Spanish word of the day
Quote: WizardThe assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast apacible and tranquilo.
Today is my birthday so I get to torture all of you with my horrible Spanish a little extra.
I think a better assignment is contrast the verbs "apaciguar" & "pacificar" and "pacificarse" & "apaciguarse" . The reflexive version of the verbs means to calm yourself down. I honestly don't know the difference, because they both seem to be the same verb meaning "to pacify".
apacible can mean: calm, affable, meek, gentle, inoffensive
tranquilo can mean: calm, quiet, peaceful, relaxed, untroubled
I hope you have an untroubled birthday with no financial or other concerns.
Quote:Today's SWD means to clam down. Here are some related words:
I think the English word "appeasement" is also related at the root.
Quote:The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast apacible and tranquilo.
"Apacible" means a person who is usually calm, but also not very outspoken or, for lack of a better word, proactive (is that even a word?). "Tranquilo" is used to describe a temporary state. Say an excitable person can be calm sometimes.
Quote:Cosas son differente hoy = Things are different today
Oigo todas las madres dice = I hear every mother say
Madre necesita algo hoy para apaciguarla = Mother needs something to calm her down
y aunque ella no está enfermo de verdad = And thought she's not really ill
Hay una poca píldora amarilla = There's a little yellow pill
Se va corriendo para el refugio de la ayudante pequeño de su madre. = She goes running for the shelter of her mother's little helper.
"LAS cosas..."
"Oigo A todas las madres DECIR"
"MAMA necesita..."
"...no está enfermA..."
"Hay una PEQUEÑA píldora amarilla."
"...el refugio DEL pequeño ayudante..."
Quote: pacomartin
It seems there are several covers of that on YouTube. I also found the lyrics in Spanish. Here is just the part I tried to translate.
Hoy los chicos son distinos
Se lo oigo decir a cada madre
hoy una madre necesita also que las tranquilice
y aunque realmente no esté enferma
hay una pequeña pildora amarilla.
Ella corre al refugiado de la pequeña ayuda para madres.
Quote: WizardHere is just the part I tried to translate.
Hoy los chicos son distinos
Se lo oigo decir a cada madre
hoy una madre necesita also que las tranquilice
y aunque realmente no esté enferma
hay una pequeña pildora amarilla.
Ella corre al refugiado de la pequeña ayuda para madres.
You did much better than that.
Third line says "These days a mother needs something to calm them down" (remember our little chat about the use of "they/their/them" for a single person?)
The last line makes no sense at all. It says, more or less, "she runs to the refugee of the mother's little help." (no typos between the quote signs).
Palabra: Heredar
Today's SWD means to inherit. This seems like a nice clean word with no homonyms or synonyms, and a fairly close cognate to English. All Spanish words should be this easy. A related word is herencia , which means inheritance.
A question for the advanced readers is what does the root "here" mean in both the Spanish heredar and English inherit?
Ejemplo time.
Me gustan los gentes viejos. Heredamos el dinero de ellos cuando mueren. = I like old people. We inherit money from them when they die.
Quote: WizardA question for the advanced readers is what does the root "here" mean in both the Spanish heredar and English inherit?
Ask Paco.
Quote:Me gustan los gentes viejos. Heredamos el dinero de ellos cuando mueren. = I like old people. We inherit money from them when they die.
Close.
"...LA gente vieja..."
Quote: Nareed"...LA gente vieja..."
Hmmmm. First, why isn't at least las, because I'm referring to more than one person. Second, I'm not just referring to women, but all people, so shouldn't I use the masculine article?
Quote: WizardA question for the advanced readers is what does the root "here" mean in both the Spanish heredar and English inherit?
The word "heres" is Latin for "heir". English picked it up from Old French in the Middle Ages.
Quiz: There are two kinds of heirs. The
(1) "heir apparent"
(2) "heir presumptive"
Princess Elizabeth was one kind prior to 1952, and Prince Charles is the other kind today. Which is which and why?
Quote: pacomartin
Quiz: There are two kinds of heirs. The
(1) "heir apparent"
(2) "heir presumptive"
Princess Elizabeth was one kind prior to 1952, and Prince Charles is the other kind today. Which is which and why?
