By Wendy Williams

ANY idea what a ‘pingo’ is? Well, don’t worry; nor did we.

If you thought it was particularly difficult to understand the Spanish down in Andalucia, it turns out there may be a very good reason.

For the locals are speaking Andaluz, which according to website Wikanda is practically a whole different language.

The on-line encyclopedia is now inviting locals to contribute their own numerous everyday examples of Andalucian Spanish to its site.

Since it was launched three years ago, it has attracted hundreds of entries, including ‘pingo’, which incidentally is a dangerous kick from a horse or mule.

The site, launched by the Junta’ s Economics, Innovation and Science department, is continually being updated and now claims to have the best online collection of popular Andaluz language.

In addition, each province has its own section with information on culture, food and local traditions, and there is even a collection of popular songs.

So for those of you wanting to learn the lingo, pay a visit to www.wikanda.es or check out our A to Z of Andalucía…

Abarrunto: An attack of uncontrollable anger.
Bimbá: Something of little intrinsic value or a desire to smoke a cigarette.
Calamonazo: A heavy blow to the head.
Dornillero: The person responsible for making the whole gang gazpacho.
Encueritates: Being stark naked.
Follapepe: Ancient artefacts of poor quality.
Gachí: A very beautiful and attractive woman.
Hormiguilla: Early tooth decay in children
Isipao: Feeling breathless and dizzy from blowing too hard.
Jabalero: A person whose ideas seem extravagant to others.
Letaya: Another word for an olive.
Machear: The act of riding a donkey.
Namás: A little like nada mas but with a few less letters, meaning nothing more.
Obrá: The average area of land which can be ploughed by a team of mules in a day.
Pea: Being drunk.
Quebrao: Actually means two different things, a person who has suffered a hernia and always wears a truss and a worker in a job who is given very little lifting to do.
Retemblíos: Shivers caused by cold or a high fever.
Sardiguera: Water containing a high concentration of dissolved salt.
Tuno: A person with wit.
Umedesio: The name given to any object with excess humidity.
Velar: To attend a wake.
Yersi: A jersey.
Zurrión: An insect that flies into the light.

Weblink: http://www.wikanda.es/

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Namás – I thought the gentleman in the charcutería in Chiclana said “no mas” when I sounded as if I had completed my order but on reflection it probably was “namás”. I will listen closer in July when I am over.

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