Interactive SpanishHome › Dominican Spanish › Slang dictionary › la güira
What does «la güira» mean in Dominican Spanish?
la güira
the güira (metal scraper)
| Meaning | the güira (metal scraper) |
|---|---|
| Standard Spanish | instrumento de metal que se raspa |
| Register | Neutral |
«Sin güira no hay merengue.»
There's no merengue without the güira.
A metal cylinder scraped with a pick. Along with the tambora, it is the sound that identifies merengue.
Related Dominican words
- Dios te bendiga — God bless you
- ahí mimo — right there, close by
- apagón — blackout, power cut
- arreglarse — to get dressed up
- bendición — blessing (a greeting to elders)
- coger lucha — to stress out
- colmado — corner store
- concho — shared route car
- criollo — local, homegrown
- echar pa'lante — to push forward
Practise Dominican Spanish on your phone
The free app Learn Dominican Spanish teaches these words in real conversations, with Dominican audio, games and a map of the Dominican Republic.
Free: 50 Dominican words you'll hear on day one
A 10-page PDF with meanings and real examples. Straight to your inbox.
Learn to speak it, not just read it
These words come from the course of José, a Dominican Spanish teacher. Practise them in context with the free lessons, or book a class and talk with a real Dominican.