I might get them backwards, but I'm going to say that Elizabeth was the "heir apparent" because she was first in line to the throne. However, if her father had fathered a boy then she would fall behind him in the pecking order. I understand this rule was just changed very recently, to not give favoritism to male heirs.
Prince Charles is "presumptive" because nobody can assume a spot higher than him.
Quote: WizardI might get them backwards,
You did get them backwards, but your argument sounded very convincing.
"Presumptive" means "speculative", and "apparent" means "obvious or visible". Charles is the "heir apparent" because he can only be removed as heir by his own death. His mother was the "heir presumptive" in 1952 because she could be removed as heir by the unlikely event of her middle aged parents having a male child.
The change in the law to absolute primogeniture was agreed to in principal, but not all the legal work has been done. Five other monarchies in Europe have absolute primogeniture (Denmark, Sweden , Norway, Belgium, and Luxembourg).
La monarquía española no tiene la primogenitura absoluta. Los hombres tienen preferencia. The Japanese monarchy is male only which caused a near crisis when no male heir had been born into the Imperial Family in nearly 41 years. Princess Akishino finally had a healthy baby boy 5 days before her 40th birthday after being married for 16 years. She nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to conceive a boy.
Another change in Britain is that you can remain in the line of succession if you marry a Catholic, although if you yourself convert to Catholicism you are out of the line. The monarch in the UK is also head of the Anglican church. The current rule change is not retroactive to past generations, so Princess Anne is still below her two much younger brothers. It is not clear if the marriage rule is retroactive. Prince Michael (the queen's cousin) married a Catholic, but never converted himself. He has been out of the line of succession since his marriage in the late 1970's. Prince Michael's daughter in law is an actress and plays the British girlfriend to Ashton Kutcher on 2.5 Men.
Baile, Perro!
Quote: WizardHmmmm. First, why isn't at least las, because I'm referring to more than one person.
No more than you would say "I like old peopleS" in English. People=Gente is a singular noun that refers to many individuals.
Quote:Second, I'm not just referring to women, but all people, so shouldn't I use the masculine article?
No. "Gente" is a feminine noun. "La gente vieja" means "old people," and includes all old people.
Quote: NareedNo. "Gente" is a feminine noun. "La gente vieja" means "old people," and includes all old people.
Okay, I can buy that gente is singular. However, I've always thought of Spanish as being a male-dominant language. If you address a crowd of 1,000 women and one man then you have to use ellos, out of respect for the one man. So WHY is gente feminine?
Quote: WizardOkay, I can buy that gente is singular. However, I've always thought of Spanish as being a male-dominant language. If you address a crowd of 1,000 women and one man then you have to use ellos, out of respect for the one man.
All this is so.
Quote:So WHY is gente feminine?
Possibly because it ends in an "e".
You can use feminine pronouns and adjectives to refer to a man when you use a feminine noun to do so. For example:
José es unA malA persona
Pablo es buenA gente (equivalent to saying in English "he's good people")
Andrés es una de las peores mentes del planeta.
Palabra: Frenar
Today's SWD means to slow down, hold back, or specifically to hit the brakes on a car. A related word is freno which means a break, as in the kind that stops your car. In east Las Vegas you sometimes see auto repair shops that mention they do frenos.
Ejemplo time.
Manejo con un pie en el pedel de freno y el otro en el pedal de nafta. = I drive with one foot on the brakes and one on the gas.
Quote: WizardManejo con un pie en el pedel de freno y el otro en el pedal de nafta. = I drive with one foot on the brakes and one on the gas.
I have heard "nafta" used "for "gasolina" but I've no idea where that would be.
In any case, no one in Mexico refers to the pedals in a car like that, any more than you do in English. So: "Manejo con un pie en el freno y el otro en el acelerador."
"nafta" was SWD 17 June 2011
Quote: NareedI have heard "nafta" used "for "gasolina" but I've no idea where that would be.
Any dictionary, including the one you gave me, should have nafta meaning gasoline. From my point of view, I don't know what words are used in everyday speech and which are archaic.
So, now we've covered the brake and gas pedal. Now we just need the clutch (embrague).
