Spanish Ag Phrasebook - Penn State Extension

Spanish Ag Phrasebook
Agricultural producers rely on a skillful, dependable workforce to operate their farms. Often they
find themselves supervising Spanish-speaking employees, and effectiveness is limited due to
language barriers and also culture. To aid managers in their ability to communicate with
employees, we've compiled this book of Spanish phrases that relate to farm operations.
This phrasebook contains numerous alphabetized English
keywords on the left margin with corresponding translated
words and phrases opposite the English in lighter print. There
are some simple phrases that can be used for many different
things and you’ll just need to add or remove a word. A simple
guide to pronunciation (shown below) highlights important
linguistic tools, such as softening a command to a more polite
question. Abbreviations used in the phrasebook are detailed in
the key.
Improving Communication in the
Workplace
Spanish Pronunciation Guide
Photo by Loy Elliott
Vowels
a = “ah” e = “ae” i = “ee” o = “oh” u = “oo” c – “s” before “e” or “i” - “k” every other time q – “k” in que and qui. rr – r sound is
rolled ñ – “ny” ll – “y”
Softening Phrases:
It is important to remember that every business has a specific management culture. We recognize that this phrasebook may need
to be adapted to individual styles of assigning tasks. This phrasebook mainly conjugates the verbs into the single person,
imperative form to improve conciseness. If you choose to soften the task or duty, there are several easy methods.
• First, you may ask the employee if he/she can do a task. Simply place the expression “can you” (¿Puedes…?) in front of the
Spanish phrase.
• Second, you may tell the employee that you would like him/her to do something. Simply place the expression “I would like
you to...” (Me gustaría que…) in front of the Spanish phrase.
• Third, you may choose to say please. Just add the Spanish word for please (Por favor) before or after the Spanish phrase.
• Lastly, you can give positive feedback by saying "thank you" (Gracias).
Need additional help?
The following link contains more valuable help with Spanish pronunciation, including free audio!
An English-Spanish dictionary with synonyms in several languages can be found at Word Reference.
There also is a useful blog with slangs and general information about Mexican Spanish.
Abbreviation Key:
• n.m. = noun, masculine
• n.f. = noun, feminine
• v. = verb
-AAlfalfa ………………………………………………………n.f. alfalfa Agriculture……………………………………..…….…n.f.
agricultura Appetit………………………………………n.m. apetito, n.m. hambre
Apple……………………………………………………...n.f. manzana Pick those apples………………………….recoge esas
manzanas Take those apples…………………………...lleva esas manzanas Put the apples in the cooler………………ponga las
manzanas en la hielera Apple orchard………………...………………...………n.m. manzanar Mow this (apple)
orchard……………………corta este manzanar Prune (trim) this (apple) orchard…………….poda este manzanar Meet me at this
apple orchard…………………………reúnete conmigo en este manzanar; te veo en este manzanar
Apply…………………………………………………………v. aplicar Apply to this orchard………………………...aplica a esta
huerta Apply to this apple orchard………………aplica a este manzanar Apply to this peach orchard….....aplica a esta huerta de
duraznos Apricot………………………………………………....n.m. chabacano
Asparagus…………………………………………..….n.m. espárragos Automatic arm take-off (power take off, PTO)...n.m. brazo
automático The PTO shaft can be dangerous…………el brazo automático puede ser peligroso
-BBarn ……………………………………………………….n.m granero Bailer ………………………………………………….n.f.
empacadora Bale (hay) ……………………………………………………..n.f. paca Let’s cut the bales (hay) ………..….cortemos
las pacas (de heno) Bandage …………………….…….…………..n.f. venda, n.m. vendaje Bathroom
…………………………………….………………n.m. baño Beans ……………………………………………………...n.m.
