gambling.
juez, m., judge.
jugar, to play;
to gamble.
jugo, m., juice.
juguete, m., plaything;
—— cómico, a short comedy;
—— lírico, a short musical extravaganza.
junco, m., rush, reed.
juntura, f., joint;
juncture, junction.
jurídico, -a, judicial.
justicia, f., justice;
—— ordinaria, the lower court.


K
kilo, kilogramo, m., a metric unit of weight, equivalent to about 2-1⁄5 lbs.


L
labor, f., task, toil, tillage.
laborear, to work;
to ornament.
labranza, f., working, tillage, plowing.
labrar, to work out.
lacho, m., a bold, enterprising young man.
ladera, f., declivity, slope, hillside.
ladrido, m., barking.
lagarto, m., lizard.
laguna, f., lacuna;
pond, lagoon.
laico, -a, pertaining to the laity.
lámina, f., sheet (of metal).
lance, m., chance, casualty, occurrence;
quarrel.
lancha, f., launch.
lancheta, f., small launch.
lanchón, m., lighter, barge, scow.
langosta, f., locust.
langostín, m., lobster.
lanzada, f., blow with a lance.
lanzadera, f., shuttle.
largo, long;
¡va ——! there is plenty of time.
látex, m., sap from the rubber-tree.
latón, m., brass.
laúd, m., lute.
lazo, m., lasso;
loop;
tie.
leche, f., milk;
—— de coco, cocoanut milk.
legua, f., league.
lento, -a, slow, lingering.
leña, f., firewood.
leñero, m., dealer in wood;
a South American woodpecker.
lépero, -a (Sp. A.), of the lowest class, one of the rabble;
outcast.
lerdo, -a, slow, dull, obtuse.
letra, f., letter;
—— de cambio, bill of exchange;
—— de aceptación, letter of acceptance.
levadura, f., leaven, yeast.
levantamiento, m., upheaval, uprising, revolt.
levantar, to raise, to pile up, to make;
—— una fortuna, to make a fortune;
to raise the quarry (hunting);
to catch sight of.
levita, f., Prince Albert coat.
ley, f., law;
act, ordinance, statute.
libar, to suck, to sip, to quaff.
librado, -a, freed;
—— a sí mismo, left to one’s own devices.
librar, to free, to extricate, to exempt.
libre, free, uncumbered, exempt;
—— de gastos a bordo, free on board, f.o.b.
libro, m., book;
—— de propaganda, advertising matter in general.
licitación privada, f., sealed bids;
private bid as opposed to public bid.
lid, f. (Poet.), battle, strife, struggle.
liga, f., alloy, mixture;
link, bond.
ligar, to link, to tie, to bind.
ligero, -a, light;
swift.
lima, f., file;
lime (fruit).
limeño, -a, applied to a native of Lima, Perú.
límite, m., limit, boundary, border.
limítrofe, bounded, as one country by another.
limpio, -a clean;
—— de, free from.
linaje, m., class;
line, family, breed.
línea, f., line, track;
rank, file;
primera ——, first rank.
lírico, -a, lyric, musical;
(Sp. A.) visionary.
lisa, f., a smooth-skinned fresh-water fish common in S. A. streams;
a polishing stone.
liso, -a, plain, even, flat.
lisonja, f., flattery, compliment;
high esteem.
listo, -a, ready, prompt, active, clever.
litre, m., a Chilean tree.
lo, the, it, him, you, so;
—— que, that, which, what;
—— cual, which.
loado, -a, praised, eulogized.
loar, to praise, to eulogize.
lobo, m., wolf;
—— marino, seal.
locoto, m. (Sp. A.), a kind of red pepper.
locro, m. (Sp. A.), a kind of hash or stew composed of squash, potatoes, tender corn, meat or fish, etc.
loma, f., rising ground;
a hillock;
slope.
lona, f., canvas.
lonja, f., grocery;
leather strap.
loza, f., china;
—— -piedra, a kind of earthenware.
lozanía, f., exuberant growth;
elegance;
bloom.
lozano, -a, luxuriant, fresh;
sprightly.
luciérnaga, f., firefly.
lucir, to glitter, to shine;
to display.
luego, presently, immediately, forthwith, instantly;
desde ——, from the present moment;
at the outset;
conj., then, therefore.
lugarejo, m., hamlet, small village.
luto, m., mourning;
—— riguroso, deep mourning.


