Spanish word of the day

Quote: Wizard

Today's SWD means to make a racket. The word for a racket (noun) is alboroto.

Yes, but it's not very frequently used.

Quote:

Gilligan, dejás alborotas; el Capitan está tratando de dormir. = Gilligan, quit making a racket, the Skipper is trying to sleep.

I won't even try to retranslate this time.

"Gilligan, deja de hacer tanto alboroto..."

But as I said it's not used frequently. I'd be more likely to say "deja de hacer tanto escándalo," o "deja de hacer tanto ruido."

Fecha: 20-06-12
Palabra: Todoterreno

Today's SWD is a fairly easy cognate for "all terrain," which is what we would call an SUV. I think it can also refer to the type of road you would need an SUV to drive on.

Ejemplo time.

Vendí mi todoterreno a hacer mi parte de resultas de clima cambia. = I sold my SUV to do my part as a result of of climate change.

Both are correct the thing is "pantaletas" is the formal/proper way of naming them, like underwear. "Calzón" is the informal version of it, the term you would only use with family members or close (and open-minded) friends. Additionally there's another term "chon" which kinda jargon and well it works exactly the same as "calzón". So you wouldn't start talking with your boss about panties, would you? In the extreme case that you had to you would use the word underwear. Well, the same applies here. haha

Quote: Wizard

Vendí mi todoterreno a hacer mi parte de resultas de clima cambia. = I sold my SUV to do my part as a result of of climate change.

Vendí mi todoterreno para hacer mi parte, como resultado del cambio climático.

I have seen this phrase many places: para hacer mi parte

I don't understand pu, pues in this cartoon. What is "pu"?

Quote: Wizard

Vendí mi todoterreno a hacer mi parte de resultas de clima cambia. = I sold my SUV to do my part as a result of of climate change.

Approx: "I sold my SUV for to do my part at results from change clime." Or perhaps worse, really, since I don't know what "resultas" means. I think it's intended to be "resultado" = "result," but in an obfuscated kind of way.

What I find interesting is that a sold SUV does something a kept SUV cannot. I must be missing something.

Anyway: "Vendí mi todoterreno para hacer mi parte como resultado del 'cambio climático'. "

BTW, I'm not familiar with today's word. It is a contraction of "todo terreno," which would be the same as calling an SUV "allterrain." I don't see the need to contract words when 1) it's not necessary and 2) Spanish does not use contractions."

But there's also no generic term for SUVs as far as I know. The closest is "camioneta," but that applies to other large vehicles like light trucks, pick-up trucks, delivery vans, regular vans, Hummers, etc.

Quote: MathsMarie

Both are correct the thing is "pantaletas" is the formal/proper way of naming them, like underwear...

Thanks for your comments Marie, and welcome to the forum. As both a female and a Spanish-speaker; I hope you'll stick around. We have a hard time retaining women around here. I assure that that despite what you may think from the first Spanish Word of the Day, we are not a bunch of adolescents here looking up dirty words in the dictionary. At least not all the time.

In fact, I think I'm going to delete pataletas as the first entry, as I think it gives a bad impression what the thread is about, and may scare people off.

Quote: Nareed

Spanish does not use contractions.

Plis-plas has a hyphen. I was not aware that you can't make a contraction by joining two words directly as in todoterreno. Any comment Paco?

Lotería

I've been arguing with NicksGamingStuff on how to say "bingo!" in Spanish for about two years. He claims that when you win you're supposed to say lotería. However, I've asked other Spanish-speakers who say this isn't true, and people either say "bingo!" or ¡gané! (I won). This would include my tutor, who says people say "bingo!" even in Spanish-speaking countries.

So, we had dinner last night at the Venetian at the Mexican restaurant. It came up again so we asked a waiter who said lotería. So, I was wrong. Again.

Quote: Wizard

Plis-plas has a hyphen. I was not aware that you can't make a contraction by joining two words directly as in todoterreno.

Spanish still doesn't have contractions. And I've yet to see the "word" plis-plas used at all.

Quote:

I've been arguing with NicksGamingStuff on how to say "bingo!" in Spanish for about two years.

Usually it's "¡Bingo!" if you're playing Bingo. If you're playing Lotería, it's different.

Look, it's no use over-complicating simple matters. Besides, no two people use language in exactly the same way. There are some general rules everyone follows, so you won't say "perro" when you mean "casino," but you can't expect a rule for bingo when it's not even called bingo sometimes.

