spanish <-> english vocabulary
Pronunciation
‘ll’ or ‘y’ is pronounced ‘zh,’ or as an English ‘j’
‘qu’ sounds like the ‘c’ in ‘cat’
‘z’ is pronounced like ’s’
‘j’ is a hard, throaty ‘h’ sound
Social courtesy
|
bailar |
to dance |
|
Querés bailar? |
Do you want to dance? |
|
Sí, gracias. |
Yes, thank you. |
|
Uno más? |
One more? |
|
Cómo no. |
Yes, please. (literally “How not?”) |
|
Por favor. |
Please. |
|
yo |
I |
|
vos |
you |
|
él |
he |
|
ella |
she |
Verbs and Actions
|
parar, pararse |
to stop, to stand (up) |
|
derecho |
straight |
|
caminar |
to walk |
|
abrir |
to open |
|
juntar |
to join, bring together (as in, one’s feet or knees) |
|
marcar |
to lead |
|
(la marca) |
(the lead) |
|
llevar |
to lead, also to carry |
|
guiar |
to guide, also to lead |
|
seguir |
to follow |
|
escuchar |
to listen |
|
mirar |
to look |
|
fijarse |
to pay close attention to |
|
preguntar |
to ask |
|
Una pregunta por favor |
A question, please |
|
una vez más |
one more time |
Dancing
|
el compás |
the beat |
|
el ritmo |
the rhythm |
|
despacio, lento |
slow/slowly |
|
rápido |
fast |
|
doble tiempo |
double time |
|
pasos |
steps |
Body Parts
|
el cuerpo |
body |
|
el eje |
axis (usually refers to balance) |
|
el peso |
weight |
|
los dedos |
toes, fingers |
|
el pie/los pies |
foot/feet |
|
las piernas |
legs |
|
las rodillas |
knees |
|
la cintura |
waist |
|
los brazos |
arms |
|
el pecho |
chest |
|
el abrazo |
embrace (as in, dance hold) |
Dance Floor
|
paso |
a step |
|
pisar |
to step |
|
piso |
floor |
|
pista |
dance floor |
Directions
|
adelante |
forward |
|
atrás |
backward |
|
al costado |
to the side |
|
izquierda |
left |
|
derecha |
right |
|
derecho |
straight |
Steps & Embellishments
|
cruzar (cruze) |
to cross (the cross) |
|
ocho |
a figure “eight” |
|
giro |
a turn |
|
salida |
a basic walking pattern |
|
corrida |
a run |
|
sacada |
a displacement of the feet |
|
boleo |
(no translation) |
|
parada |
a stop, often a “sandwich” |
|
barrida |
a sweep |
|
arrastre |
a drag |
|
llevada |
a “carry” |
|
enrosque |
a twist |
|
lapiz |
a pencil |
|
amague |
a fake |
|
gancho |
a hook |
|
rulo |
a curl |
|
patada |
a kick |
|
adornos |
embellishments |
Tangos & Milongas
|
vals |
Waltz (Argentine waltz) |
|
milonga |
The name of a peppy, cheerful dance related to the tango the music for that dance a dance hall where tangos, milongas, and waltzes are danced. |
|
milonguero/ milonguera |
Person who frequents the milongas. their lifestyle or a particular style of dancing. |
|
canyengue |
An older style of tango. |
|
orillero |
Another older style of tango; literally “from the orilla”, the outskirts of town or the curbside. |
|
Salon |
A style of tango from the 1940s. |
|
Fantasia |
Fantasy or stage tango. |