Quote: WizardAny dictionary, including the one you gave me, should have nafta meaning gasoline. From my point of view, I don't know what words are used in everyday speech and which are archaic.
I've never once heard anyone in Mexico use "nafta" for "gasoline." It's not so much archaic as used elsewhere, possibly South America.
Quote:So, now we've covered the brake and gas pedal. Now we just need the clutch (embrague).
Actually in Mexico we use the word "clutch."
La Gasolina
Quote: La letra de GasolinaZumbale el mambo pa' q mis gatas prendan los motores,
Que se preparen q lo q viene es pa q le den, duro!
Mamita yo se que tu no te me va' a quitar (duro!)
Lo que me gusta es q tu te dejas llevar (duro!!)
To los weekenes ella sale a vacilar (duro!!)
Mi gata no para de janguiar porque
A ella le gusta la gasolina (dame mas gasolina)
Como le encanta la gasolina (dame mas gasolina) x2
Ella prende las turbinas,
No discrimina,
No se pierde ni un party de marquesina,
Se acicala hasta pa la esquina,
Luce tan bien q hasta la sombra le combina,
Asesina, me domina,
Anda en carro, motoras y limosinas,
Llena su tanque de adrenalina,
Cuando escucha el reggaeton en la cocina.
A ella le gusta la gasolina (dame mas gasolina!!)
Como le encanta la gasolina (dame mas gasolina!!) x4
Aqui nosotros somos los mejores,
No te me ajores,
En la pista nos llaman los matadores,
Haces q cualquiera se enamore,
Cuando bailas al ritmo de los tambores,
Esto va pa las gatas de to colores,
Pa las mayores, pa las menores,
Pa las que son mas zorras que los cazadores,
Pa las mujeres que no apagan sus motores.
Tenemo' tu y yo algo pendiente,
Tu me debes algo y lo sabes,
Conmigo ella se pierde,
No le rinde cuentas a nadie. x2
Subele el mambo pa' q mis gatas prendan los motores,
Subele el mambo pa' q mis gatas prendan los motores,
Subele el mambo pa' q mis gatas prendan los motores,
Que se preparen q lo q viene es pa q le den, duro!
Mamita yo se que tu no te me va' a quitar (duro!)
Lo que me gusta es q tu te dejas llevar (duro!!)
To los weekenes ella sale a vacilar (duro!!)
Mi gata no para de janguiar porq
A ella le gusta la gasolina (dame mas gasolina!!)
Como le encanta la gasolina (dame mas gasolina!!) x4
Quote: WizardFecha: 12 de Mayo, 2012
Palabra: azarhow does azar differ from aleatorio?
Aleatorio means "random" or "stochastic", as opposed to "designed" or "manipulated"; whereas azar refers to "fate" or "fortune", usually "bad luck". Aleatorio refers more to a chance drawing process, while azar refers to the (adverse) outcome of such a process.
Quote: NowTheSerpentAleatorio means "random" or "stochastic", as opposed to "designed" or "manipulated"; whereas azar refers to "fate" or "fortune", usually "bad luck". Aleatorio refers more to a chance drawing process, while azar refers to the (adverse) outcome of such a process.
Thanks, that is good stuff. Which word tend to be used more inside, and outside, classes in statistics?
Fecha: 26-05-12
Palabra: Rezar
Today's SWD means to pray. It can also mean to read, go, or grumble. A related word is rezo, which means a prayer.
The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast rezar y orar.
Ejemplo time.
¿Qué es la diferencia entre la rezar en la iglesia y la rezar en un casino?
Please answer in Spanish.
Quote: WizardIn that poster above they drew the die on the right incorrectly. The dots on the 2 should be in the other two corners.
Ah! Another version of the ol' Reverse 2-3 dice that we have discussed before (i.e., whether there are left-handed and right-handed dice). Note that the two dice shown in the figure below (from a dice manufacturer) are different from each other as well as different from the right-side die in pacomartin's poster.
Quote: DocAh! Another version of the ol' Reverse 2-3 dice that we have discussed before (i.e., whether there are left-handed and right-handed dice). Note that the two dice shown in the figure below (from a dice manufacturer) are different from each other as well as different from the right-side die in pacomartin's poster.
