Ask for directions more than once.

If you ask for directions in Mexico City, it is certain that you will find somebody happy to help. However, it is advisable that, unless it is very clear that the person knows where they are sending you, it might be good to look for a second opinion.

It sounds funny but in Mexico refusing to answer is considered impolite. Somebody might point you in a certain direction, remarking that they do not know exactly where the location is but that certainly it is in that direction. Go there and ask for direction, they will tell you.

Even if you are hungry, it is polite not to accept food the first time it is offered to you.

Some foreigners feel harassed when they are invited at a Mexican’s house to eat and their hosts insist on them having seconds. They do not understand why people do not accept the first “no” for an answer but the thing is that in Mexico it is considered impolite to accept it the first time, so they think that you are just being polite. Some people affirm that you have to say yes only on the third occasion but if you want more, I suggest accepting it the first time, so you are sure to get more and be patient if they insist several times when you say no.

Diminutivals / diminutives. Diminutivos.

It is very common in Mexican Spanish to use diminutivals. They are formed from a noun with the suffixes -ito and -ita (in South America and the Caribbean they also use -ico and ica as well), as in English where words like duckling, gosling, booklet, circlet, novelette, wavelet and droplet are used. However, this use goes much further in Mexican Spanish. These types of words can be used as a affectionate term (Juanito, mamita), a way to make something sound less serious (you drink a last cervecita at a bar) a form of affectionate respect (virgencita, jefecito) but they can also be used to reduce the effect of a word that sounds harsh for the speaker.

Some scholars affirm that the wide use of diminutives has its origin in what is called the reverential form of the Nahuatl language (the ancient language of Central Mexico) which was formed with the ending -tzin. It is no longer used in the modern  variants of the Nahuatl language except in one part of Mexico City.

It can sound strange, even insulting and derogative when a Mexican says words like japonecito (little Japanese), negrito (little black person) but normally it doesn’t have a negative intention.

If you are invited to a wedding, better ask the real time to arrive.

An invitation for a wedding usually indicates the time the ceremony will take place. However, in Mexico there is the bad habit to arrive always late, therefore the time indicated on an invitation is usually 30 minutes to 1 hour before the wedding is really taking place. So, if you plan to be on time and do not want to wait alone, ask what it is the real time. Unfortunately this habit exists in all ambits: concerts, dinner parties, etc.,  and do not forget that arriving 15 to 30 minutes late for an appointment is considered to be on time.

Quesadillas without queso (cheese)

This street food made of a folded tortilla with a filling is typical from Mexico city. Its name comes from the Spanish word queso, cheese, that is why some other Mexicans make fun of this typical chilango (the persons from Mexico City) finger food that how can it be a quesadilla without cheese. At some time of this debate somebody try to explain that it came from the nahuatl word quesaditzin, folded tortilla, which is totally a troll. One quesadilla cook explained that at the beginning all quesadillas were with queso and other ingredient like mushrooms, pumpkin flower or huitlacoche and some people started asking for a mushrooms quesadilla without cheese and then it became popular quesadillas with no cheese. If in Germany they can name Limonade any bottled drink even without lemon like Coca Cola, don´t be shy to order your quesadilla “sin queso”.