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What does «pariguayo» mean in Dominican Spanish?

pariguayo

sucker, wallflower

Meaningsucker, wallflower
Standard Spanishtonto, aguafiestas
RegisterColloquial, slightly derogatory

«No seas pariguayo, invítala a bailar.»

Do not be a wimp, ask her to dance.

The story goes that it comes from «party watcher»: the US soldiers who watched the dances without dancing during the 1916 occupation. The one who watches instead of joining in.

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