Forums > Specific Focus > Learning Spanish

raferguson

May 25, 2010, 8:57 PM

Post #1 of 13 (4607 views)

Shortcut

Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I looked up Caña, and came up with nothing that made sense in the context of the following sentence. The sentence was commenting on politics and culture in Spain, essentially saying that Spain really needed to change.

Necesitamos más caña y menos estado de derecho y demás pamplinas.

But what does caña refer to in this sentence?

Gracias de antemano.

Ricardo

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

norteño

May 25, 2010, 10:01 PM

Post #2 of 13 (4603 views)

Shortcut

Re: [raferguson] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

LaRousse, published in Spain, says (in Spanish) "energy and intensity with which something is done, or a positive attribute that something possesses", and gives as an example "Esta canción tiene mucha caña". Perhaps this discussion from an excellent translation site will help:

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/idioms_maxims_sayings/3528043-dar_ca%C3%B1a.html

eyePad

May 26, 2010, 4:56 AM

Post #3 of 13 (4590 views)

Shortcut

Re: [raferguson] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

typical dense idiom of spain. Here is my try
"We need more vigorous action and less talk of rights and other sweet talk"

edit: Caña can be idiomatic. In this context it is like a cane used to beat somebody, ie, to take action and do something by attacking a problem. That's the idea I get anyway. And 'estado de derecho' usually means 'rule of law' but that doesn't flow so well.

(This post was edited by eyePad on May 26, 2010, 8:11 AM)

Peter

May 26, 2010, 5:31 AM

Post #4 of 13 (4586 views)

Shortcut

Re: [eyePad] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

In this context it is like a cane used to beat somebody...
___________

Or like a riding crop or a switch to drive a horse or mule team?

zaragemca

Jun 2, 2010, 8:50 AM

Post #5 of 13 (4480 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Peter] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Greetings, to all the friends. A little bit of history. When the cultivation of sugar cane in Cuba took place, the Spaniard found out that the Africans working in the field, could survive the long hours of labor, by drinking the juice of sugar cane. In the process of manufacturing sugar, they found out several components from the sugar cane, ( depending on the type), including, Dextrosa which is use for medical applications, and the 'cortex', which is used now for furniture manufacturing. So when Spaniard are talking about to give, cana, it is about to give, 'fuerza, resistencia, vigor, durabilidad, a una accion', . Instead of talking, just for the talking. Gerry Zaragemca
International Club of Percussionists

eyePad

Jun 2, 2010, 7:05 PM

Post #6 of 13 (4456 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zaragemca] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

That is incredible information! Are you Cuban? It is not in the DRAE or PDP. Which just goes to show you the DRAE can be wrong! (And of that I have no doubt) Thank you for the information!

zaragemca

Jun 13, 2010, 9:50 AM

Post #7 of 13 (4328 views)

Shortcut

Re: [eyePad] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Greetings, yes I'm Cuban and researching the history of my people, I have learned a lot of details of the languages and meanings, which are of use in Spanish. Your brother, Gerry Zaragemca
International Club of Percussionists

joaquinx

Jun 18, 2010, 6:57 PM

Post #8 of 13 (4267 views)

Shortcut

Re: [raferguson] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Caña is also the distilled liquor from fermented sugar cane. It's a locally prepared brew, distilled once, clear, with a potency of around 25%. I goes down quickly and leaves slowly leaving a residue of a dull, throbbing headache.

Peter

Jun 18, 2010, 8:03 PM

Post #9 of 13 (4260 views)

Shortcut

Re: [joaquinx] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

That sounds like charanda

joaquinx

Jun 18, 2010, 8:07 PM

Post #10 of 13 (4257 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Peter] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

In Reply To

That sounds like charanda

Yea, like rum, it all comes from the sugar cane plant. Charanda, I believe, only comes from Michoacán. Caña, on the other hand, comes from the cane field worker's stills.

Peter

Jun 18, 2010, 9:25 PM

Post #11 of 13 (4245 views)

Shortcut

Re: [joaquinx] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

It's nowhere as good as cheap rum. It runs around 25% and is dirt-cheap. Not too bad a flavor mixed with Coke. When it's time to break up the party just break out the charanda and tell everyone it's all that's left.

esperanza

Jun 18, 2010, 9:37 PM

Post #12 of 13 (4243 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Peter] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

There's charanda--and then there's charanda. It depends on which brand you drink, whether it's blanco or reposado--and what you mix it with. I spent some time at a charanda distillery in Uruapan last week and drank a torito--charanda mixed with pineapple juice and some other ingredients--and was really wowed. Pitchers of torito will be the go-to drink at my next hot-weather party.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Peter

Jun 18, 2010, 9:58 PM

Post #13 of 13 (4238 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Caña?

Can't Post | Private Reply

By all means, let us in on what else is in that torito. Pineapple juice sounds good with charanda. I've had some charanda that is better than others, but any self-respecting Michoacano will make a joke about the stuff before he will think about telling you it's good booze.