Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Spanish Words You Thought You Knew
Lately I’ve been thinking about “misknown” Spanish words – words we think we know, but what we “know” is wrong. The classic misknown word is embarazada. It sounds like it means embarrassed but it actually means pregnant. What started my pondering was the word cínico. WordReference.com defines it as cynical, but in telenovelas it never seems to mean that. I am posting the most common misknown words I can think of. Do you know any others? I’d love to hear yours. Who knows? Maybe you’ll post one that I’ve misknown all along!
Cínico. I don’t think English has a corresponding word. Cínico is sort of the flip side of gullible. When you are cínico, you tell a lie that is very obviously a lie, but you believe that your listener is so gullible that he’ll believe you, and you insist your lie is true. The following sentences would earn the response, “No seas cínico (Don’t be cínico)!” In English we’d probably answer, “Do you think I’m a fool?”
- The dog ate my homework. Really!
- I mailed the check two weeks ago. It must be lost in the mail.
- It’s not my weed, Mom. I was just holding it for my friend.
Tener razón. The words literally mean to have reason, but it’s used as an idiom and it means to be right. So “Tu papá tiene razón” means “Your father is right.”
Mal educación. Educación can mean education, but it can also mean upbringing. So to say that something is de mal educación, it means that it is bad manners or rude. It’s milder than grosero. Mal educación is comparable to the English “That’s not polite,” while grosero is comparable to “That’s rude!” You can also use buen educación to say someone has good manners.
Enamorarse. In this one, a lot depends on how the object pronoun (me, te, se) is used. It can mean to fall in love, but it can also mean to cause another person to fall in love with you. I don’t think English has a word for that second meaning, but telenovelas are full of beautiful evil women who are determined to FORCE the galán to fall in love with them, whether he wants to or not.
Just yesterday I came across another one on an old recap. Disgusto means misfortune, not disgust. Now it's your turn. Can you think of any misknown words?
Labels: Vocabulary
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Hi Paula. Thanks so much for posting this. Once classes are over, I'm thinking of recapping the info like this is very help. I hope you are well and thanks again!
Spanish has 2 words for disappointed, but they're both misnomers. Here are examples:
No quiero defraudarte.
No quiero decepcionarte.
Both mean "I don't want to disappoint you", even though the words look like defraud and deceive.
Another is No seas egoista, which means "Don't be selfish". We normally don't say don't be egotistical (although we could), and this is the way selfish is said in Spanish.
No quiero defraudarte.
No quiero decepcionarte.
Both mean "I don't want to disappoint you", even though the words look like defraud and deceive.
Another is No seas egoista, which means "Don't be selfish". We normally don't say don't be egotistical (although we could), and this is the way selfish is said in Spanish.
Thank you Paula and Hombre. Very helpful list to have handy. I didn't realize that I was misunderstanding many of them - esp. tener razon.
Great idea, Paula! Educación is one of my pet peeves.
As for cínico, I agree we don't have a perfect match in English, but it might be the intersection of "disingenuous," "manipulative," and "arrogant."
With "disgusto," you pretty much rounded out my list too. I knew it wasn't disgust, but I didn't think it was misfortune. I thought it was displeasure (since gusto is pleasure). Though I suppose a misfortune is displeasing, too!
As for cínico, I agree we don't have a perfect match in English, but it might be the intersection of "disingenuous," "manipulative," and "arrogant."
With "disgusto," you pretty much rounded out my list too. I knew it wasn't disgust, but I didn't think it was misfortune. I thought it was displeasure (since gusto is pleasure). Though I suppose a misfortune is displeasing, too!
I think the language people call these "false friends."
Ah - the very first hit I found on Google was an article about false friends in Spanish, including a list!
Ah - the very first hit I found on Google was an article about false friends in Spanish, including a list!
That's funny, Julie. I got "disgusto" from your 2007 Fea recap! In fact, I simply posted what you said without checking. So I just now checked WordReference, and the primary meaning of disgusto is to be upset.
I usually interpret cínico as meaning "jerk."
Another one: molestar. Much milder word in Spanish than the English molest.
Another one: molestar. Much milder word in Spanish than the English molest.
Here's another deceptive word:
molestar--as in "El me esta molestando." (He is bothering or annoying me.)