Quote: Nareed

Usually it's "¡Bingo!" if you're playing Bingo. If you're playing Lotería, it's different.

What is the difference between bingo and lotería?

Quote:

Look, it's no use over-complicating simple matters.

I don't do well with ambiguity and questions that don't have a clear right and wrong answer. I also don't do well with anything I find inefficient or illogical. For example, there seem to be two words for basket cesta y canasta. You can't just tell me there are two words for basket. There must be some difference, probably in the type of basket. In this case I think that canasta implies a larger basket, but I'm not exactly sure where the line is drawn. These are the kinds of things I think about. You can see how I drive my tutors loco.

Quote: Wizard

What is the difference between bingo and lotería?

Lotería is played with cards marked with symbols, such as La Muerte, El Cántaro, etc. A deck of cards with the symbols is shuffled and someone calls the cards. Whoever fills his card first wins, and he's supposed to call out ¡Lotería! Usually this is a children's game, and the cards are marked by placing a bean on the symbols as they are called. I don't know whether there are variations, as in Bingo, of filling lines ratehr thant he whole card.

It's also the name of a lottery game in mexico which uses pre-printed tickets numbered from 00000 to 50000, in series of 20 to 60 for each number. There are several variants, including one with less numbers but an added Zodiac sign. Look up "Loteria Nacional" on Google for more info.

Quote:

I don't do well with ambiguity and questions that don't have a clear right and wrong answer.

The world is full of ambiguity and there are lots of questions without definite answers. What's better, Coke or Pepsi? Stupid question, really, as it is a matter of personal taste. There's no right and wrong in such things, within reason.

Quote:

I also don't do well with anything I find inefficient or illogical.

The world is full of that, too.

Quote:

For example, there seem to be two words for basket cesta y canasta. You can't just tell me there are two words for basket.

I won't. But, for the record, I can.

Quote:

There must be some difference, probably in the type of basket. In this case I think that canasta implies a larger basket, but I'm not exactly sure where the line is drawn.

The only difference I know is that in Mexico you're not likely to hear the word "cesta" used at all, while surely in other countries you won't hear "canasta." Size,a s far as I know, is not relevant.

Quote:

These are the kinds of things I think about. You can see how I drive my tutors loco.

Because you keep looking for answers that just aren't there. But if you look at English, you'll surely find as many ambiguities, inefficiences and ilogicalities (if that's a word) as there are in any other language.

Here, try not to go over the edge: the word "atom" is derived from Greek words that mean "indivisible." A similar word is used in many languages, too. In Spanish it ia "átomo." Anwyay, the name comes from the time when scholars thought an atom was the smallest unit of matter. By the XX century the structure of the atom was worked out, and since then we've found ever smaller units of matter.

Atomic fission, be it for weapons or reactors, depends on splitting heavy atoms in parts and causing a chaing reactions when bits of atom, namely neutrons, cause further splits in other atoms. So essentially it works by dividing a thing called indivisible.

Does this keep you up at night, or do you just accept that it was named before we knew what it was.

Quote: Nareed

Lotería is played with cards marked with symbols, such as La Muerte, El Cántaro, etc....

Hmmm. In this case I don't necessarily admit defeat. If Nick is reading this; I retract my admission of being wrong. The argument shall go on!

RE: Atoms.

Quote:

Does this keep you up at night, or do you just accept that it was named before we knew what it was.

I accept that they were named before we figured out how to divide them. I'm sure that whoever thought of the name would admit he was wrong, which is good enough for me.

Quote: Wizard

Hmmm. In this case I don't necessarily admit defeat. If Nick is reading this; I retract my admission of being wrong. The argument shall go on!

If you behave, I'll get you a Loteria set for yout next birthday...

Quote: Nareed

If you behave, I'll get you a Loteria set for yout next birthday...

Thanks, but I doubt I'll be able to behave.

Fecha: 21-06-12
Palabra: Rebozar

Today's SWD is another one that has no direct English equivalent. It means to be coated in batter or breadcrumbs.

The question for the experts in the cuisine of Latin America is what kind of food tends to be rebozada?

Ejemplo time.

¿Esta un perro caliente de maíz robozado en su pantalones, o sólo esta feliz a verme? = Is that a corn dog in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?

Quote: Wizard

Thanks, but I doubt I'll be able to behave.

