Mexican

In Mexico the language is called español. Mexicans seldom say castellano, although the word is understood and is the usual name in some other countries.

To say “well done” in Mexico you can say Bien hecho or Buen trabajo. For a bigger achievement, Felicidades means “congratulations”.

In Mexico you greet a guest with bienvenido for a man, bienvenida for a woman and bienvenidos for a group.

In Mexico basketball is basquetbol, sometimes written básquetbol with an accent. In Spain the usual word is baloncesto.

A mule is mula (female or in general) and mulo (male) in Mexican Spanish. The mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey.

The word for vanilla in Mexican Spanish is vainilla. It is feminine, so it is la vainilla and helado de vainilla for “vanilla ice cream”.

In Mexico people say Coca or Coca-Cola for a Coke, as in “una Coca”. Soft drinks in general are refrescos. When you order, una Coca, por favor is enough.

In Mexico people usually say rasurarse for “to shave” and rasurar for shaving someone or something.

A cucumber is a pepino in Mexico. A small pickled one is a pepinillo. Mexicans eat pepino sliced with lime, salt and chili powder as a snack.

In Mexico “be careful” is Ten cuidado to a friend or child and Tenga cuidado to a stranger or elder. A quick warning is ¡Cuidado!