A 'Zoot Suit' Glossary
Zoot Suit is not merely performed in English and Spanish. The characters also speak caló, a patois or dialect that is one of the highly distinctive ways the pachuco has of projecting himself. According to one scholar, caló developed in barrios all around the country to give each region its own particular idiom and phrases.
- Abusado
- Shape up, wise up
- Aguitala
- Control yourself
- Bato
- Dude, guy
- Borlo
- Dance
- Bribón
- Wise guy
- Cabrón
- Bastard
- Cálmenla
- Calm down, cool it
- Carnal/Carnala/Carnalillo
- Brother/sister/little brother
- Chale
- No
- Chango
- Monkey
- Chicas Patas
- Chicano
- Chingón
- Big shot
- Chula
- Pretty girl
- Es puro Basilón
- It's only fun
- Ese/Esa
- Man, dude, hey man/woman, girl
- Foquiar
- Screw you
- Gabacho
- Anglo, gringo, paddy, white American
- Hay te watcho
- See you later, see you there
- Huisa
- Girlfriend
- Jaina
- Girlfriend, woman
- Jefita/Jefito
- Mother/father
- La Jura
- The law
- Trucha la jura
- Watch out, the cops!
- Me la rayo
- For sure, it's the truth, I swear
- Menudo
- Tripe soup
- Mira!
- Look!
- Nel!
- No! (More forceful than chale)
- No te hagas gacho
- Don't be guache
- Órale
- Hey, right on
- Pedo
- Hassle, excitement, "hot air"
- Pendejadas
- Stupidities, nonsense
- Pendejo
- Idiot
- Pinche
- Lousy
- Ponte abusado
- Wise up, get smart
- Puro pedo
- Bullshit
- Puro relajo
- Bullshit
- Puto
- Whore
- Que desmadre
- What a mess
- Ruca
- Wife, girlfriend
- Ruco
- Old
- Simón
- Yes
- Sura
- Soiled, unclean
- Surote
- Bad (good) dude
- Te curas
- Can you beat it
- Verdolaga
- Naïve, hick
- Watcha!
- Look!
- Y qué
- So waht?
- Ya estubo
- That's enough
- Ya me estás cayendo gordo
- You're being a pain in the ass
- Ya pués
- That's enough
Reprinted from the program for Zoot Suit’s 1978 World premiere.
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Luis Valdez brings his groundbreaking 1978 smash back to the Mark Taper Forum January 31 – April 2, 2017, to celebrate Center Theatre Group’s 50th Anniversary.
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