Glossary

adiós: (ah-dee-OHS) Spanish—goodbye

adobe: (uh-DOH-bee) Spanish—a brick made of straw and clay

agave: (AH-guh-vay) Spanish—a desert plant with spiky leaves

apothecary: (uh-POTH-uh-carry) English—a pharmacist

bar mitzvah: (bahr MITZ-vuh) Hebrew—a Jewish boy who reaches the age of thirteen and is considered an adult

bien: (byen) Spanish—good

bimuelo: (beem-WELL-oh) Spanish—a flaky pastry that is fried in oil and then sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon

brittle bush: English—a shrub that grows in dry areas. Its leaves are gray green, and it has yellow flowers.

campesino: Spanish—a farmer; someone who lives in the countryside and works the land

charco: (CHAR-ko) Spanish—a depression in the land that holds water; a pond

conquistadors: (kon-KEES-ta-DORS) Spanish—conquerors; victorious soldiers

converso: (kon-VER-so) Spanish—a person who has converted to another religion; one who pretends to convert

creosote: (CREE-uh-sote) English—a fragrant bush with bright yellow flowers common in the desert Southwest

Doña: (DOHN-ya) Spanish—a title of respect used with the first name of a woman

exactamente: (eh-zact-uh-MEN-tay) Spanish—exactly

excelente: (eh-zeh-LEN-tay) Spanish—excellent

fiesta: (fee-ES-tuh) Spanish—party; celebration

gracias a diós: (GRAH-see-ahs ah DEE-ohs) Spanish—thank God

hasta: (HAH-stah) Spanish—until

hermano: (air-MAH-noh) Spanish—brother

hobble: English—a rope or other device used to keep an animal from walking

hola: (OH-lah) Spanish—hi; hello

I’itoi: (ee-ee-toy)—Tohono O’odham name meaning “Elder Brother,” who is believed to be one of the four creators of the world

Inquisition: English—a panel of Roman Catholic judges who investigated those accused of not following the church’s teachings

javelina: (hah-veh-LEAN-uh)—wild boar

mañana: (mahn-YA-nah) Spanish—tomorrow

mantilla: (mahn-TEE-ya) Spanish—a lacy head covering

mesquite: (meh-SKEET) Spanish—a small spiny tree native to the Southwest. It grows edible pods that are part of the pea family.

mijo: (MEE-ho) Spanish—conjoined term of mi hijo, meaning “my son”

milagro: (mih-LAH-grow) Spanish—miracle

no me digas: (no meh DEE-gaz) Spanish—you don’t say

olla: (OY-ya) Spanish—a clay jug to hold water

padre: (PAH-dray) Spanish—father

paloverde: (PAH-lo VAIR-deh) Spanish—literally “green bark”; a desert tree with lime-green bark

patina: (PAT-ee-nuh)—a plate used during the Catholic Communion service

Pima: (PEE-muh)—a Southwest desert tribe

pinole: (pee-NOH-lay) Spanish—a ground meal made with mesquite beans, corn, and wheat

prickly pear: English—a variety of cactus with oval, flat, spiny pads

¿qué pasa?: (kay PAH-sah) Spanish—What happened?

¿quién pasa?: (kyen PAH-sah) Spanish—Who’s there?

quiver: English—a carrying bag for arrows

ramada: (ruh-MAH-duh) Spanish—an open area covered by a trellis to provide shade

rancheria: (rahn-cheh-REE-uh) Spanish—a small village with several small huts

rebozo: (reh-BO-zo) Spanish—a shawl

saguaro: (suh-WAH-row) Spanish—a large cactus with waxy, white flowers that produces an edible red fruit

señor/señorita: (sehn-YOR/sehn-yoh-REE-tah) Spanish—Mister/Miss

Tohono O’odham: (teh-hono-OH-tahm) O’odham—a Southwest desert tribe

Torah: (TOH-rah) Hebrew—a scroll containing the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures

vámanos: (VAH-mah-nohs) Spanish—Let’s go

Yo soy: (yoh soy) Spanish—I am

zopilote: (zoh-pill-LO-teh) Spanish—a small American black vulture