Mexican Restaurant- English as a second language cheat sheet 😂

[uncle eddie]

Was at a Mexican restaurant at Lake Ozark, Missouri yesterday evening. Always a language barrier when ordering here but the food is excellent and worth the risk of getting the wrong order.

When paying, I saw an English cheat sheet …

I had something similar when I spent a summer in Germany years ago…before the internet was a ‘thing’

 

[chef k-dude]

But they have to be able to read English to use it! I keep saying I need to learn Spanish but never get around to it. I've learned small things, like a "V" is actually pronounced "B" in Spanish. I dont know if they cant literally pronounce the sound of "Vee" like many Asians cant pronounce an "L" "ell", or if it is something to do with how English speakers translated Spanish, or Latin...or what.

But I've learned that Verde is not "Ver-day", it's pronounced "Bear-Day" or "Bare-Day" in an American's attempt to say it correctly, but most of us have trouble rolling the tongue between "Bear" and "Day" to say it correctly like "Bare-LLL-Day". I've been practicing small things like that.

We have a local Mexican place called "El Vaquero". Most pronounce it exactly how you would expect an American to pronounce it. It means "The Cowboy", which explains the art in the restaurant. Nobody around here gets me when I refer to the place as "The Cowboy" or pronounce it "El Baquero", they just think I'm stupid...or something...

BUT...thats why Mexican, Chinese and other ethnic restaurants number their menu items. As you tell them what you want, use the number and or point to the actual item on the menu. Often the first thing people learn when they learn a new language is the number system, so Mexicans (Spanish) (as shown in the cheat sheet you took the picture of) often learn the spelling and pronunciation of numbers first, much like English speakers learning Spanish. Numbers apply to money, the last thing you want to misinterpret!

When I order, I usually say the words, sometimes as close to Spanish pronunciation as I can, while actually pointing to the item line on the menu, and never get the wrong food. I'm glad those folks are here, life would be boring with only European food, and even worse if it were only English and German food! If I went to live in Mexico, I would make it a priority to learn Spanish though, it would take some time, and would be easier in Mexico...they talk relatively slow, sometimes its hard for THEM to keep up with Cubans and Puerto Ricans!

 

[texomakid]

In 1994 I got transferred to Peru. You'll be amazed how fast you can learn Spanish when you're the only gringo on the drilling rig

 

[Jeittynoz]

That cheat sheet sounds so handy! Had a similar moment at a restaurant in Bangkok—Khum Hom—where I was trying to order something without it being too spicy, but my pronunciation had everyone giggling. The staff were super sweet though and even showed me how to say it properly. Food was incredible, and honestly, those little language mix-ups kind of made the experience more fun.

 

[Jim_C]

We have the same challenge when we go to the Mexican market. Particularly when I'm trying to communicate with the butcher. I now use the Translate program on the iPhone. I can speak into it in English and it translates what I said to text, and to a voice recording. I show them the text on the phone, press the voice arrow and off we go. Makes things a bunch simpler.

 

[chef k-dude]

I just downloaded the Google Translate App. It's rare I need it but have been in a Latino market before when it would have come in handy.

I recently saw there are translate glasses! Not sure exactly how they work but the text translation comes p on the glasses as the other language person speaks!