Michael Peter

Earrings are aretes in Mexico. Arracadas are larger decorative or hoop earrings, while pendientes is the common word in Spain.

In Mexico the name Sophia is Sofía, with an accent on the í. It is a popular girl’s name and a friend may use the short form Sofi.

In Mexico jeans are usually jeans, said close to “yins”. The more formal term is pantalón de mezclilla, where mezclilla is denim.

In Mexico the everyday word is temblor. Officials and news use sismo, and terremoto is kept for a very strong, destructive quake.

In Mexico people say Feliz Halloween. The word is borrowed from English and written the same way.

William is Guillermo in Spanish, and Mexico uses the same name. The most common Mexican nickname is Memo, and Guille is also heard.

Water is agua in Mexico. The word is feminine but takes el in the singular: el agua fría. Agüita is a diminutive that sounds friendly or caring.

In Mexico more is más, the same as in all Spanish. Add un poco más for “a little more”.

Winter is invierno in Mexico. In much of the country it is mild, but in the central highlands and the north nights can be cold enough for frost.

In Mexico gossip is chisme. The verb is chismear, and a person who loves gossip is chismoso for a man or chismosa for a woman.