Chilenismos-English/English-Chilenismos Dictionary & Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks)

Although Castilian Spanish is the official language of Chile, this South American nation is known for having a great number of words and phrases that are distinct from other Spanish-speaking countries. In fact, the Spanish spoken in Chile is often indecipherable even to native speakers of Castilian Spanish. For example, only in Chile would you say: "Están cayendo los patos asados" (Roast ducks are falling) when the weather is hot. This dictionary and phrasebook prepares tourists, businesspeople, and anyone spending time in Chile for such idiosyncrasies.

• Historical and cultural information on the Chilean "dialect"
• An explanation of grammar and distinctive speech patterns
• Useful sections on Anglicisms, food & dining, and travel
• More than 1,500 Chilenismos words and expressions