Pinolero is a
colloquial
Colloquialism (also called ''colloquial language'', ''colloquial speech'', ''everyday language'', or ''general parlance'') is the linguistic style used for casual and informal communication. It is the most common form of speech in conversation amo ...
term for a
Nicaraguan
Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America after Guatemala and ...
. The term is used extensively in
Nicaraguan Spanish
Nicaraguan Spanish () is geographically defined as the form of Spanish spoken in Nicaragua. Affectionately, Nicaraguan Spanish is often called ''Nicañol.''
The Spanish dialect in Nicaragua is heavily influenced by Nahuatl and Nawat in its vocab ...
. The plural of Pinolero is Pinoleros. Other colloquial references include Nica(s), Nicoya(s). Each of these terms are gender-neutral.
">"pinolero" en el diccionario Español-Inglés
/ref>
Etymology
The coined term has two possible, disputed origins. The first disputed origin is that the term is derived from the word pinol
' or ' is a traditional hot beverage of Peru, made from ' (toasted barley flour) and ' (unrefined sugar) mixed with spices and combined with a liquid, usually milk. The term ' may also refer to the dry mix itself.
History
The invention of ' is ...
, a form of toasted ground corn that is the main ingredient for Pinolillo
Pinolillo is a sweet cornmeal and cacao-based traditional drink in Nicaragua. It is made of ground toasted corn and a small amount of cacao. It can be mixed with water or soy milk, and served sweetened or unsweetened. If unsweetened, it is rathe ...
, a powdered form of the pinol which is used in a variety of local cuisine and beverage preparations. Historically, indigenous tribes in Nicaragua depended primarily on corn-based products as their primary food staple.
The second disputed origin is that the term comes from the ''Pinolero'' van
A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. There is some variation in the scope of the word across the different English-speaking countries. The smallest vans, microvans, are used for transporting either goods or ...
-pickup truck
A pickup truck or pickup is a Truck_classification#Table_of_US_GVWR_classifications, light or medium duty truck that has an enclosed cabin (truck), cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (th ...
hybrid model produced by the state-run ''Nicaraguan Industry of Vehicles'' (known as ''Industrias Nicaragüenses de Vehículos,'' SA or INDEVESA in Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
) during the 1970s. These vehicles were a source of national pride because of the attempts to industrialize with state-run resources.
See also
* Nica (toponym)
*Culture of Nicaragua
Culture of Nicaragua is a fusion of Mesoamerican, Chibcha, and Spanish influence. The western part was colonized by the Spanish and its culture is similar to western El Salvador in that western Nicaragua was dominated by the Nahua people, specifi ...
References
*P
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