LL
llaga, f., ulcer, sore, wound.
llanero, m., a plainsman, a prairieman.
llaneza, f., straightforwardness, simplicity.
llanura, f., plain, prairie.
llorar, to weep;
to deplore.
llucta, f., a limy substance which, mixed with coca leaves, is chewed by the Indians of Bolivia and Perú.


M
maceración, f., act or state of bruising, crushing or cutting into pieces.
machetazo, m., blow or stroke with a machete.
machete, m., a sort of cutlass used in cutting cane.
madeja, f., skein;
lock of hair.
madrastra, f., stepmother.
madreselva, f., honeysuckle.
madrigalizar, to compose madrigals.
madrina, f., godmother.
madroño, m., madrone, a tree used for firewood and to make charcoal;
a tree, the fruit of which resembles strawberries.
maduración, f., maturity;
completion.
madurar, to mature, to ripen.
maduro, -a, ripe, mature, perfect.
maestría, f., mastery;
mastership, complete knowledge.
magisterio, m., the profession of teaching.
magno, -a, great;
grandiose.
maguey, m., American agave.
maizal, m., corn-field.
majada, f. (Sp. A.), flock of sheep.
maldad, f., wickedness;
(Sp. A.) practical joke.
maldito, -a, damned, cursed, confounded.
maleza, f., undergrowth, thicket;
weeds.
malilla, f., a game of cards resembling whist.
maloja, f. (Sp. A.), the leaves and stalks of corn used as fodder.
malla, f., mesh, network.
mamey, m. (Sp. A.), mammee-tree;
its sweet, melon-like fruit.
mampostería, f., masonry.
manada, f., flock, herd.
mancarrón, m. (Sp. A.), a worn-out old horse.
mandadero, m., porter, messenger, errand-boy.
mandar, to send, to command;
—— a paseo, to send “to Jericho.”
mandarina, f. mandarin orange.
mando, m., command, government.
manejo, m., handling, management;
measure, time in music.
manga, f., hurricane, whirlwind, waterspout.
mango, m., mango-tree, or its fruit.
manguito, m., muff.
manija, f., handle;
ring or brace.
manipulado, -a, manipulated, handled.
manipular, to work, to handle.
mano, f., hand;
—— de, coat or coating of.
manojo, m., bundle;
handful, bunch.
manotear, to gesticulate.
manso, -a, tame;
gentle.
manta, f., blanket;
cover.
manto, m., mantle, veil, cloak.
manzano, m., apple-tree.
mañoso, -a, clever;
possessed by a mania;
obstinate;
cunning.
mapurito, m. (Sp. A.), skunk.
máquina de escribir, f., typewriter, writing machine.
maraña, f., an impassable bramble patch.
marco, m., frame;
doorcase, windowcase.
marchante, m. (Sp. A.), customer, buyer.
marchar, to depart, to leave;
to walk.
marchitar, to fade, to wither, to die.
marchito, -a, withered, faded, decayed.
marea, f., tide.
maroma, f., thick cord, rope, cable.
marrullero, -a (Sp. A.), crooked, swindling;
wheedler.
marta, f., marten.
martín pescador, m., kingfisher.
más, more, most, plus;
no —— que, only;
a lo ——, at most;
ni —— ni menos, exactly, neither more nor less;
a —— tardar, at latest;
a —— y mayor, greatly, highly, at best.
masa, f., dough;
mortar;
volume;
(Sp. A.) cake.
mascabado, -a, a raw, unrefined muscovado.
máscara, f., mask, disguise;
masquerader.
mascullar, to mumble, to falter in speaking.
mata, f., small bush, dump of shrubs;
underbrush.
matadero, m., slaughterhouse.
matanza, f., slaughtering.
matarife, m., slaughterman;
butcher.
mate, m. (Sp. A.), a beverage made with leaves from the yerba mate tree;
the dried gourd in which the beverage is served. See bombilla.
materia, f., matter, subject;
—— primera, raw material.
matero, -a, a confirmed drinker of
mate.
matungo, m., an old discarded horse.
maturrango, -a, a poor horseman.
mayor, m., elder, elderly;
—— de edad, of age;
al por ——, by wholesale.
mayoral, m., overseer;
car conductor.
mayorista, m., wholesale dealer.
mazacote, m. (Sp. A.), brown sugar.
mazamorra, f., porridge.
mazorca, f., ear of corn.
mecanógrafo, m., typist.
mecedora, f., rocking-chair;
swinging.
mecedura, f., act of rocking.
medida, f., measure;
a —— de or que, by degrees, in proportion to, at the same time as.
medidor, m., meter (gas, water or electric).
medio, m., middle, center;
medium.
medrar, to thrive, to prosper.
