The tide [...]]]> The tide is a significant factor in many cruising areas – and we often need to ask locals about the state of the tide: Is it high, low, rising, falling? How much water will we have in the harbor entrance or at the fuel dock at high or low tide?

la marea mah-reh-ah (the tide) The tide range in Puerto Montt Chile is around 6 meters.

	La marea está baja. Lah mah-reh-ah ehss-tah bah-hah. (The tide is low.)
	La marea está subiendo. Lah mah-reh-ah ehss-tah soo-b’yehn-hah. (The tide is rising.)

For an easy-to-use phrase book with all the Spanish words you need to discuss tides, currents and water depths while cruising in Spain, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, get  Spanish for Cruisers: The Boater’s Complete Language Guide

los mariscos

mah-reess-kohss

(shellfish and mollusks)

Mariscos are shellfish like langostas (lobsters) plus mollusks like pulpo (octopus) and calamares (squid).

In Spanish there isn’t a word that directly translates as “seafood”. Instead, you have pescado (fish) and [...]]]> Today’s Spanish word of the day adds a little more to the last discussion about FISH words.

	los mariscos mah-reess-kohss (shellfish and mollusks) Mariscos are shellfish like langostas (lobsters) plus mollusks like pulpo (octopus) and calamares (squid).
	In Spanish there isn’t a word that directly translates as “seafood”. Instead, you have pescado (fish) and mariscos (shellfish/mollusks). Together they capture what we term seafood.
	This comidas rapidas (fast food) restaurant in the Dominican Republic advertises fish, shellfish, and pica pollo (fried chicken).
	la marisquería mah-reess-keh-ree-ah (seafood restaurant)   A marisquería is a seafood restaurant. A pescadería is a seafood market.
	la pescadería pehss-kah-deh-ree-ah (seafood market)
	When I asked this vendor in a pescadería in Puerto Montt, Chile how he could clean erizos (sea urchins) with bare hands, he answered: experience.

For an easy-to-use phrase book with all the Spanish words for the mariscos you will find in Spain, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, get  Spanish for Cruisers: The Boater’s Complete Language Guide

There are two words for fish – pescado and pez (plural: peces). The one you will use most commonly [...]]]> Eating very fresh fish is one of the treats of cruising. Here are some words to help you talk about your catch – whether you catch your fish at sea or in the fish market.

There are two words for fish – pescado and pez (plural: peces). The one you will use most commonly is pescado. A pescado is a fish that has been caught for eating. Pez is a fish that is in the water. Pez is the general zoological word for fish.

	el pescado pehss-kah-doh (fish – caught, for eating) This lovely pescado (fish) is a dorado (in English: mahi-mahi or dolphin fish).
	This taco stand in Mexico is advertising their tacos de pescado (fish tacos). They also make tacos with camarón (shrimp), pulpo (octopus), calamar (squid), langosta (lobster), jaiba (crab), almejas (clams) …

On the other hand, when you’re talking about fish in the water, you use pez or peces (plural):

	el pez pehss (fish – as animal in water) los peces peh-sehss (fishes, fish plural)

Here are some more handy words related to fishing:

	la pescadería pehss-kah-deh-ree-ah (fish market) You buy pescado (fish) in a pescadería (fish market). This one offers “Quality and Good Price”
	el pescadero pehss-kah-deh-roh (fishmonger, fish seller) This pescadero proudly held up this beautiful corvina (sea bass) when we asked for a photo.
	el pescador pehss-kah-dohr (fisherman) These fishermen in the remote Aves islands of Venezuela came by to ask us to charge their cell phone.

The act of fishing is la pesca.

Fishing as an adjective is pesquero or de pesca.

el pesquero pehss-keh-roh (fishing boat) A fishing boat is a pesquero or a barco de pesca. (Locally they may have many other names…)

For an easy-to-use phrase book that will give you all the words and phrases to enjoy fish and fishing in Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country, get  Spanish for Cruisers: The Boater’s Complete Language Guide