I am going to cover several Spanish words that you will not find in your typical learning-Spanish vocabulary book. But I assure you that they are words that native Spanish speakers use.
The first one I want to share with you because I heard a Gringo (American) here in Medellín make a mistake with this vocabulary word this morning when I was in the “gimnasio” (gym). The “error” (mistake) was actually “muy chistoso” (very funny) or as they say here in Medellín “muy charro” (very funny).
After working-out in the “gimnasio” today, I heard the American say to his friend “Voy a bañarme. Estoy sudado. Estoy muy pegado!”
How To Say I Am Going To Take a Bath In Spanish
The first sentence “voy a bañarme” literally means, “I am going to bathe myself”– it is still correct. In Colombia, it is common for people to use the verb “bañarse” instead of “ducharse” (to shower yourself) — although one is actually going to shower instead of taking a bath.
How To Say I Am Sweaty In Spanish
His second sentence was also fine:
Estoy sudado.
I am sweaty.
Note that you may also hear native Spanish speakers use the phrase “estoy sudoroso” to say “I am sweaty.” If you want to sound a bit more formal then say “estoy traspirado” or “estoy transpirando.” It is the equivalent of saying “I am perspiring.”
But his third sentence – “estoy muy pegado!” – literally means “I am stuck!” And I am sure that what he really meant to say is “Estoy muy pegajoso!” Which means “I am very sticky!”
So that´s the correct way to say, “I am sticky.”
Estoy pegajoso.
Unless, of course, you really want to say, I am stuck: estoy pegado.
Which reminds there are Spanish words related to “pegado” and “pegajoso” which you may want to know.
One word is “pegamento” (glue).
Another is “pegar” (to glue).
Los niños utilizaron pegamento para pegar sus dibujos.
The children used glue in order to glue their drawings.
Another word is “pegao.” Pegao is actually a Puerto Rican slang word which means “close” as in to dance close. After being popularized by Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Wisel & Yandel’s hit recording called “Pegao” young people all over Latin America are now familiar with the word pegao and its meaning “to dance close” or “to dance glued.”
Puerto Ricans also have a second meaning for the word pegao:
Crust of the rice found at the bottom of the pot.
This reminds me of how it is so common to find that in different Spanish speaking countries they have different words which mean the same things.
When I still lived in New York City, I noticed that although my Puerto Rican friends used the word “pegao” for cruncy rice, I noticed that all my Dominican friends used the word “concón” for crunchy rice that sticks to the bottom of the pot.
And when I used to live in Barranquilla, Colombia, I would hear the word “cucayo” used for the crispy layer of rice that is scraped from the bottom of the pot. But here in the Medellin, they call it “pegao” – just like Puerto Ricans call it.
And Cubans use the word “raspa” to refer to the rice crust stuck to the bottom of the pot. “Raspa” apparently comes from the Spanish verb “raspar” which means to scrape.
Here’a pic of pegao, concón, cucayo or raspa.
As a fellow American, I know just what you are thinking after looking at the above picture . . .
From the viewpoint of an American, I know that pegao, concón, cucayo or raspa looks more like food that you´d throw away in the “basura” (garbage) and less like something you’d actually want to eat.
But trust me, pegao, concón, cucayo or raspa is a “plato” (culinary dish) that’s very “delicioso” (delicious) and it also happens to be one of my favorite dishes.
I eat it with “frijoles” (beans) – or as they say in D.R. (República Dominicana) and Puerto Rico “habichuelas” (beans). I eat the beans “encima de” (on top of) my pegao.
I even eat it as a “plato fuerte” (main dish) with “carne” (meat), “pollo” (chicken) or “pescado” (fish) and a portion of “aguacate” (avocado).
And by the way, it may look like burnt rice, but properly cooked pegao is not burnt. OK, I admit, maybe it is a little scorched.
Before you embarrass yourself by asking for pegao, concón, cucayo or raspa in a Latino restaraunt, I should warn you that this is not a dish served in restaurants. PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS but my guess is that it is a dish more commonly served in the homes of the “humilde.” “Humilde” is the politically correct way or non-offensive way to call someone poor in Colombia and other parts of Latin America.
If you are interested in learning how to cook pegao, concón cucayo or raspa, I have found a “receta” (recipe). Here´s how to cook it “estilo dominicano” (Dominican style):
http://www.cocinadominicana.com/1213/como-preparar-concon-perfecto.html
Before you attempt to cook pegao, concón or cucayo, let me give you some “consejo” (advice) Do NOT try to cook it in a regular “olla” (cooking pot). You have to use a special “olla” (cooking pot) called a “caldero.”
I know this from personal experience.
A “caldero” is a traditional cooking pot that Latinos use for cooking rice. It reminds me of the Dutch oven that I used to see my mother cook with when I was a child.
You can purchase “calderos” on-line or if you live in a neighborhood with many Spanish-speakers you can probably find it in a local “supermercado.” Here’s an Amazon.com link if you are interested in purchasing a “caldero”
