Page 329 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

PHR ASE BOOK  327

Phrase Book

The Spanish spoken in Cuba is basically the in place of Vosotros, to say “you” when referring
same as the Castilian used in Spain with certain to more than one person. Some Indian, African
deviations. As in the Spanish-speaking countries and English words are also commonly used in
in Central and Southern America, the “z” is present-day Cuban Spanish. This basic phrase
pronounced like the “s”, as is the “c” when it comes book includes useful common phrases and
before “e” or “i”. Among the grammatical variations, words, and particular attention has been paid to
visitors should be aware that Cubans use Ustedes typically Cuban idioms in a list of Cuban Terms.
Cuban Terms How are you? ¿qué tal? keh tal
apagón apagon black-out, power cut It’s a pleasure! ¡mucho gusto! moocho goosto
babalawo babala-wo a priest of Afro- Goodbye,
Cuban religion so long hasta luego asta lwego
bohío bo-ee-o traditional rural house
with palm leaf roof Useful Phrases
carro karro car That’s fine está bien/ocá esta b-yen/oka
casa de la trova kasa deh la troba club where traditional Fine ¡qué bien! keh b-yen
music is played How long? ¿Cuánto falta? kwanto falta
batey batay village around sugar Do you speak a ¿Habla un abla oon poko deh
factory little English? poco de inglés? eengles
cayo ka-yo small island I don’t understand No entiendo no ent-yendo
chama chama child Could you speak ¿Puede hablar pwedeh ablas mas
criollo kr-yo-yo Creole (born in Cuba more slowly? más despacio? despas-yo
of Spanish descent) I agree/OK de acuerdo/ocá deh akwairdo/oka
divisa deebeesa convertible peso (slang) Certainly! ¡Claro que sí! klaro keh see!
guagua gwagwa bus Let’s go! ¡Vámonos! bamonos
guajiro gwaheero farmer
guarapo gwarapo sugar cane juice Useful Words
ingenio eenhen-yo sugar factory complex Large grande grandeh
jama hama food, meal Small pequeño peken-yo
eva eba woman Hot caliente kal-yenteh
jinetera heenetaira prostitute, or female Cold frío free-o
hustler Good bueno bweno
jinetero heenetairo male person hustling Bad malo malo
tourists So-so más o menos mas o menos
libreta leebreta rations book Well/fine bien b-yen
moneda moneda nas-yonal pesos (“national Open abierto ab-yairto
nacional currency”) Closed cerrado serrado
moros y moros ee krist-yanos rice & black beans Full lleno yeno
cristianos (Moors & Christians) Empty vacío basee-o
paladar paladar privately-owned Right derecha dairecha
restaurant Left izquierda isk-yairda
puro pooro authentic Cuban cigar Straight recto rrekto
santero santairo santería priest Under debajo debaho
tabaco tabako low-quality cigar Over arriba arreeba
tambor tambor Afro-Cuban religious Quickly/early pronto/temprano pronto/temprano
musical feast Late tarde tardeh
tienda t-yenda shop that only accepts Now ahora a-ora
convertible pesos Soon ahorita a-oreeta
trago trago alcoholic drink More más mas
tunas toonas prickly pears Less menos menos
zafra safra sugar cane harvest Little poco poko
Sufficient suficiente soofees-yenteh
Emergencies Much mucho/muy moocho/mwee
Help! ¡socorro! sokorro Too much demasiado demas-yado
Stop! ¡pare! pareh In front of delante delanteh
Call a doctor Llamen a un médico yamen a oon medeeko Behind detrás detras
Call an ambulance Llamen a una yamen a oona First floor primer piso preemair peeso
ambulancia amboolans-ya Ground floor planta baja planta baha
Police! ¡policía! poleesee-a Lift/elevator elevador elebador
I’ve been robbed Me robaron meh rrobaron Bathroom/toilet servicios sairbees-yos
Women mujeres moohaires
Communication Essentials Men hombres ombres
Toilet paper papel sanitario papel saneetar-yo
Yes sí see Camera cámara kamara
No no no Batteries baterías batairee-as
Please por favor por fabor Passport pasaporte pasaporteh
Pardon me perdone pairdoneh Visa; tourist card visa; tarjeta turistica beesa; tarheta
Excuse me disculpe deeskoolpeh tooreesteeka
I’m sorry lo siento lo s-yento Health
Thanks gracias gras-yas
Hello! ¡hola! ohlah I don’t feel well Me siento mal meh s-yento mal
Good day buenos días bwenos dee-as I have a Me duele meh dweleh
Good afternoon buenas tardes bwenas tardes stomach ache el estómago el estomago
la kabesa
la cabeza
headache
Good evening buenas noches bwenas noches He/she is ill Está enfermo/a esta enfairmo
Night noche nocheh I need to rest Necesito decansar neseseeto dekansar
Morning mañana man-yana Drug store farmacia farmasee-ya
Tomorrow mañana man-yana
Yesterday ayer a-yair Post Office and Bank
Here acá aka
How? ¿cómo? komo Bank banco banko
When? ¿cuándo? kwando I want to send Quiero enviar k-yairo emb-yar oona
Where? ¿dónde? dondeh a letter una carta karta
Why? ¿por qué? por keh Postcard postal tarjeta postal tarheta
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