Contents

1 An Introduction to the Game

Fans vs. Players................................................................................. 1

So... We Meet Again......................................................................... 3

Keeping It Real................................................................................. 6

2. Do-It Yourself Spanish................................................................... 7

Getting Started.................................................................................. 8

Instructions........................................................................................ 9

Troubleshooting............................................................................... 10

General Housekeeping Rules............................................................ 13

3. First & last Impressions

All the Hellos and Good-byes You’ll Need to Know........................ 16

The Three B’s................................................................................. 18

Absentee Formalities....................................................................... 20

Greetings Greatest Hits.................................................................... 21

Good-bye’s Greatest Hits................................................................ 25

4. Who’s Who

Names, Nicknames, and Niños........................................................ 29

Who’s Who in the Imaginary World................................................. 30

5. Talking the Talk Means Walking the Walk

181 Steps Closer to Fluency............................................................ 31

6. Watching Your Language

The Essentials of

Madre, Chingar, Cabron(a) and Pendejo(a).................................... 96

7. Party Training

Lingo for Living La Vida Loca....................................................... 101

8. The Classified Ad Reclassified.................................................. 104

Let’s Get Physical.......................................................................... 105

Sticks and Stones.......................................................................... 109

Terms of Endearment..................................................................... 135

9. One-Liners

Everyday Expressions, Wisecracks,

Comebacks, & Snappy Answers................................................... 142

10. No Man’s Land

Useful Vocabulary That Didn’t Make the Cut................................. 163

Index............................................................................................. 175