Did you make a bad bet?

Quote:

Today's SWD is another one that has no direct English equivalent. It means to be coated in batter or breadcrumbs.

I had to look it up. It does mean that. But (you know what's comming, don't you?), no one ever uses it in this country. If bread, or something like it (details later), isinvolved, then we say "empanizar." If there's no bread, then the word is "capear."

Quote:

The question for the experts in the cuisine of Latin America is what kind of food tends to be rebozada?

Way too much. A popular dish are milanesas, which are thin, flat cuts of veal, beef or chicken breast covered in egg and breadcrumbs and fried with enough oil to lubricate the Royal Navy twice over. A restaurnat near the office tried to introduce a "healthy" menu, so they began to offer broccoli and other vegetables, covered in egg and breadrumbs and fired with enough oil to lubricate the Royal Navy twice over...

Do you undertand why I began coooking all my meals?

Anyway, in the bread aisle in local supermarkets you'll find "pan molido" or breadcrumbs. Actually it's more nearly powdered bread. It's sold alongside "empanizadores," which include crumbs/near-powders amde with All Bran or Corn Flakes (sold by Kellogg's). there's something else called "salvado de trigo" which I gather is some form of baked, processed wheat bran, and is very popular for these kinds of dishes.

Needless to say, this kind of ingredient is not part of my repertoire. Though I've wondered if I can do a low-fat approximation. Maybe by using only egg whites and baking the milanesas rather than frying them. It's a thought.

Oh, "empanizadores" are not confined to milanesas, but that accounts for about 98% or so of their use.

Another popular disha re chiles rellenos. These are whole, mild poblano chiles, which are rather big, stuffed with cheese, tuna or beef, covered in egg and flour batter and fried with, for a wonder, only a little oil. I don't like them. They can be served like that, or with a sauce on top. A popualr variation is "Chiles en Nogada," which come with a pecan-based sauce and, for reasons best left unproved, pomegrante bits sprinkled on top (yuck!)


And that's what you get for asking a cooking question :P

Quote:

¿Esta un perro caliente de maíz robozado en su pantalones, o sólo esta feliz a verme? = Is that a corn dog in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?

Technically that's correct, but you can see it's way too much to follow. By the time you reach "en suS pantalones," you've probably lost itnerest. besides, no one in Mexico says "perro caliente," unless they are trying to make fun of the expression. We say <drumroll> "hot dogs." Though here that means the sausage in a bun, not the sausage itself.

You can find corn dogs for sale at the frozen foods section, but they aren't very popular. In any case, the batter used is very different, I think based more on flour than bread.

Anyway, what you want is a near-equivalent to a corn dog. There aren't many. But you can try "banderilla" that's a piece of cheese, suually, covered in batter, skewered on a stick and deep fried. They're a staple at japanese restaurants in mexico,a dn any middle-class Mexican would understand it that way.

any relation to rebozos, the shawls worn by many mexican women?
i think an alternative definition is "to cover or muffle"

or to charles 'bebe' rebozo, nixon's bagman?

Quote: Nareed

You can find corn dogs for sale at the frozen foods section, but they aren't very popular. In any case, the batter used is very different, I think based more on flour than bread.

Anyway, what you want is a near-equivalent to a corn dog. There aren't many. But you can try "banderilla" that's a piece of cheese, suually, covered in batter, skewered on a stick and deep fried. They're a staple at japanese restaurants in mexico,a dn any middle-class Mexican would understand it that way.

Wikipedia says that In Mexico, a corn dog is known as a banderilla


They also seem to be the implements they use in bullfighting.


Presumably any food on a stick could be called a banderilla in some Spanish speaking country.

Quote: pacomartin

Wikipedia says that In Mexico, a corn dog is known as a banderilla

Maybe. In the frozen food section, they're labeled as corn dogs.

The cheese "banderillas" in Japanese restaurants are usually called "Kashiuage," which may or may not be a legitimate Japanese term (I only know three words of Japanese). But they also sell sausage ones, which are close to corn dogs.

As food goes, the term is also used for a hard, layered pastry with a brown crust. Personally I find it too dry and too sweet for my taste, but some people like them.

Quote:

Presumably any food on a stick could be called a banderilla in some Spanish speaking country.

