Is the Spanish lesson you will learn how to say the word hat in Spanish. I will also want to tell you about a common mistake that English speakers make when speaking Spanish. But first I will begin with how you really say the English word “hat” in Spanish.

One thing that used to really confuse me is what do you call a garment that covers the head in Spanish. The Spanish books would have one to believe that any garment that is used to cover the head is called a “sombrero.” But depending on the type of garment that is used to cover the head, I have heard Spanish speakers use 3 different words:

1. Sombrero – hat with a brim but without a visor.

By the way, “sombrero” can also refer to the type of big that is worn by the “vaqueros” (cowboys) from Mexico, who are better known as “los charros” (the Mexican cowboys).

2. Gorra – A brimless head covering with a visor or what most English speakers would call a “cap.” Such as a New York Yankees cap.

3. Gorro – A small, brimless close-fitting cap, often worn to protect one from the cold. Many English speakers would refer to this as a skull cap (but not the type worn for religious purposes).

Make that four (4) words. I have heard Colombians use either “gorro” or “pasamontaña” in order to describe a small, brimless close-fitting cap, often worn to protect one from the cold.

Before I go, I want to tell you about a common mistake that English speakers make when speaking Spanish. I had an American friend visit me this weekend here in Medellín. His name is Gary. Gary has taken some Spanish classes and even attended an immersion Spanish course while visiting the Amazon jungle and the Amazon rainforest, which by the way, visiting the Amazon jungle and the Amazon rainforest is something that I have dreamed of doing since living in Colombia.

For “almuerzo” (lunch), I took Gary to a fish restaraunt because he likes “mariscos” (seafood) or “comida del mar” (seafood). “Mariscos” or “comida del mar” aren’t very popular in Medellín because Medellín is so far from the coast of Colombia. But in this particular restaurant, the owners and workers are from Chocó. Chocó is a department of Colombia known for its large Black-Colombian population. And it is the only Colombian department to have coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Chocó borders Panamá.

A lot of Colombians from Chocó have come to Medellín after being displaced from their homes because of fighting between FARC guerrillas, paramilitaries, the Colombian army and drug traffickers.

Back to the Spanish mistakes Gary made…

When the waiter came to our table to take our orders, Gary asked him “Qué clase de pez tiene?” (What kind of fish do you have?).

Did you notice Gary’s mistake?

“Pez” refers to a live fish as a fish in the ocean. If you are talking about fish as in the food dish, the you must say “pescado.”

I was waiting for the “muchacho” to come back with a live, wet fish flapping in a bucket of water, but he didn’t.

By the way, referring to a young waiter as a “muchacho” instead of “mesero” is not considered offensive or derogatory in Latin America.

Before bringing us the main course, the “muchacho” brought us two “tazones” (bowls) of “sancocho de pescado” — a fish stew or soup with large pieces of plantain, potato, yuca and other vegetables.

Gary and I both ordered the same main course:

Tilapia (a type of fish), “arroz de coco” (coconut rice), and “ensalada” (salad). And for the “bebidas” (drinks) we had “aguapanela” — a non-alcoholic drink made by dissolving “panela” (a block of sugarcane) into water and adding lime juice. “Aguapanela” is a common refreshment in Colombia and Ecuador.

Just before our main dishes arrived, the “muchucho” started to pick-up Gary’s empty “tazón” (bowl) of “sancocho de pescado.”

But Gary stopped him and said “Necesito esto para los huesos.” (I need this for the bones.)

Did you notice Gary’s mistake?

“Huesos” certainly means bones. But when you are talking about the bones of a fish you don’t call them “huesos.” The bones of a fish are called “espinas.” By the way, “espinas” also means “thorns” as in the thorns of a rose.

So those are two mistakes that my friend Gary made that I don’t want you to make:

1. “Pez” refers to a live fish such as a fish in the ocean. And “pescado” refers to a fish that is intended to be used as food.

2. “Huesos” does mean bones. But when you are talking about the bones of a fish, then you must say “espinas.”

If you are wondering how much did this “almuerzo” (lunch) for two cost — that consisted of soup, fish, rice, salad and a beverage – the total price was 16,000 Colombian pesos. That is the equivalent to about $8 U.S. or about $4 per person.

There is a big sign in the restaurant that says “La propina es voluntaria.” (The tip is voluntary). But I still left a tip of 2,000 Colombian pesos (about $1 U.S.)