Colombia Glossary

C

China what Columbians call Chinese women.

Chino what Columbians call Chinese men.

Chivas multicolored minibuses, the most common mode of transport in Colombia.

F

Fondas old country houses turned into restaurants, usually found in the Antioquia region.

G

Gringo what Colombians usually call the Whites or Caucasians. This is just an expression, not a derogatory term.

H

Hágame el favor please

M

Mochila traditional Colombian backpack or hand-woven bag, a popular buy from the markets.

Muchas gracias thank you

N

Negro usually means black or refers to black people in other parts of the world, but in Colombia, this may refer to anyone regardless of the race. While it is disrespectful to call someone a negro in other countries, in Colombia, it is a commonplace

P

Por favor please