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raferguson

Sep 7, 2010, 9:20 PM

Post #1 of 7 (2979 views)

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Adecuada?

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I happened to notice an ad which used a phrase that seemed a bit strange to me, "mujer adecuada". My dictionary translates adecuado as adequate, suitable, appropriate, satisfactory.

It left me a bit confused. I don't think that I have ever heard of someone talking about an "appropriate woman' or an "adequate woman". I suppose that one could talk about the "right woman", or maybe the woman who is right for me........

So when would one use adecuada vs. apropriada vs. correcta? Are we simply talking about certain phrases that go together, when other phrases having a similar meaning would sound strange to a native speaker......

Examples in English that may help in this discussion:
Right car
Appropriate car
Right answer
Right book
Right job
Appropriate job
Right action
Adequate training
Right training
Appropriate training

Gracias de antemano.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

La Isla

Sep 8, 2010, 8:02 AM

Post #2 of 7 (2962 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Adecuada?

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What sort of ad was this?

esperanza

Sep 8, 2010, 2:28 PM

Post #3 of 7 (2939 views)

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Re: [La Isla] Adecuada?

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In Reply To

What sort of ad was this?

Jajajajajajajajajaja! Qué adecuada tu respuesta...

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

La Isla

Sep 8, 2010, 2:36 PM

Post #4 of 7 (2936 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Adecuada?

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In Reply To

What sort of ad was this?

Jajajajajajajajajaja! Qué adecuada tu respuesta...

Esperanza, you've read my mind!

raferguson

Sep 8, 2010, 4:02 PM

Post #5 of 7 (2929 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Adecuada?

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The ad was for one of those internet match services, I think that I saw it in a newspaper from Spain. It looked like it was a more traditional match service, as it had an image of a well dressed handsome man who was searching for a mujer adequada. It also had an image of a professionally dressed attractive woman, but I forget what she was looking for. We all look at ads, and occasionally I see some wording that puzzles me.

So I guess I left myself open for the heckling, but I am still wondering when one might use adequada vs. another word.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

La Isla

Sep 8, 2010, 4:19 PM

Post #6 of 7 (2926 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Adecuada?

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I think that what (or who) is adecuada is in the eye (and mind) of the beholder!

Maesonna

Sep 8, 2010, 5:41 PM

Post #7 of 7 (2918 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Adecuada?

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As your dictionary and examples made clear, “adequate“ and adecuado/a are false friends.

In this context, I think “right” is what we would say in English… the person who placed the ad is “looking for Ms. Right.”