The key pillar, the person who holds everything together. Used in Mexico and Central America. Calling someone a puntal means they are indispensable: remove them and the whole structure, whether a team, a family, or a project, starts to fall apart. It is one of the highest things you can say about someone's role in a group.

To work or try incredibly hard, to give everything you've got, body and soul. Whoever 'se mata' doesn't rest until they see the results of their effort.

A thing, any random object whose name you can't remember or don't know. In Costa Rica and Nicaragua it's the wildcard word for any gadget or thingamajig.

To entrust yourself to God or the saints before doing something dangerous. In Mexico and Central America, before a difficult journey or surgery, you 'encomiendate', asking for divine protection.

In Central America, a snobby or pretentious person who acts like they are upper class when they are not. The fufurufo walks around with their nose in the air, looks down on people who are not dressed well enough, and performs a social status they have no real claim to.

To chat about everything and nothing at once, especially with friends, believing you can solve all of life's big problems in one conversation.