mejicanismo, m., word or phrase peculiar to Mexico.
mejor, better;
—— que ——, much better still;
a lo ——, when least expected, unexpectedly;
a cual ——, to a wish;
tanto ——, so much the better.
mejorar, to improve, to cultivate, to mend.
melaza, f., molasses.
melena, f., long hair spread over the shoulders;
mane.
melocotón, m., peach.
membrudo, -a, muscular, strong.
memoria, f., report;
memory, recollection.
menaje, m., ménage, furniture, household goods.
menester, m., necessity, need, want;
ser ——, to be necessary, to be needed.
menos, less, least;
a —— que, unless;
a lo —— or por lo ——, at least, however;
mucho ——, much less;
tener en ——, to underrate. For other
forms with más, see más.
menudeo, m., retail.
menudo, m., intestines, viscera;
small, of little value.
mercería, f., haberdasher who deals in small furnishings.
merecimiento, m., merit, desert.
merino, m., breed of sheep.
merluza, f., a fish of the cod family, hake.
merma, f., waste, leakage, shortage, diminution.
meseta, f., plateau.
mestizo, -a, the offspring of a white man and an Indian woman.
mesura, f., civility, politeness, moderation, measure.
meta, f., boundary, limit, goal.
metal (de voz), quality of the voice;
timbre.
meterse, refl., to intrude.
metralla, f., shrapnel.
métrica, f., metrical;
measured.
metro, m., meter, the unit of length in the decimal system;
—— poético, meter, versification.
mezcolanza, f. (Coll.), bad mixture.
micho, m., pussy.
miel, f., honey;
—— de caña, molasses.
Miércoles de Ceniza, m., Ash Wednesday.
mies, f., wheat or other grain from which bread is made.
milonga, f. (Sp. A.), folk-song.
mimado, -a, spoiled, humored.
mimar, to pet, to spoil.
mimbre, m., willow, wicker.
mimus, m., mocking-bird.
mineral, m., ore;
mineral.
ministro, m., minister, a member of the President’s Cabinet.
minorar, to lessen, to reduce.
minuciosidad, f., minuteness of detail;
exactitude.
minucioso, -a, minutely or over exact;
nice, scrupulous.
mira, f., look, glance;
object, goal, purpose.
mirasol, m., sunflower;
(Sp. A.) heron.
mirlo, m., blackbird.
misia, from mi sea, a short and affectionate form used instead of mi señora in addressing elderly ladies.
misionero, -a, belonging to the Territory of Misiones, Argentina.
mismísimo, -a, an emphatic form of mismo, -a.
mixto, -a, of both sexes;
mixed.
moblaje, m., furniture.
mocedad, f., youth, boyhood.
mochila, f., knapsack;
(Sp. A.) saddlebag.
modales, m. pl., manners.
modalidad, f., manner, way.
módico, -a, moderate in price.
modista, f., dressmaker.
mofeta, f., polecat.
mohino, -a, fretful, peevish;
sad, mournful.
Moka, m., Mocha, a famous Arabian coffee.
moldura, f., molding.
mole, f., an object of great size;
a great quantity.
molestar, to vex, to disturb, to trouble.
molino, m., mill.
molle, m., a tree.
molleja, f., gizzard.
mondongo, m., viscera;
“innards” of an animal.
monja, f., nun.
monta, f., amount;
importance.
montaña, f. (Sp. A.), the heavily wooded section of a country.
montañés, m., mountaineer.
montañoso, -a, hilly, mountainous.
montaraz, wild.
montecristo, m., a grade of Panama hat.
Monte de Piedad, m., government-owned pawnshop, pawnshop.
montepío, m., see Monte de Piedad.
montero mayor, m., the M. F. H. (Master of Field Hunt).
monto, m., total, sum.
montuoso, -a, hilly, wooded.
morado, -a, mulberry color, purple.
moreno, -a, brown, tawny, brunette.
morigerado, -a, frugal, simple;
temperate, abstemious.
moro, -a, applied to black horses with four white feet;
in Spanish America: black with white spot (Argentina);
chestnut with white spots (Colombia);
sorrel and white (Ecuador);
white with chestnut spots (Venezuela).
mortero, m., mortar.
morueco, m., male sheep, ram.
mostaza, f., mustard.
mosto, m., must, the unfermented juice of the grape.
mostrador, m., showcase, counter.
mote, m., a dish made of boiled hulled com;
whole hominy.
motivo, m., cause;
dar —— a, to give cause.
mozalbete, m., lad, youth.
mozo, m., waiter, man-servant.
muchedumbre, f., multitude, crowd.
mudanza, f., removal;
change, alteration.
muestrario, m., sample display;
sample.
mugido, m., lowing.
mugir, to low.
mugroso, -a, dirty, filthy.
mula, f., mule;
lomo de ——, on muleback.
municipio, m., city, municipality.
muralla, f., wall, rampart.
murciélago, m., bat.
muro, m., wall.
musgo, m., moss.