Sondie
molestar--as in "El me esta molestando." (He is bothering or annoying me.)
Sondie
Permalink posted by 
: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 3:08:00 PM EDT
: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 3:08:00 PM EDT
I've got another one: soberbia. It's haughtiness or pridefulness. Got nothing to do with sobriety. (I once mistranslated it a different way. Somehow I knew it didn't mean "sober," but I didn't bother looking it up because it was so OBVIOUS that the character was GRUMPY! Well, it wasn't the only thing in the script that didn't make sense...)
Anyway, I have found that there is a pretty wide gulf between what the dictionary says, and how a word is actually used. (Not just in Spanish, but even in English.)
It's easier when the dictionary gives multiple similar/overlapping meanings, because you can get some idea of context and scope. Single-word definitions, even when technically correct, often fall short. For example, I think Paula's example of cínico does fit within our definition of cynical behavior - a limited, petty kind of cynicism. The Spanish term is narrow and precise, while the English word suggests an entire belief system.
It's frustrating when you're trying to pin down just the right meaning to translate. I've found the user forums (fora?) at WordReference to be very helpful, but sometimes you just have to guess.
Anyway, I have found that there is a pretty wide gulf between what the dictionary says, and how a word is actually used. (Not just in Spanish, but even in English.)
It's easier when the dictionary gives multiple similar/overlapping meanings, because you can get some idea of context and scope. Single-word definitions, even when technically correct, often fall short. For example, I think Paula's example of cínico does fit within our definition of cynical behavior - a limited, petty kind of cynicism. The Spanish term is narrow and precise, while the English word suggests an entire belief system.
It's frustrating when you're trying to pin down just the right meaning to translate. I've found the user forums (fora?) at WordReference to be very helpful, but sometimes you just have to guess.
One more word that I've found surprising is "estrecho". It sounds to me if is you're stretching something, so I thought it would mean wide. But it means narrow!
Great topic and examples, Paula. Thanks very much. One example that's up there with embarazada is constiparse--to catch a cold. I still can't bring myself to use this verb! Two others that I continue to be uneasy about are decepcionada and ansiosa. Last spring, the last Spanish group meeting that I was attending was cancelled. I wanted to drop the leader a note to let her know both that I had enjoyed the sessions and that "estaba muy decepcionada" that the meeting was cancelled. But I kept thinking that I'd be telling her that I felt deceived. I KNEW that the word was a "false friend," but that didn't help. Ditto for my telling someone "estoy ansiosa de verte." I'm eager, not anxious. The word apparently can carry both meanings, but I'm very anxious not to be thought anxious :-).
Molestar is another false friend. A Mexican friend now in the United States told me that when she first came here, she tried to assure someone that he wasn't molesting her. He gave her a VERY puzzled look!
Molestar is another false friend. A Mexican friend now in the United States told me that when she first came here, she tried to assure someone that he wasn't molesting her. He gave her a VERY puzzled look!
Paula, a common way to say misfortune in Spanish is desgracia. ¡Qué desgracia! means something like "how terrible", or "What misfortune". Desgracia can also mean disgrace or shame, but that's a secondary meaning. Maybe that's what people were thinking of with "disgusto", which I agree, often means being upset.
Just put one in my recap today- pretender has nothing to do with pretending.
¿De qué pretendes?- What are you trying to do?/What are you up to?
This is a fantastic post!
¿De qué pretendes?- What are you trying to do?/What are you up to?
This is a fantastic post!
Sara, I like that one.
Here's one I just saw on TV. A rich older lawyer said to the young woman opposing lawyer, in discussing her client's case
Soy un hombre espléndido!
Well, espléndido can mean splendid, but in this case, it means "generous".
Here's one I just saw on TV. A rich older lawyer said to the young woman opposing lawyer, in discussing her client's case
Soy un hombre espléndido!
Well, espléndido can mean splendid, but in this case, it means "generous".
I love the word tutear. Just the fact that there is a verb for speaking to someone in the familiar term is wonderful. But it can look and sound like tutor.
I love this! Thanks for these postings.
Asesina/asesino is murderer, people mistake it for assasin. This word appears alot in TN's not surprisingly!
Asesina/asesino is murderer, people mistake it for assasin. This word appears alot in TN's not surprisingly!
