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sparks

Mar 24, 2007, 6:39 AM

Post #1 of 7 (3717 views)

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frijoles verdes

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Mari had just cooked up a pot of green beans (string beans) - something we don't buy very often (she cooks them a little too long like most veggies).

So she shows them to me and tells me the name (still can't remember with my memory) and I tell her the name in English. 'en ingles se llaman frijoles verdes' and within seconds she is almost rolling on the floor because that was obviously not English.

So how do you tell someone that doesn't understand English what things are called in English
;)

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

BrentB

Mar 24, 2007, 9:19 AM

Post #2 of 7 (3707 views)

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Re: [sparks] frijoles verdes

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Ejotes are green beans in Central America and Mexico. Now the dilemma. ALL beans (Pinto, Black, Kidney for example) start out in the pod, which is usually green. Are they not a frijol until taken from the pod? Since they are not mean to be eaten in the pod, neither are they an ejote either,are they, while still in the pod?

Brent

PS, I used to get laughed at, as a youngster also for that, which is a literal translation. I remember ordering a jabón sandwich in Guate instead of jamón. I had the place rolling in the aisles.

sfmacaws

Mar 24, 2007, 10:31 AM

Post #3 of 7 (3697 views)

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Re: [BrentB] frijoles verdes

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I think while still in the pod they would be vaina de frijol.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

jerezano

Mar 24, 2007, 10:45 AM

Post #4 of 7 (3694 views)

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Re: [sparks] frijoles verdes

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Hello sparks,

You asked:>>So how do you tell someone that doesn't understand English what things are called in English ;)?<<

Amusing story, but assuming your question is serious, the correct answer in this case is of course "green beans" or "string beans" or "snap beans" depending on where you are from. ¿Frijoles verdes? Claro que no.

For example: If Mari MAH ri should ask you what her English name is the answer would be Mary. MER ri.

But the real answer is that one does not translate proper names ever, since Mari would not recognize and respond to her English name of Mary without special training. Who cares about the beans?--they wouldnt respond to either ejotes or green beans but just sit there waiting to be eaten.

I hope they were ricos.

Adiós. jerezano.

jerezano

Mar 24, 2007, 11:11 AM

Post #5 of 7 (3691 views)

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Re: [BrentB] frijoles verdes

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Hello BrentB,

You asked:>>Now the dilemma. ALL beans (Pinto, Black, Kidney for example) start out in the pod, which is usually green. Are they not a frijol until taken from the pod?<<<

The answer: No, they are not frijol until taken from the pod. Just as a fish swimming in a river is a pez but when caught becomes a pescado.

Which brings up the old joke. Let's see if you can translate it.

Un par de turistas pasando por el desierto entraron en un restaurante donde había letreros diciendo: "Pescado fresco de cerca". Lo pidieron pero descubrieon a comer que no fue filete de pescado. Preguntaron al mesero:

--¿Que es esto?, no es pescado.
--Sí, es lagartija.
--¡Ay hombre, eso no es pescado!
--Sí, senores. Es pescado de la cerca alrededor del restaurante.

Now getting back to frijoles, just because the answer given above is correct doesn't mean that the plants themselves are NOT called frijoles because they are, and the growers are called frijoleros. But snap beans are ejotes.

Adiós. jerezano.

BrentB

Mar 24, 2007, 3:30 PM

Post #6 of 7 (3682 views)

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Re: [jerezano] frijoles verdes

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Let's see...

A pair of tourists passing through the desert, entered a restaurant where there were signs saying:” fresh fish"(or fished)" from near" , as in near by) or fence(as in board fence) That they ordered but discovered that what they got wasn't fish fillet.
They asked the waiter:
What's this? It ain't fish!
“Sure it is, it's a small alligator ( name for little lizzards in MX and CA)
Man that ain't fish (ed)
Sure it is sirs, it was caught on the fence around the restaurant ( like a cop can have caught or fished a crook)

Jokes that were plays on words were very popular in Mexico, still are, especially in DF, where they toss in DF slang
Hey are you from Zacatecas?

brent

(This post was edited by BrentB on Mar 24, 2007, 3:36 PM)

wendy devlin

Mar 24, 2007, 3:57 PM

Post #7 of 7 (3675 views)

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Re: [BrentB] frijoles verdes

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Plays on words seem perennially popular.

Thanks jerenzo.
That was a cute joke... one, I might just be able to memorize and remember:)

it has often seemed that quite a bit of colloquial Mexican spanish...is somewhat in 'code'. A way of talking, indirectly, that is immediately understood by those in the 'know' and those who aren't, perhaps are left shaking their heads, wondering what they said, that got everyone hysterical with laughter.

However if a person make an obvious mistake in spanish...and people within listening shot.. get.a good laugh...and one is able to take the 'misunderstanding' in good humor...the upshot may be... everyone has a good time over the exchange.

Making people laugh, either intentionally or unintentionally...is valued, or at least that has been my experience.