I just have missed that thread. I thought there was just one standard way to make a die. The one on the right looks correct. And "left-handed" dice? Why can't the lefties use the right-handed dice?
Quote: WizardIt can also mean to read, go, or grumble.
Huh? The dictionary does bring up grumbling, but not the other two.
Quote:The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast rezar y orar.
Sorry. as far as I know they mean the same thing.
Quote:¿Qué es la diferencia entre la rezar en la iglesia y la rezar en un casino?
"¿CUAL es la diferencia entre rezar en la iglesia y rezar en un casino?"
The "la" before "rezar" is superfluous. You don't say "What is the difference between the praying..."
Quote:Please answer in Spanish.
I don't think the joke translates well into Spanish.
Quote: NareedHuh? The dictionary does bring up grumbling, but not the other two.
Try Reverso.
Quote:The "la" before "rezar" is superfluous. You don't say "What is the difference between the praying..."
I thought the same thing, but it seems to me that Spanish uses an actual el,la,los,las where in English it is implied. My motto is, when in doubt throw in a bunch of extra words to at least get points for effort. Notice how many I used yesterday about the pedals.
Quote: WizardPlease answer in Spanish.
Es muy dificil.
Las palabras latinas "orare" y "recitāre" son ancestros de las palabras inglesas "to orate" y "to recite".
La palabra "orar" se define como "hacer oración a Dios, vocal o mentalmente"
La palabra "rezar" se define como "dicho del clérigo obligado a ello: recitar el oficio divino vocal u oralmente"
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre un rezo en la iglesia, y un rezo en un casino? Es más difícil escuchar a Dios en un casino.
Quote: WizardTry Reverso.
Still wrong.
To read = Leer
To go = Ir
Your link says something like "v.t. [+oración] to say," not "to read." In the context of "rezar," "oración" means "prayer." But overall "oración" means "phrase" and "oration."
Quote:I thought the same thing, but it seems to me that Spanish uses an actual el,la,los,las where in English it is implied. My motto is, when in doubt throw in a bunch of extra words to at least get points for effort. Notice how many I used yesterday about the pedals.
The pedals are nouns. "Rezar" is a verb. So maybe your rule f thumb works with nouns, but it doesn't work with verbs.
Quote: NareedStill wrong.
To read = Leer
To go = Ir
The DRAE lists these three meanings as coloquial for rezar
- tr. En un escrito, decir o decirse algo.
El calendario reza agua.
El libro lo reza. -
intr. Dicho de una cosa: Tocar o pertenecer a alguien, ser de su obligación o conocimiento.
Eso no reza CON tus alumnos. -
intr. Gruñir, refunfuñar.
In English "to read" is normally interpreted the same as "leer", and "to go" is interpreted as "ir" but there are secondary meanings of the verbs that would translate as a different Spanish verb. This sense is what they mean in the REVERSO dictionary. -
Discern (a fact, emotion, or quality) in someone's eyes or expression
- she looked down, terrified that he would read fear on her face -
Understand or interpret the nature or significance of
- he didn't dare look away, in case this was read as a sign of weakness -
(of a piece of writing) Convey a specified impression to the reader
- the brief note read like a cry for help -
(of a passage, text, or sign) Contain or consist of specified words; have a certain wording
- the placard read “We want justice.” -
Say
- the kids go, “Yeah, sure.”
Quote: pacomartinThe DRAE lists these three meanings as coloquial for rezar
- tr. En un escrito, decir o decirse algo.
El calendario reza agua.
El libro lo reza.
All of that means "to say," not "to read."
Quote:In English "to read" is normally interpreted the same as "leer", and "to go" is interpreted as "ir" but there are secondary meanings of the verbs that would translate as a different Spanish verb. This sense is what they mean in the REVERSO dictionary.
You can have it your way, if you want. But if you tell a Spanish speaker "Estoy rezando un libro muy interesante," he will understand you said "I'm praying a very interesting book."
Quote: NareedYou can have it your way, if you want. But if you tell a Spanish speaker "Estoy rezando un libro muy interesante," he will understand you said "I'm praying a very interesting book."
I understand what you are saying, and I am not disputing it.
