The Top Things I’m Talking About In Spanish Not About You

Now I’ve written before about how, when I’m speaking Spanish, I’m not talking about you, but what exactly are the things we talk about in Spanish in front of other people? As I’ve said, it’s usually just mundane, boring stuff, for sometimes personal stuff I don’t want other people to know about that a naughty tía decided to ask me at the grocery store.

Or something like that.

Here’s a basic list, now I know I’m missing some, so feel free to chime in:

1. Money. You just don’t want to go around talking about money issues in public all the time; it’s often easier just to mention this part in Spanish if you’re in public.
2. Health. As I said earlier, I try not to talk about health issues in public, but when I have to and I’m speaking to someone who speaks Spanish, I’ll switch over.
3. Chisme. Say you’re talking about one of your primos, you may not want everyone to know the chisme, so you just switch to Spanish.
4. Your life. Sometimes I’ll be out and about doing errands or whatever and I get a call asking what happened Friday night or whatever. You know, it’s really not everyone’s business that I stayed up late watching “NCIS”…plus it sounds kind of more exciting in Spanish.
5. Nothing. Look, some things I’ve found are just better said in Spanish. “N’mbre,” for example is just better than “No way!” At least in my opinion; I just think that for some things Spanish is better and English is better for others. I mean, geez, sometimes my college Portuguese comes up because the verb “ficar” is just such a good verb!

So there you have it. This may not be that exciting as you think — the world revolving around you and strangers going out of their way to notice, form opinions, and then voice those opinions about you may be more exciting — but I swear most of the time I’m just talking about how I lost $20 in my purse or that my cousin is getting married.

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD