Spain is one of the best destinations for any tourist looking for good food, rest and guaranteed good weather. The province of Malaga is proof of this, where year after year thousands of tourists from around the world come to enjoy its beaches. It is also a good way to learn or practice the third language of the world by number of speakers.

However, you must bear in mind that it is a very rich and varied language, in which expressions are used that, depending on the context, can change their meaning.

For example, the saying when in Rome, do as the Romans do recommends the traveller to integrate among the locals by acting like them, both out of respect and for the pleasure of learning about the local culture and customs.

If you are going to travel to the Costa del Sol, we suggest that you use the following expressions to feel like a native of Malaga.

Seven typical expressions of Malaga

– Camarero, ¡una de espetos!: this is how you should ask for one of the most famous dishes of the Costa del Sol at the beach bars. The espeto is a skewer on which several sardines are placed to be roasted on firewood on the sand of the beach. It is a delicious delicacy that every visitor has to taste.

– Ser un boquerón: besides the sardine, the anchovy is also part of the local gastronomy to the point that this word has become a nickname. Ser un boquerón means being from Malaga or a follower of the respective first division football club. For the locals it is not an insult, but a thing of pride.

– Esto es perita:an expression used to indicate that you like something a lot or that you think it is amazing.

– Vayapechá:  this is used to refer to a large amount. For example: Vaya pechá de comer en la boda (There is so much to eat at the wedding). Vaya pechá de reír con el chiste que me has contado (I laughed so much because of the joke you told me).

– Estar alquindoi:  to be very attentive, to not to miss even a single detail.

 – ¿E o noé?:a way of saying ¿es o no es? (is it or isn’t it?) with a heavy Andalusian accent. In informal conversations, it is used as an add on at the end of sentences.

– Estar alobao: to be very sleepy, to be stunned by fatigue.

How to order a coffee in Malaga

The way that the people of Malaga call the varieties of white coffee is unique in Spain. We recommend you have breakfast or a snack in the famous Café Central and observe the tiles on its wall where you can see how to order a coffee in Malaga. Here are some examples:

– Una nube (a cloud): lots of milk and little coffee. In other provinces it is called leche manchada.

– Sombra (shade): a little more coffee than in the previous case, but also with plenty of milk.

– Mitad (half): 50% coffee and 50% milk.

– Largo (large):  s lot of coffee and a bit of milk.

These terms were devised by Don José Prado, the owner of Café Central during the post-war period. In those times, the raw material was scarce and Don José did not want to waste a single drop if the client did not drink the drink because he did not serve it to his liking. This is how he created a name for each type of coffee, specifying the exact amount of milk and coffee that each one contains. The terms became popular in the city and are currently used in any coffee shop.

Due to the sun, the friendliness of its people, the gastronomy and its curious expressions, Malaga is a wonderful city to experience! By saying these expressions you will become a true boquerón.