frijoles Bed (of a truck) ………………….…………n.f. plataforma; n.m cajón Bedroom
…………………………….…………………..n.f. habitación Beef cow ………………………………………….n.m. ganado
vacuno Benefits ………………………….……....n.m. beneficios; n.f. ventajas Berry
…………………………………………………….…….n.f. baya Bill …………………………………………….……n.f. factura;
cuenta Bin ……………………………………………………………..n.f. caja Blanket
………………………………………………………n.f. manta Blueberry ……………………………..………….…….n.f. mora
azul Border (as in a garden) ………………………….…………n.m. límite
Box……………………………………….……….....n.f. caja de cartón We need another skid of boxes ………………
necesitamos otra esquiva de cajas Break ……………………………………………………n.m. descanso Take a break
………………………………..………... descansa Brick ………………………………………………………n.m. ladrillo Broom
………………………………………………………n.f. escoba Bring the broom …………………………………...trae la escoba
Bucket (pail) ………………………………..….n.m. cubo, n.m. balde Let’s clean the buckets …………....limpiamos los cubos
(baldes)
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
-CCable ………………………………………………………………… Electric ………………………………. n.m. cable de la
corriente Three core …………………... n.m. cable de tres polos (trifasico) Calf
………………………………………………………..n.m. ternero Calf hutch …………………………n.m. corral (de terneros);
n.f. jaula Can of spray paint (marking locations)………… n.f. pintura en spray (lata de pintura en spray) Careful
…………………………………………………n.m. cuidadoso Please be careful …………………………por favor, ten cuidado
Caution ……………………………………...…………n.m.precaución Cell phone
……………………………………………...…..n.m.celular Chain ……………………………………………………….n.f.
cadena Connect the chain ……………………………..conecta la cadena Chainsaw ………………………………………n.f. la
sierra de cadena Check.………………………………………………...v. revisar, checar Check the oil
…………………………….revisa (checa) el aceite Cherries …………………………………….………………n.f. cerezas Put the
cherries in the cooler ……….pon las cerezas en la hielera Harvest the cherries ……………….…………cosecha las cerezas
Chicken ……………………………………………………..n.m. pollo Chicken manure ………………………………….n.m.
abono de pollo Cider ………………………………………………………….n.f. sidra Clay
……………………………………………..n.f. arcilla; n.m. barro Clean ………………………………………………………...v.
limpiar Clean the room ………………………….……….limpia el cuarto Clover
………………………………………………………n.m. trébol Commercial building ……………...…n.m. edificio, edificio
comercial Compost …..……………………………………..………n.f. composta Computer
………………………………………….....n.f. computadora Conveyor/elevator ……….…n.f. la cinta transportadora, n.m.
elevador Cold storage …………………………………….n.f. cámara frigorífica Cooler
…………………………………………………………………. Water cooler …………………………………….n.f. cantimplora
Storage cooler ……………………………………...…n.f. hielera Put the apples in the cooler …………………pon las manzanas
en la hielera Take the peaches out of the cooler ………………saca los duraznos de la hielera Put the cherries in the cooler
…….……………pon las cerezas en la hielera Coop (chicken) ………………………………………….n.m. gallinero Corn
…………………………………………………………n.m. maíz Counter top (kitchen) ……………………….n.m. mostrador,
n.f. barra Counter weight ……………………………………..n.m. el contrapeso Cow
…………………………………………………………...n.f. vaca Crate
…………………………………………………………...n.f. caja Stack the crates …………………………………apila los
cajones Get more crates …………………………...consigue más cajones
-DDanger ……………………………………..…………….. n.m. peligro Design (plans)
…………………………………...…………. n.f. plano Delivery truck ………………...……………….n.m. camión de reparto
Deer ……………………………………………......n.m.venado, ciervo Dog
………………………………………………………….n.m. perro The dog's name is ……………………...el perro se llama
[name] Door …………………………………………………………n.f. puerta Close the door when finished
……………………cierra la puerta cuando termines Dump truck …………………………………….n.m. camión de volteo
-EEdge ……………………………………………………...n.m. el borde Edging ………………………………….n.m. borde
(orilla) de la senda Egg ……………………………………………..n.m. huevo, blanquillo Electricity…………………...n.f.
