Intercambio hispano
5,700 Spanish Slang Words: The Secret Map of How Each Country Speaks
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Add a word/Sounds like "PAHL" (as in "park") + "tah" (as in "tar")/
Meaning
Embarrassment or social discomfort from an awkward situation. In Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, palta describes that "I want to disappear right now" feeling when something cringe-worthy happens in front of others. The avocado meaning is separate; this is all about secondhand embarrassment.
Examples
“I was so embarrassed when I forgot her name right in front of everyone.”
“Imagine the cringe when your mom calls you in the middle of a work meeting.”
/Sounds like "PAHL" (as in "park") + "tah" (as in "tar")/
Meaning
Avocado in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador, from the Quechua word. The same creamy green fruit that Mexico and Spain call "aguacate." The "palta vs. aguacate" divide is one of the great vocabulary splits in the Spanish-speaking world.
Examples
“Ponle palta a la tostada, que con un poco de sal está increíble.”
“Put some avocado on the toast with a little salt, it is incredible.”
“La palta está en su punto justo hoy, perfecta para el almuerzo.”
“The avocado is perfectly ripe today, perfect for lunch.”
Regional synonyms
/Sounds like "PAHL" (as in "park") + "tah" (as in "tar")/
Meaning
Intense embarrassment that makes you wish the earth would swallow you whole. In Peru it comes from the word for avocado and describes that uncomfortable feeling that turns you green.
Examples
“So embarrassing when I got the name wrong in front of everyone.”
“I felt awkward asking for their number but I did it anyway.”
Showing 3 definitions, sorted by votes
Community
Your word isn't here yet
Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.
/Sounds like "PAHL" (as in "park") + "tah" (as in "tar")/
Meaning
Embarrassment or social discomfort from an awkward situation. In Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, palta describes that "I want to disappear right now" feeling when something cringe-worthy happens in front of others. The avocado meaning is separate; this is all about secondhand embarrassment.
Examples
“I was so embarrassed when I forgot her name right in front of everyone.”
“Imagine the cringe when your mom calls you in the middle of a work meeting.”
/Sounds like "PAHL" (as in "park") + "tah" (as in "tar")/
Meaning
Avocado in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador, from the Quechua word. The same creamy green fruit that Mexico and Spain call "aguacate." The "palta vs. aguacate" divide is one of the great vocabulary splits in the Spanish-speaking world.
Examples
“Ponle palta a la tostada, que con un poco de sal está increíble.”
“Put some avocado on the toast with a little salt, it is incredible.”
“La palta está en su punto justo hoy, perfecta para el almuerzo.”
“The avocado is perfectly ripe today, perfect for lunch.”
Regional synonyms
/Sounds like "PAHL" (as in "park") + "tah" (as in "tar")/
Meaning
Intense embarrassment that makes you wish the earth would swallow you whole. In Peru it comes from the word for avocado and describes that uncomfortable feeling that turns you green.
Examples
“So embarrassing when I got the name wrong in front of everyone.”
“I felt awkward asking for their number but I did it anyway.”
Showing 3 definitions, sorted by votes
Articles featuring this word
Piropo
+3
A compliment tossed at someone in public, usually about their looks. In Spanish-speaking cultures, piropos range from poetic verses to blunt flattery. How welcome they are depends entirely on context and tone: street piropos are increasingly seen as unwanted in big cities.