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zoeq1000

May 16, 2006, 6:26 PM

Post #1 of 8 (6212 views)

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I learned a new word

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My cleaning lady kept saying "mander?" or "mande?" Mexicans use it to mean, say again? What was that? How many times have I said "repete". People seem to get it but now I know just what to say.

esperanza

May 16, 2006, 7:14 PM

Post #2 of 8 (6208 views)

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Re: [zoeq1000] I learned a new word

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You're right, it's ¿Mande? And it's used just as you mentioned.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

zoeq1000

May 16, 2006, 8:44 PM

Post #3 of 8 (6198 views)

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Re: [esperanza] I learned a new word

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I've got another for you. My housekeeper kept pointing at the cleaning supplies, saying Fabuloso, then she pointed to thefloor. I showed her what I use to clean the floor. And she kept saying, Fabuloso. I went to find the dictionary. She saw my husband and said something about comprar and he gave her some money. She came back with a floor cleaner called "Fabuloso." That stuff must be fabulous. :)

esperanza

May 16, 2006, 9:08 PM

Post #4 of 8 (6195 views)

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Re: [zoeq1000] I learned a new word

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Fabuloso rules. Other products are in the stores, but I bet that 95% of Mexico cleans its tile and marble floors with Fabuloso. I'd be lost without it.

And here's another one for you: Huele a limpio. "It smells clean."

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Judy in Ags

May 18, 2006, 4:28 PM

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Re: [zoeq1000] I learned a new word

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Our abanil always says to us when he doesn't understand, "Mande usted," which I guess it a more polite way that just saying "Mande!"

quevedo

May 18, 2006, 5:19 PM

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Re: [Judy in Ags] Albañil

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Mande usted = Mande. No difference in politeness.

Saludos,

Quevdeo

Judy in Ags

May 18, 2006, 5:30 PM

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Re: [quevedo] Albañil

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Thanks. 'Just my impression, I guess. It sounds (to my ears) more polite.

jerezano

May 19, 2006, 9:26 AM

Post #8 of 8 (6129 views)

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Re: [Judy in Ags] Albañil/mandar

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Hello,

mandar means to order, to command. For that reason many Mexicans, while they recognize the universality of ¿Mande? to mean, please repeat, object to the use of the word.

If you just need to have something repeated for your understanding, perhaps Repite, por favor, or Repita, por favor or simply No entiendo will work better for you.

You hear ¿Mande? all the time from waiters and from people who are doing a job for you.

I have found that people in the government civil service particularly object to the ¿Mande?

Adios. jerezano.