The Puerto Rican Literature Project

A fuego

"On point!" or "Spot on!" in English, both of which convey a sense of approval or agreement.

Alcahueta

"instigator" or "provocateur" in English, referring to a person who encourages or prompts another to engage in a certain activity, often with a negative connotation.

Al garete

"adrift" or "off course" in English. It's used to describe someone or something that is behaving erratically or without direction, similar to "adrift" in nautical terminology.

Besuqueo

"smooching" or "effusive kissing" in English. It refers to the act of kissing passionately or affectionately.

Bomba

A traditional dance of Afro-Caribbean origins.

Caballota

Term used in some Spanish-speaking communities to refer to a woman who stands out or excels in various areas. It can convey admiration and respect for a woman who is strong, capable, and accomplished.

Carpeteo

"snooping" or "espionage" in English, referring to the gathering of information about a person, particularly when they are being pursued, especially for political reasons.

Chinchorro

Term used in some Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in the Caribbean, to refer to a small, informal establishment where people gather to enjoy, socialize, and purchase alcoholic beverages. It can be similar to a tavern or a small bar, often characterized by its relaxed atmosphere and local charm.

Coquito

A traditional holiday beverage made with coconut milk, spices like cinnamon and cloves, and sweetened condensed milk. Often, it's mixed with white rum, giving it a deliciously tropical and creamy flavor reminiscent of eggnog.

Décimas

A poetic stanza consisting of ten octosyllabic (eight-syllable) verses that rhyme following a defined structure (abbaaccddc). The décima has four different sounds following the pattern of the letters identifying the verses.

Enchule

To be deeply in love.

Estar en la brega

"Being in the fight" or "Engaged in the struggle." It conveys the idea of actively participating in a cause or endeavor, often associated with daily work and dedication. Gringo/a/x: a term used to refer to North American people.

Independentismo

Refers to the movement that advocates or demands the independence of a territory from the state to which it belongs. In the context of Puerto Rico, it alludes to the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), which is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's independence from the United States.

Independentista

"independentist" or "independence supporter" in English. It refers to someone who advocates for the independence of the island of Puerto Rico or is a member of the independence party.

Jangueo

Refers to going out and enjoying oneself with friends. It originates from the English term “hang out.”

Jayar/Jayade/Jayarse/etc

Term created by the artist Macha Colón which refers to “show off.”

Jeva/jevo

Girlfriend/boyfriend.

Jíbaro/a/x

White Puerto Rican farmer.

Jones Act

A law signed in 1917. This law granted US citizenship to Puerto Ricans, restructured the central government into three branches, and established that vessels navigating in US waters must be owned by American crews and companies.

La buena

this refers to when a person has good luck or is experiencing a winning streak.

La Junta

"The Board" is a colloquial way to refer to the Fiscal Control Board imposed to oversee the debt restructuring.

La mala

Refers to when things aren't going as desired for a person or when they're going through difficult situations. It could be translated as "a rough patch" or "a tough time".

La monga

Term used to refer to the flu or the common cold in some Spanish-speaking regions. It is characterized by symptoms such as fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, etc. In English, it can be translated as "the flu" or "the common cold".

Macharrán

"brute" or "slob" in English, referring to a man who is bestial in appearance and repulsive in nature.

Mancha de plátano

Refers to individuals of Puerto Rican origin whose anthropological features clearly indicate their roots.

Mongo

Weak, lazy.

Nuyorican

Child of Puerto Rican parents born in the United States, primarily in New York City.

Plena

Popular song and dance invented in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Operación Bootstrap o Manos a la Obra

Governor Luis Muñoz Marín's strategy to develop and modernize Puerto Rico's economy encompassed numerous economic initiatives that began in the mid-1940s. He emphasized industrialization as the development strategy most likely to create jobs quickly and effectively enough to have a significant impact on people's economic conditions. As part of this strategy, he advocated for a shift towards an export-based economy where most of the island's production was directed towards the US market, rather than the local market. https://library.brown.edu/create/modernlatinamerica/chapters/chapter-12-strategies-for-economic-developmen/puerto-ricos-operation-bootstrap

Parranda

"musical gathering" or "caroling" in English. It's a festive gathering where people go from house to house playing music, singing, and celebrating together.

Perreo/Perrear

"twerking" or simply "grinding". It's a dance usually performed to the rhythm of reggaeton, characterized by erotic hip movements, and when danced in pairs, the man typically positions himself behind the woman with their bodies very close together.

Pichar

Term that stems from “pitcher” and refes to the action of ignoring a person or a situation.

Poesía slam

A poetic tournament where poets compete by reciting short poems.

PROMESA

The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) created a legal framework to restructure Puerto Rico's $74 billion debt and established the Financial Oversight and Management Board, locally known as "La Junta". https://www.populardemocracy.org/PROMESAHasFailed

Trovador

Popular creator and improviser, author of the typical décimas of Puerto Rican folklore.

Trulla

Group of carolers who, during Christmas time, go out to have fun at different friends’ houses.

Voceteo

"car audio tuning" or "vehicle audio enhancement" in English. It refers to the process of enhancing the capabilities of a sound system installed in a motor vehicle to reach high decibel levels in music playback, typically for the purpose of competing with others, showing off, intimidating, etc.