Castile-La Manchaa region rich in history and culture, offers a series of curiosities that highlight its unique character. Its vast territory of 79,463 km², slightly larger than the Czech Republic, is home to a population of almost two million inhabitants, comparable to that of Slovenia. This community has witnessed the passage of nine different civilizationsfrom the Carpetian Celts to the contemporary Spaniards, with a brief French occupation in the early 19th century.
Among its natural wonders, Castilla-La Mancha stands out for its extensive agricultural productionwith 55,000 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of vegetables and flowers, and 389,565 hectares of olive trees that produce a large quantity of oil. It is also worth noting the variety of regional names for windsas abbrego and matacabras. The curious and ancient word they use in Toledo to designate the bus, “katanga”, is another example of how the local dialect It retains peculiarities that are often incomprehensible to the rest of the country.
The curious word that is only used in Toledo
@ser0noserr 😱 IN TOLEDO THERE ARE NO BUSES THERE IS KATANGA @unautoledo does not sponsor this video 🤣 #ToledoBus Where does this curious word come from? Well, it turns out that the bus service in Toledo was inaugurated in the 1960s, just when the Katanga War was taking place in the Congo. The bus thing in Toledo was a revolution and since we are like that and we see something new, we go head down, because everyone wanted to get on the bus. And of course, it was so bad that people started saying: it’s worse than the Katanga War! #reel #like #love #toledo #bus #spain #castillalamancha #leisure #culture #bus #katanga ♬ original sound – ser0noser
In Spain, the linguistic richness reflects the influence of various civilizations throughout history, giving rise to a variety of languages and dialects. This evolution has led Spanish, in addition to its regional variants, to also present unique terms in different places. A fascinating example of this particularity can be found in Toledo, where the bus is known by a distinctive name: “katanga”.
The word “katanga” has its origin in 1960scoinciding with the Katanga War in the Congo. At that time, the bus service was introduced in Toledo, and its arrival was so shocking that people began to compare the chaos associated with the new buses to the conflict in the Congo. Thus, the term “katanga” became popular to refer to these public transport vehicles. This name, which may seem strange to foreigners, has remained in the city despite the passage of time.
The first buses in Toledo, called “katanga,” were dark blue with a white roof. This model lasted until the 1980s, when the transport company changed its name to “Union of Urban Buses and Microbuses of Toledo” (UNAUTO) and repainted the vehicles yellow. Although the term “katanga” has declined in use, it remains a curious linguistic anecdote that reflects the local history of the imperial city.
Expressions of La Mancha
In Castile-La Mancha, the dictionary “El Bienhablao” includes a directory of terms that reflect the the essence of La Manchuela. These words, some of which have become famous throughout Spain, offer a fascinating insight into local culture.
One of the most characteristic expressions is “Achicharrao”which describes a person who is hot or sunburned. For example, it can be used to warn someone about extreme heat: “Don’t stay on the terrace at meal times, it’s very hot.” Another relevant term is “bacín”, which refers to a nosy or annoying person, as in the case of someone who is always in the middle of other people’s business: “I can’t stand Marta, she’s a little friend who never stops gossiping about everyone.”
“Ungrateful” is another interesting word, used to describe someone who is ungrateful or rude, who disdains what is offered to them. An example would be: “We offered him a coffee and he didn’t even accept it; what a disappointment that is.” On his part, “hare carrier” refers to a person who, because of his insistence, becomes tiring: “With Luis, always insistent, the meeting becomes completely boring.”
Expressions like “sagato”which refers to the lingering smell of clothes after being near a bonfire, and “rechisquero,” which describes the suffocating heat of midday, are emblematic of La Mancha discourse. In addition, “foreigner” is used to refer to an outsider, as in: “We saw many foreigners at the fair this year.” “Viruji” describes a cold and icy wind, as when it is said: “Don’t go out without a coat, because with the viruji it’s as if you were going to freeze.”
These expressions reflect the cultural and linguistic wealth of Castile-La Manchamaking his word an integral part of the regional heritage
