)parlante (90%), bafle (50%).

CHILE (alto)parlante (100%).

25.2 Details

General: In the countries where parlante and altoparlante are used in the sense of ‘speaker,’

some claim that they refer to two different types: altoparlante for large speakers, such as

those at airports, theaters and stadiums, etc., and parlante for standard stereo speakers.

However, in these same countries there are also those who say that an altoparlante is not

a ‘speaker,’ but a ‘megaphone’ (megáfono). In many countries where both parlante and

bafle are used, the latter is used more by young people and the former is considered more

“correct”. Bafle derives from waffle and, although usually pronounced as if it were

written bafle, it is sometimes pronounced as if it were written huafle. Is bafle used in

Spanish-speaking countries other than the ones where it is listed above? The English

word speaker, generally pronounced as if it were written espíquer, is also used fairly

frequently in Spanish America and not only by those who speak English.


Altavoz (C), altoparlante (A), bafle (D), bocina (D), corneta (D), parlante (D).

26 STOVE


SPAIN cocina (100%).

MEXICO estufa (100%).

GUATEMALA estufa (100%).

EL SALVADOR cocina (100%), estufa (30%).

HONDURAS estufa (100%).

NICARAGUA cocina (90%), estufa (20%).

COSTA RICA cocina (100%).

PANAMA estufa (100%).

CUBA cocina (80%), fogón (30%), estufa (30%).

DOMIN. REP. estufa (100%).

PUERTO RICO estufa (100%).

VENEZUELA cocina (100%).

COLOMBIA estufa (100%).

REST OF HISP. SOUTH AMER. cocina (100%).

26.2 Details

General: The item in question is an electric or gas cooking stove. There are other regional names

for smaller, portable cooking stoves.

Cuba: To what extent do cocina, fogón and estufa compete in this sense?


Cocina (A), estufa (D), fogón (D).

27 STOVE BURNER


SPAIN fuego (50%), quemador (50%), hornillo (40%), chapa (30%).

MEXICO quemador (70%), hornilla (60%).

GUATEMALA hornilla (100%).

EL SALVADOR quemador (80%), hornilla (60%), parrilla (20%).

HONDURAS hornilla (70%), quemador (40%).

NICARAGUA quemador (70%), hornilla (30%).

COSTA RICA disco (90%), quemador (30%).

PANAMA quemador (100%).

CUBA hornilla (100%), quemador (30%).

DOMIN. REP. hornilla (90%), quemador (30%).

PUERTO RICO hornilla (100%), quemador (20%).

VENEZUELA hornilla (100%).

COLOMBIA fogón (70%), hornilla (60%), quemador (30%), boquilla (30%).

ECUADOR hornilla (100%), quemador (20%).

PERU hornilla (100%).

BOLIVIA hornilla (100%).

PARAGUAY hornalla (100%).

URUGUAY hornalla (100%).

ARGENTINA hornalla (100%), quemador (20%).

CHILE quemador (70%), plato (50%), fuego (20%).

27.2 Details

General: In countries where several terms compete, some regard them as synonyms. Others use

only one term, and still others claim that some of the terms refer to burners on electric

stoves while other terms refer to gas stove burners.

29


Boquilla (D), chapa (D), disco (D), fogón (D), fuego (C), hornalla (F), hornilla (D),

hornillo (D), parrilla (C), plato (D), quemador (A).

The entry for hornillo does not include an appropriate definition for this sense of the

word, but the usage is described in the definition of cocina, “3. Aparato que hace las veces de

fogón, con hornillos o fuegos y a veces horno.”

28 SWIMMING POOL


SPAIN piscina (100%).

MEXICO alberca (100%).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA piscina (100%).

PARAGUAY pileta (100%), piscina (100%).

URUGUAY pileta (100%), piscina (100%).

ARGENTINA pileta (100%), piscina (20%).

28.2 Details

Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay & Argentina: Piscina is readily understood in these countries even

though, in the case of Mexico and Argentina, another term is much more common. In

Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, pileta is also called pileta de natación to distinguish it

from sinks (see sections 23 and 24). Do some speakers distinguish between piscina and

the more regional term, alberca and pileta? What are people’s attitudes toward piscina in

relation to the more regional term? For example, several Argentines indicated that, to

their ear, pileta is standard, everyday usage and piscina is “snobbish” usage.