What a neat forum. I love words.
I'm just in from Eva Luna. The following can't be classified as a false friend, but it's a friend who teases me.
Throughout the whole tn someone is always saying, "No Es Cierto."
Where I learned my Spanish it always meant, "That's Not for Certain," "That's Not for Sure," ...but it COULD be.
Here it apparently ONLY means, "That's NOT True," which conveys an entirely different meaning.
It's gotten me confused many times when either Eva or Dan yell out--No es cierto (like tonight)--but they actually mean it not to be true.
Una Norteamericana
I'm just in from Eva Luna. The following can't be classified as a false friend, but it's a friend who teases me.
Throughout the whole tn someone is always saying, "No Es Cierto."
Where I learned my Spanish it always meant, "That's Not for Certain," "That's Not for Sure," ...but it COULD be.
Here it apparently ONLY means, "That's NOT True," which conveys an entirely different meaning.
It's gotten me confused many times when either Eva or Dan yell out--No es cierto (like tonight)--but they actually mean it not to be true.
Una Norteamericana
Permalink posted by : Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 9:50:00 PM EDT
: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 9:50:00 PM EDT
Those of us watching Teresa came across an interesting expression the other day: "saber siempre cual es su lugar." I along with the recapper thought it meant for Teresa to "know her place" which can have an unusual connotation in the US. Jarocha explained that it means to respect oneself always (from the saying "darse su lugar" which means to respect oneself) not for someone to know their place! (you shouldn't expect to improve your situation)
This is a great post. Funny stuff.
When I worked in a restaurant years ago and spoke no Spanish except for a few restaurant phrases, I once reminded the staff to "Lavar las manos con sopa". They gave me the funniest look and said "Jabón?", and I said "Ham? No, soap". One of the waitresses who spoke both English and Spanish nearly fell over laughing and translated the entire conversation for all of us. Thereafter the guys also asked me if I'd washed my hands with soup and ham (sopa y jamón).
Not really a false friend but an interesting translation, one which JudyB had on her Llena recap last night: Estoy listo/a (using Estar) means "I'm ready"; Soy listo/a (using Ser) means "I'm on the ball/a quick thinker".
When I worked in a restaurant years ago and spoke no Spanish except for a few restaurant phrases, I once reminded the staff to "Lavar las manos con sopa". They gave me the funniest look and said "Jabón?", and I said "Ham? No, soap". One of the waitresses who spoke both English and Spanish nearly fell over laughing and translated the entire conversation for all of us. Thereafter the guys also asked me if I'd washed my hands with soup and ham (sopa y jamón).
Not really a false friend but an interesting translation, one which JudyB had on her Llena recap last night: Estoy listo/a (using Estar) means "I'm ready"; Soy listo/a (using Ser) means "I'm on the ball/a quick thinker".
Sylvia, what a great story!!
My favorite language story also happened in a restaurant.
You know that when well-mannered Mexicans part company, they make some polite comment like, “I hope you spend a relaxing evening with your family.” It’s always an awkward moment for me because the phrase is hard to decipher because there’s no context, and I have to suddenly compose a polite response in subjunctive. Typically I just stand there looking dumb. But I have learned a handy trick. I just say, “igualmente” which means “likewise.” Not very creative, but at least I don’t sound like a barbarian.
Well I went to a Japanese restaurant run by Koreans, along with two Mexican friends. We’re all bilingual, but we spent lunch speaking in Spanish because they were in the majority. So the restaurant staff thought that I was Latina as well.
As we were leaving, knowing the staff was Korean, I told the waitress “Su-go-ha-se-yo.” That’s Korean for goodbye when you leave a place of business. Since she wasn’t expecting me to speak Korean, she didn’t understand me. She assumed it was a Spanish leave-taking phrase that was over her head, so just like my trick, she answered, “Igualmente!”
My favorite language story also happened in a restaurant.
You know that when well-mannered Mexicans part company, they make some polite comment like, “I hope you spend a relaxing evening with your family.” It’s always an awkward moment for me because the phrase is hard to decipher because there’s no context, and I have to suddenly compose a polite response in subjunctive. Typically I just stand there looking dumb. But I have learned a handy trick. I just say, “igualmente” which means “likewise.” Not very creative, but at least I don’t sound like a barbarian.
