What you are about to read in this Colombian dictionary with amusing anecdotes may surprise you, as the definitions of the words I am going to show you here have been provided by a Spanish man and a Colombian woman from Cali who live in Spain.
1 Somewhat incomplete Colombian dictionary with amusing anecdotes
Paila
The first word we are going to define in this Colombian dictionary is Paila, which has two meanings. In the kitchen, Paila means frying pan. But it has another meaning: Paila is also said when one does not like another person’s opinion. It’s like saying ¡De malas! in Spain.
Examples of use:
¡Pásame la Paila para hacer los huevos!
No me gusto tu comida. ¡Pailas!
Anecdote: When my wife first asked me to pass her the paila, I went crazy searching through the cupboard until she clarified that she meant a frying pan.
Trapeador
The second word we are going to define in this Colombian dictionary is «trapeador.» Trapeador in Colombia means mop.
Example of use:
Voy a pasar el trapeador por toda la casa.
Anecdote: Although I already knew that «trapeador» meant mop in Colombia from the soap operas my mother used to watch when I lived with my parents, I was very surprised when my beautiful sweetheart told me for the first time that he was going to mop the floor.
Límpido
The third word we are going to define in our unique Colombian dictionary is the word «Límpido.» In Spain, we would define it as «bleach» or some chemical used for disinfecting.
Example of use:
¡Pasa el límpido a los baños!
Anecdotes: I don’t have any anecdotes involving the word «limpido.» But my Colombian wife told me that she didn’t know what «bleach» was when she was told to use it for the first time.
Balde
I am including the definition of this fourth word at the insistence of my wife, who says it is used a lot in Colombia. Although it is also used here in Spain. Balde means «bucket» in Spain.
Ejemplo de uso: «Tráeme el Balde para trapear».
Anecdote: When my wife arrived in Spain, she was told to bring a basin, but she brought a broom instead.
Venga
Venga, from the verb venir, has several meanings in Spanish and is used in both Spain and across the pond. That’s why we’re adding it to our Colombian dictionary. However, my Colombian wife was surprised by one of the ways we usually say it in Spain. Venga in Spanish means to accompany someone somewhere, but it is also often used as an expression of farewell to a person.
Example of use:
«Venga usted al circo que lo pasaremos muy bien»
«Venga pues quedamos en eso» (En España como expresión de despedida).
Anecdote: When my wife arrived in Spain and was told for the first time, «Venga, hasta ahora» she stood there when they were telling her to leave.
Todo derecho
We continue with our Colombian dictionary with the definition of an expression used in Colombia, «Todo derecho,» which in Spain is usually said as «Todo recto» and means to continue straight ahead on the path you are on.
Example of use:
«A partir de la iglesia todo derecho»
Anecdote: My wife got into a taxi and when she gave the driver the address, she said, «Todo derecho» and he turned right at the first street. She asked him, «What are you doing?» The driver got angry and said, «You didn’t mean ‘straight ahead,’ ma’am, you meant ‘straight on.'»
Fritar
After a brief discussion with my wife about whether they have other words they use, we continue with the definition of the verb fritar. Fritar means to fry in Spain, as these words are synonyms.
Example of use:
«Mañana de almuerzo, voy a fritar unos huevos.»
Anecdote: When my Colombian wife was told by the woman she worked for to fry some eggs, she looked for a deep fryer to do it. The woman told her that they were cooked in a frying pan.
Other definitions of Colombian
It seems that my chubby girl has gotten tired of giving me definitions. For now, we’re going to put the Colombian dictionary on hold. But anyway, let’s continue with a little humor in the following video we found on YouTube:
*DicciQuick dictionary from Colombian Spanish to standard Spanish
But don’t worry, because we will most likely continue to post our definitions on our Hispanic Colombian Blog.
And for those who want more serious stuff, there is the Colombian Dictionary, where you can find more serious definitions of the words used in the Colombian Dictionary.