The word "flow" in Dominican Spanish

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FritoBandito

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Dec 19, 2009
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I've seen this used in business names in Sosua, e.g., "El Flow" and the now defunct "X-Flow" and in entertainers' names.....is its meaning similar to "rap" or something like that??????????? :confused:
 

keepcoming

Moderator - Living & General Stuff
May 25, 2011
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Funny...I was in line the other day at the supermarket and I heard someone say " el tengo su flow " (something like that) and I was wondering the same thing???? My son explained to me kind of like the person was doing good, he has his "thing" going on?? Anyone else hear this?
 

SKing

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Nov 22, 2007
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A friend commented on a pic of mine in FB
"Una morena con flow"

So obviously, something great :)

SHALENA

P.S. seriously, its the equivalent of "swagger" in AA Ebonics.
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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i am not sure it "means" anything. there are few american words that made it into dominican language, many people say "cash" instead of "efectivo", for example. i think that maybe "flow" is heard in songs and thus made it into daily vocabulary...
 

El Tigre

El Tigre de DR1 - Moderator
Jan 23, 2003
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Dominicans and their adapting to American slang LOL...they even have a pizza joint in Santiago now called Flow Pizza. However, the place is not known for it's pizza but for it's daiqui (sp) drink. Daiqui places are becoming more and more comon in Santiago from what I have seen and hear.
 

Africaida

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Jun 19, 2009
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I think that it is Puerto Rican slang that crossed over, cause I've heard in PR back in 2006.
 

NALs

Economist by Profession
Jan 20, 2003
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Shouldn't this thread be in the Spanish 101 forum?
 

Givadogahome

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Sep 27, 2011
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I use the word 'flow' (along with several other broken up words) from a Dominican as a sign he has been deported, and come across it most when they pass my house or are hanging around the local store asking for work. A massive generalization but I've nothing to lose and so I use it as such.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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Urban popular speech

My take on el flow is that it comes from the numerous vocabulary specific to Puerto Rican reggaeton which peaked as a genre between 2004-2008 (the genre's popularity has somewhat leveled off but that's a different topic).

The original meaning of the word as used by reggaetoneros is mucho estilo (as in the sense of modern) and mucha rima in the music context are the main definitions. Any usage in other contexts are derivatives of the original meaning.

It's no surprise to me that this word is popular in the DR. A lot of the PR urban vocabulary is heard in the DR and in parts of the USA.


-Marianopolita.
 

TStroman3

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Sep 11, 2011
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Huh- for someone who thought I was pretty hip to the verbiage and lifestyle of a younger generation- I am now having a rude awakening.... am I really getting older??? I never imagined becoming my Mother- in that sense!
 
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