Five Dominican words that come from English

1- Partner: Pana

Dominicans use the word "Pana" to refer to a good friend or companion.

Examples:

• Carlos es mi pana: Carlos is my friend.

• Voy a salir con lo’ pana: I'm going out with my buddies.

• Dímelo mi pana: Tell me, my friend.

2- The watchman: El guachimán

"Guachimán" or "Guachi" is a word used to refer to a security guard or a person in charge of security.

Examples:

• El guachi trabaja de noche: The watchman works at night.

• ¿Dónde está el guachimán?: Where is the watchman?

• El guachi está durmiendo: The watchman is sleeping.

3- Church chat: chercha

"La chercha" is a Dominican expression used to refer to a moment among friends to have fun or a joke.

Examples:

• Estamos en chercha: We're hanging out.

• No es verdad lo que dice Carlo, es charcha: What Carlo is saying is not true, it's just joking.

• Estoy cherchando: I'm socializing.

4- Tape: teipi

"Teipi" is used to refer to adhesive tape or sticky tape. It is a colloquial and locally recognized term in the Dominican Republic to describe this type of tape.

Examples:

• Tengo que comprar un teipi: I need to buy some tape.

• Necesitas un teipi: You need a tape.

• Usamos el teipi en nuestra casa: We use tape in our house.

5- Party watcher: pariguayo

"Pariguayo" is a term used to refer to a naive, foolish, or easily manipulable person. The story goes that when the American soldiers were in San Pedro, they would engage in activities in the town. One day, it was one soldier's turn to be the lookout, and a Dominican asked him why he wasn't dancing. He replied, "I am party watcher," and the Dominican thought, "Oh, he's the pariguayo who doesn't dance at the party."

Examples:

• No te dejes influenciar, no seas pariguayo: Don't let yourself be influenced, don't be easily manipulable.'

• Tienes que ser menos pariguayo: You have to be less of a fool.

• Me siento pariguayo: I feel like a fool.

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