N
nabo, m., turnip.
nácar, m., nacre, mother-of-pearl.
naciente, dawning, nascent.
nada, nothing, anything;
in no respect, in no degree, by no means;
no ... ——, nothing;
—— menos, nothing less;
—— de eso, by no means, not at all.
nadie, no one, nobody;
any one, anybody.
naipe, m., playing-card.
napa, f., layer.
naranjero, m., a South American bird of brilliant plumage.
naranjilla, f., small green orange.
natación, f., swimming.
natural, native.
nave, f., nave.
Navidad, f., Christmas.
naviero, -a, pertaining to ships.
neblina, f., mist, fog.
neceser, m., a. case of toilet articles, dressing-case.
negar, to deny.
negociado, m., a division in government offices;
bureau.
nevado, m. (Sp. A.), a. snow-covered mountain.
ni, nor, or;
—— ... ——, neither ... nor;
—— ... tampoco, not ... either, nor ... either.
níspero, m., medlar tree.
nivel, m., level.
níveo, -a, white as snow.
no, not, no;
—— poder menos de, not to be able to help;
—— ... nunca, never, not ever;
—— ... nada, nothing;
—— ... nadie, nobody;
—— por eso, that does not mean that;
—— por cierto, certainly not.
nogal, m., walnut-tree; walnut.
nostálgico, -a, homesick.
nota, f., news;
official communication.
novia, f., bride, betrothed.
nuez, f., nut.
nunca, never, ever;
no ... ——, not ever, never.
nutria, f., otter.


O
obispo, m., bishop.
obligatorio, -a, compulsory.
obraje, m. (Sp. A.), forests where timber is being cut.
observar, to observe, to examine, to note.
obstar, to hinder, to obstruct.
ocioso, -a, useless, idle, lazy.
ocuparse (de), to be occupied with.
oferta, f., offer;
supply;
proposition (com.).
oficial, m., officer;
a higher clerk;
—— mayor, chief clerk.
oficina, f., bureau, office, headquarters.
oficio, m., occupation, trade, business.
oficiosidad, f., application, diligence.
ofrenda, f., offering, oblation, gift.
oidor, m. (in Colonial times), judge of the audiencia.
ojalera, f., ring, loop.
ojo de buey, m., loophole.
óleo, m., oil;
al ——, in oils, oil painting.
olla, f., saucepan, pot;
—— podrida, dish composed of different sorts of meats and vegetables boiled together.
ombú, m., South American tree of dense foliage.
ondear, to undulate, to wave.
opera bufa, f., light opera.
operario, m., operator, factory hand.
optar, to choose, to select.
ora, at present;
whether.
oración, f., prayer, vespers, the Angelus.
ordenanza, m., orderly (mil.);
porter, bell-boy.
órdenes, f. pl., ordination, the assumption of Holy Orders.
ordeñar, to milk.
órgano, m., hand organ or street piano.
orillero, -a, suburbanite.
oro, m., gold;
—— en tejos, gold in bullion.
oruga, f., caterpillar.
orujo, m., bagasse of grapes, skin and seeds of crushed grapes;
refuse.
ostentar, to show off, to boast, to brag.
oveja, f., female sheep.


P
paca, f., a South American rodent;
a bale or pack.
padecer, to suffer, to endure.
padres, m. pl., forefathers, ancestors;
parents.
padrón, m., standard;
census or tax-list.
pagaré, m., promissory note.
paila, f., pail, pan, casserole.
paisano, m., countryman.
palco, m., box;
—— avant scène, stage box;
—— bajo, lower tier box;
—— alto, parterre tier box.
palidecer, to become pale;
to lose brilliancy.
palitoque, m. (Sp. A.), the game of bowls;
nine-pins.
palomitas, f. pl. (Sp. A.), pop-corn.
palúdico, -a, a sufferer from malaria.
pampa, f. (Sp. A.), an extensive grass-covered plain.
pan, m., bread, loaf, cake.
pandereta, f., tambourine.
panela, f. (Sp. A.), brown sugar in cone-shaped molds.
pantano, m., pool of stagnant water, marsh, morass.
