Caló Language for Zoot Suit
The pachuco language is partially derived from rhyming games that create new meanings for standard Spanish or English words. For example, “lisa” means “shirt” as a result of rhyme camisa/lisa. Similar plays on words occur throughout the play: calmantes montes; “¿Qué pues, nuez?. The latter literally means, “What’s up, walnut?”, but might translate as “So what, nut?” if we are to keep the rhyming flavor of the language
agüites Usually, “No te agüites,” meaning “Don’t get down,” “Don’t be sad.”
bato/vato dude
cabrón cuckold, pimp, SOB
calcos shoes
carlango coat
carnal flesh (brother)
chale no
chavalos youngsters
chingada violated one
chingar to violate
con safos same to you
ese man, dude
frajo cigarette
gabacho/gavacho caucasian/white foreigner (same as gringo)
garras rags (meaning clothes, drapes)
Huisa date, girl (rhyme with Lisa?)
joto gay, queer
la jura police
lisa shirt
maricón gay, queer
nel no
oralé (horalé) hey, let’s go, hurry up, step on it, wtch out, hello, ok.
Pélenle Split! Run!
pinche darn (a mild expletive)
¡Rifa! The Best!
Símon yes
tacuche suit (zoot suit)
tando hat
tramos pants
trucha trout (be careful, be hard to catch like a trout)
verdolaga literally means pigweed or purslaine, or “spread like wildfire,” but used for “green” or “naive” in caló
watcha watch, observe, look