Maybe. In mexico it's just what I said here. Meat with vegetables on a skewer is called an "alambre" or "brocheta," as I'm sure I've already explained in a taco thread. Candy on a stick or frozen treats on a stick are called "paletas"

Kushiage is a legitimate Japanese word. 'Kushi' means skewered and 'age' means deep-fried.

By the way, I don't like Japanese food in Mexico, except they do some wonderful unique spicy versions of rolls.

Thanks for all the good information on Spanish cooking terms. No follow up from me on that.

Fecha: 22-06-12
Palabra: Pulga

Today's SWD means flea.

The question for the advanced readers is whether there is an etymology connection to these other words that begin with "pul."

pulgar = thumb.
pulmón = lung.
pulsera = bracelet.
pulpo = octopus.
pulgada = inch.

Ejemplo time.

Gracias a mi gato, mi casa está infestada de pulgas. = Thanks to my cat, my house is infested with fleas.

Quote: Wizard

The question for the advanced readers is whether there is an etymology connection to these other words that begin with "pul."

In English the Latin word 'pulsus' gives us 'pul' which usually means "urge". As in impulse, compulsive, propulsion, pulse, etc.

In Spanish
'pul' sometimes means 'manu' as a pulpo is 'many footed'
pollicaris is Latin for about the thumb. From this we get 'pulgar'
the word 'pulsera' is from of the 'pulse'

I don't see a unifying meaning, however.

Fecha: 23-06-12
Palabra: Cobrar

Today's SWD seems to have lots of usages, but the main one seems to be to collect/earn/be paid.

You may be wondering how cobrar differs from ganar. I think cobrar implies being paid for something you did, and ganar implies winning or falling into money.

Ejemplo time.

Una vez traté de ser un gigoló, pero nunca cobré mucho. = Once I tried to be a gigolo, but I never earned much.

Quote: Wizard

Today's SWD seems to have lots of usages, but the main one seems to be to collect/earn/be paid.

The two main usages are "to charge" and "to collect." In the latter, it means specifically to collect money you're owed. A collections agency would be "agencia de cobranza."

Quote:

I think cobrar implies being paid for something you did, and ganar implies winning or falling into money.

Not necessarily. "Ganar," concerning being paid money for labor or for effort, comes to mean more or less "to earn." The problem, as we discussed earlier, is that "ganar" also means "to win." For "cobrar" see above.

And before Paco gets to it, hopefully, a related word is "recobrar," which only means "to recover."

Quote:

Una vez traté de ser un gigoló, pero nunca cobré mucho. = Once I tried to be a gigolo, but I never earned much.

That actually means "I never charged much. To say earn you'd say "nunca gané mucho.

Quote: Nareed

The two main usages are "to charge" and "to collect." In the latter, it means specifically to collect money you're owed. A collections agency would be "agencia de cobranza."

And before Paco gets to it, hopefully, a related word is "recobrar," which only means "to recover."

We talked about the 're-' prefix earlier. Sometimes it is an intensifier, sometimes it means to 'do again'. In this case the 're-' prefix is an intensifier. Technically 'cobrar' is an aféresis (apheresis) of the verb 'recobrar'. An apheresis is the omission of the first few letters of a word (like coon, or till).


The English use of the word "cover" as a noun or an adjective dating from the 1960's is to refer to an artist's version of someone else's song. I don't know if there is an equivalent in Spanish.

Quote: Nareed

That actually means "I never charged much.

Maybe that is why I never earned much.

Quote: pacomartin

We talked about the 're-' prefix earlier. Sometimes it is an intensifier, sometimes it means to 'do again'. In this case the 're-' prefix is an intensifier.

In this case it would seem to me to mean "do again." For example, I gave you money, and now you're supposed to give it back to me.

Quote: Wizard

In this case it would seem to me to mean "do again." For example, I gave you money, and now you're supposed to give it back to me.

No, in this case it's a different, but related, word. It's identical to the English "recover," which has nothing to do with either charging or collecting money; nor does it men to cover again. A synonym is "recuperar," which again is identical to the English "recuperate."

Quote: Nareed

"Cobrar" means specifically to collect money you're owed. A collections agency would be "agencia de cobranza."
And before Paco gets to it, hopefully, a related word is "recobrar," which only means "to recover."

You are not doing something again. In the first case you are simply "recovering" your money.

The DRAE is specific that 'cobrar' is an aféresis (Spanish) or apheresis (English) of the verb 'recobrar'. An apheresis is the omission of the first few letters of a word, but doesn't change its meaning.

