Jerga Platanera Lyrics English Translation by Residente
Every day I use the vocabulary
That I grew up with in the neighborhood
We have our own dictionary
The street is our alphabet
And it’s just as important as a university degree
So literary folks, leave the drama
Knock down the novels
What they don’t teach you in school
I’ll explain it to you easily, as they say in Puerto Rico
In rice and beans’
The caserío is the neighborhood, the village, the commune, the favela
Water, the police have arrived, be cautious
Flush the drugs down the toilet even if it hurts
And if you want to measure strength, let’s see if the gas peels
When I dress well, it’s because I threw on the fabric
I call it “Manuela” when I masturbate
When I go without a condom, I go solo and carefree
It’s like drifting like a sailboat without a sail
When I’m genuine, it’s because I’m genuinely from the heart
Humbly, nicely
If I’m cheeky, it’s because I’m brave
Fearlessly, I go forward
Me alone against twenty
Someone without talent is a codfish’
I’m crazy because I’m gifted’
When I’m very hungry, I say I’m fainting’
And the trunk of the car is where I stash the rappers I’ve killed’
The “bichete” is the boss of the neighborhood, imposing discipline
And the “bichotito” is the one who only dominates the corner
Butter or lard is heroin
And we call the kilos of cocaine “cosos”
Cowards are idiots or chickens
Liars who make up Chinese stories are “fequeros”
The gossipmonger tells everything to the neighbors
And a party in the garage is a marquee party
A “charro” is a ridiculous person that you make fun of
If they call me “mamabicho” with a bad attitude
There’s nothing to talk about, believe it or not, there’s a fight
A “chota” accuses you to everyone, a rat
Someone who befriends the neighborhood and is a cop without a badge
Being “hot” is being naughty or cheeky
And “bellaquera” is when you get even a cow
An idiot is a sucker’
A confidant is a show-off’
A shameless person is a cheeky one’
When you don’t have money, you’re broke’
And if it shines like new, it’s annihilated’
“Puñeta” is the word every Puerto Rican loves
Shouted when upset, ablaze
Whether you lose or win
Or you hit your big toe on the bed’s edge
A “ñame” is something that comes easy to me even if I don’t work
Easy, even with strong waves
Angrily flowing with a lot of courage
Charging forward with speed, no toll on the journey
Because there’s no toll
My lines hit so hard
Because they have blood beneath the bandage
I’m a horse because in this I have a wild talent
And today we take ownership of the language
Straight from the DR
Where we replace “hello” with “what’s up”
It wasn’t my love, I had an orgasm, it was that I emptied myself
I don’t say: save money, I say: make money
No second chances
Here we say: I crushed you
Dominican slang in case you don’t remember
What they call “egg” here, in Spain, they call it “dick”
There are no gays or homosexuals, here there are modern women
Actually, no one gets angry, we just tease
Don’t bite it, better say: cool, eat that role
We trade rage for courage
There’s a bass, not a bad smell
God, homeland, freedom just like that
So instead of leaving me alone, give me some space, please
I’m in a pot, meaning I don’t have money
Here we say: from mine, you don’t say: my companion
Dominican like the “güira” and “tambora”
Creators of global slang, for example, “chapeadora”
I’m blue, red, and white, beans, rice, and meat
You in fights are a sucker, here nobody says coward
I don’t hear anything means I’m not listening to you
Here, nobody goes to parties or events, here what seems is fake
Here, nobody gets pregnant, she’s just pregnant
There are no proud women, we call them valuable
If she dances and goes out a lot, it’s because she’s out of control
The refined one is called “popi,” the one from the neighborhood is “wawawa”
In the morning in the DR, coffee
If I achieve the estimos, it means I succeeded
“De vitrina” is what we call new sneakers
Here, nobody is making mistakes
You picked up and put your game
One flag, one shield, three colors, one nation
Three founding fathers, a hymn, the constitution
Blessings to all those who shed blood for us
We are a small island, but with a big heart