| Most Nicaraguans speak Spanish, the country's
official language. Nicaraguan Spanish is similar to the language spoken
in other Central American countries, but is enriched by "Nica" slang, which
is unique to Nicaragua. Some Nica words and expressions have a different
meaning or no meaning at all outside of Nicaragua, such as referring to
a child as a chavalo (boy) or chavala (girl).
In the Caribbean lowlands in eastern Nicaragua,
Mískito is the most widely used aboriginal language, although Sumo
and other languages are also spoken. English is also spoken in some parts
of eastern Nicaragua because of Great Britain's presence in the region
in the 1700s and 1800s. Many people on the Caribbean coast speak a language
known as Western Caribbean Creole English. |
|
| People in Nicaragua routinely begin conversations
with a friendly "Buenos días." They also shake hands in greeting.
Politeness is important and these simple gestures are appreciated.
Nicaraguans usually have four names, two
first names and two family names. For men and single women, one family
name represents the father's side of the family, and the other represents
the mother's side. For example, if a woman was called Elena María
García Lopes, García would be the last name of her father's
family, and Lopes of her mother's family. When women marry, they may drop
the final name and replace it with the name of their husband's family,
preceded by "de." For instance, if Elena María married a
man whose father's family name was Torrez, she would be known as Elena
María García de Torrez. |
|
Did you know? |
| According
to a well-known Nicaraguan proverb, "a shrimp that sleeps will be taken
away by the tide," which means that if you don't take action in your life,
you will be left behind. Another popular expression is that someone is
as "fresh as a lettuce," meaning that the person is living life as it comes
and not concerned about the future. |
|
|