I’m an admirer of Cuban culture. I love how Cubans, Cuban-Americans, and other Latinos incorporate English words into their particular brand of Spanglish. 
Note: some of these are just “disparates” I’ve heard over the years. Please accept this blog entry with the affection with which it was intended.
The Growing Cubonics List:
This is just a starter list; please enter your own below and I’ll add them.
Food:
Ambége = hamburger
Otdó = hot dog
Quácke = Quaker Oats
Conflé = Corn Flakes, or ANY cold cereal
Sángweesh = sandwich
Esláy = Slice
Quéi = cake
An actual sign from a Little Havana bakery
Products:
Bibaporrú = Vick’s Vapor Rub
Bébi Yónson = Johnson’s Baby Shampoo or Baby Aspirin
Pécksi = Pepsi
Esprái = Sprite
Colgáteh = Colgate toothpaste
Construction:
Tinsé = Thin Set
Chípi Jáme = chipping hammer
Chi Ró = sheet rock
El Fórley = the fork lift
La Casina = lacquer thinner
Automotive:
Esparplú = spark plug
Páwed Estíri = power steering
Fígaro = fill it up
Picó = pickup truck
Transpoteíchon = junk car “jalopy” only good for “transportation”.
Businesses:
El Públi = Publix
Blu Cro Blu Chiz = Blue Cross Blue Shield
Macdóna = McDonald’s
Toy Serao’ = Toys ‘R’ Us
La Vaquita = Farm Stores
El pollo del viejito = KFC
El Cuiche = Quick Chek (defunct grocery store chain from the Winn-Dixie family)
Guindíci = Winn-Dixie
Jofú = Whole Foods
Cóco = Costco
Besbái = Best Buy
Papayón = Papa John’s Pizza
Picksa Hó = Pizza Hut
Dónki Dónah = Dunkin Donuts
Household items:
Pin-pam-pum = fold away bed
Frijidáire = any refrigerator (Frigidaire)
Technology:
Lató = lap top
Copiúti = computer
Places:
Mayamidéi = Miami-Dade
Cora Géibo = Coral Gables
Coco Nogró = Coconut Grove
Jónste = Homestead
Déilan = Dadeland
Tirate al mar = Miracle Mile
Ayuda de Juan = US1
Nodee = Northeast
Noweh = Northwest
Sauee = Southeast
Saueh = Southwest
Miscellaneous:
Jónle = homeless
¿Guasápeninmeng? = What’s happening man?
Guarejáu = warehouse
Flonquear = to flunk a class
Day care = take care
Dayó = day off
Ícotá = income tax
Da sol = That’s all
Cóli = college
Bueno, da sol for now. Please add your own below! Day care.
Steve
CONSTRUCTION
Wiril – Weed Eater
Gampao – Compound
Bais Bol – Base Board
FOOD
Eslay – Slice
Berberkin – Burger King
BUSINESS
Toy serao – Toys ‘R’ Us
Guarenjau – Warehouse
Lol..I need to bookmark this post for future pop ups in my head.
Food:
Sprite = Espriy
Products:
Robitussin (cough syrup) – Rubytuseen
Buenísimo!
Growing up, my family always said “El pollo del viejito” when referring to KFC.
And I was always told never to stick my finger “en el chucho de la corriente.”
My beat up Ford LTD in high school was “un transpotachion.”
and my room was full of tarecos.
I can go on….
El Chucho de la corriente. LOL.
you forgot LACASINA for Lacquer thinner
LOL! Ines, that’s hilarious.
How about…
El pisicorre – the station wagon
El qui-che (quick check) the predecessor of WinnDixie
Flonquear – flunk a class
I’m sure I can think of more…
Another popular grocery store chain in Miami is Wíndíci, as is the more upscale Jófú.
rayqenpi = rack and pinion (car)
dayo’ = day off
incota’ = income tax
lato’ = lap top
coli = college
quei = cake
big lost = big lots (Marisela Verena)
saca = soccer
Please fix my spelling of cubonics if these words make to the final dictionary!
Ecuby du
Enake
In honor of my late father-in-law, his favorite Cubonics word ever was:
sonamambiche – son of a bi%^h
Cambia Cambia: Remote Control
Conflei: Corn flakes, or any cereal at that.
Vacuum: bacum cleaner
I just came back from the mechanic because my van was overheating. He changed the radiator and also put new “antifre”.
on april FISTIN tienes que FAILEAR el “LINCOLN TA” named after the president yo creo
JONLES = Homeless
MAYAMIDEI = Miami-Dade
CORA GEIBO = Coral Gables
COCO NOGRO = Coconut Grove
JONSTE = Homestead
DEILAN = Dadeland
ño, Sal Picao, te la comiste!
Again, I am here at El Exqisito Restaurant, and I’ve just ordered a “CONTEIN” to take my food home (container).
One more!
BéBaBión= Bed Bath & Beyond
How to orient yourself in Miami
NE= Noree
NW= Norueh
SE= Sauee
SW= Saueh
One more
Ayuda d’ Juan= US1
No one told bout this..my uncle says it all d time..Lol
Love this! … We have a grocery store called “Food Lion”. Local Latinos call it “Food Leon” – not sure how widespread that is. LOL
That’s a good one. South Florida does not have Food Lion, but if we did I have a feeling it would be “Fulái” in Cubonics.
Brillant! Reminded me of my Cubonics childhood in Miami! Love it!
Okay, my freng, I have a few to put for consideration in your Cubonics dictionary.
First, a couple blasts from the past:
Gran Joonion – Grand Union
Saire – Zayre’s
These came into my mind today:
El Mol de los Judios – 163rd Street Mall – this is one my parents used.
El Farito – Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Sansgiving – Thaanksgiving, of course
Sank joo beri mooch por putting this together! I love Cubonics! Although, I’m surprised, you haven’t made a fan page on fb yet! LOL
“No me trabaja el low en el condichiner de aire.” The low function doesnt work on the air conditioner.
Just saw this on Facebook: jonrón = Home run
My personal fave: “Viva Peru” (Vick’s Vapo-Rub)
• Tankento = Stan Kenton (great Jazz big band in the 50s)
• Zico = Zip Code
• Liti = Lipstick
• Aycri = Ice Cream
Rey, you are clearly fluent in Cubonics.
And don’t forget the popular hardware big box store: Don Pipo (Home Depot)!
Every time I go to the mechanic (cubanazo), I learn something new. Today he said that my radiator needed a “flucheo”. That means to flush the fluid, to clean, and to put new fluid.
eeees ok, sankyu!
Sorry con escuse mi!
My grand mother use to say it all the time!
Pin-a-sol > Pine Sol
Dee jing > I go to Dee Jing
Maik: Dees ees guay joo loo so goo, beecoss joo aulweis go too dee jing.
Thanks for making me laugh! ;0)