80 Galician words and expressions that you should know

Galician culture is one of the most interesting in the entire Spanish territory: they have their own language, their own climate and their own way of seeing the world around them.

Many of the words that Galicians use may sound totally incomprehensible to the rest of Spaniards and Spanish speakers.

• It may interest you: "90 Mexican words and expressions (with their meaning)"

Expressions and words in Galician (and their translation)

That is why we have thought it essential to make a selection of the 70 Galician words and expressions The most relevant and that you should know before venturing into Galician lands, can be very useful on more than one occasion. We accompany them with their translation into Spanish.

1. Open.

The Spanish translation is: Hug.

2. Agarimo.

Agarimo means affection.

3. Barallocas.

Who talks a lot, but only says nonsense.

4. stream.

When it rains a lot and it doesn't stop.

5. Arrouted.

deer. Do something spontaneous and unreasonable.

6. Brethema.

Fog. The sound of this word is beautiful.

7. enxebre.

Something pure and very authentic, unsullied. I usually hear it in contexts where the rural is talked about.

8. Feitino.

It is said a lot to small children but also in the sense that he is neither handsome nor ugly, he is cute, cuqui, feitiño.

9. Ledicia.

Happiness.

10. luscofusco.

It is dusk, when the light is fading and all the shadows appear.

11. Orballo.

Another word for rain. The translator of the Xunta de Galicia defines it as "drizzle". “When it rains very little, a dew.

12. love you

I love you.

13. pintail.

It is said of an irascible and moody person.

14. Rulina.

It's a little bird, but especially grandparents and older people often call you "miña ruliña" as my beloved girl.

15. Say hello.

It is a kind of melancholy and longing that have to do with love.

16. Toxo.

It is a word that translates in Spanish to its common name “gorse”, but it has another meaning, “to be a toxo or to be made a toxo means to be rude, to have a bad temper”.

17. Xeito.

Translated literally as “manner”, “ability” or “knowledge”, it explains that doing things successfully is doing things well and with art.

18. Trapped.

It is defined as a badly done thing, without meaning or importance.

19. sensible.

To do things sensibly is to do things prudently and carefully.

20. Sarabia.

Hail.

21. Rosmar.

Something similar to grumbling. "Like when you protest in a low voice and you hear the angry mutter but not what you say, which is usually not a good thing."

22. parvo.

Silly.

23. Homesickness.

Missing the native land and home.

24. luar.

The light of the moon.

25. Fochicar.

Poke around, specifically "in something you shouldn't".

26. scare

A scarecrow. “But it is also said to people who are not very attractive or who are in the way.

27. shocking.

Going blind or cross-eyed from making an effort with your eyes.

28. bico.

Kiss.

29. Catch in the colo

Pick up in arms or pick up on lap.

30. Resale bread

Tempered bread or stale bread.

31. Being in the bargain

Being mounted, doing very well in the field of work.

32. Aínda by riba

And even above, expression of fed up on a topic.

33. Hake bull.

The definition according to the RAG would be a circular portion of meat (toro means slice).

34. Saucepan.

Deep utensil to cook the soup that in other parts of Spain is called a ladle.

35. It will be bad.

Galician expression that encourages us to be optimistic in the situation in which we find ourselves.

36. well.

The coffee grounds in Galician lands are called the well.

37. To older.

In addition or above, pass to majors.

38. Arena.

It's like the Galicians would say "that" pass me that or pass me the "coso" that, other regions you can say "thing" too.

39. squid.

In Galician lands a pota is a pot.

40. esmagar.

To crush or crush, it can also mean to suppress depending on the context.

41. Dump.

In certain areas of Galicia the sink is called that, it comes from the Galician word vertedoiro.

42. rapante.

This is the name in Galicia for the fish that in the rest of Spain is called Gallo.

43. fuchicar.

Trying to do some work without knowing how we should do it, or to tell someone that they don't know how to do it.

44. snag

Take a good hit or fall flat on your face.

45. yummy.

"Do you like it? I don't know, although it is very rich”. Something tasty but neither good nor bad.

46. force.

"Stop forcing on the computer, you're going to ruin it for me." In Spanish it would be something like rummage or mess around.

47. Minaxoia.

The literal translation would be "mijoya" and it is used to say that someone is naive or innocent.

48. Comitted.

Someone is told that they are naive and also have bad luck.

49. Pailán.

It's what someone from the countryside was called, a little brutish or not very smart.

50. dry.

It would be something like "it seems to be" or "it is said that".

51. squashed.

A botched job or a very sloppy-looking job, a botch job!

52. Prea.

When someone who is dishonest, a liar or not to be trusted.

53. afouteza.

Carry out any action or act without fear of dangers or difficulties, this word is also part of the Galician version of the Celta de Vigo anthem.

54. Smorga.

I would come to say something like an exaggerated fun "going out at night in esmorga", for example.

55. scalar.

It would be the equivalent in Castilian of spoiling or breaking "the car crashed."

56. be smart

Doente is hurt but adding the verb "to be" the meaning changes slightly, it would be used when something has made us feel bad or has caused us emotional damage.

57. Carallo.

The translation would be "fuck" and is used in the same context. “It's a sun of carallo”

58. Larpeiro.

The person is told that he likes to eat abundantly or that he is gluttonous.

59. Farina.

The translation would be "flour" and in Galicia they use it to refer to cocaine, this expression gained a lot of strength throughout Spain due to the television series of the same name.

60. Bolboreta.

Butterfly, word used to talk about someone who is stunned.

61. Lareira.

Fireplace, especially refers to old stone fireplaces that are located in the kitchen.

62. Cheirar.

Smell or stink, you can smell good or bad but cheirar means that it smells a lot.

63. Toadconcho.

A very curious word to refer to turtles.

64. Polbo.

Octopus, when you go to Galicia and want to be served this dish it is octopus and not octopus.

65. Pirola.

It is the term used in Galicia to talk about the penis, especially if it belongs to a child.

66. sucker.

When someone is lazy or not very given to work, they are suckers.

67. Meat skewer.

It is used as a synonym for tadpole, but above all to refer to a somersault or a caper.

68. Lambecus.

It is said of the one who is a "ball" or does whatever it takes to get the favor of a third party.

69. Pelouro.

Word used to say that someone suffers from baldness, a "pelouro" a "bald".

70. Trapalleiro.

It refers to when someone is a liar or a charlatan, “that boy is a trapalleiro”.

71. Stay like a Pepe.

Be very comfortable and satisfied after eating.

72. It sucks, what a shit.

If it rains, let it rain. Expression used to designate a situation with which we have to settle.

73. Pole pan dances or can.

For the bread, the dog dances. When someone does something out of pure interest.

74. Galiña vella fai bo broth.

old hen makes good soup. It is used to praise older people for their experience and wisdom, especially women.

75. Late piaches!

Expression that we use with someone who gives his opinion on a subject when what he can say is no longer relevant or it is too late for it to be taken into account.

76. Chegar e encher.

It is used to designate a situation in which someone gets somewhere and achieves success in a very short time.

77. It was not going to be a demo.

Expression equivalent to "just in case" or "just in case". We use it to indicate that it is convenient to be cautious before something bad happens.

78. Be smarter than an allo.

To be smarter than garlic. Designate someone we think is very smart or smart.

79. What's up?

Literally "it is what it is". An expression of resignation to accept everything that happens to us.

80. I march that I have to march.

"I'm leaving, I have to go." We use it to clarify that we are leaving because it is our obligation, not because we want to.