El Salvador: Among the lower socio-economic strata, piscina is often pronounced [pik-SI-na],

[pik-THI-na] and [pi-THI-na], with the “TH” in the last two transcriptions representing

the special Salvadoran theta, an allophone of the /s/ phoneme which might be described

by an English speaker as a sort of low-tension, lisping th sound.


Alberca (A?), pileta (A?), piscina (A).

Alberca is defined as “3. Méj. Piscina deportiva.” However, the Mexicans interviewed in

this study indicated that alberca is used in the general sense of ‘swimming pool’. Is there any

truth to the Real Academia’s assertion that in Mexico albercas refer specifically to swimming

pools used for water sports?

Pileta is defined as “6. R. de la Plata. piscina.” Is the Real Academia unaware that this

usage also occurs in Paraguay, or does it consider this country to be part of the River Plate

region? If one considers the River Plate region to be the area bordering the estuary formed by the

Paraná and Uruguay rivers, then it does not include Paraguay. From a historical perspective,

however, the viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata did include the territory of present-day Paraguay.

29 TAPE RECORDER


SPAIN grabadora (90%), magetófono (60%), (radio)caset (30%).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA grabadora (100%).

VENEZUELA grabador (70%), grabadora (60%).

PARAGUAY grabadora (90%), grabador (60%).

URUGUAY grabador (90%), grabadora (20%).

ARGENTINA grabador (90%), grabadora (40%).

29.2 Details

General: Other more technical terms used in this sense that do not appear to be regionally

weighted include casetera, tocacaset, tocacintas and the more general mini-componente

and equipo.

Spain: How do most people spell the terms caset and radiocaset? (Radio)caset, (radio)casete or

(radio)cassette? And is ca(s)set(te) generally pronounced with two syllables, as if it were

written casé(t), or with three syllables, as if it were written casete.


Casete (C?), grabador (D), grabadora (A), magetófono (C), radiocasete (C?).

Casete is defined as “2. Pequeño magnetófono que utiliza casetes” and “abrev. fam. de

radiocasete”. Radiocasete, in turn, is defined as “Aparato electrónico que consta de una radio y

un casete ”. Is casete commonly used in Spain in the sense of tape recorders that are not small,

and is radiocaset commonly used in the sense of tape recorders that do not have a radio

component?

30 TOILET


SPAIN váter (100%), inodoro (50%), retrete (50%), escusado (30%).

MEXICO escusado (90%), inodoro (40%), wáter (40%), sanitario (30%).

GUATEMALA inodoro (90%), sanitario (70%).

EL SALVADOR inodoro (90%), escusado (50%).

HONDURAS inodoro (90%), servicio (70%).

NICARAGUA inodoro (100%), escusado (40%).

COSTA RICA escusado (90%), inodoro (80%).

PANAMA escusado (100%), inodoro (50%), servicio (50%).

31

CUBA inodoro (100%), servicio (30%).

DOMIN. REP. inodoro (100%), sanitario (30%).

PUERTO RICO inodoro (100%), tóilet (50%).

VENEZUELA poceta (100%), wáter (40%), sanitario (30%), escusado (20%).

COLOMBIA inodoro (100%), sanitario (60%).

ECUADOR wáter (70%), escusado (50%), inodoro (20%), sanitario (20%).

PERU wáter (100%).

BOLIVIA inodoro (80%), wáter (60%).

PARAGUAY wáter (100%), inodoro (80%).

URUGUAY wáter (90%), inodoro (20%).

ARGENTINA inodoro (100%).

CHILE wáter (100%), escusado (20%).

