I first learned that chalk was tiza when I was in Peru. Here in Mexico we use the word gis to mean chalk. Both of these refer to the stick of chalk you write with. If you are talking about the substance that gis or tiza is made from, it is called creta or caliza. […]

On a bottle of cleaner I saw the word mugre. I knew it had to be something related to filth. I think the best definitions of mugre would be grime, gunk or muck. One dictionary I read said it was greasy filth.

The strict definition of the word periférico is that it has to do with the periphery, or outlying area of an object or location. It is commonly used here in Mexico to mean the highway loop around the city. Also sometimes called el anillo periferico–the periphery ring.

In Spanish the word credencial simply means an identification. In English credential has more of the idea of paperwork which proves your level of access or education. It could be a diploma or an ID badge that gives you special access. Of course, in Spanish it can mean all of that too, or just be […]

These two words, harina and arena, give me fits. Although they look very different, their pronunciation is very close, the difference of an i and an e. Harina is flour and arena is sand. I don’t know how many times, no matter how hard I try, I have ordered sand tortillas.

Don’t you just love dimples? They are so cute. But the word in Spanish, hoyuelo, doesn’t seem to me as cute as the dimples. Hoyuelo is dimple. I read that in Chile they also use the word margaritas to mean dimples.

Rótula is the kneecap. It can also be used for any ball and socket joint. I learned this word when I needed to replace a sway arm bushing on my car. I took the old rótula to the transmission shop next door. I wasn’t needing them to change it for me, I just needed them […]