'Apheresis' has a medical definition as well as a linguistic one.

Quote: Nareed

"Cobrar" means specifically to collect money you're owed. A collections agency would be "agencia de cobranza."
And before Paco gets to it, hopefully, a related word is "recobrar," which only means "to recover."

Wizard,
You are not doing something again. You are simply "recovering" your money.

The DRAE is specific that 'cobrar' is an aféresis (Spanish) or apheresis (English) of the verb 'recobrar'. An apheresis is the omission of the first few letters of a word, but doesn't change its meaning.

'Apheresis' has a medical definition as well as a linguistic one.

Fecha: 24-06-12
Palabra: Peinar

Speaking of putting "re" in front of a word I ran across a word yesterday I had difficulty translating, repeinado. It seemed pretty obvious that it was the past participle of something but the dictionary turned up nothing. It seems to me, based on an Internet search, it is based on peinar, which means to comb. Is tacking a "re" in front of it valid Spanish, and if so, does it mean to comb again? In the context I saw the word it never mentioned combing the hair a first time.

A related word is peine, which means a comb (noun).

The question for the advanced readers, other than the one above, is whether peinar comes from the same root as pelo (hair)?

Ejemplo time.

Sigo peinar mi cabello, pero el remolino no se acosta. = I keep combing my hair, but the cowlick won't lay down.

Quote: Wizard

Speaking of putting "re" in front of a word I ran across a word yesterday I had difficulty translating, repeinado. It seemed pretty obvious that it was the past participle of something but the dictionary turned up nothing. It seems to me, based on an Internet search, it is based on peinar, which means to comb. Is tacking a "re" in front of it valid Spanish, and if so, does it mean to comb again? In the context I saw the word it never mentioned combing the hair a first time.

The verb peinar means "to comb", while the peinado means "hairstyle".

The noun "repeinado" is not in most dictionaries, but there seems to be several times it appears on the internet. I guess it means "outrageous hairstyle" where "re-" is an intensifier. I don't see how it could mean "comb again".

This photo is entitled "Leon Repeinado"

Quote: pacomartin

I guess it means "outrageous hairstyle" where "re-" is an intensifier. I don't see how it could mean "comb again".

That would fit in the context I found the word. Thanks.

Fecha: 25-06-12
Palabra: murciélago

Today's SWD means bat, as in the rodent that flies.

Las Vegas seems to have a lot of bats. Between sundown and when it gets dark lots of them can be seen flying about, especially in areas with lots of trees. They seem to be attracted to certain spots. In my neighborhood there is a cluster of pine trees they seem to like.

The summer of 89 I worked at a summer camp in the deep woods of Canada. In the dining hall, where I also slept in the attic, there were lots of bats that lived between the logs supporting the roof. You could seem the moving about in their sleep and they would poop down below. Sometimes at night you could see them flying around the inside of the building. It freaked me out a bit at first, but I got used to it. That is about all I have to say about bats.

The question for the advanced readers is whether murciélago shares a common root with ciego (blind). I think I needn't say that it is a myth that bats are blind.

Ejemplo time.

Esta cueva es una casas de miles de murciélagos. = This cave is home to thousands of bats.

i liked your camp story, i had similar experiences with bats in vermont in the 70's.
just to clarify, bats are members of the order chiroptera, not rodentia!

i know about the lamborghini murcielago,
named after a famous Navarra bull, an interesting tale:
murcielago

Etymology
From metathetic murciégalo, from Latin mus (“mouse”) + caeculus, diminutive of caecus (“blind”).

a friend of mine from the phillipines, tells me
that the golden crowned flying fox has a wingspan of over 5 feet....
glad i didn't have those at summer camp!

Quote: Wizard

The question for the advanced readers is whether murciélago shares a common root with ciego (blind). I think I needn't say that it is a myth that bats are blind.

I liked this explanation which I got from Joy of Spanish blogspot 29 DE MARZO DE 2012-Víctor Osorio. The author incorrectly buys into the myth. Note that the author refers to vowels as vocals.

