Aplatanado is a word that refers to a foreign person, who has adopted the customs of the country.
It also refers to a person who lacks initiative, or is discouraged, having the meaning of feeling sluggishness caused by the tropical heat.
SYNONYMS FOR Aplatanado
Acriollado
Inactive
Sluggish
Discouraged
ORIGIN OF Aplatanado
This term almost exclusive to the Dominican Republic is the confluence of culture and food, and describes what it means to become Dominican because literally, aplatanado means “to be like the plantain”.
Since plantains are a very typical, indispensable, preferred, and very common element in our table, they have been theoretically chosen to represent the concept of dominicanidad, as it is said to a foreigner who has contracted the customs of that country.
However, and according to the context, in some other countries the term Aplatanado has a different meaning since it also refers to that person, who is lazy or who is discouraged because of the tropical heat, indolence or inactivity, especially influenced by the weather.
This term is also used in Cuba, although there “acubanearse” is much more frequent, however in the Dominican Republic it is a compliment, because it means that you have been accepted, that they think of you as one of them.
It is not necessary to be a Dominican citizen to be aplatanado, but it means that the person has adapted to the culture.
If that person recognizes himself in the stories of the Dominican Republic, and has tasted the flavors of its dishes; it provokes him to eat a sancocho while it rains, knows the difference between locrio and asopao, and knows which dishes go with tostones and which go with fried ripe plantains, then that person is officially declared Aplatanado.
CURIOSITIES OF Aplatanado
With plantains an infinity of dishes are prepared, which take as a starting point their preparation boiled, fried, baked, green or ripe.