Mexican

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 a camping tent is often called casa de campaña, literally “field house”.

The common Mexican word for a vegetable is verdura. Hortaliza is more formal and appears in writing about farming.

In Mexico “to jump” is brincar in everyday speech and saltar in more neutral language. Both are understood everywhere.

In Mexico a “lawnmower” is a podadora. The longer neutral phrase is cortadora de césped. Both are understood, but podadora is the everyday Mexican word.

To say “you’re beautiful” in Mexican Spanish, use Eres muy hermosa for a woman or Eres muy guapo for a man. Qué bonita eres is a warm, common alternative.

The word for son is hijo. In Mexico parents and grandparents often say mijo, a short form of mi hijo, as a warm way to address a boy or a grown son.

In Mexico the standard daytime greeting is Buenos días, used until about midday. After noon people switch to Buenas tardes.

In Mexico “tuna” is atún. Canned tuna is atún enlatado and is widely eaten as a quick meal, for example in tostadas de atún.

In Mexican Spanish “Jesus” is Jesús. It is the name of Jesus Christ and also a very common given name for boys and men in Mexico.