Speaking Like the Locals

Panamanians refer to their country by some very grandiose nicknames: “the bridge of the world”, “the heart of the universe”, “earth, wind, fire, with our powers combined we create Capitan Planet”. Ok, so I made the last one up, but Panama's nicknames are not the only embellished facet of its culture. Its language and more specifically its Spanish-English slang, has fully evolved into almost a quirky dialect of its own. 

When I first noticed that the local laundromat was called “Su-Per-Kleen”, I started documenting this slang so that people like you could laugh at it just as much as I do. The following are a few words and phrases in regular Spanish slang, that you may want to master before your next trip to Panama.

� ni chicha ni limonada= not one thing nor the other. (literally means “neither juice nor lemonade”)

� me sabe a cake= I don't give a damn (literally means “it tastes like cake to me”)

� Comearroz= Child or baby (literally means “rice eater”)

� Tatequieto= A punch that leaves you without movement.

� Sin suan= A playground swing (literally means “swing swang”)

� echar un cinco= 1. To sleep for a little while 2. To fight (Use with caution)

� Inchi-Pinchi= Very close friends. Inseparable

� Se te sale el cobre= You are showing the ugly side of your character (literally means that copper is coming out of you)

The following are Spanish-English slang terms. Although some of them sound like they are merely being pronounced by someone with a heavy speech impediment, they are actually used in day-to-day Panamanian life.

� fren = from the word friend. "you are my friend" - "tu eres mi fren"

� daim = from dime, 10 cents coin.(E.g. Mae prestame un daim.= Lend me a dime buddy)

� camaron = from "come around" meaning temporary or non-permanent work.

� wapin = from "what's happening" – “wapin mi fren"

� parkear = 1. to hang out 2. to park your car

� likibuay = little boy

� guarever= whatever!

� gualet= wallet

� eslipinbag= sleeping bag

� yacama= a jackhammer

� guichi guaiper= wind shield wiper

� porcambín= pork and beans

� char cot= from "short cut". A faster way to get to another place.

� ara bauns= "Out of bounds", when playing American football.

Lastly, here is a list of some slang words that I have invented myself. My hope is that they will save their user time in saying them. I am planning on spreading them to my friends and co-workers so that perhaps (if all goes as planned), by the time you visit Panama you will hear them yourself.

� feeshtee= fish sticks

� espellen bee= spelling bee

� ouch, mi tow= hey, you there. That's my food you are stepping on.

� Sí. I crow-wisp= that's right. I'm a crow-whisperer. What are you gonna do about it?

� super= supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (this one could really catch on)

� feeta= from English term “fetus”. Used in Spanish to describe something roughly the size of a human fetus. (E.g. La fiesta fue feeta=—The party was small. It was the size of a human feetus.

� beestragana= beef stroganoff

� batawata: bottled water

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A Few More for the Road
written by Tony Castellano , September 17, 2008

Clip-Stapler
Blouer-Hair Dryer
Kitin Poder-Baking Powder
Litsi-lu-Crazy Glue
El dia del moco-When Hell freezes over; literally, The Day of the Bugger.
Puro tin-ti-lin y nada de paleta-All talk and no action; literally, Lots of ring-a-ling and no popsicles.

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written by Candice , March 26, 2009

You forget water and recycling. Weren't there five "multicultural" kids on Captain Planet?

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