Julie Reed

Good for Mexican Spanish, April 13 2002

This book has some major flaws, but it can be quite useful, and it is the only dictionary I've seen of its kind. It includes many of the most commonly used Mexican words, such as chamarra (jacket), chaparrito (under chaparro, a short person), guera/guero (a blonde or white person), and cochino (has many definitions, but can mean dirty/ slobbish, or a pervert). Next to each definition it also says which country the word is used in. However, it does nothing to explain the context in which the words are used. The word "chaparrito" is used affectionately rather than as an insult. The word "cochino" is usually used jokingly, when poking fun at someone. These are important distinctions, but this… Read more