30.2 Details

General: Many people avoid using any specific name for this item and refer to it as simply el

baño or el servicio (the latter is short for servicio sanitario or servicio higiénico). Some

also use taza to refer to the whole toilet, although one could argue that technically it is

just the bowl component. Sanitario is used as a somewhat technical term for toilet even in

those countries where it is not commonly used in everyday language. Both wáter and

váter derive from ‘water closet’. Where wáter competes with inodoro, the latter is

considered the more ‘correct’ term and the former the less refined, cruder term. However,

in countries where wáter was given by a high percentage of the people queried, the term’s

acceptance level appears to be fairly high.

Spain: For many, inodoro is a somewhat technical term and retrete and escusado are now old-

fashioned usages.

Nicaragua: For some, an escusado/excusado is an ‘outhouse’ rather than a ‘toilet’.

Escusado/excusado: Many Spanish-speakers believe that the x-form is correct despite the fact

that the Real Academia indicates that escusado, not excusado, is the correct spelling for

this item. Is there a valid reason why excusado should be considered incorrect?


Escusado (C), inodoro (D), poceta (F), retrete (C), sanitario (B), tóilet (F), váter (C),

wáter (F).

31 TO FLUSH THE TOILET (21 verbs plus variants and 62 phrases plus variants)

31.1 Phrases by Country (listed by verb)

SPAIN tirar de la cadena (80%), darle (a la cisterna/al agua) (20%).

MEXICO jalar/halar (la palanca/el baño/el agua/la cadena/el escusado/la taza) (60%), bajar

(el agua/la palanca/el escusado/el sanitario/la taza) (50%).

GUATEMALA echar (el) agua (al sanitario) (70%), bajar (la palanca/el agua) (30%), jalar la

palanca (10%), soltar el agua (10%), apretar el botón (10%), descargar el baño

(10%), tirar el agua (10%).

EL SALVADOR echar (el) agua (70%), halar la palanca (30%), dejar ir el agua (30%), bajar la

palanca (10%).

HONDURAS darle vuelta (al servicio/al inodoro) (70%), echarle agua (30%), bajar el baño

(10%), bombear (10%), botar el agua (10%), vaciar el tanque (10%), puchar el

servicio (10%).

NICARAGUA bajar (la palanca/la llave) (90%), jalar la cadena (10%).

COSTA RICA jalar (la cadena/la taza) (90%), bajar (la perilla/la cadena) (20%), echar el agua

(10%), desaguar (10%).

PANAMA jalar/halar la cadena (80%), bajar (la cadena/la palanca) (30%), palanquear el

servicio (10%).

CUBA halar la cadena (90%), descargar (el inodoro/el baño/el agua) (50%), bajar la

palanca (10%), disparar el inodoro (10%).

DOMIN. REP. bajar (el baño/la palanca/el inodoro/el sanitario) (70%), descargar el inodoro

(10%), darle al sanitario (10%), halar la cadena (10%).

PUERTO RICO bajar (la cadena/el inodoro/la palanca/el tóilet) (80%), halar/jalar la cadena (40%),

darle (al inodoro/a la cadena) (20%).

VENEZUELA bajar (el agua/la cadena/la palanca/la poceta/la válvula) (60%), darle (a la) bomba

(de la poceta) (20%), halar/jalar (la cadena/el agua) (20%), soltar el agua (10%).

COLOMBIA soltar (el agua/el baño/el inodoro/el tanque) (60%), bajar (el agua/la cisterna/el

inodoro/la válvula) (40%), tirar (el agua/la válvula) (20%), descargar (el agua/el

baño) (20%), jalar (la palanca/la válvula) (20%), echar el agua (10%), largar el

agua (10%), vaciar el inodoro (10%).

ECUADOR bajar (la palanca/la válvula/el agua) (60%), halar/jalar (la cadena/la tiradera)

(50%), tirar (el agua/la cadena) (40%), botar el agua (20%), soltar el agua (20%),

mandar el agua (20%).

PERU jalar (la cadena/la bomba/la palanca/el agua/el wáter) (100%), bajar (la palanca/la

válvula) (30%), soltar (el agua/el wáter) (20%).

BOLIVIA largar (el agua/el baño) (60%), soltar (el agua/la cadena) (50%), bajar la válvula

(10%), correr el agua (10%), jalar la palanca (10%).

PARAGUAY tirar la cadena (100%), estirar la cadena (30%).