Did you know that 'murciélago' (Spanish for 'bat') used to mean 'blind mouse'? Well, it actually had that meaning.
'Murciélago', at the beginning, was the union of two Latin words, mur and caecus. Mur was Latin for mouse and caecus was Latin for blind. The first Spanish speakers combine the two words to name these little flying animals that look like mice and are, in fact, blind (bats can't see, they guide themselves through sounds).
So how did murcaecus (the union of 'mur' and 'caecus') become 'murciélago'? Well, it's quite easy. People used to make mistakes pronouncing this difficult combination of words. First, they would pronounced murciego instead of murcieco, then they would say 'murciegola' without any apparent reason to finally end up very confused, given the lenght of the word, and saying 'murciélago'. What a mess!
And that's how the word for bat in Spanish (murciélago) was born: ¡it's one of Spanish hardest words y maybe the only one to combine all of the vocals!
However, to learn this word, remember that is very similar to a word you already know 'archipelago' (in Spanish, also 'archipiélago').

I hope that I am permitted to reprint a blog with proper citation.

That is interesting about the word containing all five vowels; I hadn't noticed that. Now that it has been confirmed about the word meaning a blind mouse, to what address do I write a letter of complaint to the Acadamia Real?

That is a little long for a quote. I'd prefer it just be a sentence or two. However, thanks for the research, as always.

Quote: Wizard

Sigo peinar mi cabello, pero el remolino no se acosta. = I keep combing my hair, but the cowlick won't lay down.

"I keep to comb my hair but the cowlick won't stalk."

"Por más que peino mi cabello, el remolino sigue parado."

"Acostar" means "to lie down," but the conjugation changes the way the verb is written. For third person it would be "acuesta." "Acosta" simply dosesn't exists, but it sounds clsoest to "acosa," which does mean "stalk" as in stalking or harassing someone.

I changed the first part becasue "sigo peinando mi cabello" indicates an ongoing action. It sounds as though you are saying you are now combing your hair. The form I used more or less means "No matter how much I comb my hair."

Oh, and I've no idea what "repeinado" means.

Quote: Wizard

You could seem the moving about in their sleep and they would poop down below.

That's about the most dangerous thing they do.

Of course, some of them carry rabies, so it's not a good idea to get too close to them. But mostly they'll be hunting bugs and leaving the large, scary humans strictly alone. Fruit bats are unlikely to even get near you. And vampire bats (yes, they do exist), typically go for large, sleeping animals out in the opne (and are the most likely to carry rabies).

BTW bats are NOT blind. They just don't have good vision. Their natural sonar is amazing, though, and substitutes well for their poor eyesight. In experiments bats have succesfully navigated large rooms filled with criss-crossing wires, even while hunting bugs.

Quote:

Esta cueva es una casas de miles de murciélagos. = This cave is home to thousands of bats.

"This cave is one houses for thousands of bats." That's literal, word for word.

"Esta cueva es hogar de miles de murciélagos"

or

"Esta cueva alberga a miles de murciélagos." = "This cave houses thousands of bats."


The word "casa" means both house and home, but mostly house. It's used almost exclusively in reference to buildings. So a cave woulnd't qualify as a "casa." the word for "home" is "hogar," which also means, I think, a fireplace. Anyway, it's not used much. If you wanted to say "I'm homesick" you'd say "Extraño mi casa," rather than "extraño mi hogar."

Quote: Nareed

That's about the most dangerous thing they do.

They did most of the pooping at night. When the kids set the table for breakfast after the previous dinner they always put all the dishes upside down, in case a bat pooped on them.

I hate to spoil the movie for anyone, but didn't bat poop have something to do with the outbreak in the move Contagion?

Fecha: 26-06-12
Palabra: coraje

Today's SWD means courage.

Similar words are valor y valentía, which are closer to "valor."

Ejemplo time.

Mago, el león cobarde viajó un largo camino para pedirle por coraje. = Wizard, the cowardly lion has traveled a long way to ask you for courage.

Coraje is same root as coronary, as they both are related to the heart.

A third similar word is valiente. The foremost definitions seem to be:

coraje = courage
valentía = heroic deed executed with courage
valiente = brave
valor = valor (could be value)

Quote: Wizard

I hate to spoil the movie for anyone, but didn't bat poop have something to do with the outbreak in the move Contagion?

No clue. But it played a major role in making explosives and fertilizers well into the XX Century.

Quote:

Today's SWD means courage.

Yes. And no.

Yes, it means courage. But no, it's not used to mean courage very often. The word for courage is "valor." A brave person is called "valiente." Using "coraje" to mean courage is regarded as quaint or outright archaic.

