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alleygata

Jan 1, 2003, 4:03 PM

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2 questions pour favore ;o)

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Hi All,

First question...how do you say alley cat?

Second...what's the fastest and cheapest way to learn Mexican/Spanish? I'll be moving to Valle de Bravo in about 3 months and know nothing...nada (?)

Gracias!

esperanza

Jan 1, 2003, 4:21 PM

Post #2 of 11 (4637 views)

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Re: [alleygata] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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Alley cat: gata callejera, for lack of a better translation.

Easiest and cheapest way to learn Spanish: get yourself out there with native speakers and listen, and don't be afraid to SPEAK~even if you make mistakes. Listen to the radio, and watch telenovelas. Read the dictionary and use 3 new words a day. Study verbs and grammar in your spare time. And SPEAK IT, SPEAK IT, SPEAK IT: stay away from speakers of English.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

scott

Jan 1, 2003, 5:40 PM

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Re: [alleygata] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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Alleycat, the way I learnt the word "gata" was that it is the person who comes to clean your house. I know its an animal too, but if a women is calling herself a gata then I would think she was a maid.

But this might be regional slang...

Scott

Mereja

Jan 1, 2003, 6:09 PM

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Re: [scott] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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I have never heard a maid called a gata, but of course, my husband and his family have never had a maid. You can use "gatear" to mean crawl, or "a gatas" is like on your hands and knees.

scott

Jan 1, 2003, 6:32 PM

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Re: [Mereja] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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Diccionario Popular Mexicano

I took this list, several times, to discuss at a conversation club at an English school here. Its not a Spanish school, I was the only foreigner, just going for something to do. Anyways we discussed this list of words several nights, and gata was definately recognized. There was no doubt about it, they all knew the word. Plus, I have used it in my own speaking, and have been understood. But its usually followed by: "Scott! She is a sirviente, not a gata!"

esperanza

Jan 1, 2003, 7:45 PM

Post #6 of 11 (4570 views)

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Re: [scott] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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Yes, I've heard gata to mean 'maid' as well. But I'd prefer not to perpetuate something that is demeaning to another human being. I am grateful every day of my life for the wonderful young woman who works so hard to spoil me rotten. She's much more tigre than gata, anyway.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

"El Gringo Jalapeño"

Jan 1, 2003, 10:21 PM

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Re: [alleygata] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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I erased this mexican joke by mistake after taking 15 minutes to write it all! It's really cute and is a "chiste blanco" so I'll try again.

Habia una vez una gatita blanca que iba caminando por la calle con un pasito coqueto, esponjadita, con la cola bailando con el aire.

Y la ve pasar un gato flaco, feo, sarnoso, apesto...

Y piensa el gato "¡Esa gatita es mia!"

Entonces se le acerca a la gatita y pregunta muy sensual...

"Oyes, gatita, ¿Te revuelcas conmigo en el pasto?"

Y le contesta la gatita con un desden...

"Se dice cesped ¡Y NO quiero!"

"Ay, caray," piensa el gatio "esa gatita me esta costando trabajo. Y siempre caen a la primera."

Entonces le pregunta el gato a la gatita...

"Oyes, gatita, ¿Hacemos el amor en la alberca"

Y otra vez le contesta la gatita con aún mas desden...

"Se dice picina, ¡Y NO quiero!"

"Chin, piensa el gato, yo tan galán y nada con esta gatita. Ni modo, a veces se gane, a veces se pierde. Va a tener que ser un amor platonico, amor de amigos".

Entonces le pregunta el gato con todo amabilidad a la gatita...

"Oyes, gatita, ¿Cojemos un ratón?"

Y le contesta la gatita...

"Se dice rato, ¡Y SI quiero."

Sorry this was so long, but I love telling it with lots of flavor and inuedos about the people who are listening to it.

Let me know what you think!

¡Hasta pronto y Prospero Año Nuevo!
Roy B. Dudley "El Gringo Jalapeño" See more about Xalapa at www.xalaparoy.com

quevedo

Jan 2, 2003, 9:49 AM

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Re: ["El Gringo Jalapeño"] Cogiendo ratones

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"Oyes, gatita, ¿Cojemos un ratón?"

Let me know what you think!

Se escribe cogemos, y el chiste no es tan blanco como presume usted, estimado Roy (pero me reí mucho).

Muy feliz y próspero año y un abrazo,

Quevedo

"El Gringo Jalapeño"

Jan 2, 2003, 10:01 AM

Post #9 of 11 (4551 views)

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Re: [quevedo] Cogiendo ratones

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Gracias, Quevedo. Y me dí cuenta de las faltas garafales de ortografía despues de haber enviado el mensaje. Me da gusto que te haya gustado el chiste. Bueno, pues, me tengo que ir a la "chamba". Igualmente que todos tengan un feliz y prospero año nuevo.
Roy B. Dudley "El Gringo Jalapeño" See more about Xalapa at www.xalaparoy.com

Carlos

Jan 2, 2003, 10:29 AM

Post #10 of 11 (4535 views)

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Re: [esperanza] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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I agreed! Stay away from such ugly word when
you address human beings!!
BTW: she is a tigra!
Tigresa = Mujer atractiva, provocadora y activa en la conquista amorosa.

You came across loud & clear, Esperanza!

javo

Jan 2, 2003, 10:29 AM

Post #11 of 11 (4573 views)

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Re: [scott] 2 questions pour favore ;o)

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"Gato" and "gata" can have a derogatory meaning when related to "maids" or "servants". You cannot use those words in certain contexts.

"Ve tú mismo por el pan. No soy tu gato".

"Se nos fue la gata. Habrá que encontrar otra que quiera limpiar la casa".

Other usual words for "maid" are "chacha" (from "muchacha") and "criada" but their use is also demeaning. For men, you can say "criado".

"Se fue como chacha. No dijo ni siquiera adiós la malagradecida".

"Se fue como criada. Cuando nos dimos cuenta ya no estaba en la casa y se llevó toda su ropa".

"Ese tipo era criado en una casa de Las Lomas antes de volverse mafioso".

The neutral words for servants in Mexican spanish are "empleado" and "empleada".

"Trabajo como empleado en casa de Doña Trini".

"Es una empleada muy eficiente. Deja la casa rechinando de limpio".