In his speech on Monday night, 21 October 2019, President Medina used the word “penco” to describe the PLD presidential candidate, Gonzalo Castillo. This word has set social media on fire, with thousands of tweets, memes and remarks.
The word is not common usage, and many Dominicans checked online dictionaries online to get the meaning. The Real Academia Española, the leading Spanish language dictionary, defines “penco” as a clod or stupid person.
In the southwest of the Dominican Republic and in many of the rural areas, nevertheless, the word means “great” or “strong.” Medina when describing Castillo as a “penco candidato” was describing him as a strong candidate.
The discrepancy in the definitions, nevertheless, lead to many memes and jokes.
Referring to his winning the candidacy after just a two-month-long campaign, President Medina highlighted the strengths of Castillo. “Gonzalo, fellow party members, is a phenomenon. As our fellow party member Lidio Cadet has said, Gonzalo is a ‘penco de candidato’,” said Medina. “Gonzalo is going to win. Have no doubts,” Medina told his followers on Monday evening.
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El penco candidato y el yo de Danilo
23 October 2019