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La Isla


Aug 19, 2009, 9:15 PM

Post #51 of 69 (9237 views)

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Re: [johanson] I saw a Gringo begging today

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You wrote "hace ratito" Is Rato or ratito a normal word? I often say "a rato bato" or "a rato buey" with my younger friends. Because that is what I learned in the streets. But when I look up Rato in the dictionary, I can not find it.

Isn't the word rato or ratito just slang?

I can't imagine what sort of dictionary you're using that doesn't have "rato" in it! It's a completely normal word which means a short period of time; "ratito" is the diminutive form, making it an even shorter period of time. I'd be careful about using "buey" with anyone but much younger friends as it's not a very polite word and could sound insulting to older people, especially women!

La Isla


Aug 19, 2009, 9:21 PM

Post #52 of 69 (9235 views)

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Re: [jerezano] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Hello,

You asked: >>>Could you phonetically sound that out for me......? <<<

es tah doe un ee DEN so or sa

jerezano

Estadounidense is one of those adjectives that has only one form, meaning that it doesn't change the ending to indicate masculine or feminine. So the pronunciation is es-tah-doe-oo-nee-DEN-say .



(This post was edited by La Isla on Aug 19, 2009, 9:23 PM)

Manuel Dexterity

Aug 19, 2009, 9:29 PM

Post #53 of 69 (9232 views)

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Re: [La Isla] I saw a Gringo begging today

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You wrote "hace ratito" Is Rato or ratito a normal word? I often say "a rato bato" or "a rato buey" with my younger friends. Because that is what I learned in the streets. But when I look up Rato in the dictionary, I can not find it.

Isn't the word rato or ratito just slang?

I can't imagine what sort of dictionary you're using that doesn't have "rato" in it! It's a completely normal word which means a short period of time; "ratito" is the diminutive form, making it an even shorter period of time. I'd be careful about using "buey" with anyone but much younger friends as it's not a very polite word and could sound insulting to older people, especially women!
And it should be pointed out that it should read "al rato, vato"

esperanza

Aug 19, 2009, 9:40 PM

Post #54 of 69 (9228 views)

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Re: [Tio Copas] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Estadounidense is not a made-up word, it's the correct word for the nationality of someone who comes from the United States.

El presidente estadounidense, Barack Obama, estuve en Guadalajara hace ratito.

Practice the pronunciation till you can say it. You'll sound much more educado (in the Mexican sense) than if you call yourself that other thing.


Obama estuvE aqui?

If you are going to pontificate you might want to avoid beginner's mistakes.

Obama estuvO aqui hace unos dias, (no hace un ratito).

We need a rolls eyes smiley on this board.
Geez louise, you never made a typo?




http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com








La Isla


Aug 19, 2009, 9:54 PM

Post #55 of 69 (9225 views)

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Re: [Tio Copas] I saw a Gringo begging today

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You wrote "hace ratito" Is Rato or ratito a normal word? I often say "a rato bato" or "a rato buey" with my younger friends. Because that is what I learned in the streets. But when I look up Rato in the dictionary, I can not find it.

Isn't the word rato or ratito just slang?

I can't imagine what sort of dictionary you're using that doesn't have "rato" in it! It's a completely normal word which means a short period of time; "ratito" is the diminutive form, making it an even shorter period of time. I'd be careful about using "buey" with anyone but much younger friends as it's not a very polite word and could sound insulting to older people, especially women!
And it should be pointed out that it should read "al rato, vato"
Thanks for catching that, Tío Copas. I missed the missing l when I made my post because my eyes were glazing over from having spent too much time today gazing at my laptop screen. I must get out more....(: !


(This post was edited by La Isla on Aug 19, 2009, 9:58 PM)

Manuel Dexterity

Aug 19, 2009, 9:59 PM

Post #56 of 69 (9222 views)

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Re: [esperanza] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Cual "typo" ??!!! There are only like 5 keys betweeb the e and the o!! Oops...now THAT is a typo.

Admîtelo, te equivocaste! Solamente te va a doler un ratito!

Now I need a stick out tongue smiley.


(This post was edited by Tio Copas on Aug 19, 2009, 10:05 PM)

cindyblu

Aug 19, 2009, 11:31 PM

Post #57 of 69 (9214 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] I saw a Gringo begging today

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In Italy, the nationality of persons who come from the United States is Americano, Americana, Americani. 100 years ago, Italian immigrants did not go to the United States. They went to America and became Americani. Or they went to Argentina and became Argentini or they went to Brazil and became Braziliani. All Italians and probably most other Europeans would beg to differ with the Argentino who told you Americano is not a nationality.

BajaGringo


Aug 20, 2009, 12:20 AM

Post #58 of 69 (9211 views)

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Re: [cindyblu] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Sorry to break the news to you but Europe doesn't set the standard for Americanos. All those living in north, central and south America are Americanos. Travel throughout Latin America and you will get a quick lesson on that. Most in Latin America see citizens from the USA as quite pompous in thinking that they own the "American" term when in fact they only share part of the continent...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

cindyblu

Aug 20, 2009, 3:16 AM

Post #59 of 69 (9206 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Since the population of Argentina is at least 65 percent Italian descent and many of those people came back to live in Italy when the Argentine currency collapsed a few years ago, there is a good possibility that the Argentino telling you that American is not a nationality is himself descended from Italian immigrants.

