The Street-Wise Spanish Survival Guide: A Dictionary of Over 3,000 Slang Expressions, Proverbs, Idioms, and Other Tricky English and Spanish Words and Phrases Translated and Explained [Paperback]

Eleanor Hamer (Author), Fernando Díez de Urdanivia (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1602392501 | ISBN-13: 978-1602392502 | Publication Date: August 1, 2008 | Edition: Bilingual

If you were dropped into the middle of Managua, Mexico City, or Miami, would you know how to speak not only the language, but also the lingo? In The Street-Wise Spanish Survival Guide, the reader who is already familiar with Spanish will discover the banter and metaphor (both polite and rude) that enrich the spoken language as it is really used, hints on avoiding embarrassing mistakes in grammar, and a list of dreaded false cognates. Full of advice on pronunciation and tips on customs and manners, and keyed with time-saving symbols, this is the best guide available to understanding and appreciating Spanish as it is spoken in Latin America and the United States.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eleanor Hamer is a writer and a teacher. She is currently the official translator for Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Mexico City. She lives in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Fernando Díez de Urdanivia is a Mexican-born writer, journalist, and teacher of both English and Spanish. He lives in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing; Bilingual edition (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602392501
• ISBN-13: 978-1602392502
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Slang & Idioms

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top tips for Mexican Spanish, August 17, 2009

By 

Ted Pastrick (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Street-Wise Spanish Survival Guide: A Dictionary of Over 3,000 Slang Expressions, Proverbs, Idioms, and Other Tricky English and Spanish Words and Phrases Translated and Explained (Paperback)

I am a high-intermediate, low-advanced Spanish speaker living in Los Angeles, CA. I've had the opportunity to speak with many native Mexicans, both living here in the US and those still in Mexico. Comparing this book to say, the "Speaking Spanish Like A Native" pair of books and the Savvy Gringo books, as well as several other "street-wise" approaches, I rank this at the top of my list, both for its organization and its fidelity to the subtle meanings of Mexican Spanish. To give an example, from the Speaking Spanish Like A Native books I was given to believe that "¡Qué gacho!" means, "What a bummer!". Yet from using that phrase with Mexicans, I find it corresponds more often with how this book defines "gacho": a bad dude, not someone worth befriending.

It should be stressed that this book is aimed at the person who's interested in the nuances of Mexican Spanish, as the title of this review suggests. I'm sure it would serve as a useful book for general Spanish, but it excels in teasing out the everyday meanings in Mexico.

As for the organization of the book, it provides Spanish to English lists for phrases, English to Spanish lists for those phrases, lists of phrases that can stand alone, phrases that are usually accompanied by other clauses or structures, and phrases that are always accompanied by other clauses. Having tried so many other books, all of which have something to offer, it's my opinion that this book is the best place to jump into Mexican Spanish. ¡Ándale pues!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding, December 8, 2009

By 

JudyB (Ohio) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Street-Wise Spanish Survival Guide: A Dictionary of Over 3,000 Slang Expressions, Proverbs, Idioms, and Other Tricky English and Spanish Words and Phrases Translated and Explained (Paperback)

Extremely helpful, especially for the Spanish spoken in Mexico. Have found it invaluable for understanding the slang heard in telenovelas. Love the dicho section. Would recommend it to anyone.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and educational, May 17, 2009

By 

George G. Olive (Andrews, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Street-Wise Spanish Survival Guide: A Dictionary of Over 3,000 Slang Expressions, Proverbs, Idioms, and Other Tricky English and Spanish Words and Phrases Translated and Explained (Kindle Edition)

Have you ever been in a Spanish conversation where you just don't understand why everybody is laughing? This book can't explain every innuendo but will give you an understanding of the basic concepts behind common plays on words.

Do you already speak some conversational Spanish and wish to avoid sounding dumb? This book can help. Some words are fine in the classroom but inappropriate in some conversations. If you need to discuss eggs, don't use the word 'huevos', for example.

Are you planning to visit Mexico and need some blunt advice? This is also discussed. For example, when to bribe and how much. Answer: Best to have some friendly native arrange the details. It's too easy to insult the cop and end up in more trouble. But if you must, the phrase used is 'what can we do to take care of this situation?'

I can't vouch for the accuracy, since I'm a Spanish language enthusiast and not an authority, but I enjoyed it.