Explore playful sounds, vivid compounds and informal words with their real meanings.
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Expressive Spanish words with playful sounds
A word can sound amusing without being a joke. Cachivache names a useless or awkward object; chirimbolo is an informal name for a thing whose name you cannot recall.
Labels for people can be unkind. Tiquismiquis and tragaldabas should be understood before being used about someone.
el tiquismiquisfussy person · el tee-kees-MEE-kees
el tragaldabasbig eater (informal) · el trah-gahl-DAH-bahs
el cachivachethingamajig (useless object) · el kah-chee-BAH-cheh
el chirimbolowhatsit · el chee-reem-BOH-loh
la zarandajatrifle (insignificant thing) · lah sah-rahn-DAH-hah
el trastojunk item · el TRAHS-toh
la chácharachitchat · lah CHAH-chah-rah
el barullohubbub · el bah-ROO-yoh
Spanish words for sounds and lively reactions
Las cosquillas is normally plural. Un chapuzón is a dip or plunge into water; un achuchón is a strong affectionate squeeze.
For other ways to describe people and reactions, see feelings.
el alborotocommotion · el ahl-boh-ROH-toh
el patatússudden faint (informal) · el pah-tah-TOOS
el achuchónbig squeeze (hug) · el ah-choo-CHOHN
el chapuzóndip (into water) · el chah-poo-SOHN
las cosquillastickles · lahs kohs-KEE-yahs
el hipohiccups · el EE-poh
el estornudosneeze · el ehs-tor-NOO-doh
gruñóngrumpy · groo-NYOHN
quisquillosofussy · kees-kee-YOH-soh
Spanish compound words with memorable meanings
Some compounds make their function visible: sacapuntas sharpens pencils, and rompecabezas names a puzzle. Their literal parts are memory aids, not definitions to use in English.
Many of these keep the same written form in the singular and plural: el paraguas, los paraguas.
el sacapuntaspencil sharpener · el sah-kah-POON-tahs
el paraguasumbrella · el pah-RAH-gwahs
el paracaídasparachute · el pah-rah-kah-EE-dahs
el rompecabezaspuzzle · el rrohm-peh-kah-BEH-sahs
el trabalenguastongue twister · el trah-bah-LEHN-gwahs
el abrelatascan opener · el ah-breh-LAH-tahs
el sacacorchoscorkscrew · el sah-kah-KOR-chohs
el espantapájarosscarecrow · el ehs-pahn-tah-PAH-hah-rohs
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Funny Spanish Words: full list
Review the meanings, pronunciation and usage notes, then use the printable worksheet to recall the Spanish.
Quick answer:fussy person is el tiquismiquis, big eater (informal) is el tragaldabas, thingamajig (useless object) is el cachivache, whatsit is el chirimbolo, trifle (insignificant thing) is la zarandaja, junk item is el trasto, chitchat is la cháchara, and hubbub is el barullo.
