Typical expressions of Granada

Granada, as we all know, is a city with a great history and cultural richness, as you can see in some of the free tours in the center of Granada. And that is also transferred in the linguistic aspect, in which we have some terms and expressions of Granada, which differentiate our way of speaking with respect to other places in Andalusia.

However, the richness of the language is such that many of these typical expressions of Granada are not even known by the inhabitants of the city.

For this reason, we are going to make a compilation of some of the most famous expressions from Granada and their origin.

 

 

TYPICAL EXPRESSIONS GRENADA

The term par excellence that perfectly defines the people from Granada inside and outside the province, is known as “malafollá”. It defines people who have a sour and grumpy character.

The birth of the term malafollá to define the people of Granada arises in the Middle Ages. When in the smithies that were located in the Albayzín, the main task of the apprentices was to use the bellows to keep the fire at a high temperature. But this rhythm was often not adequate and it was said that the apprentices had a bad fuck (malafollá). And the expression was extended to explain the situation of anger that caused in the foremen, when this good rhythm was not maintained, and therefore, the pieces came out defective.

Another of the most typical expressions of Granada is “apaga y vámonos” which, although it is widely used throughout the national territory, has its origin in the Nasrid city. It is used to refer to the fact that an activity is finished, when another unexpected event occurs that forces it to do so.

The origin of this expression arises in a village of the Alpujarra, known as Pitres, in which both disputed a single place of chaplain. And this dispute ended with the victory of the younger clergyman.

The most commonly used expression in Granada to say that someone is not very physically graceful is “eres más feo que Picio” (you are uglier than Picio). Its origin is in the story of a shoemaker who lived in Alhendín, called Francisco Picio, and who for unknown reasons was condemned to death. At the last moment, he received a pardon, but such was the emotional impact that this situation had on him, that the hair on his head, eyebrows and eyelashes fell out. In addition, he developed a series of tumors on his face. All of this forced him to change towns on several occasions until he finally died when he moved to Granada.

 

 

WORDS EXPRESSIONS GRENADE

Another of Granada’s best known expressions is “el coño de la Bernarda” and is used to indicate that something is out of control, without organization or that each person acts freely in a particular situation.

Unlike the previous ones, there are three theories about the origin of this expression. The best known refers to Bernarda, a kind of healer who lived in the Alpujarras. The locals would go to where she lived to touch her and that this would bring them fortune, better harvests or cure some illness. When she died the town was hit with several calamities and they decided to dig her up to discover that the genitals that made her famous were still incorrupt.

Finally, there are two well-known expressions such as “que salga el sol por Antequera” and “eres más cabezón que el `niño de Gabias'”.

The first is a Granada expression used to accept all the consequences that can be derived from a certain decision. And it has its origin in the last stage of the reconquest of Granada. At the time when the soldiers were at the gates of the city and it seemed impossible that any setback could arise that would harm the capture.

On the other hand, the second expression is used to define a stubborn person or a person who always tries to impose his criteria over others. Its origin is in a child who lived in Las Gabias and suffered from hydrocephalus, a disease that in his case made your skull was twice the normal size. So important is this figure, that in addition to a statue in his honor in the village, is also one of the figures that appears in the Tarasca.