"Coraje" is used much more to denote anger or irritation. A common expression is "no hagas corajes," which means "don't get angry," or "don't throw a tantrum." You do NOT say "Tengo coraje con alguien," any more than you'd say "tengo enojo con alguien." Remember Spanish doens't work that way.

Quote:

Mago, el león cobarde viajó un largo camino para pedirle por coraje. = Wizard, the cowardly lion has traveled a long way to ask you for courage.

Drop the "por" near the end and you're fine.

But, I repeat, in every version of the Wizard of Oz (that copycat! :P), el León Cobarde always wanted "valor."

I've mentioned an Argentine commedy music troupe called Les Luthiers. They do use the word "coraje" for courage often, when called for. But they affect a pompous and quaint style on purpose, it's part of their act. In a scene from "El Adelantado Don Rodrigo Díaz de Carreras, etc, etc...." The narrator says something like:

¡Firme! ¡Firme ante el enemigo!
¡Con coraje, Don Rodrigo!
Y Don Rodrigo firmó la rendición.

That's a pun that can't be easily translated into English.

Quote: Nareed

"Coraje" is used much more to denote anger or irritation.

I'm not saying your're wrong, but I checked three dictionaries and they all say that coraje primarily means courage.

SpanishDict.com, which I know you hate, says it means (1) courage, (2) rage. Same thing with Reverso and my Harper's dictionary. In the book where it was used, it was used to mean courage. I suspect the usage is different depending on which Spanish-speaking country you're in.

Quote: Wizard

I'm not saying your're wrong, but I checked three dictionaries and they all say that coraje primarily means courage.

That happens to be entirely right. But, as the old saying has it, what has that got to do with the price of beer? Dictionaries only go so far. Lots of words have meanings that are not used, or that have fallen into disuse over time.

If you see it in books, it's only because the author, or translator, is trying to sound learned by using obscure meanings. And also because a written language is not the same as a spoken language.

Quote: Nareed

Quote: Wizard

I'm not saying your're wrong, but I checked three dictionaries and they all say that coraje primarily means courage.

That happens to be entirely right. But, as the old saying has it, what has that got to do with the price of beer? Dictionaries only go so far. Lots of words have meanings that are not used, or that have fallen into disuse over time.

If you see it in books, it's only because the author, or translator, is trying to sound learned by using obscure meanings. And also because a written language is not the same as a spoken language.

Quote: DRAE definition

coraje (Del fr. ant. corages).
1. m. Impetuosa decisión y esfuerzo del ánimo, valor.
2. m. Irritación, ira.

Quote: Etymonline

courage c.1300, from O.Fr. corage

Clearly English "courage" and Spanish "coraje" are both descendants from the same Old French word "corage".

But the DRAE definition does indicate clearly that the meaning of the Spanish word has deviated from the meaning of the English word. The Spanish noun means an "impetuous decision", an "irritation" or a "rage".

Looks like someone hasn't posted here in a while. Probably "haciendo corajes" somewhere in the desert...

So, I thought I'd pitch in. Right now I'm in Monterrey, seeing whether I waste a whole day or only half (long story, and this rented PC's keys are so worn down I can't see all the letters...) I saw something that inspired today's word.

28 de Junio de 2012
Palabra: Timo.

Today's word means "to rip-off," as in to perpetrate a fraud or a hoax.

It came to mind because earlier in the day I passed by a pet store with a cute little monkey as mascot/logo, called "La jungla de Timo." I had to stop and make sure. Indeed, that's the store's name. What posseses someone to call his pet store "Rip-off's Jungle"????? Seriously.

The example is left as an exercise for the student.

Quote: Nareed

Looks like someone hasn't posted here in a while. Probably "haciendo corajes" somewhere in the desert...

Yes, I was "making courage," but in the mountains. Monday and Tuesday I climbed Mount Baldy and Mount San Jacinto. Maybe not such a big deal for a full-grown man, but my ten-year-old son came along, which I think was very noteworthy. Everyone who we passed seemed very impressed, many asking his age. I may be back now, but dealing with a backlog of work that awaited me.

Two more weeks until Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states.

Quote:

The example is left as an exercise for the student.

Seis a cinco 21 es un timo. = Six to five blackjack is a jip.

As I recall from Panama, Argentina, and Uruguay they called blackjack "21." I was really tempted to annoy Nareed by translating it as enchufe negro, but as someone trying to develop a web site about gambling in Spanish, I didn't have the nerve.

