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Anonimo

Mar 3, 2007, 9:34 AM

Post #1 of 6 (7448 views)

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Affectionate terms and adjectives.

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When is it appropriate to use the words, "linda", "bonita", "querida"; and so forth? What about "quere" vs "amar"?
Surely they vary in terms of context and declaration of passion.

Saludos,
Anonimo

wendy devlin

Mar 3, 2007, 10:22 AM

Post #2 of 6 (7440 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Affectionate terms and adjectives.

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Spanish has always seemed a language of love.
With many ways to express one's affections.

>Surely they vary in terms of context and declaration of passion.

Yes. Now let the knowledgeable spanish speakers chime in.

esperanza

Mar 3, 2007, 10:59 AM

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Re: [Anonimo] Affectionate terms and adjectives.

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Part of knowing which words are appropriate is knowing and understanding the context in which you're using them.

For example, it's one thing to say, "Qué linda la vista al lago" (What a beautiful view of the lake).

It's another thing entirely to say, "Qué ojos más lindos tienes." (What beautiful eyes you have).

It's one thing to say, "Quisiera vivir para siempre en mi querido México." (I would like to live forever in my beloved Mexico).

It's another thing entirely to say, "Mi querido, quisiera vivir para siempre en México." (My beloved, I would like to live forever in Mexico.)

It's one thing to say, "Te amo, mamá." (I love you, Mom.)

It's another thing entirely to say, "Ay, mamacita, te amooooooooo." (Ooooh little mama, I loooooooove you.)

When writing a letter, the temptation is to say "Querido Sr. Fulano," which literally means "dear"--as a term of affection. What you want here is "Estimado" or even "Distinguido", unless you know the person quite well--in which case he wouldn't be Sr. Fulano at all, but rather Jaime or Juanito or Memo or...whatever first or nickname you know him by. Be even more vigilant about this when you are addressing a person of the opposite sex: Estimada Sra. Fulana.

Qué bonita pregunta, estimado Anónimo.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Mar 3, 2007, 11:12 AM)

wendy devlin

Mar 3, 2007, 2:07 PM

Post #4 of 6 (7425 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Affectionate terms and adjectives.

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Esperanza has given several illustrating examples of context.

If perhaps, her examples are still unclear, estimado Anónimito, the subject can be further discussed.

However even if a person makes a mistake inadvertively, say, confusing the context of querer, amar, desear, gustar etc. the other person with whom you are communicating will likely be looking for the 'meaning' behind the words.

In your body language, the tilt of your head, the smile on your lips, the gleam in your eye etc.

If the wrong word is not read by the right expression, then your grammatical mistake is likely to be quickly reinterpreted. And likely better understood:)

Communication has always(thankfully) more than just the correct 'words'.

(This post was edited by wendy devlin on Mar 3, 2007, 3:43 PM)

jerezano

Mar 3, 2007, 3:24 PM

Post #5 of 6 (7418 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Affectionate terms and adjectives.

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Hello,

"querer vs amar"

After some years living here in Mexico I can report that I hear in casual conversation Le quiero or te quiero quite often to mean I love her, I love him, or I love you.

But I hardly ever hear Le amo, or te amo. So I have concluded that the amar verb has a bit more significance and indicates a deeper affection.

And here in Zacatecas the Le often becomes La and Lo. So I don't know which is correct for the object.

Adiós. jerezano

song_of_joy

Mar 3, 2007, 5:34 PM

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Re: [jerezano] Affectionate terms and adjectives.

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When we were still in college and went out for hotcakes in Merida, we really liked the wonderful bee honey they'd serve.

Someone would always ask, "How do you say 'honey' in Spanish."

Instead of "miel" -- honey or syrup -- we'd tell him "querido" then sit back and watch him ask for the wrong thing and laugh when the waitresses scolded him.