The official language of Chile is Spanish, and few Chileans outside of the tourism industry speak more than rudimentary English -- so bone up on a few handy phrases before arriving. Chileans appreciate the effort, and really, part of the fun of traveling is learning the local lingo.
That said, even Spanish speakers have a difficult time understanding singsong, high-pitched Chilean Spanish, which has grown to be known as chilensis for its rapid-fire delivery and heavy use of local phrases and slang. The most notable peculiarity about Chilean Spanish is the merge of the formal vosotros with the casual tu verb forms, which over the centuries has created a verb tense unique to this country. Chileans use "tu estas," or "tu comes," but it's very common to hear instead "tu estai" or "tu comai." This -ai ending is used in very informal settings; most popular is the greeting, "¿Como estai?" Another oddity in Chilean Spanish is "pues," which puts emphasis on a word, and is more commonly shortened to "poh," as in "Sí, poh," meaning "Well yes!" Words that end in -ado or -ido typically drop the "d," so that pelado becomes "pelao." Chileans also drop the "s" in words, so that más becomes "ma."
While some Latin countries such as Argentina have virtually dropped the usted verb form except in the most formal of occasions, Chileans use the usted form habitually. Waiters, doormen, strangers, and any new business associate should be greeted with usted until you become better acquainted.
Chilean Menu Glossary
Lomo -- Beef/steak
Pan -- Bread
Pollo -- Chicken
Postre -- Dessert
Huevos -- Eggs
Pescado -- Fish
Fruta -- Fruit
Cordero -- Lamb
Carne -- Meat
Cerdo/puerco -- Pork
Papas -- Potatoes
Papas fritas -- French fries
Arroz -- Rice
Asado -- Roast
Ensalada -- Salad]
Mariscos -- Seafood
Camarones -- Shrimp
Sopa (chupe) -- Soup
Camote -- Sweet potato
Verduras -- Vegetables
Adobo -- Meat dish in a spicy chili sauce
Alpaca -- Alpaca steak
Anticuchos -- Shish kebab
Cabrito -- Goat
Carne de res -- Beef
Chicharrones -- Fried pork skins
Conejo -- Rabbit
Cordero -- Lamb
Empanada -- Pastry turnover filled with meat, vegetables, fruit, manjar blanco, or sometimes nothing at all
Estofado -- Stew
Lomo asado -- Roast beef
Parrillada -- Grilled meats
Pato -- Duck
Pollo a la brasa -- Spit-roasted chicken
Venado -- Venison
Corvina -- Sea bass
Langosta -- Lobster
Langostinos -- Prawns
Lenguado -- Sole
Mero -- Mediterranean grouper
Paiche -- Large Amazon fish
Tollo -- Spotted dogfish
Cerveza -- Beer
Refresco -- Mixed fruit juice
Jugo -- Juice
Leche -- Milk
Gaseosa -- Soft drink
Agua -- Water
con gas -- carbonated
sin gas -- still
Vino -- Wine
Cóctel/trago -- Cocktail
Some Typical Chilean Words & Phrases
Al tiro -- Right away
¿Cachai? -- You know? Do you get it?
Choro -- Good, as in "Cool!"
Cuico/a -- Wealthy elite, snob
Curado/a -- Drunk
Ene -- A lot
Fome -- Boring
Guagua -- Baby
Harto -- Many, a lot
Huevón/ona -- Idiot, stupid person; can be used as an insult but is peppered innocuously in all Chilean speech, somewhat like "dude"
La Caña -- Hangover
Lucas -- 1,000; used like "bucks" for money
Oye! -- "Listen!"; used to get someone's attention
Paco -- Cop
Pega -- Work, job
Pesado -- Boring, stick in the mud, or an annoying person
Polera -- T-shirt
Pololo/a -- Boyfriend/girlfriend
Por si acaso -- Just in case
Rasca -- Tacky, low class (other common words for this are ordinario or roto)
¿Te fijas? -- Do you see? Do you get it?
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
