Carl Bobby

In Mexico people invite you in with Pásale or Pásele. The plain Pase and Adelante also work everywhere.

The word for “shadow” in Mexican Spanish is sombra. It is feminine, so you say la sombra and una sombra larga.

In Mexico the standard way to say “nice to meet you” is Mucho gusto. A man can also say Encantado and a woman Encantada.

Christmas Eve is Nochebuena in Mexico, which means “good night”. The greeting is Feliz Nochebuena.

A crocodile is a cocodrilo in Mexico. In some regions people also say lagarto for the large river reptile. An alligator or caiman is a caimán.

Garbage in Mexican Spanish is basura. The trash can is the bote de basura, or just el bote.

Heaven is cielo in Mexico. The same word also means sky, so context shows which one is meant.

My name is mi nombre in Mexican Spanish. It is used when you talk about the name itself, not when you introduce yourself.

The usual word for “party” is fiesta. In Mexican slang a lively party is a reventón or a pachanga, and a big one is a fiestón.

In Mexico “tall” is alto for a man or a thing and alta for a woman. The same adjective describes buildings, trees and people.