Well I went to a Japanese restaurant run by Koreans, along with two Mexican friends. We’re all bilingual, but we spent lunch speaking in Spanish because they were in the majority. So the restaurant staff thought that I was Latina as well.
As we were leaving, knowing the staff was Korean, I told the waitress “Su-go-ha-se-yo.” That’s Korean for goodbye when you leave a place of business. Since she wasn’t expecting me to speak Korean, she didn’t understand me. She assumed it was a Spanish leave-taking phrase that was over her head, so just like my trick, she answered, “Igualmente!”
Sandy - thanks for that one - I've apparently been misunderstanding "knowing one's place" for a long time!
I'm lovin' the restaurant stories. I wish I had a good one, but the closest I can get is the time at a Mexican restaurant when I asked the waitress if they ever served pozole, and she asked in the kitchen and they had never heard of it, either by name or description. So I'm guessing the staff wasn't particularly Mexican and only knew about fajitas, burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. (The "mole" tasted suspiciously like Hershey's syrup.)
I'm lovin' the restaurant stories. I wish I had a good one, but the closest I can get is the time at a Mexican restaurant when I asked the waitress if they ever served pozole, and she asked in the kitchen and they had never heard of it, either by name or description. So I'm guessing the staff wasn't particularly Mexican and only knew about fajitas, burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. (The "mole" tasted suspiciously like Hershey's syrup.)
Hi, Sandy & Vivi from LVO; can't get psyched about another novela yet; glancing at Teresa, TDA and began Destilando. The jury is out.
Hi, Paula,
Your comment about the parting
remarks of Mexicans after a good meal, reminds me of "Buen Provecho"
as used in Antigua, Guatemala.
It means "Enjoy your meal," but the
people say it AFTER the meal just
before leaving the table. I used to think it was weird, but now I interpret it in a larger context as meaning, "Have a relaxing evening now that you have enjoyed a nice, satisfying meal...or more crudely, "Enjoy the full meal in your belly." Perhaps this has a similar significance to the Mexican tradition.
Re - pretender - to try, it reminds me of the historical term "pretender." A pretender is one who claims or tries to obtain
a throne or title.
RE - embarazada (pregnant), to complicate matters, there is another similar word -
embarazoso (a), which means awkward or embarrassing, and the verb "embarazar," to make somebody
feel awkward (which is how many women feel when pregnant.)
Muchísimas gracias for this post.
Hi, Paula,
Your comment about the parting
remarks of Mexicans after a good meal, reminds me of "Buen Provecho"
as used in Antigua, Guatemala.
It means "Enjoy your meal," but the
people say it AFTER the meal just
before leaving the table. I used to think it was weird, but now I interpret it in a larger context as meaning, "Have a relaxing evening now that you have enjoyed a nice, satisfying meal...or more crudely, "Enjoy the full meal in your belly." Perhaps this has a similar significance to the Mexican tradition.
Re - pretender - to try, it reminds me of the historical term "pretender." A pretender is one who claims or tries to obtain
a throne or title.
RE - embarazada (pregnant), to complicate matters, there is another similar word -
embarazoso (a), which means awkward or embarrassing, and the verb "embarazar," to make somebody
feel awkward (which is how many women feel when pregnant.)
Muchísimas gracias for this post.
Permalink posted by : Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 5:13:00 PM EDT
: Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 5:13:00 PM EDT
Well, "pretendiente" is a suitor (Word Reference says it's also an applicant). So that makes sense... it's someone who's trying to obtain your affection...
Paula - this is perfect! Now,to memorize and toss them out at the appropriate times! Un mil gracias!
DrJ
DrJ
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 11:26:00 AM EDT
: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 11:26:00 AM EDT
Hablo portugués y español, la palabra cínico es común a las dos lenguas, con el significado original (filósofo de la escuela cínica) muy deturpado. Lo sentido no es tan claro como algunas personas lo deciran en los comentários. Sí, vas a escuchar por las calles, pero no recomendo su uso, puede significar cosas diferentes para diferentes personas (pidas a un latino para le definir 'cínico', pocos podrán constestar adecuadamente).
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Permalink posted by : Friday, September 18, 2015 at 2:38:00 PM EDT
: Friday, September 18, 2015 at 2:38:00 PM EDT
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