This list is by no means meant to be complete, but is rather just some of the more common words and phrases McCulley used in his novel. Hopefully, this will enrich your enjoyment of same.
- buenos noches = good night
- caballero = gentleman or nobleman
- carcel = jail
- caro = dear
- carreta = a narrow cart or wagon
- de = of
- despensero = steward
- Don or don = A title of respect, usually directed towards a land owner
- Dona or dona = the wife of a don
- el = the
- El Camino Real = literally "The King's Highway"-the main route through early California that stretched from San Diego to Sonoma, just above of San Francisco
- frailes = a friar, specifically one whose order forbids the posession of personal property
- fray = a shortened form of fraile
- hacienda = estate or large ranch
- hidalgo = Spanish nobleman
- magistrado = a local official who acts as an administrator or judge
- peon = a laborer, or, by implication, a peasant
- presidio = strictly means a prison, but can also refer to a fort
- pueblo = a small town or village
- Reina = queen
- señor or Señor = mister
- señorita or Señorita = miss
- si = yes
- sombrero = a hat
- Zorro = a male fox or a crafty person
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