Michael Peter

In Mexico a mop is trapeador. The verb is trapear, to mop a floor. Spain uses fregona, which Mexicans do not normally say.

In Mexico the sweet food is miel. As a term of endearment people say mi amor, mi vida or cariño. Miel is rarely used as a pet name in Mexico.

In Mexico a disco or nightclub is most often called an antro in slang. The neutral word is discoteca, and disco is also understood.

In Mexico a speed bump is a tope. The more technical term is reductor de velocidad. Drivers say cuidado con el tope when one is ahead.

The heel of the foot is talón in Mexico. The raised heel of a shoe is tacón, and high heels are tacones. Say Me duele el talón for a sore heel.

In Mexico spinach is espinaca, usually used in the plural, espinacas, when you mean the leaves. The word is the same across Spanish.

In Mexico a jellyfish is medusa. On the coast people also say agua mala, literally “bad water”, especially for the ones that sting.

In Mexico a library is biblioteca. Do not confuse it with librería, which is a bookstore where you buy books.

In Mexico a surprise is a sorpresa. At a party people shout ¡sorpresa! when the guest of honor walks in, and a nice reaction is ¡qué sorpresa!

In Mexico tennis shoes are simply tenis, always in the plural. You can also say zapatos tenis.