Vamos a la playa

[Marianopolita]

It will be officially summer soon in many countries around the world and one of most common past times is to go to the beach, to swim, relax, enjoy some kind of sport, to get some sun etc. I was just reading an article about beaches and thought of starting a thread with some common international beach vocabulary in Spanish.

1/ el mar
2/ la arena
3/ el velero
4/ la costa
5/ los tractores
6/ los vendedores ambulantes (you will also hear "los buhoneros")
7/ los turistas
8/ la polic?a
9/ las conchas
10/ el arrecife
11/ una hamaca
12/ las playas de arena blanca


13/ aguas de blanco, verde, y azul
14/ los corrientes (fuertes)
15/ las banderas de seguridad para avisar del mal tiempo
16/ las sillas reclinables
17/ la playa p?blica, la playa privada


18/ bucear
19/ nadar
20/ practicar deportes acu?ticos * (this varies in Spanish you will also hear "hacer" instead of "practicar")
21/ rastrillar la arena
22/ tomar el sol
23/ deportes relacionados con el viento y el mar
24/ caminar por la orilla del mar


26/ una sombrilla
27/ una toalla
28/ bronceador
29/ gafas de sol


To make this interactive, anyone can add the English equivalent and some more beach related words and activities. Vocabulary may vary but most of the words and short phrases I have chosen are common in the Spanish speaking world.



-LDG.

 

[macocael]

As to entry number six, in DR we call the street vendors "chiriperos" but my wife tells me that a distinction is made between those who have a fixed spot and those who ambulate, but she neglected to tell me which was which! I think that Chiriperos are the ones with the fixed spot. Anyone on DR1 know?

 

[Marianopolita]

Chiripero/ Chiripear-

Maco-

I knew someone would bring up this term. It's a very colloquial term and exclusive to the DR as far as I know to refer to work in the informal sector.


Check out this article. It should answer your question.

http://www.listin.com.do/antes/enero05/110105/cuerpos/ciudades/ciu2.htm


-LDG.

 

[Musicqueen]

Ok...LesleyD...#5 totally stumped me...los tractores... what the heck are the tractors doing at the beach?

MQ

 

[Marianopolita]

MQ- no sabes...

Tractors are used to level the sand thus the term "rastrillar la arena" after they clean the beach. They usually pass early in the morning or very late at night when few people are on the beach.

I have seen this many times on many beaches around the world notably in Cartagena, Colombia and the south of France.


-LDG.

 

[Musicqueen]

I thought it might have been another term for 'sankie'

But, seriously...I have seen them here in So. Florida also...it was just sooo funny when I was reading everything related to the beach and all of a sudden 'los tractores' seemed so out of place!

Thanks for a good laugh!

MQ

 

[Marianopolita]

No te preocupes...

MQ-

Your reaction made me laugh too. It was hard for me to type the response.

I am sure a few may have been thinking the same thing. Oh well all clarified now.


Te cuidas.


-LDG.

 

[Stodgord]

As to entry number six, in DR we call the street vendors "chiriperos" but my wife tells me that a distinction is made between those who have a fixed spot and those who ambulate, but she neglected to tell me which was which! I think that Chiriperos are the ones with the fixed spot. Anyone on DR1 know?

chiripa- I don't know the origin of this word, but it relates to money in the sense of "give me whatever for it".

For example, "cuanto te dieron por eso? me dieron una chiripa (or unos chelitos), ahi.