Lost in Translation: Decoding Unique Cuban Expressions

Cuban expressions are rich, descriptive and fun. They can also be very confusing… unless you’re Cuban.

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I would like to share some of my favorite Cuban expressions and help you understand how to use them so that next time you’re with Cubans “you will be finishing” (everyone will be very impressed with you).

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Cubans express surprise, indignation, amusement, shock, dismay and dozens of other expressions with the statement “this has no name” (esto no tiene nombre).

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A Cuban doesn’t tell someone he is “fortunate,” he tell him to “hit yourself on your chest with a brick” (date con un ladrillo en el pecho.)

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Cubans don’t say “a place is empty,” they’ll say there were “only four cats there” (nada mas habian cuatro gatos.)

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Cubans don’t think you “have enough of something,” they think you have it “through a tube and seven keys” (por un tubo y siete llaves).

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A Cuban won’t tell you he “doesn’t understand,” he’ll tell you “now you’ve put it in Chinese” (ahora me los has puesto en Chino).

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Cubans don’t think “old people are wise,” they think “the devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil” (mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo).

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Swipe up to learn more!

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