70 Galician words and expressions you should know

The region of Galicia is very rich culturally. Let's get to know its sayings and expressions.

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

Expressions and words in Galician (and their translation).

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

Aperta.

The Spanish translation is: Abrazo.

2. Agarimo.

Agarimo means affection.

3. Barallocas.

Who talks a lot, but only talks nonsense.

4. Arroiar.

When it rains a lot and does not stop.

5. Arroutada.

Venada. To do something spontaneous and not very sensible.

6. Brétema.

Fog. The sonority of this word is precious.

7. Enxebre.

Something pure and very authentic, unsullied. I usually hear it in contexts where people talk about rural areas.

8. Feitiño.

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

9. Ledicia.

Joy.

10. Luscofusco.

It is nightfall, when the light is going away and all the shadows appear.

11. Orballo.

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

12. Quérote.

I love you.

13. Rabudo.

Said of an irascible and bad-tempered person.

14. Ruliña.

It is a little bird, but especially grandparents and older people usually call you "miña ruliña" as my dear girl.

15. Saudade.

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

16. Toxo.

It is a word that translates in Spanish to its common name "tojo", but it has another meaning, "ser un toxo or estar hecho un toxo means to be an edge, to have a bad temper".

17. Xeito.

Translated literally as "manner", "ability" or "skill", it explains that to do things with xeito is to do things well and with art.

18. Trapallada.

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

19. Sentidiño.

To do things with sentidiño is to do things with prudence and care.

20. Sarabia.

Hail.

21. Rosmar.

Something similar to grumbling. "As when you protest in a low voice and your angry muttering is heard but not what you say, which is usually not good." 22.

22. parvo.

Foolish.

23. Morriña.

Missing the homeland and home.

24. Luar.

The light of the moon.

25. Fochicar.

To rummage, specifically "into something you shouldn't".

26. Espantallo.

A scarecrow. "But it is also said to people who are ungraceful or in the way".

27. Chosco.

To become half-blind or cross-eyed by making an effort with the sight.

28. Bico.

Kiss.

29. Coger en el colo.

To catch in the arms or to catch in the lap.

30. Reseso bread.

Revenido bread or hard bread.

31. Estar en el chollo.

To be on a roll, to be doing very well in the work field.

32. Aínda por riba.

And even above, expression of being fed up with a subject.

33. Toro de merluza.

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

34. Cazo.

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

35. Malo será.

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

36. Pocillo.

In Galicia, the coffee grounds are called "pocillo".

37. A mayor.

In addition to or above, to go beyond.

38. Coso.

It is as the Galicians would say "eso" pásame eso or pasame el "coso" ese, other regions can also say "cosa".

39. Pota.

In Galician lands a pota is a pot.

40. Esmagar.

To crush or to crush, it can also mean to repress according to the context.

41. Vertedero.

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

42. Rapante.

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

43. Fuchicar.

To try to do some work without knowing how to do it, or to tell someone who does not know how to do it.

44. Esnafrarse.

To give oneself a good blow or to fall on one's face.

45. Riquiño.

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

46. Fozar.

"Stop farting on the computer, you're going to ruin it for me". In Spanish it would be something like "hurgar" or "trastear".

47. Miñaxoia.

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

48. Coitado.

It is said to someone who is naive and also has bad luck.

49. Pailán.

It is as it was denominated to somebody of field, a little brute or not very clever.

50. Seica.

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

51. Chafallada.

A botched or very sloppy looking job, a chafallada!

52. Prea.

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

53. Afouteza.

To perform any action or act without fear of dangers or difficulties, this word is also part of the Galician version of the Celta de Vigo's anthem.

54. Esmorga.

It would come to say something like an exaggerated amusement "to go out at night of esmorga", for example.

55. Escarallar.

It would be the equivalent in Spanish of to spoil or to break "se me escaralló el coche".

56. Estar doente.

Doente is hurt but by adding the verb "estar" the meaning changes slightly, it would be used when something has hurt us emotionally.

57. Carallo.

The translation would be "carajo" and is used in the same context. "Hace un sol de carallo".

58. Larpeiro.

It is said to the person who likes to eat in abundance or who is gluttonous.

59. Fariña.

The translation would be "flour" and in Galicia they use it to refer to the cocaine, this expression caught much force in all Spain by the homonymous television series.

60. Bolboreta.

Butterfly, word used to speak of someone who is gawking.

61. Lareira.

Chimney, especially it refers to old stone chimneys that are located in the kitchen.

62. Cheirar.

To smell or to stink, you can smell good or bad but cheirar refers to smelling a lot.

63. Sapoconcho.

A very curious word to refer to turtles.

64. Polbo.

Pulpo, when you go to Galicia and you want to be served this dish it is polbo and not pulpo.

65. Pirola.

It is the term that they use in Galicia to speak of the penis, especially if it is of a boy.

66. Mamalón.

When someone is lazy or not given to work, he is a mamalón.

67. Pinchocarneiro.

It is used as synonymous of tadpole, but mainly to refer to a somersault or a caper.

68. Lambecús.

It is said of the one that is a "ball" or does whatever it is to obtain the favor of a third party.

69. Pelouro.

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

70. Trapalleiro.

Refers to when someone is a liar or a charlatan, " that guy is a trapalleiro".