Normas are rules. You could also use the word reglas.

Normas consegradas is a phrase that means established laws. It seems to carry with it a stronger idea than just reglas. I have seen the word normas used more at school than the word reglas. So maybe reglas would be like guidelines and normas more like rules. Anyone know if normas really is a stronger word than reglas?

Foro is a word I learned from Internet surfing. It means a forum. This can be an online forum, or it can be a round table discussion group. It can also be where you make your position known in a court room. All of these are a place for your voice to be heard.

Strangely, there is another use of the word which means backstage in a theater. Backstage meaning behind the scenery where no one should hear your voice. ‘Hacer mutis por el foro’ is an idiomatic expression which means to keep quiet. Mutis means to be sent off stage.

We recently made a big trip through Mexico. Along the way we saw many interesting signs that could be confusing and are nice to know about before you have to know what is going on.

One sign was elija su carril. Elija is the imperative form for elegir which means to choose. Su carril is your lane. So elija su carril is choose your lane. This shows up when something is about to change in the road, such as a stop, merge, or lane exiting. Elija su carril lets you know you need to decide where you need to be now while there is plenty of time.

Tonight we are going to hear a guitarist. It is a special occasion and therefore I will wear a suit (traje). The suit coat is called a saco. It can also be a sports coat.

Saco has some meanings outside of a fancy piece of clothing which does not seem to fit with a suit coat. If you were to pillage and plunder it is the verb saquear. Saco is I sack (or plunder).

Saco is most commonly thought of and used for a bag or sack.

I will either wear a suit coat or a bag to the event tonight. Either way it will be a saco.

Cofre is a chest or trunk, as in luggage for traveling. It can also be a coffer.

In Mexico it has a unique meaning that is apparently not used in other countries. It is the hood of a car. My dictionary tells me this is specific to Mexico. It also says that capó is what other countries use for the word hood. I have never heard that word used here.

A couple of days ago the word was matriz which is the parent company or home office of a business. The branch offices are called sucursales. It can also be translated as agency or subsidiary.

Let’s discuss heavy equipment. Not something I run into in every day conversation but good things to know when I am about town.

Here we have many trucks with signs saying doble remolque. That is to let you know they have a double trailer. Good thing to know when trying to pass.

A grúa is a crane.

Andamios is the most interesting, I think. You see the verb andar in it’s beginning so naturally it leads you to think of walking. And it does have to do with walking, up the side of a building. It is scaffolding.