What does “guata” mean in Chilean Spanish?
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A2 Spanish listening practice · Andean Spanish · Picked for people who know a little
In Chile you do not say barriga or panza for your belly — you say guata. It comes from Mapudungun, the language of the Mapuche, and it is everywhere: me duele la guata (my tummy hurts), guatón for a paunchy person, guatita both as an affectionate “little tummy” and as a beloved tripe stew. Outside Chile and Peru, guata usually just means cotton wadding, so the body sense is a giveaway that you are hearing Chilean Spanish.
The clip rides a cumbia hook — “una casa para darle guata, ubba ubba guata” — using guata in the loose party sense of dancing belly-out and letting loose. The same scene is unmistakably Chilean in other ways too: traístes for trajiste, and torta meaning cake (the daughter is scolded for not bringing mom a slice).
How common are the words?
How common are the words in this A2 Spanish listening practice video?
How common in written Spanish
How common in spoken Spanish
Harder words in this video
These words are harder than A2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-ESP 2011 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.