Cambas and Collas
05 Oct, 2015 | Anna Bellettato
Social issues and Social issues
La Paz and Santa Cruz, the two largest cities in Bolivia, could not be more diverse – both in terms of geography and culture. Paceños are also known as collas. They are those who shaped the traditional image of Bolivians abroad – people of medium height with dark complexion and prominent facial features. Cruceños are called cambas. Living in diverse climatic conditions and the product of the interaction of Europeans with Guarani culture, cambas are described as taller and leaner than their colla counterparts, with typical mestizo traits.
Take the quiz to guess the differences!
1) If you are walking down street and you hear a sonorous yaaaa, it’s sure you are in
Santa Cruz
La Paz
2) Elay puej is ‘there you go’ for
cruceños
paceños
3) To say 'let’s have a drink’ they say chuparemos if they are
cambas
collas
4) Peladingo and pelada are friendly ways to address a boy or a girl in
Santa Cruz
La Paz
5) They wear flip-flops, but they are not gringos in
La Paz
Santa Cruz
6) If you reply ‘ ñeeee’ to someone you are a
camba
colla
7) If you feel cold, you exclaim ‘alalayyy’ when you are from
Santa Cruz
La Paz
Answers:
1) b
2) a
3) b
4) a
5) b
6) a
7) b
