Abrazos Hugs.
Abuelita Grandma; affectionate diminutive of abuela, grandmother. (Unless otherwise noted, non-English words here are Spanish.)
abuelito (Spanish) a familiar diminutive of abuelo (grandfather).
Adiós y suerte Goodbye and good luck.
Alegre Cheerful, happy, lighthearted.
Amar es Vivir To Love is to Live.
"¡Ay, caray!" (Spanish) an expression of exasperation, something like "Damn it!" or "Oh, for heaven's sake!"
ayúdame Help me.
babushka a headscarf folded into a triangle and tied under the chin.
barrancas deep gorges, precipices.
caciques landowners; the political bosses or leaders.
campesino a small farmer; a peasant.
carne guisada meat stew.
carnitas barbequed pork.
cerro hill.
chachalaca a pheasant (any bird flying into a house is an omen of death).
chanclas (Spanish) plural of chancla, a type of open shoe.
chaparritos short people.
churros long donuts.
cielito de mi corazón an affectionate phrase; literally, "little sky of my heart."
comadres (Spanish) women friends, girlfriends (to another woman).
corajes angers.
"¿Cuándo?" (Spanish) "When?"
Cuidate Take care.
"cumbias, salsas, . . . rancheras . . . ." Latin dances fashionable in the middle 1960s.
curandero medicine man; folk healer.
