What is the best part about living in a Spanish-speaking country that is highly influenced by “Nueva York” (the US), and working at a bilingual school, and having friends that speak Spanish, English, or a combo?
Spanglish, that’s what!
I do not mean the type of Spanglish were gringos add an o to the end of an English word to make it Spanish, but rather a mexcla of Spanish and English in a single sentence. The ideal Spanglish sentence would be equal part Spanish and equal part English, but the reality is that a gringo speaks mostly English with un chin of Spanish tossed in, while the vice versa is true of the Dominican.
Es dificil to transition from Spanglish to full-on English when communicating with la familia y los amigos back home. Por eso, I have created a guide to Dominican Spanglish (because some of these are Dominican-only words) should you encounter a bizarre word in your correspondence with me.
Bizcocho (noun) – cake
Let’s head to La Tinaja for some of that delish carrot bizcocho.
Bomba (adj?) – cool
“Que lo que?” “Bomba!”
This chocolate chip cookie is bomba!
Casi (adv?) - almost, quasi, -ish
The bizcocho is casi done; the middle just needs un chin mas tiempo.
I’m feeling casi enferma.
Chin (noun) – small amount
No wonder you’re so flaca, you only eat un chin.
Chin chin (noun) – really small amount
“Would you like some arroz y habichuelas?” “Claro, but only un chin chin, because I’m not that hungry.”
Chulo (adj) – cute, cool
Check out her shoes! Que chulo!
Claro (adv) – of course, clearly
“Would you like some chinola juice?” “Claro que si.”
Creo (verb) – I believe
“Do you know when the party starts?” “Creo que 7 o’clock Dominican time, so we should get there around 8.”
Dime (verb) – tell me, what?
“Hey! Miss Rachel!” ”Dime.”
Eso es (verb) – that’s it
Put some more hip action in that merengue. Eso es!
Lindo (adj) – pretty, cute
Look at your new hair cut! Que lindo!
Mira (verb) – look, listen to me
Mira! It’s one of my students over there.
Mira, if you want to survive in the DR you need to learn Dominican Spanish.
Permiso (noun) – excuse me, get out of my way
[Several people and a moto are taking up the entire sidewalk and you need by.] “Permiso!”
Permiso, but could you tell me if this mango is ripe?
Pero (conj) – but
I really need to get some work done pero I would rather take a nap.
Que lo que? – what’s up
“Que lo que?” ”Bomba!”
Tranquilo (adj) – peaceful, quiet
It’s so tranquilo up here in the mountains without all the noise of the motos and colmados.
“Que lo que?” ”Tranquilo.”
Ya (adv?) – already, that’s it, done, ready, now
“Are you ready yet?” “I just need to get dressed, put on my make up, y ya.”
[You're getting on the back of a motoconcho.] “Listo?” “Ya.”
I'm a Texas transplant in the Dominican Republic. I daily attempt to 
hahahahaha I REALLY enjoyed this entry. I can hear you saying all of those things. I can’t wait to hear you say them all the time in PERSON!
[...] these funny eyebrows. In lieu of having to translate myself all the time, let’s compromise by reviewing my favorite words that I tend to throw around and learn some new [...]