Vincent Gordon

The plural in Mexico is hongos, and the supermarket white ones are champiñones. Setas is the Spanish word used in Spain.

In Mexico “how much” is ¿Cuánto? To ask a price say ¿Cuánto cuesta?, and at a market or food stall Mexicans often use ¿A cómo?, as in ¿A cómo el kilo?

For size, “medium” is mediano (or mediana before a feminine noun) in Mexican Spanish. For a steak cooked medium, you ask for término medio.

The bobcat is called lince rojo in Spanish, and in Mexico many people also say gato montés, which means “mountain cat”.

The general word for corn is maíz. In Mexico a fresh ear of corn is an elote and the kernels served in a cup are esquites.

In Mexico a bear is an oso, and a female bear is an osa. A teddy bear is un osito de peluche, using the diminutive osito.

In Mexico “snake” is often víbora, especially for dangerous ones. Serpiente is the standard word and culebra is used for a harmless snake in many places.

In Mexican Spanish “mama” is mamá, with the stress on the last syllable and a written accent.

Mexicans say Qué padre or Qué chido when something is nice. Bonito describes a pretty thing and amable describes a kind person.

The plural is huevos. Mexican menus have many egg dishes, such as huevos rancheros, huevos a la mexicana and huevos divorciados.