Dominicanisms

The people say that Dominican is a language all its own, that it’s so different from Spanish (for confirmation, ask Megan who came to visit me after living in Spain). So here are some special Dominican colloquialisms.

• “Yo vivo pa’lla.” – “I live over there.” This can mean anywhere between two houses down the street or in the neighboring community. Apparently there is no need to be specific in the Dominican Republic.
• “Estoy buscando una cosa.” – “I am looking for something.” Once again, specificity is not a valued conversation piece.
• “Mi amor, mi corazon, mi vida, mi reina, mi princesa.” – “My love, my heart, my life, my queen, my princess.” Used to refer to your significant other, your child, your friend, your neighbor, or just the random stranger walking down the street.
• Nonverbal forearm in a horizontal position and then a fist pump. – “I’m doing well, how are you?”
• Nonverbal arm stretched out, palm raised. – “What’s up?”
• “PSSSSSSSSSST” – “Hey, look over here!”
• “Nueva Yol” – Puerto Rico, the United States, New York, Boston or any other slightly related country/city.
• “Bañarse” – In normal Spanish, this means “to bathe.” In Dominican, this also means “to swim.” On trips to the beach and river, this can be extremely confusing.
• “Si Dios quiere.” Literally translates to “God willing,” but used in the context “I don’t want to go to that meeting, so I’ll go if it’s God’s will” (if someone says this, don’t expect them to show up).
• Nonverbal scrunching up the nose – “I didn’t hear you. Please repeat what you just said.”
• Nonverbal pursing your lips together in a specific direction, more commonly known as the lip point – Just as it sounds, pointing to a person or thing without using your finger.
• “Coño, Diablo” – cuss words. One of these is probably used in every single sentence spoken by every single person in the DR. There’s a two year boy in Baoba and these are the only two words that he knows how to say.
• “Dame” – “Give me.” There is no “Lauren, can I please borrow your straightening iron?” or “Lauren, I’m thirsty. Can I please have a glass of water.” It’s “Give me your hair dryer. Give me water. Give me $500 pesos.”
• “¿Qué me trajiste?” – “What did you bring me?” I get asked this anytime I leave and then return to Baoba. Everyone wants me to bring them back gifts. At first I felt guilty, like I should’ve brought back all 1,500 people a gift every time I left for a day trip to the neighboring town. But now I simply respond with “el mismo que tú me guardaste.” (the same thing you saved for me) aka nothing.


There are also random US brand names that have been adopted into the Dominican vocabulary:
• Pahmpeh: diapers/Pampers
• Pezi: Pepsi
• Cloro: bleach/Clorox
• Jogu: yogurt
• Tepi: masking tape
• Polo che: t-shirt (and confusingly enough, a “tee-che” means polo shirt with a collar)
• Steeekeh: sticker