Chilenismos, Chickenismos.

Over the past few months of living in this long, skinny nation of classist latinos and humiliated llamas, I´ve grown quite fond of their funny little Spanish dialect. I honestly think there are generally fewer synonyms in Castellano than in English. This isn´t intended as a valuative judgement, but my teeny dictionary has led me to believe this is true. Anyways, as a result, there is a collection of bizarre sayings and modismos (Spanish slang) indigenous only to Chile, providing subtlety where simple adjectives won´t suffice. Many of which involve chicken.

Yes, chicken.

Let´s consider this national obsession with pollo. In list form.

1. Hueon.
Translation: Asshole, buddy, friend, dickhead, compadre.
Etymology: Huevo, or egg. Potentially the most important word in Chileno.

2. Pololo. (Polola.)
Translation: Boyfriend, (girlfriend.)
Etymology: Play on pollo, or chicken.

3. Pico.
Translation: Crude way of saying wang.
Etymology: From the Spanish word for beak.

4. Pollo sobre la velador.
Translation: Having an affair.
Etymology: Motels spring up in Santiago like mushrooms. They are designed for
infidelity, and even have privacy-curtain car air-locks in their parking garages to preserve modesty. Most popular times to rent a room are during lunch hour on weekdays, where they serve you a quick bite with your quick bite. Means chicken on the nightstand.

5. Huevas.
Translation: Balls.
Etymology: Eggs. Feminine eggs. Can´t explain this.

There are more. Many more. I bring this up with Chileans and they have no idea what I´m talking about, it´s so ingrained, so absorbed in the fabric, this culture of chicken, that they don´t see it everywhere. Only with foreigners can I discuss this phenomenon. It´s not like there are a lot of chickens here, or anything... at least not more than anywhere else. Although, for real, sometimes Chilean chicken eggs are blue. Honest. Spade a spade.

I suppose English has a little bit of this, but definitely not as much as the Chilenos. What´s a Saturday night, afterall, without some cock and chicks?