Can you translate this sentence to English?
El libro lo reza.
Can you translate this sentence to Spanish?
The sign reads "This Way To The EGRESS".
If you are not familiar with the story, the sign that reads "This Way To The EGRESS" is a well known story in Americana .
Quote: pacomartinCan you translate this sentence to English?
El libro lo reza.
Of course I can.
Oh, you want the actual translation! Ok: The book says so. But you'll find few people use that verb in that way.
Quote:Can you translate this sentence to Spanish?
The sign reads "This Way To The EGRESS".
A sign wouldn't say that. Instead you'd see a sign saying "Salida" with an arrow pointing the way.
The answer to the joke is,
¡Cuado estas rezando in el casino, estas en serio! = When you pray in the casino, you really mean it!
Quote: WizardI'm not saying you could use rezar for every situation of read. But Reverso says it can used as "read" in this context, El anuncio reza así.
Ok, just to clarify this, it means "the signs says so," not "the sign reads so"
Quote:The answer to the joke is,
¡Cuado estas rezando in el casino, estas en serio! = When you pray in the casino, you really mean it!
"CuaNdo estás rezando EN el casino..."
The rest is the problem. The phrase "I/you really mean it" doesn't translate well. I'd go with "En el casino lo haces en serio," or maybe "lo dices en serio." But that means literally "In the casino you do/say it seriously." That's as close as you get, but it's not close enough for a joke. Word play just doesn't travel well.
True story, see if you can spot the mistaken assumption:
When asked to spell the name "Victor," an aunt of mine began with " 'V' as in cow."
And one for the perils of literal translations. When hearing a knock on his hotel room door, my dad would say "Between!"
Quote: NareedOk, just to clarify this, it means "the signs says so," not "the sign reads so"
It is perfectly acceptable English to say "The sign reads ..." You see this a lot too. A problem with "The sign says ..." is that signs don't talk. An English teacher of mine used to correct people for using this usage of "say."
Quote: WizardIt is perfectly acceptable English to say "The sign reads ..." You see this a lot too. A problem with "The sign says ..." is that signs don't talk. An English teacher of mine used to correct people for using this usage of "say."
Signs don't read, either :)
I understand the distinction, but in Spanish you do use "dice" when referring to a sign or a quotation. You can translate that as "the sign reads" in English, but it would not be a good idea to identify that with the verb "leer" in Spanish.
Quote: Wizard... A problem with "The sign says ..." is that signs don't talk. An English teacher of mine used to correct people for using this usage of "say."
Years ago, my wife and older son, who was barely two years old at the time, had been visiting my in-laws for a few days ahead of my arrival. The in-laws had a sign with their name on it hanging from a couple of rusty eye hooks under their mailbox out at the street. When I got there, my son, who was building his vocabulary, pointed to it and said, "Sign!" I replied, "Yes, and do you know what the sign says?" His reply: "Squeek, squeek, squeek."
It's a real pain being shown up by a two year old.
Quote: NareedThe sign reads "This Way To The EGRESS".
A sign wouldn't say that. Instead you'd see a sign saying "Salida" with an arrow pointing the way.
You missed my point. The story was that PT Barnum was offering admission to his museum of oddities without a time limit. But the problem is that once people paid the admission they would linger for long periods of time crowding the place and he was losing money. So he had the bright idea of putting up the sign. He knew that many people would not recognize the word, and would follow the sign looking for the next display. They would find themselves outside the museum.
It's a well-known bit of Americana, and is often used as a metaphor for schemes that take advantage of general ignorance to make money.
Another famous quote, that is often mistakenly attributed to PT Barnum is below
Quote: WizardIn that poster above they drew the die on the right incorrectly. The dots on the 2 should be in the other two corners.
Fecha: 26-05-12
Palabra: Rezar
Today's SWD means to pray. It can also mean to read, go, or grumble. A related word is rezo, which means a prayer.
The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast rezar y orar.
Ejemplo time.
¿Qué es la diferencia entre la rezar en la iglesia y la rezar en un casino?
Please answer in Spanish.
Rezar es repetir una frase una linea, de memoria o de un libro de pregas; Orar es hablar con Dios casi por una conversacion.
