Vocabulary in Hills Like White Elephants

Something that is expensive or troublesome to maintain and difficult to get rid of, yet has little practical use; here used as a metaphor for something unwanted that nobody wants to openly discuss.

An anise-flavored alcoholic drink, common in Spain and southern Europe, typically served with water which turns it cloudy.

A specific brand of Spanish anise-flavored liqueur; the name literally means 'anise of the bull.'

A doorway or window covering made of strings of beads hanging vertically, common in Mediterranean bars and cafés as a way to keep out flies while allowing passage.

A strong, bitter anise-flavored spirit; here referenced as the taste that Anis del Toro resembles, evoking a potent, licorice-like flavor.

A surgical procedure; in this story it is a euphemism the man uses to refer to an abortion, which neither character names directly.

Extremely easy and straightforward; the man uses this phrase to downplay the seriousness of the procedure he is urging the woman to undergo.

Completely normal and unremarkable; used by the man to minimize the significance of the operation and reassure the woman there is nothing to worry about.

Sensible and logical; the man repeatedly uses this word to pressure the woman into agreeing with his point of view and accepting his proposed course of action.

Used ironically and repeatedly in the dialogue to mean that everything will be acceptable or satisfactory, though the word masks deep tension and unresolved conflict between the two characters.

Here specifically the beaded curtain of the bar, which the woman looks at and touches; it functions as a boundary between the interior world of the couple's conflict and the outside world.

A Spanish word meaning 'genuine' or 'authentic,' appearing on the bead strings of the curtain, indicating the bar's advertisement of its products as the real thing.

A place where railway lines meet or branch off; the story is set at a train station that is a junction, meaning trains from different directions stop there.

A fast train that makes few stops; here it refers to the train the couple is waiting for, which will carry them toward the city where the operation is to take place.

Heavy curtains hung across a doorway in place of a door; here used to describe the curtain-like coverings at the bar entrance.

Used to describe the temperature of the drinks and the setting, but also carries an ironic tone as the emotional atmosphere between the couple is anything but warm or comfortable.