aguinaldo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “aguinaldo” mean?
A Christmas bonus or gift, traditionally given to employees or servants.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Christmas bonus or gift, traditionally given to employees or servants.
A seasonal gift, often monetary, given around Christmas; also refers to a genre of Puerto Rican folk music played during the Christmas season.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is rarely used in general British English. In American English, it is known primarily in regions with significant Hispanic populations (e.g., Florida, Southwest, New York).
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of specific cultural traditions rather than a generic Christmas bonus.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in the UK. Low but recognisable frequency in the US, concentrated in areas with Latino communities.
Grammar
How to Use “aguinaldo” in a Sentence
receive + aguinaldogive + [someone] + an aguinaldobe entitled to + an aguinaldoVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a mandatory or customary year-end bonus for employees in some Latin American countries.
Academic
Used in anthropological, cultural, or ethnomusicological studies of Hispanic holiday traditions.
Everyday
Used within Hispanic communities to refer to Christmas gifts or money.
Technical
In musicology, refers to a specific folk genre from Puerto Rico.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aguinaldo”
- Using it to refer to any bonus (e.g., a sales bonus). Pronouncing it with a hard 'g' as in 'get' (it's a soft g, /ɡi/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While it is a gift, it specifically refers to a monetary bonus given by employers to employees around Christmas, or a musical tradition, not a wrapped present under a tree.
No. In both English and Spanish pronunciations, the 'g' is soft before the 'i', sounding like the 'g' in 'genre' or the 'h' in 'hue'.
It is not common in general vocabulary in either country. It is used mainly when discussing specific cultural practices of Latin America, the Caribbean, or the Philippines, or within those diaspora communities.
Yes. It can also refer to a genre of folk music, particularly in Puerto Rico, consisting of seasonal songs sung during Christmas.
A Christmas bonus or gift, traditionally given to employees or servants.
Aguinaldo is usually formal, cultural in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not quite the aguinaldo (meaning: it's not as generous as expected).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A GUI (graphical user interface) for the holidays' -> a gift (like a bonus) you receive at Christmas.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEASONAL REWARD IS A HARVEST (from its etymological link to a 'year-end gift').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'aguinaldo' most accurately used?