electricidad Turn off lights to save electricity ……………………apaga las luces para ahorrar electricidad Elevator
……………………………………….n.m. ascensor, elevador Emergency …………………………………………….n.f.
emergencia
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
-FFan ……………………………………………………..n.m. ventilador Farm
…………………………………………………………n.f. granja Feed bin …………………………………………… n.m.
alimentador Feed grinder/mixer …………...……………...n.m. molino de alimento Fence
…………………………………………………………n.f. cerca Electric fence ………………………………la cerca electrificada
Fertilizer.………………………………………n.m. abono, fertilizante Field
………………………………………………………..n.m. campo Fields/farmland
………………………………………….campiña Pick the rocks in the field …......…recoge las piedras en el campo Fire
…………………………………………………………n.m. fuego Make a fire ………………….……………………haz una
fogata Firewood ……………………………………………………...n.f. leña Today, we cut firewood ……………………...hoy,
cortamos leña Flower ………………………………………………………….n.f. flor Flower bed
………………………………………..n.m. jardin de flores Fluid ………………………………………………………..n.m. fluido
Forklift ………………………………………...n.f. carretilla elevadora Be careful around the forklift …………………ten cuidado
con la carretilla elevadora Front end loader …………………………………………n.m. cargador Fodder
……………………………………………………..n.m. forraje Foot ……….…..n.f. pata (animals and things); n.m. pie (human
being) Fountain ……………………………………………………..n.f. fuente Fruit
………………………………………………………….. n.f. fruta Fruit trees …………………………………………n.m. árboles
frutales
-GGas tank ……………………………………….n.m. tanque de gasolina Fill the gas tank …………...…………llena el tanque de
gasolina Gate ………………………………………...n.f. puerta, barrera, cancel Gloves (work)
…………………………………………… n.m. guantes Here are gloves …………………………………aquí hay guantes Wear
gloves ………………………………………….usa guantes Goat ……………………………………………..n.f. cabra, n.m. chivo
Grain ………………………………………………………..n.m. grano Grass ………………………………………………. n.f.
pasto, cesped Cut the grass ………………………………..……...corta el pasto Cut the grass in the orchard …………corta el
cesped en el huerto Grass seed ………………………………………..n.f. semilla de pasto Gravel
…………………………………………………...…...n.f. grava Rake the gravel …………………………………rastrilla la grava
Greenhouse …………………………………………..n.m. invernadero Greens
…………………………………………………….n.f. verduras Groundhog ………………………………………………..n.f.
marmota Gutter …..…………………………..…………………..n.f. alcantarilla
-HHalter …...………………………………………..n.m. cabestro, ronzal Hammer
…………………………………………………..n.m. martillo Hand cultivator ……………………………….n.m. cultivador de
mano Handle with care ………………………………v. manejar con cuidado Harvest
…………………………………………………….n.f. cosecha Harvest the apples ………………………...cosecha las manzanas
Harvest the cherries ………………………….cosecha las cerezas Harvest the peaches ………………………..cosecha los
duraznos Hay …………………………………………………………..n.m. heno Hedge shears
……………………………………n.f. Tijeras para podar Herbicide ………………………………………………..n.m. herbicida
Hoe …..……………………………………………………..n.f. azadón Hose
……………………………………………………..n.f. manguera Horse ……………………………………………………...n.m.
caballo Hole ………………………………………………………….n.m. hoyo
-IInsecticide ……………………………………………..n.m. insecticida Inspect the fruit …………………………………….v.
examina la fruta Irrigation system …………………………………………n.m. sistema de riego;dispositivo móvil de riego
(portable system)
-JJack (fork/pallet) ………………………………… n.m. gato hidráulico Bring the jack ……………………………………….trae
el gato Jug …………………………………………………………… n.f. jarra Milk jug …………………………………………..
jarra de leche
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
-KKey ……………………………………………………………n.f. llave Knife …………………………..……………...n.f. navaja;
n.m cuchillo Gardener’s knife …………………………………... n.m. cuchillo Do you have your knife
……………………...¿tienes tu cuchillo?