URUGUAY tirar la cadena (100%).

ARGENTINA tirar la cadena (90%), apretar el botón (50%).

CHILE tirar la cadena (100%), apretar el botón (20%), largar el agua (10%), bajar la

palanca (10%).

31.2 Details

General: The above phrases surely do not exhaust the list of Spanish equivalents for the U.S.

English ‘flush the toilet’ and they may only be the tip of the iceberg. They have been

grouped by verb, but one could also group them by noun (object). Many of the phrases of

the form “verb + definite article + noun” have variants of the form “verb + (le) + a +

definite article + noun”. Thus, for example, bajar el inodoro is also expressed as

bajar(le) al inodoro.

33


None of the above phrases is listed (F).

32 (Toilet) PLUNGER


SPAIN desatascador (100%).

MEXICO bomba (50%), destapacaños (30%), destapador (20%).

GUATEMALA bomba (60%), destapador (40%).

EL SALVADOR ventosa (60%), destapador (40%), bomba (30%).

HONDURAS bomba (80%), destapador (20%).

NICARAGUA destaquiador (80%), bomba (30%).

COSTA RICA bomba (60%), destaquiador (50%).

PANAMA destapador (70%), bomba (50%).

CUBA destupidor (90%), bomba (50%).

DOMIN. REP. bomba (80%), pompa (30%), destapador (20%).

PUERTO RICO bomba (70%), destapador (40%), chupón (20%).

VENEZUELA chupón (70%), destapapoceta (60%), bomba (40%).

COLOMBIA chupa (60%), bomba (60%), destapabaños (30%).

ECUADOR bomba (60%), destapabaños (20%), destapador (20%).

PERU desatorador (90%), chupón (20%).

BOLIVIA destapador (70%), bomba (20%), sopapa (20%), sopapo (10%).

PARAGUAY destrancador (80%), destapador (40%), sopapa (40%), ventosa (20%).

URUGUAY sopapa (70%), chupón (30%), sopapo (20%).

ARGENTINA sopapa (100%).

CHILE sopapo (60%), sopapa (50%).

32.2 Details

General: Many of the terms listed above are the short forms to which modifiers are added for

purposes of clarification. Thus destapador, for example, can be expanded to destapador

del baño, destapador del servicio, etc. About half the terms derive from a verb that

begins with the prefix des-, to wit, desatascar, desatorar, destapar,

destaquiar/destaquear, destrancar and destupir. To what extent are these verbs used in

their respective countries, or outside of them, in the sense of “to clear a clogged pipe”?

Are there any plunger terms that are derived from the verb desatancar (see 32.3 below)?

Nicaragua & Costa Rica: Is the word spelled destaquiador or destaqueador? Many educated

people are uncertain. The question is whether the verbs that destaquiador/destaqueador

derive from are (des)taquiar or (des)taquear? If these verbs, in turn, derive from taco,

does this mean they should be spelled -quear rather than -quiar, or not necessarily?

Cuba: The long form of bomba is bomba de destupir.


Bomba (D), chupa (D), chupón (D), desatascador (F), desatorador (F), destapabaños

(F), destapacaños (F), destapador (D), destapapoceta (F), destaqueador (F), destaquiador (F),

destrancador (F), destupidor (F), pompa (D), sopapa (F), sopapo (D), ventosa (D).

Of the verbs that begin with the prefix des- listed in 32.2, General, above, only

desatascar, desatorar and destupir are listed with a meaning of “to clear a clogged pipe”.

Desatancar is also defined in these terms.

APPENDIX: ADDITIONAL TOPICS

The following are some additional topics in the field of Spanish lexical dialectology that relate to

the home. In most cases, only a few informants from each specified country have been observed

or questioned regarding these issues. The findings, therefore, are tentative at best. Although

some information is provided on how the terminology varies by region, the topics are primarily

presented to call attention to their existence as possible dialectological issues and to encourage

others to research them further.