pantorrilla, f., calf of the leg.
papa, f. (Sp. A.), potato.
papaíto, m., an affectionate diminutive of papá.
papaya, f., the fruit of the papaw tree.
paquebote, m., packet boat, mail steamer;
—— fluvial, river ferry-boat.
paquete, m., bundle, parcel;
(Sp. A.) elegant, well dressed, dandy.
par, m., pair;
al —— de, nearly alike;
al —— que, as well as.
para, for, to, in order to, toward, wherefore, to the end that;
—— con, toward;
—— que, in order that, that;
—— sí, to or for one’s self.
paracaída, f., parachute.
parada, f., stop-over, a stay, halt, halting place.
paraíso, m., paradise;
(Sp. A.) the topmost gallery in the theater.
páramo, m., an extremely cold, desolate place;
barren land.
parapeto, m., parapet, breastwork.
parar, to stop, to halt.
pardejón, m. (Sp. A.), brownish skinned.
pardo, -a, dark-skinned.
parecer, to seem, to appear;
al ——, seemingly;
refl., to be like.
pareja, f., pair, couple, matched team of horses.
parir, to give birth to.
particular, odd, queer.
partida, f., departure;
item in an account.
partido, m., game, match.
partir, to part, to divide, to share;
to depart.
parva, f., stack of hay or wheat.
parroquia, f., clientèle, patronage;
parish;
(Sp. A.) the church itself.
parroquiano, -a, customer, client.
pasa, f., raisin.
pasadizo, m., a narrow passage or covered way;
corridor.
pasador, m., bolt of a lock;
leather strap or thong.
pasaje, m., ticket, fare;
passage, voyage.
pascua, f., Easter.
pasear, to take a walk, to promenade;
—— la mirada, to glance about.
paseo, m., walk, promenade.
paso, m., step;
—— a paso, step by step;
a ese ——, at that rate;
al —— que, while;
de ——, in passing, by the way, lightly, briefly.
pastel, m., pie, pastry;
al ——, a crayon drawing.
pastilla, f., pastille, tablet.
pasto, m., pasture;
grass, fodder;
food.
pastoreo, m., pasturing, grazing.
patagua, m., a Chilean tree.
pataleo, m., frantic kicking.
patear, to kick.
patente, manifest, evident, unmistakable.
patín, m., skate.
pato, -a, drake, duck.
patriota, m. and f. (Sp. A.), native soldier who took part in the War of Independence.
patriotero, -a, a militarist, a jingo.
patrón, m., master of a trading vessel;
(Sp. A.) boss.
patrono, m., patron saint of a church or city.
paují, m. (Sp. A.), a species of wild turkey.
pavo, -a, turkey;
—— real, peacock.
pecarí, m., peccary.
pechada, f., good “collar work” on the part of a horse.
pechera, f., shirt-front.
pedícuro, m., chiropodist.
pedido, m., order (Com.);
request.
pedrada, f., the act of throwing stones;
stoning.
pedregoso, -a, stony.
pedrería, f., a collection of precious stones;
pl., jewels.
pedrero, m., stonecutter;
a South American bird.
peinador, -a, hairdresser.
pejerrey, m., South American trout.
pelado, -a, plucked, hairless.
pelafustán, m., tramp, vagabond.
pelando, agua ——, scalding water.
pelar, to cut the hair;
to pluck feathers;
to peel;
to shell;
agua para ——, scalding water.
pelea, f., fight, combat.
peletería, f., fur or leather store.
película, f., skin, rind.
pelo, m., hair;
en ——, bareback.
pelota, f., ball;
juego de ——, ball games in general.
peluca, f., wig.
pellizcar, to pinch.
pena, f., grief, pain.
penacho, m., topknot of birds;
plumes worn as an ornament.
pender, to hang.
pendiente, f., slope, declivity, grade.
peón, m., day laborer.
percatarse, refl., to bethink one’s self, to realize.
percibir, to receive, to collect;
to realize (value).
percha, f., clothesrack, hatstand.
perdurar, to last for a long time.
peregrino, -a, pilgrim, wayfarer.
perfil, m., profile, outline;
biographical sketch.
pericón, m. (Sp. A.), a folk-dance.
peripuesto, -a, very gay, very fine, very spruce in dress.
perito, m., skilled, expert.
perol, m., boiler, kettle, pot.
perorar, to make a speech, to declaim.
persignarse, to cross one’s self.
perspectiva, f., possibility, prospect, likelihood.
perspicacia, f., perspicacity.
pertenecer, to belong to;
to concern.