Having fun with language

Below: Dos Hombres - "Two Men"
I spent about 10 years of my life living on a street called "River View." Actually, it was called "Rio Vista," but translates to "River View" in English. I would bet that most Tucsonans who grew up in Tucson have, at one time or another, lived on a street with a Spanish name. These names are all over the city. In our hospitals (El Dorado), in our schools (La Cima Middle School), in our parks (Agua Caliente Park) and in our neighborhoods (I lived in a neighborhood called "Vista Del Rio" or "View of the River.")

Tucson has borrowed many Spanish words that are now part of our everyday vocabulary. Unfortunately, not everyone in town knows Spanish (including me) so some street names remain a mystery. This blog is going to unravel the mystery to major street names and common words found in street names in the Old Pueblo.

Have you heard of these roads?

Tanque Verde: "Green Tank" - a major street that runs through the east side of Tucson
La Canada: "The Glen" or "The Dale" - a major street on the northwest side of Tucson
Rancho Vistoso: "Gorgeous Ranch" - a street on the northwest side of Tucson

Or have you lived on a street including one or more of these terms?

Calle: "Street"
Camino: "Way"
Avenida: "Avenue"
Paseo: "Pass"
Via: "Route" or "Way"
Circulo: "Circle"
Valle: "Valley"
Plaza: "Square" or "Open Place"
Ventana:"Window"
Alta: "High"

And here are some fun street names I found that don't have such obvious translations (for a non-Spanish speaker):

Loma del Bribon: "Hill of the ruffian" - "Ruffian Hill" (north-central Tucson)
Camino Del Codorniz: "Way of the quail" - "Quail Way"(far east Tucson)
Camino Sin Vacas: "Way without [a] cow" (north side of Tucson)

Above: Camino Seco - "Dry Way"

However, when an American city begins borrowing language from another country there are bound to be some problems in spelling, meaning, etc. Check out this article from an AZ Daily Star opinions writer who catches some of the flubs Tucson has made in misusing the Spanish language.