-LLawnmower …………………………………….………..n.f. podadora Ladder
……………………………………………………..n.f. escalera Carry the ladder this way …………………..lleva la escalera así
Climb the ladder this way ………………...sube a la escalera así Set the ladder this way ……………………….fija la escalera así
Leaf …………………………………………………………... n.f. hoja Leaf blower …………………………………….n.m.
soplador de hojas Lettuce ……………………………………………………..n.f. lechuga Light
…………………………………………………………….n.f. luz Limestone …………………………………………….n.f. piedra
caliza Loppers (for pruning) ……………………….. n.m. podador de árboles Lunch
…………………………………………………...n.m. almuerzo Take lunch, eat lunch…………………………..…. v. almuerza
-MManual …………………………………………..……… n.m. manual Please read the manual ……………..….por favor lee el
manual Manure ………………………….……………….n.m. estiércol, abono Manure turner ………………………………..n.f.
máquina de estiércol Market …………………………………………………...n.m. mercado Mechanic
……………………………………………….n.m. mecánico Medication ………………………………………….n.m.
medicamento Melon ………………………………………………………n.m. melón Milk
…………………………………………………………..n.f. leche Milk parlor …………………………………………n.f. sala de
ordeñar Milk tank ………………………………n.m. depósito de leche (cruda) Milker
………………………………………………….….n.m. lechero Mineral …………………………………………………….n.f.
mineral Minutes …………………………………………………..n.m. minutos 15 minutes
………………………………………quince minutos 30 minutes ………………………… treinta minutes/ media hora Mower
……………………………………………………n.f. podadora Mouse (vole) …………………………...………...n.m. ratón de
campo Mulch …..………………………………………...n.m. abono organico Music
……………………………………………………….n.f. música Play music while you work ……...pon música mientras trabajas
-NNails …...….……………………………………..n.m. clavos, n.f. uñas Use these nails …………………………………..usa estos
clavos Nozzle (of a hose) ……………………...n.f. boquilla (de la manguera) Connect the nozzle to the hose
…………………………………. …..Conecta la boquilla a la manguera Nursery
……………………………………………………n.m. vivero
-OOffice ………………………………………n.f. oficina; n.m. despacho May I see you in the office? ………....¿puedo verte en la
oficina? Pick it up at the office ………………….…recogelo en la oficina Oil (as in motor)
……………………………………………n.m. aceite Today, we change the motor oil ………………………………….......hoy,
cambiamos el aceite del motor Onions..…………………………………………………...n.f. cebollas Orchard
…………………………………………………….n.m. huerto Apple orchard ……………………………………..n.m manzanar
Cut the grass in the orchard …………corta el césped en el huerto The orchard was sprayed …………………El huerto está
rociado Orchard row ……………………………………..n.f.hilera de la huerta
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
-PPain …………………………………………………………….v. dolor Are you in pain? ………………………………..….…. ¿te
duele? Patio …………………………………………………………n.m. patio Paver stone
……………………………………………….n.m. adoquín Pavement ………………………………………………n.m. pavimento
Pay raise ……………………………………...n. m. aumento de sueldo Paycheck ……………………….………n.m. cheque del
sueldo (pago) Peach ………………………………………..n.m. durazno, melocotón Pear
……………………………………………………………n.f. pera Peas ……...…………………………………..n.m. chicharos,
guisantes Peat moss ….……………………………………………….n.m. musgo Pen
……………………………………………....n.m. bolígrafo, corral Do you have a pen? …………………………..tienes un
bolígrafo Pencil ………………………………………………………...n.m. lápiz Peppers
…………………………………..……...n.m.pimientos, chiles Pesticide ………………………………………………...n.m.
