As you may know, many languages have adopted anglicisms: English words that become part of another language. Usually these words have equivalents in Spanish and keep their original meaning, but not these ones. Not only don’t they have the same meaning… some of them don’t even exist in English!

6. Feeling (good vibe, connection)

Maybe this one refers to the feeling of that “connection”, who knows.

I met with Alex, but we didn’t connect.

Quedé con Alex, pero no hubo feeling.

7. Footing (jogging)

This one is a Little old-fashioned, because most people now use running. But for the longest time Spaniards always went footing, even if it doesn’t mean the same as in English.

I go jogging every day.

Hago footing todos los días.

8. Friki/friqui (geek, nerd)

Although the newest versión of the DRAE Spanish dictionary now wants us to spell it with a “q”, the word friki is usually a mix of “freak” and “freaky” although used with a different meaning. In this case there is another change in word class, since “freak” and “freaky” are adjectives while the Spanish friki/friqui is used more as a noun.

He was a geek a geek without many friends.

Era un friki y no tenía muchos amigos.

9. Lifting (face-lift)

Spanish just omits the “face” part and goes straight into the “lifting” portion of the surgery.

Many women are having facelifts.

Muchas mujeres se están haciendo liftings.

10. Panties (pantyhose, tights)

The spanish word panties comes from the word “pantyhose”, but the word “panties” in English means another garment of women’s underwear.

She always wears tights with her dresses.

Siempre lleva panties si lleva vestido.

11. Parking (car park, parking lot)

Parking is a case of a verb tuned noun. The magic of the Spanish language.

I left my car at the car park/parking lot.

Dejé el coche en el parking.

12. Playback (lip-synching)

This term comes from the English “playback singer”, a singer whose voice was pre-recorded for use in movies. However in Spain it adopted a different meaning.

She isn’t a good Singer, so she has to lip-synch.

No es buena cantante, así que tiene que hacer playback.

13. Puenting (bungee jumping)

This one is pure gold. It is another Spanish-English hybrid, where the word puente (bridge) got an added –ing at the end.

Bungee jumping is an extreme sport.

El puenting es un deporte extremo.

14. Tuning (accessorizing, customizing)

This word derives from “tuning up”, although in Spanish it means customizing and embellishing a vehicle. Do you remember that MTV called “Pimp my ride”? Well, in Spain it was called MTV Tuning.

He likes custumizing his car.

Le gusta hacerle tuning a su coche.

15. Zapping (channel hopping, channel surfing)

This one probably derives from the expression “to zap the TV channels”.

I don’t know what to watch, I’m channel surfing.

No sé qué ver, estoy hacienda zapping.

Learn Spanish in Valencia!!

Text: Tatiana Pérez (traductora)