Quote: Wizard

Yes, I was "making courage," but in the mountains.

I am still confused about the meaning of this phrase. Both parents use it on their youtube video, but the behavior of the children is profoundly different. The second baby, "Joel" seems more in keeping with Nareed's use of the word.



I am not sure what the mother is saying to baby Ian. It sounds like she is trying to persuade him to have a temper tantrum for the camera, but he keeps on smiling and kissing her.

Quote: Wizard

Yes, I was "making courage," but in the mountains.

That's not what "hacer corajes" means.

Quote:

Maybe not such a big deal for a full-grown man, but my ten-year-old son came along, which I think was very noteworthy.

Good for him!

Of course, at his wedding you'll have some explaining to do to your daughter in law ;)

Quote:

Seis a cinco 21 es un timo. = Six to five blackjack is a jip.

"El BLACKJACK de seis a cinco es un timo."

I'm to tired to argue the point (I did waste the whole day, not just half).

Oh, and I need to post a long rant about Viva Aerobus, but I'm too tired for that now. For now I'll just say I've awarded it the dubious distinction of having given me two of my four worst ever flights, all in one day. The least of it was that the seats on their planes DO NOT RECLINE. Really, that was the least part of the problem with it.

Fecha: 29-06-12
Palabra: Lata

The official meaning of lata is can (as in a can of beans) or tin. However, it also is used figuratively as a drag, nuiscance, pain. The expression dar la lata means to annoy. My tutor says the word is never used this way in Peru, but she thinks it is common in Mexican Spanish.

Ejemplo time.

Separar las latas de la basura para reciclarlas es una lata. = Separating the cans from the trash to recycle them is a pain.

In other news regarding Mexican Spanish I have a disagreement my tutor. I said that I noticed that on Spanish television in the U.S. (which I presume leans towards Mexcian Spanish) and Mexican movies men call each other gordo alot. This includes when the person being called gordo isn't the least bit fat. I told my tutor that it was a term of endearment and didn't imply the person was fat. She disagreed saying that the person was probably fat at one point, and lost weight.

I might add that the place we talked about before was Tacos El Gordo and I don't think they were going for a "Fatburger" effect, but that gordo is a familiar and friendly word. Any comments from the advanced readers?

Quote: Wizard

However, it also is used figuratively as a drag, nuiscance, pain. The expression dar la lata means to annoy. My tutor says the word is never used this way in Peru, but she thinks it is common in Mexican Spanish.

In Mexico I saw some "big" guys called "Gordo" who were not obese. Just big.

Quote: Wizard

The expression dar la lata means to annoy.

Just "dar lata." There's no LA.

The example was fine.

Quote:

In other news regarding Mexican Spanish I have a disagreement my tutor.

Your tutor's wrong. You're right. End of story.

Quote: Nareed

Your tutor's wrong. You're right. End of story.

Thanks, that's what I like to hear.

Fecha: 30-06-12
Palabra: Recatar

Today's SWD primarily means to hide. I can just hear the intermediate readers saying, "Wait a minute, I thought esconder was Spanish for 'hide.'" The difference is that recatar means to hide due to shyness or embarrassment. Esconder is more of the general term, and used much more frequently.

Perhaps you are more likely to see recatar in its past participle form: recatado = shy/modest.

Ejemplo time.

El médico me dijo que desnudarse, pero yo era demasiado recatado. = The doctor told me to disrobe, but I was too shy to.

Quote: Wizard

The doctor told me to disrobe, but I was too shy to.

I think the natural adjective to use in this case would be tímido .

Before today women dressed in a manner more modest.
Antes ahora las mujeres vestían de forma más recatada.

I know both words are translated as "shy".

The adjective escondido or "hidden" is very common in Mexico's tourist places when describing a place.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks, that's what I like to hear.

So long as you and Paco don't go through every possible phoneme and Latin root trying to figure out an explanation...

Quote:

The difference is that recatar means to hide due to shyness or embarrassment.

Did you find a book entitled "The 10,000 most obscure and least used words in Spanish"? ;)

Quote:

El médico me dijo que desnudarse, pero yo era demasiado recatado. = The doctor told me to disrobe, but I was too shy to.

I've no idea if the sue is right or not. But in the first art you said "The doctor told me that get undressed..." The right way is "El doctor me dijo que ME desnudara...."

At least now I understand why I spent so much time in elementary school conjugating verbs.