Latino culture: Interesting tips
Spanish culture can differ greatly from your own. Traveling South America, Spain, or anywhere else can be more enjoyable if you understand the culture of the place you want to visit. For this purpose, we have compiled some fun facts about Latin America that can help you get a hint of the Spanish world.
The same way that foreign languages feel strange to us, some everyday things in American life can seem strange to people in different countries and vice-versa. Something as innocent as tossing a pen can be misunderstood in Spanish culture. We may also be offended by some innocent action or word of a Latin American. In order to avoid misunderstandings when vacationing foreign lands, you will find a few cultural highlights below.
1. In Latin American it is considered impolite to toss things to each other. If you need to give something to a native, make sure you walk over and hand it to them.
2. You may pick up a few slang words while visiting South America, Mexico, or Spain. Just remember that slang words vary from region to region. For example, the slang word for friend in some areas of South America is choche or pana, in Central America it can be pasiero or vato depending on the region and country.
3. Saying the word "stupid" in the English language is common and innocent enough. But in Spanish culture the translation is very strong and offensive. Avoid using the Spanish word for stupid at all times.
4. Don't be offended when Latinos call you a gringo. To them the words simply describes someone as foreign and isn't meant to degrade. The word came from war time when American soldiers wore green uniforms. The Mexicans knew enough to say "Green, go!" in order to express their wishes for the American soldiers to leave. This eventually became gringo and is used for any stranger, especially if you have light hair and eyes.
5. Latin Americans will usually greet friends and relatives more personally than do Americans. They give hugs: even the men! Men usually also greet woman with besitos meaning they touch cheeks while making a kissing noise with their lips. Woman also greet other woman with besitos. These little kisses are purely friendly and have no romantic meaning.
6. When traveling abroad, bargaining for a lower price in markets, small shops, and even for taxi rides is expected. Tourists are often given ridiculously high prices when shopping. Bargaining is a sport and can be very entertaining. So make sure you never accept the first bid. And remember, most things cannot be returned.
Non-verbal Communication in Latin America (hand gestures)
The non-verbal language in Spanish culture is different from the non-verbal culture in the United States. Be careful with hand gestures when visiting other countries. A thumbs-up to someone in the United States might mean something else in a different country.
1. For example, the hand gesture we use for come here, the hand palm up with the index finger extending in and out three or four times, has a very different meaning in Latin America. It means that you are very romantically interested in the person and is considered a solicitation. To motion to someone in Latin America to come here, extend your hand palm down and move all four fingers in and out together three or four times.
2. Watch for the thief gesture on buses when you travel. When standing in the aisles, pay attention to the grandmothers and mothers. They will let you know if a pickpocket is nearby by placing their hand sideways with all four fingers extended, and then moving one finger at a time to touch the palm. It takes only a few seconds to do, but can be important. When you see this hand gesture, hold on to your things!
We hope you have enjoyed these facts on South America and other parts of the world. Understanding differences in Latin culture will help you better understand the people. You will appreciate their openness. The more you learn about the language and the culture, the more you will enjoy your vacation and other encounters with the Latin culture and its people.
Culture does changes from place to place and we do like those culture that differs from our culture usually as its the human nature that what we have we are not satisfied with it willing to ask for more.
Tourists are often given ridiculously high prices when shopping. Bargaining is a sport and can be very entertaining. So make sure you never accept the first bid. And remember, most things cannot be returned.
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if you suspect that something is a scam, make sure that you contact the proper authorities. Your country or state has a proper health insurance department that will handle this for you. We should all do our part in trying to get rid of all these scams that are plaguing people and stealing from them their honest, hard-earned money.
I know some important things of Spanish culture. If you know the Spanish culture then visit the Spain,South America etc. Thanks for highlighting some more Spanish culture point.
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Another nonverbal gesture to avoid is when we make a circle with out thumb and forefinger to symbolize the A-OK idea. In latin america that is considered crude and is considered to be a proposition for sex. You should be careful not to make that symbol to any women in south America.
We do like those culture that differs from our culture usually as its the human nature.We should all do our part in trying to get rid of all these scams that are plaguing people
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You may pick up a few slang words while visiting South America, Mexico, or Spain. Just remember that slang words vary from region to region. For example, the slang word for friend in some areas of South America is choche or pana, in Central America it can be pasiero or vato depending on the region and country.
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These language study tips are a continuation from the Language Learning Tips...Jot down any interesting tidbits about the language or culture.
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According to people Genetics, culture, body language is not in the United States of the language and culture. Be careful when visiting other gestures. In the U.S. people a sign of victory could mean other things in different countries.
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