| Chilean Word | Original Spanish | Change / Meaning | |--------------|------------------|------------------| | | "al tiro" (to the shot) | Right away (from gunshot signal) | | Cachar | from English "to catch" | To understand; also to notice | | Fome | from Latin fomes (tinder) → dull, boring | Boring (unique to Chile) | | Luca | Possibly from Lucas (surname on old banknotes) | 1,000 Chilean pesos | | Weón (or huevón) | From huevo (egg) → huevón (lazy or dumb) | Dude, friend, or insult (context-dependent) | | Pololear | From pololo (insect) | To date (courtship) | | Carrete | From carrete (spool) | Party, social gathering | 4. Toponymy (Place Names) Chilean place names are often direct borrowings from indigenous languages.
| Chilean Word | Rapa Nui Origin | Meaning | |--------------|-----------------|---------| | | moa | Extinct bird; also a surname | | Ahu | ahu | Ceremonial platform | | Tapati | tapati | Festival (used for the Rapa Nui cultural festival) | 3. Chilean Spanish Innovations (Unique Evolutions) Many words evolved differently in Chile than in other Spanish-speaking countries.
| Chilean Word | Mapudungún Origin | Meaning | |--------------|-------------------|---------| | | pichi (small) + tun (amount) | A little bit | | Pololo/a | pulu (fly) → pololo (type of insect) | Boyfriend/girlfriend (originally a flying insect that stays near light) | | Chanchito | Not from pig, but from chancho (a type of lizard) | Pig (semantic shift) | | Guata | huata | Belly | | Chucha | chucha (a type of weasel-like animal) | Mild swear word / also "armpit" | | Cahuin | cahuin (mischief, party) | Intrigue, gossip | | Pichanga | pichi (small) + anga (party) | Small gathering; also "pick-up soccer game" | B. Quechua (via Inca influence) Although the Inca didn't fully conquer Chile, Quechua words entered through trade and later colonial routes.
| Chilean Word | Quechua Origin | Meaning | |--------------|----------------|---------| | | choccllo | Corn on the cob | | Palta | paltu | Avocado | | Poroto | purutu | Bean | | Cancha | kancha | Field, court (e.g., soccer field) | | Chala | ch'alla | Corn husk (also used for shoes) | C. Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Less common but present in everyday Chilean Spanish.