Any Spanish speaker, regardless of proficiency level, will tell you that Yucatecos have a unique way of speaking. Besides the accent that sets us apart anywhere in the country (and even beyond), in Yucatán, we use particular expressions that might sound a bit puzzling to first-time listeners. Today, I'll be sharing some of our most common phrases.
Something we undoubtedly enjoy, even more than Marquesitas (a local treat), is chatting. You might hear someone start a conversation with “Oye, ven acá”. While most Spanish speakers would hear “hey, come here” and justifiably believe someone’s asking them to come closer, a Yucateco just wants you to pay attention. In other words, it's our own, longer version of “hey.” When talking about relatives, you might hear, “¿De qué te toca?” which is literally “What does they touch you of?” but is actually closer in meaning to “what are they to you?” So, for example, “¿De qué te toca?” “Es mi primo (He’s my cousin)”.
I saved for last a phrase that, in my opinion, is one of the most representative of Yucatecos. Many know it as “Negociante”, others as “Negocio“. Look them up in a dictionary, and the translation is clear cut: one is “business person,” the other one is “business.” But in Yucatán, they refer to anything whose name doesn't need to be mentioned: “Pásame el negociante” or “Pásame ese negocio (Pass me the Negociante/Negocio”. The key is to understand that “el negociante” is universal and applies to literally anything in sight. For example, you're in the kitchen, and your mom asks you to pass “el negociante”, pointing, either with her eyes or her finger, to an object like a spoon or a pot. Therefore, you must pay close attention and try to grasp which object is meant when this expression is used.
Similarly, there's the verb “negocear” (not to be confused to the actual Spanish verb “negociar”, which means “to negotiate”): “lo negoceó hasta que lo rompió” would be something akin to “they fiddled with it until they broke it,” but “fiddle” here is an unspecified action that is understood within the context in which it is used. It's worth noting that these Yucatecan expressions or idioms are used in an informal and everyday context, and many people, aware that they’re not easy to understand, will make sure not to use them if it’s clear you’re not a local. But if you’re looking to embrace the culture and expand your vocabulary, make sure to start using them; before you know it, you'll be speaking like a true Yucateco, no matter where you go or where you come from.
If you want to see more, check this Guide to speak like a Yucatecan.
Photography by Alicia Navarrette, Sara Alba, Cecilia García and Yucatán Today for use in Yucatán Today.