Across the street: Is ‘the house across the street’ la casa de enfrente (or ...de en frente), la casa

de al frente, la casa del frente or la casa al frente? The Real Academia accepts only

enfrente and en frente in this sense, but the answer to the question appears to depend in

part on geographic region. De enfrente/de en frente seems to be preferred in Spain,

Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and Argentina, but de al frente, del frente and/or al frente

have been heard by people from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica,

Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Can (aluminum): Where are bote, lata and tarro used in this sense in the Spanish-speaking

world? Bote appears to be more common in Mexico and parts of Hispanic Central

America; lata in Spain, the Hispanic Antilles and Panama; and tarro in parts of Hispanic

South America, but what exactly are the regional preferences? Some Spanish-speakers

use two or more terms and distinguish between different types of cans. What are the

distinctions?

Chair A (arm chair): Sillón and/or silla de brazo(s) appear to be used in most countries, but

butaca is used in Cuba and Puerto Rico. The Real Academia defines sillón as “2. Silla de

brazos, mayor y más cómoda que la ordinaria”, butaca as “Silla de brazos con el respaldo

inclinado hacia atrás” and poltrona (under silla poltrona) as “La [silla] más baja de

brazos que la común, y de más amplitud y comodidad.” Do most Spaniards really make

these distinctions between these three terms? Do any Spanish Americans?

Chair B (rocking chair): Mecedora and/or silla mecedora/silla de mecer appear to be used in

most countries, but sillón is used in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Chair C (stool): The Real Academia defines taburete as “Asiento sin brazos ni respaldo para una

persona,” but many Spanish Americans use the term banquito. Butaco appears to be used

in this sense in Nicaragua, and in Colombia taburete refers to a typical hand-crafted chair

with a raw-hide seat and back.

35

Ceiling: Tumbado is used in Ecuador and cielo in Chile in addition to the more universal techo or

cielorraso.

Cup: Pocillo is used in many parts of Colombia in place of the more universal taza for a standard

one-handled drinking cup.

Clothesline: Cordel is used in Chile, Peru, Dominican Republic, coastal Ecuador and parts of

Cuba, whereas alambre, cuerda, lazo, pita or soga, etc., often with a modifier such as de

colgar, de tender, de guindar, are used elsewhere. Tendedero and tendedera refer to the

set of clotheslines or to the place (often in the patio) where the clotheslines are hung, but

there appear to be regional preferences. The Real Academia also lists tendalero in the

sense of the place (with no regional specification), but where is this term commonly

used? Guindadero was also indicated by a Panamanian in both senses. Does anyone use

colgadero to refer to ‘clotheslines’?

Doorknob/door lock: The following terms have been offered for ‘doorknob’: agarradera,

agarrador, jalador, manecilla, mango, manigueta, manija, manilla, manubrio, perilla,

perinola, pestillo, picaporte, pomo, puño and tirador (with the modifier de (la) puerta

added to them for clarification). One can argue that most of these words can also refer to

other types of ‘handles’ (and indeed ‘handle’ is another item that warrants dialectological

study), and that pestillo and picaporte “propiamente dicho” refer to ‘locking

mechanisms’ on doors, but such arguments do not change the fact that Spanish speakers

regularly use these terms to refer to ‘doorknobs’. Llavín was given by Cubans in the

sense of the ‘lock on a door’ or the ‘doorknob that has a locking mechanism’. And the

Real Academia defines chapa as “cerradura, mecanismo para cerrar. Ú. m. en América”

(‘door lock’, used more in Spanish America), but are there regions of Spanish America

where this usage is not common, and is it at all common in Spain?

Floor: Are piso and suelo used interchangeably in this sense throughout the Spanish-speaking

world, or are there regional preferences?

Kerosene, diesel fuel, and other fuels: For ‘kerosene,’ queroseno is used in Spain whereas

kerosén, kerosene or kerosín are used in most of Spanish America; parafina is used in

Chile and luz brillante in Cuba. For ‘diesel fuel,’ diesel, also spelled diésel, and

pronounced as if it were written dísel or diésel, is used in much of Spanish America, but

A.C.P.M., for aceite combustible para motores, is used in Colombia. Other regional fuel

names are: canfín (derived from ‘candle fine’?) in Costa Rica, tractolina in Mexico, and

kérex in Ecuador, but what fuels do these terms refer to?

