aficionado
devoted follower of some sport or art; fan; devotee
caballero
1. gentleman; gallant; cavalier
2. horseman
caudillo
military dictator in Spanish-speaking countries
Chicano
American of Mexican descent
conquistador
conqueror
desperado
bold, dangerous criminal
duenna
elderly woman chaperon of a young lady; governess
dulcinea
sweetheart; inamorata
gaucho
South American cowboy
grandee
1. nobleman of the highest rank
2. person of eminence
guerilla
fighter in an irregular military unit engaging in sabotage and harassment
hidalgo
member of the minor nobility (below grandee)
junta
1. council for legislation or administration
2. group of military officers controlling a government after a coup d'etat
3. junto
junto
group of persons joined for a common purpose; clique; group of plotters; faction; cabal
Latino (m.) Latina (f.)
Latin American
macho
man exhibiting machismo (strong sense of masculinity stressing assertiveness, aggressiveness, physical might, domineering behavior, etc.)
matador
bullfighter assigned to kill the bull
mestizo
person of mixed American Indian and European ancestry
peon
1. unskilled worker; landless laborer
picador
rider on horseback in a bullfight who lances the bull to weaken its neck and shoulder muscles
picaro (n.) picaresque (adj.)
adventurer; rogue; vagabond; wanderer
renegade
traitor; turncoat; deserter; defector; apostate
se�or
Spanish or Spanish-speaking man; gentleman; Mr.; Sir
se�ora
married Spanish or Spanish-speaking woman; lady; Mrs.; Madam
se�orita
unmarried Spanish or Spanish-speaking woman; young lady; girl; Miss
stevedore
one who loads or unloads ships
toreador
bullfighter; torero
vaquero
herdsman; cowboy; buckaroo
armada
fleet of warships
bravado
pretense of bravery
cargo
goods transported by a ship, plane, etc.; freight
comradery
friendship, rapport, and good will, as among fellow soldiers; camaraderie
El Dorado
fabulously rich land that 16th-century explorers dreamt of; place of fabulous abundance, wealth, or opportunity
embarcadero
landing place; wharf; quay
embargo
prohibition (of trade)
escapade
daring or unconventional act; adventure; caper; prank
flotilla
small fleet; fleet of small vessels
galleon
large sailing ship used in war and trade
incommunicado
deprived of communication with others, like a prisoner
key
low island or reef, often of coral
squad
small military unit; team; small group formed for a joint effort
adobe
1. brick of sun-dried clay and straw
2. structure made of such bricks
arroyo
1. water-carved, often dry, gully
2. brook; creek
bonanza
1. large and rich mine
2. source yielding an often unexpectedly rich return
bronco
wild or half-wild horse
burro
small donkey used as a pack animal
calaboose
jail, especially a local one
canyon
deep narrow valley with steep walls, often with water flowing through it; gorge
hacienda
1. large estate or ranch; plantation
2. main house on such an estate
mesa
flat-topped rocky hill with steep sides
mustang
bronco
pueblo
1. Native American village of southwestern US
2. communal dwelling of adobe or stone in such a village
sierra
mountain range having an irregular or serrated (saw-toothed) outline
sombrero
broad-rimmed, high-crowned hat of felt or straw
stampede
sudden, wild, headlong rush (as of cattle or people)
bodega
grocery store; wineshop
bolero
1. Spanish dance with sharp turns, stamping, and sudden pauses with one arm arched over the head; music in 3/4 time for this dance
2. loose waist-length jacket worn open at the front
cabana
cabinlike shelter at a beach or pool
cafeteria
self-service or counter-service restaurant; offering that invites consumers to make varied choices
castanets
hand instruments clicked together to accompany music or dancing
fiesta
saint's day celebrated with processions and dances; festival; holiday
olla podrida
highly seasoned meat-and-vegetable stew
patio
paved outdoor dining or lounging area adjacent to a house; inner courtyard open to the sky
pimento/pimiento
thick-fleshed pepper used for stuffing olives and as a source of paprika
seviche/ceviche
appetizer of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice
siesta
rest or nap, usually after the midday meal
taco
tortilla folded around a filling such as meat, cheese, or lettuce
tortilla
disk of unleavened corn or wheat bread
barrio
Spanish-speaking neighborhood
indigo
blue dye
ma�ana
tomorrow; (in) the indefinite future
mantilla
1. woman's light scarf worn over the head and shoulders
2. short cloak or cape
olio
mixture; hodgepodge; medley; olla podrida
pampa
vast, treeless, grassy plain, especially in Argentina; prairie
peccadillo
slight offense; small fault
poncho
1. blanketlike cloak with a slit in the middle for the head
2. waterproofed and hooded raincoat of similar shape
temblor
earthquake