pesticide Be careful with the pesticide...…….ten cuidado con el pesticida Picture …………………………………………..n.m.
cuadro, n. f. foto Picking bag …………………………………...n.f. bolsa para recoger Pickup truck
…………………………………………….n.f. camioneta Pipe (irrigation) …………………...n.m. tubo de irrigacion; n.f. tubería
Plant …………………………………n.f. planta; v. plantar; v. sembrar Plastic bag ………………………………………..n.f.
bolsa de plástico Platform …………………………………...n.f. plataforma; n.m. andén Plow
………………………………………………………...n.m. arado Poisonous
……………………………………………………n.mtóxico Pole saw …………………………………..n.f. sierra para cortar
ramas Cut the limbs with the pole saw …………………………………. ….corta las ramas con la sierra Potatoes
……………………………………………………..n.f. papas Pot …………………………………………........................ n.f.
maceta Potting soil...………………………………….n.f. tierra para macetas Pumpkin
…………………………………………………..n.f. calabaza Pressure gauge ………………………………………..n.m.
manómetro Pressure washer ………………………………..n.m. lavado de presión Pruning shears
……………………………………..n.f. tijeras de podar
-QQuestion ………………………………………………..n.f. pregunta I have a question …………………………...Tengo una
pregunta Do you have any questions? …………….…..¿Tienes preguntas?
-RRabbit …………………………………………………..… n.m. conejo Radio
…………………………………………………………n.m.radio Rake (hand tools) ……………………………….n.m. rastrillo de
mano Refrigerator …..………………….………n.m. refrigerador, frigorífico You may use the refrigerator ………….puedes usar
el frigorífico Retaining wall …………………………………………………………. ….n.m. muro del jardín con albardilla; muro
de contención Rock …………………………………………………………n.f. piedra Rope
…..…………………………………………………….n.f. cuerda
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
-SSafety ……………………………………………………n.f. seguridad This is for your safety …………………esto es para tu
seguridad Sand …………………………………………………………..n.f. arena Saw
…………………………………………………………..n.f. sierra Scale …………………………………...n.f. balanza; balanza de
cocina Scanner (to keep track of fruit picked) ………………….. n.m. escáner Seed
………………………………………………………...n.f. semilla Seedling ……………………………………....n.f. vástago, n.m.
planta Sheep …………………………………………………………n.f. oveja Shop vac …………………………………n.f.
aspiradora para todo uso Shovel ………………………………………………………...n.f. pala Shrub
……………………………………………………...n.m. arbusto Silage wagon ………………………….n.m. remolques
autocargadores Silo-unloader ……………………..n.m. dispositivo de silo de descargo Sink …… n.m.fregadero (kitchen);
n.m.lavabo, lavamanos (bathroom) Skid ……………………………………………….n.f. tarima, varadera Skid steer
………………………………….….n.m. cargador pequeño Skidloader ……………………………………n.f. cargadora de
troncos Throw the trash in the skidloader ………………………………... ….tira la basura en la cargadora de troncos Sod
………………...……………………………….n.m. pasto en rollo Soil
…………………………………………………………...n.f. tierra Soybean
……………………………………………………….n.f. soya Species ………………….……..n.f. especie, n.m. género, n.f.
variedad Spigot ……………………………………………..n.f. llave; n.m. grifo
Spray...………………………………………………………...v. rociar Sprayer ………………………………………………..n.m.
atomizador Sprinkler …………………………………………………n.m. aspersor Squash ……………..………………n.f.
