Ars Longa Vita Brevis

Super Spanish Terms and Words

 Achatado: Humiliated, someone who lost his honor (Refers also the lesson of the act of  honorable members of Ashanti Clan who threw themselves from the slave ships or hung themselves in their own barracks instead of accepting be a  slave)

Alma(o) : Soul, spirit

Azul :  blue

Babalao: Man of religion in Lucimi language

Bacalao: Cheater, who lives a easy life

Bacán yada Bacana: Good man;honest, polite, generous

El Barrio: Neighborhood. ( Also refers for the Latin neighborhoods like Bronx and Harlem at 1940 where latin people came and lived with their culture)

Bemba: Big lips of black people

Beso: Lips, kiss

Borinquen: A term to show love in Puerto Rico

Cara: Face

Co(ó)mo : Like (How)

Conjunto: Names of groups performs Son

Corazón : Heart

Descarga: Free, natural music. A technique taken from Jazz bands and adapted to Cuban music.

Frio: Cold

Gringos: In Latin American language North American.

Guajiro(a): Cuban villager

Guapo: A man feared of ready to fight, fearless at the mean time good looking, and well dressed man

Hoy : Today

Jibaro: A general term used for Puerto Rican

Malandro, Malandrin: The gangsters of the neighborhood

Montuno: A rhythm free part of son used mostly in 1920`s and 19302`s

Ninó(a) : Child

Olvidar : to forget

Pregón: Street sellers, also used for the music performers in streets.

Rumbero: Someone who needs to dance to live

Rumbiar: to dance

Salsero(a): Salsalover

Salsoteca: A place who holds a valuable collection of salsa and  Afro-Caribbean music.

Sandunga: Salt and pepper.They are also symbols of the Cuban music.

Santero: Man of religion in rituals of Santerio

Saoco: Joy needed to play Caribbean music

Soledad : Loneliness

Soneo: The lead and interaction of singer between chorus and musical instruments

Sonero: Singer with the talent of Soneo

Yores, Yores Estaites: New York

Some parts  were taken from the book of Hernando Calve Ospinas’s SALSA –The Fire of Havana