Tucson Terminology 

• Adobe (ah-doe-bee):

  The original building material of the Southwest. Adobe bricks are made of mud and straw mixed together and allowed to dry in the sun. Because of it's composition, adobe can be very impermanent, which is one reason why there are so few historic buildings still standing. Modern adobe makers often use cement, asphalt or other ingredients in the mix to improve it stability.

• Arroyo (ah-roy-yo):

  A dry wash that can suddenly fill with water. Always heed the signs that proclaim, "DO NOT ENTER WHEN FLOODED".

• Barrio (Bah-ree-oh):

  The historic and originally Spanish-speaking areas of the Old Pueblo. Barrio Viejo, also known as the Barrio Historico, is part of the original Barrio Libre, the oldest area of the city, located south of what was once a walled Presidio. It includes several historic houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the famous El Tiradito "Wishing Shrine".

• Calle (ky-yeah):

  Spanish for "street". Usually followe by something picturesque, as in "Calle Sin Vacas" (street without cows).

• Casa (kah-sa):

  Casa (kah-sa): "Mi casa es su casa" (my home is your home) is a phrase that's usually bandied about by locals, but not always meant to be taken literally.

• Cholla (choy-ya):

  "Jumping cactus", the name says it all, and if you get too close to one, you will be wearing it. In appearance, it can look more furry than fierce, but don't be fooled.

• Gila (he-la) monster:

  A scary looking lizard with a nasty reputation, although it tends to avoid humans and is seldom found outside of desert areas.

• Javalina (hav-ah-lee-na):

  These wild New World swine can look pretty ferocious, especially with their sizable teeth bared, but your garden is in greater danger from them than you are.

• Mesquite (mes-keet):

  A bush-like thorny tree that bears long, bean-like edible pods used as cattle fodder.
  Ocotillo (ok-ko-tee-oh):  A thorny scarlet-flowered bush (also known as the "devil's whip") that historically has been used to build fences.

• Palo Verde (pah-lo ver-day):

  Literally "green stick". A green barked tree with stringy looking leaves. Extremely prolific and almost impossible to kill, young palo verdes seem to spring up overnight in the most unlikely places.

• Ramada (ra-ma-da, "bunch of branches"):

  The word denotes a covered patio and once was a de rigueur for any self respecting backyard around here.

• Saguaro (sah-wah-ro):

  A giant, slow-growing, long living cactus THAT ONLY GROWS IN THE SONORA DESERT!
  Yucca (yuck-ah): A cactus with large spikey gray-green leaves and white bell-like flowers.