Quote: NareedWord play just doesn't travel well.
Except with mun2 for "mundos".
Quote: pacomartinQuote: NareedThe sign reads "This Way To The EGRESS".
A sign wouldn't say that. Instead you'd see a sign saying "Salida" with an arrow pointing the way.
You missed my point. The story was that PT Barnum was offering admission to his museum of oddities without a time limit. But the problem is that once people paid the admission they would linger for long periods of time crowding the place and he was losing money. So he had the bright idea of putting up the sign. He knew that many people would not recognize the word, and would follow the sign looking for the next display. They would find themselves outside the museum.
It's a well-known bit of Americana, and is often used as a metaphor for schemes that take advantage of general ignorance to make money.
Another famous quote, that is often mistakenly attributed to PT Barnum is below
Another one is, "There's a sucker born every minute!", although I no longer remember who it was exactly who said it first. Maybe De Toqueville? (LOL).
Quote: DocYears ago, my wife and older son, who was barely two years old at the time, had been visiting my in-laws for a few days ahead of my arrival. The in-laws had a sign with their name on it hanging from a couple of rusty eye hooks under their mailbox out at the street. When I got there, my son, who was building his vocabulary, pointed to it and said, "Sign!" I replied, "Yes, and do you know what the sign says?" His reply: "Squeek, squeek, squeek."
It's a real pain being shown up by a two year old.
English is almost unique of all languages in the world in that the word for "understanding the meaning of written symbols" is derived from an Anglo Saxon word that means " to explain or to advise", i.e. rædan.
Most languages (including Romance languages) use a word rooted in the idea of "gather up" as their word for the concept of the English word "read" . The Latin word lego which means to "gather up, to collect, to bring together" is the ancestor of Spanish leer and French lire. A related Greek word is λέγω. The same word is at the root of the name of the childrens toy blocks.
I think that is the core of the conflict between an English speaker casually going back and forth between the "sign says" or the "sign reads". Whereas the speaker of a Romance language would never use "leer" (Spanish) or "lire" (French) or "leggere" (Italian) or "ler" (Portuguese). They would always use "dice".
Quote: NowTheSerpentRezar es repetir una frase una linea, de memoria o de un libro de pregas; Orar es hablar con Dios casi por una conversacion.
Thanks! I suppose one would reza in a Catholic church, and ora in a Protestant one (except the Lutherans).
Quote: WizardQuote: NowTheSerpentRezar es repetir una frase una linea, de memoria o de un libro de pregas; Orar es hablar con Dios casi por una conversacion.
Thanks! I suppose one would reza in a Catholic church, and ora in a Protestant one (except the Lutherans).
A lot of Protestant religions (including boy scouts) use responsive readings where the entire conversation is scripted.
Quote: NowTheSerpentAnother one is, "There's a sucker born every minute!", although I no longer remember who it was exactly who said it first. Maybe De Toqueville? (LOL).
No one knows who said that phrase first. It was credited to PT Barnum, but there is no evidence that it was accurate. Barnum himself never denied the quote, as it got him a lot of publicity.
Tocqueville jokes are not widely understood, so most people won't LOL.
Quote: pacomartinYou missed my point. The story was that PT Barnum was offering admission to his museum of oddities without a time limit.
Oh, yes. I am familiar with the story. I just didn't remember it.
You could put up a sign that said "Egreso por aquí," with an arrow pointing the way.
But chances are most people will know what it means. When you refer to the school someone graduated from, a common way is to say "Es egresada del Tec de Monterrey." It's as common as saying "Es graduada del Tec..." or "Se graduó del Tec.."
Then again, "No one ever went broke underestimating the ignorance of humanity," Nareed, 2012 :P
Palabra: Arrastrar
Today's SWD means to drag, as in to pull or tow. It can also have mean to take something along not necessarily intended/wanted.
Arrastrar should not be confused with dragar, which means to dredge.
The question for the advanced readers is whether there is a connection between arrastrar and the English "arrest," which might be like dragging someone to jail.
Ejemplo time.
La última 1.6 kilómetros del maratón tuve que arrastrarme a la línea de terminar. = The last mile of the marathon I had to drag myself to the finish line.
