Dichos, Dichos, Maximas, Dichos and Fun and interesting terms used by our Dominican native speakers in their everyday conversations. Many of these sayings and words are very difficult to understand, but when you finally get the idea, they can be quite funny.
When using these idioms in the Dominican Republic, be sure toto pronouncelike a Dominican and make sure you laugh at yourself. That way, people will know you're joking so they don't mislead you. Over time, you will get to know the Dominican way better and speak in the true Dominican way.
*At good hunger there is no hard bread – (When you are very hungry, no bread is too difficult to eat) Where there is a will, there is a way.
*A red horse does not look at the teeth - Never look at a gifted horse in the mouth
*The lack of bread, cassava, says the people. – (When there is no bread, eat cassava, people used to say) Make up your mind with what you have.
*A la brigandina – do something quick
*A turtle's pace – (Walks like a turtle.) When someone is too slow.
*Open throttle – (Open throttle.) Run away. Full throttle.
*To sleep with the chickens – (To sleep with the chickens.) Go to bed at the same time as the chickens. Go to bed very early.
*Amarrando la chiva – (literally means to tie up the goat) Don't do anything when you should be working, because tying up a goat is very easy
* Tie dogs with sausages – (Tie dogs with sausages) Be very naive and give opportunities to enemies.
*Oh my mother! – (literally oh my gosh!) An exclamation meaning “oh man!” or it can also mean like Wow! a kind of expressive comment of surprise
* Caerle a la conga – (Literally playing drums) Jumping on someone with the intention of hitting them
*How are we? – peasant way of saying how are we? How are we today?
* How is it? – How are things going?, How are things going?
*Know the lame sita'o - (Literally, recognize the cripple even when sitting). Knowing someone's intentions when they haven't told anyone. (updated by Rachel)
*Cuando cuca bailaba – When people refer to the good old days. When they talk about the old days.
*Cure in health – Practice prevention even before there is a problem
*Give yourself shine little chain that your mojo arrives - Shine now because your day will come
*After the apology, no one is wrong – After the apology was given, everyone got along
*E’ palante que vamo – Let's go ahead (electoral campaign slogan)
*E' pa' fuera que va - Go out (electoral campaign slogan)
*The car was debaratao' - When a car receives a violent crash
*He who walks with a dog learns to bark - Who walks with a puppy will learn to beat
*The one who wants pretty bows has to hang out – (literally: If you want beautiful hair, you have to tie it well) If you want something, you have to work hard to get it.
*Enter to eat eyes – to go – Between a rock and a hard place
*Better to be alone than in bad company – Better to be alone than in bad company
*Even the mother of tomatoes knows it – (Everyone knows even the mother of tomatoes.) Everyone knows it,
*I am delivered in ……….. – as if to say “I am up to my eyes in ___ (something-fill in the blank).
*Old hen makes good broth – (Old hen makes good broth.) To express that a mature woman has more experience and this increases her sexual attractiveness.
* Play the crazy goat. Make a fool of yourself and be unconscious. Being irresponsible.
*Ir por la sombrita – Walk in the shade of a tree
*Tarzan's mom – used to describe something pretty or a beautiful person
*La piña está agria – (literally: The pineapple is sour.) When something is hard (hard)
*Llego la lu – (Here come the lights!) What is said when the light returns.
*Caught roasting sweet potatoes – (Caught roasting sweet potatoes.) Caught with his pants down
*What goes, well – (What goes, comes) What goes, comes
*Hotter than an old woman would get into a party
*Gives me dirt. - I'm scared of it
*It made me iron - when a person does not go to something to which they have committed.
*The devil took me -(literally: o diabo me levou) I am condemned
*They have me in a jerk – when someone says I'll see you soon or I'll be there soon.
*Neither with God nor with the Devil – Neither with God nor with the Devil
*Neither fú nor fá – when something is congested or stuck, you cannot go forward or backward
* Niagara by bike - overcoming many obstacles, going down the waterfalls by bike. No translations available. (updated by Rachel)
*Don't Take A Hit – don't attack or don't work
*No problem. - No problem
*No' vemo- (We're leaving) – I'm leaving.
*Never say that water I will not drink Maybe one day you will regret those words.
"A nail drives out another nail" (literally means "a nail drives up another nail"). It's used when you're hungover and need another drink to get better. "Hair of the dog that bit you" is the English equivalent.
*Pa’ followed – immediately; immediately
*Bird account. – People will call you that if you are not a very trustworthy person. Bird size: this one is even less reliable than the first one.
* For the deck! - Very good; excellent; excellent!
* Trying and what if - Trying is how you will know
* What an appetizer. – Used when something is amazing
* What milk! – If you win the lottery or get a good job, say so. Sort of like saying you're on cream now.
*What what? – the same as what's up? And there? What's going on'?
*Know more for being old than for being a devil – To say that old age gives wisdom
*Pull out your feet - move away from a person
*He ran away – (literally foi embora running) run fast, accelerate at full steam, fast
* It was brought by the presenter – more or less as if you brought it yourself. When someone has a big problem, the answer is this (you made your bed and now you sleep in it)
*God willing – God willing. Not necessarily religious. I think it's used in case it doesn't go as planned, so the person feels like he can always use that as an excuse, "God didn't want this to happen."
*If the cow is sold by kilos, why buy the whole cow?- If you can buy the cow by kilos, why buy the whole cow? (referring to having a woman for the night or forever)
*If you take Brugal, you resolve or fight. – If you drink Brugal (rum), fight or have sex.
*Ta que echa chip'pas - (literally throw sparks) means to be angry.
*Te llamo pa' tras - (in real Spanish - call back) I will call you back
*I know you cod, even if you come in disguise-I know you even if you are in disguise, "you cannot hide your intentions from me"
*Te subi lo vidrio – (Literally: close the window) when you are tired of talking to someone or when you don't want to listen to them, you close the window in their face.
*I have a start - being in a bad economic situation
*tililí-tililí – repeat the same thing or story several times
*'Toy feo pa' la foto – (exact translation – I'm ugly for the photo) things couldn't go worse for me
*You are very jedióndón and delicate -You are very difficult to please
*You're like a hot pepper -You're fucking crazy
*Tu ta’ pasao -“You really crossed the line now!” more like a warning that a fight was about to break out. (added by Rachel)
*Tu ta' muy quitao de bulla – What is a carefree person called
*Vamo do a chorus – “Vamos ficar juntos e sair”
*Vamos pal pley – Let's play. It refers to baseball, the "pley" is actually what they call the baseball field. (updated by Rachel))
*Vamos a Ver, quisas ahorrita – (Let's see, maybe later) when a Dominican really doesn't want to do something, but doesn't really want to say no.
*I'm cool with that – “I have doubts about isso”, to doubt something.
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In an interview with former President Hipólito Mejía, the president was informed that "bread has become very expensive," to which Hipólito replied "man does not live on bread alone, he eats bananas and cassava." “We are a country of eating ‘bananas’
Leonel Fernández campaign slogan – “E’ Pa Fuera Que Van” – “And go ahead / go ahead”
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Put a Dominican slogan or image on t-shirts, women's tank tops, briefs, thongs, hoodies, mugs, baby clothes, hats, and even dog-sized clothing. If you want, you can even make your own design and place it on an article. Or buy an already designed item. If you want articles related to the Dominican Republic, do a search for Dominican Republic and there are pages of articles. Look at them.