Calabaza (verde) n.m. chayote Stable...……………………………………………………n.m. establo Stakes (to stake a tree)
………………………………………n.m. poste Stall ……………………………...n.m. compartimiento de los caballos Stone
………………………………………………………...n.f. piedra Stove …………………………………………………………n.f.
estufa Strainer..……………………………………………n.m. colador, filtro Strawberry
…………………………………………………….n.f. fresa Supplement …………………………………………...n.m.
suplemento Sweep …………………………………………………………v. barrer Sweep the floor
……………………………………..barre el piso Symptoms (as in checking for illness) …...………………n.m. síntoma Syringe
……………………………………………………...n.f. jeringa
-TTailgate (on a truck) …………….…...…n.f. puerta trasera (camioneta) Tank …………………………...………………..n.m.
tanque; depósito Fill up the water tank …………………...llena el tanque con agua Tape measurer
………………………….…...………..n.f. cinta métrica Television ……………………………...………………..n.f. televisión
Thread …………………………………………..n.f. cuerda, hilo, rosca Tomatoes
……..…………………………………………n.m. jitomates Topsoil …………………………………….n.f. capa superior del
suelo Tractor ……………………………………………………..n.m. tractor Start the tractor
…………………………………arranca el tractor Trailer …………………………………………..n.m. trailer, remolque For
livestock …………………..…….n.m. remolque para ganado Trash can ………..……………………...n.m. bote de basura,
basurero Tree ………………………………………………………….n.m. árbol Tree stake ………………………n.m. estaca
(poste) para árboles Turf ………………………………………………………n.m.. césped
-U–
-VVacation ……………………………………..…………n.f. vacaciones Vaccination
…………………………………………………n.f. vacuna Variety (fruit) …………………………………….. n.f. variedad (fruta)
Ventilation flap …………………………………………..n.m. tragaluz Open the ventilation flap ………………………...abre el
tragaluz Vegetable ………………………………………....n.f. verdura, vegetal Veterinarian
…………………………………………...n.m. veterinario
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
-WWash ……………………………………………...……………v. lavar Wash your hands there …………………..Lavate las
manos ahí Water ……………………………………………………….. n.m. agua Would you like some water
……………………. ¿Quieres agua? Watering can ……………………………………………...n.f. regadera Weed
trimmer...………………….n.f. podadora de orillas (perfiladora) Use the weed trimmer ………………..Usa la perfiladora Weed
………………………………………………………..n.f. hierba Weight ……………………………………………………….n.m.
peso Wheelbarrow ……………………………………………..n.f. carretilla
-X-Y-ZZone ……………………………………………………..……n.f. zona Irrigation zone …………………………n.f. zona de la
irrigación Zero …………………………………………………………...n.m.cero
Recommendations for effective communication
• When someone is introducing you, try to shake hands.
• Latino people get closer than American people, try not to move away too far or too fast, because it may look like you don’t
like having them around.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Many Hispanic people possess skills from home but because of technology, they’re unable to apply them in their current job.
Hispanic workers carry their cultural values and behaviors, rather than embrace United States values and traditions.
Giving positive reinforcement of good work behaviors is essential.
Daily communication with Hispanic employees is an essential part of good management.
Say please and thank you every time you request something.
Try to speak as much Spanish as you can (learn the common words and phrases).
Learn what workers expect from you.
Be polite and praise positive behaviors.
Show interest in other’s culture, language and family.
Find ways to have fun.
Source: Stup, E. Richard; Tomas R. Maloney. Managing Hispanic workers: perceptions of Agricultural Managers. College of
Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension. January 2003.
Left wanting more?
Our goal is help you communicate better. Are there words and/or phrases you’d like included in future publications? Pass your
suggestions along to the contact below!
Compiled by Ben Cordivano, Ben Wenk, Katy Lesser, Leighton Rice, Evan Moore, Montserrat Fonseca Estrada
Contact Information
Montserrat Fonseca Estrada
Program Assistant – Next Generation Farming/Specialty Crop Innovations
muf29@psu.edu
717-334-6271 x315
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Extension is implied.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard
to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
© The Pennsylvania State University 2016
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Spanish Ag Phrasebook