I can also tell you that it's most likely that his ancestors (either parents or grand-parents) ended up in Argentina during the great immigration wave at the turn of the century because they were not accepted, in other words, could not get the Visa to go to America! So they took second best, -- Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay -- but many of them eventually found their way to America anyway after they realized those countries were not the land of opportunity.

Today, I have cousins who never left Italy but they have siblings who immigrated to Canada in the early 60's. Of course, their first choice was also America but it was closed to Europeans at the time so they took the next best thing.

Anybody who tells you that American is not a nationality is just bitter that he never got to live in the USA and become an American citizen.

esperanza

Aug 20, 2009, 7:14 AM

Post #60 of 69 (9185 views)

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Re: [cindyblu] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Cindyblu, it would be a good idea for you to re-read BajaGringo's post. What you mention about Italians and their thoughts about Americans is your experience. No one is questioning that.

The problem for you will be continuing to insist, once you're living in Mexico, that you are an AMERICAN. Mexicans and other Latin American people think that designation is offensive, because, as BajaGringo said, they are also Americans. Mexico is part of North America. South of Mexico, people are Central Americans. Further south, people are South Americans.

You are an estadounidense: a person from the United States.

"Anybody who tells you that American is not a nationality is just bitter that he never got to live in the USA and become an American citizen."

You really, really need to re-think your ideas in that quote from your post. If that's your mindset, you will not have a happy life in Mexico.




http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com








BajaGringo


Aug 20, 2009, 9:02 AM

Post #61 of 69 (9167 views)

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Re: [esperanza] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Good to know we have points we agree on Esperanza...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

cindyblu

Aug 20, 2009, 10:48 AM

Post #62 of 69 (9149 views)

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Re: [willieboy] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Willieboy, in my opinion, you have won this argument! I just checked with my neighbor's son who recently returned to Italy from Santo Domingo with his new Dominican wife. This man is Italian, born and raised here and lived in Italy his entire life until two years ago. And guess what? In Santo Domingo, he's a GRINGO too!

For some reason, I now strongly suspect those stressing that "Gringo" is a derogatory term are foreigners who have lived in Mexico long enough or "think" they have lived in Mexico long enough to not be considered foreign. For example, the poster who lives in Chiapas and says his neighbors would never call him a Gringo. Gee, I bet he even knows what goes on behind closed doors.

Bottom line is this. If you don't have a Mexican passport and/or Mexican parents or grand-parents that raised you in the Mexican culture from birth, you will always be a foreigner.

gpkgto

Aug 20, 2009, 11:07 AM

Post #63 of 69 (9148 views)

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Re: [cindyblu] I saw a Gringo begging today

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"Gringo" varies from place to place in Mexico--my Mexican friends say any non-Latin American, non-Spanish person is a Gringo--basically almost anyone who does not have Spanish as his/her native language. I have both a Mexican and a US passport, but I am still a Gringo to my frineds--it is not derogatory unless it is meant to be.

jennifer rose

Aug 20, 2009, 11:18 AM

Post #64 of 69 (9141 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Finally, a breath of reason in the constant debate over the propriety of the appellation "gringo."

Rolly


Aug 20, 2009, 11:52 AM

Post #65 of 69 (9135 views)

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Re: [gpkisner] I saw a Gringo begging today

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I was born a gringo and expect to die a gringo.

Rolly Pirate

pana

Aug 20, 2009, 4:20 PM

Post #66 of 69 (9102 views)

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Re: [Rolly] I saw a Gringo begging today

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I believe that in language, usage is 9/10ths of the law. I think that most people born and raised in the United States refer to themselves as Americans. I remember a national essay contest years ago that began with the words "I Am An American" and then you wrote what that meant to you, etc. Calling myself an American is a life long habit that I just can't seem to change. I don't think that refering to myself as an American in a Latin country is pompous and I'm probababy not going to learn to say estadounidense. How does that translate into English....United Stateser? Do Mexicans introduce themselves as Norte Americanos? I've never heard that. In real world usage it's Canadians, Americans, Mexicans, Hondurans. etc. Anyway, the Mexicans I know call me Gringo or Pinche Mariachi and couldn't care less if I call mysef an American.

Pana

sioux4noff

Aug 20, 2009, 8:01 PM

Post #67 of 69 (9072 views)

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Re: [pana] I saw a Gringo begging today

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Quote
Mexicans and other Latin American people think that designation is offensive, because, as BajaGringo said, they are also Americans.

It shouldn't be offensive then. They should just say, I am American too!
Some people get their panties in a wad over most anything.

arbon

Aug 20, 2009, 8:30 PM

Post #68 of 69 (9065 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] I saw a Gringo begging today

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I usually try to find out the Latin name for a species, so that there is no confusion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


jennifer rose

Aug 20, 2009, 8:52 PM

Post #69 of 69 (9056 views)

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Re: [arbon] I saw a Gringo begging today

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This thread is getting a little long in the tooth, wandering from the original post. And thus, it shall now be closed.
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