What They Didn't Teach You in Spanish Class: Slang Phrases for the Cafe, Club, Bar, Bedroom, Ball Game and More

Dirty Everyday Slang

by Juan Caballero

Packed with slang words, phrases and expressions not found in any textbook, this fun-to-read handbook teaches the casual, everyday language heard in the cafes, bars and streets of Spanish speaking countries. No one actually speaks the formal Spanish taught in school, which makes this book a must have for anyone looking to chat with the locals without sounding like a robot. Published as an attractive, small trim hardcover, this handy phrasebook makes the perfect gift for travelers and students who want to fill the gap between the Spanish they are learning in class and what is really spoken in Spain, Mexico, Argentina and other Spanish speaking countries.

Genres: Spanish Literature, Language, Reference, Nonfiction, Travel, Linguistics, Self Help

200 pages, Hardcover

First published July 8, 2017

Reviews

[Gry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader's copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads, and what a pleasant surprise it was! I mean, what's not to love about a phrasebook that teaches you to express your craving for all-you-can-eat tacos? I majored in Spanish, have taught Spanish/English bilingual and English as a second language classes, and have family members from Panama, so I have actively used my language skills through the years--enough to be already familiar with many of the words and phrases in this book and to recognize it is a legit resource. Spanish is nonetheless my second language, so I still picked up a good number of new words and phrases as well. The author is very knowledgeable about the regional variations in slang and addresses them in a way which is easy to understand. The chapters are also well-organized and easy to use. What I especially loved about this book is that the English portions are written in slang as well, making for a most entertaining read--I don't remember the last time I used the word entertaining to describe a reference book, if ever! In fact, this so much more than just a phrasebook or quick reference. This book is a laugh-out-loud funny socio-linguistic study of Spanish slang. The cultural commentary the author includes in each chapter is every bit as important as the vocabulary, if not more so. The only thing that could possibly make this gem of a book better is perhaps some sort of index at the end. Highly recommended!

[Peaches “Sonny Boy” Googulash]

The author’s “fun little descriptions” of things from his misogynist cishet male perspective almost made me throw up. Fucking sucks because I wanted to learn from this book, but it’s not worth it because my aim when speaking Spanish isn’t to sound like a sexist piece of shit.