Lady’s handbag/purse: Is it bolso in Spain and cartera in Spanish America for ‘handbag’ or is it

not quite that simple? What about ‘purse’?

Newspaper: Although both diario and periódico are readily understood and to some extent used

throughout the Spanish-speaking world, there are regional preferences. Diario is more

common than periódico in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay and periódico

appears to be more common everywhere else. However, even in areas where periódico is

more common in the general sense of ‘newspaper,’ there are specific newspapers with

names like Diario la Prensa that include the word diario.

Pot (metal, cooking): Caldero is used in parts of Puerto Rico in place of the more universal olla.

Rattle (baby’s toy): The following terms/countries have been encountered: cascabel (Chile),

chinchín (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras), chilindrín (Costa Rica), chinesco

(Ecuador), chischil (Nicaragua), maraca and maraquita (Dominican Republic, Puerto

Rico, Panama, Venezuela), maruga (Cuba), sonaja (Mexico, Peru), sonajera (Bolivia),

and sonajero (Spain, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina). The Real Academia

claims that sonaja (‘rattle’) is an Andalusianism, but the Andalusians queried indicated

that sonajero was the term they used.

Razor: Rastrillo is used in Mexico. Máquina de afeitar, rasuradora, gillette (pronounced as if it

were written yilé(t) and feminine, una gillette) and navaja are used in other areas. To

what extent do these terms refer to different types of razors (‘razor blade,’ ‘disposable

razor,’ ‘electric razor’ and ‘barber’s old-fashioned razor’) and to what extent are they

regionally weighted?

Shower: Regadera is used in this sense in Mexico and Hispanic Central America (and

elsewhere?) instead of the more universal ducha. However, some argue that regadera is

really the ‘showerhead’ rather than the ‘shower’. In Mexico and Hispanic Central

America regadera also refers to the ‘nozzle’ of hoses, sprinklers, etc.

Suitcase/briefcase: Are maleta and valija used interchangeably in the sense of ‘suitcase’

throughout the Spanish-speaking world, or are there regional preferences? Valija appears

to be preferred in the Southern Cone and maleta in most of the other countries. Is there

also regional variation with ‘briefcase,’ maletín, portafolio, valija, other terms?

Switch (light switch): Although interruptor is used everywhere in technical language and in

Spain in everyday language, suich, suiche and/or apagador are used in many parts of

Spanish America, chucho in Cuba, and llave (de luz) and interruptor in Argentina and

Uruguay.

Teakettle: Pava is used in Argentina and Uruguay, according to informants, but the Real

Academia defines caldera as “7. NE. de la Argent. y Urug. Pava, recipiente de metal con

asa en la parte superior, tapa y pico, para calentar agua”. Is the term tetera used in the

sense of ‘teakettle’ in all other Spanish-speaking countries where people use this vessel?

Do Spanish speakers from countries other than Argentina and Uruguay use different

words to distinguish ‘teakettles’ from ‘teapots’?

To throw out/throw away: In Spain and the Southern Cone tirar is used and botar is not used in

this sense. From Bolivia northward to Mexico both botar and tirar appear to be used and

in most of these countries botar seems to be more common.

Towel: Paño is used in Venezuela, in addition to the more universal toalla.

Wallet: Where is billetera preferred and where is cartera preferred? The former in Hispanic

South America and the latter in Spain, Mexico, Hispanic Central America and the

Hispanic Antilles?

Washbasin/washbowl: Different regional terms used in different countries include batea, guacal

(or huacal), jofaina, latón, latona, lavacara (Ecuador), paila, palangana, platón

(Colombia). However, they are often not equivalents as they can refer to different types

of vessels. Much research needs to be done in order to lexico-geographically pin down

these and other terms that refer to different types of bowls and basins.

REFERENCE

Real Academia Española. 1992. Diccionario de la Lengua Española. Twenty-First Edition.

Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, S.A.

1998 ATA Annual Conference Proceedings_Topics in Spanish Lexical Dialectology: The Home

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