MexConnect.com Forums: Specific Focus: Learning Spanish: Most useful words and phrases: Page 2

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Ed and Fran

Jan 30, 2009, 2:57 PM

Post #26 of 40 (3506 views)

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Re: [robrt8] Most useful words and phrases

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Ed, if it's used with gringos in the plural, pinchis would be the "proper" form.

They don't usually use the plural when talking about me........

esperanza

Jan 30, 2009, 3:41 PM

Post #27 of 40 (3501 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Most useful words and phrases

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In Reply To

Ed, if it's used with gringos in the plural, pinchis would be the "proper" form.

They don't usually use the plural when talking about me........

There you go again! The devil must really be after you.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

robrt8

Jan 30, 2009, 6:25 PM

Post #28 of 40 (3492 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Most useful words and phrases

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I thought it was you who uses that word. Wouldn't want you to use it improperly.

God knows I've felt the need to use it -- usually in San Miguel de Gringolandia.

It's good to see you, Ed.

(This post was edited by robrt8 on Jan 30, 2009, 8:21 PM)

Carol_Wheeler

Jan 30, 2009, 6:29 PM

Post #29 of 40 (3490 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Most useful words and phrases

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A bi-national (U.S.-Mexico), bilingual friend who grew up in Mexico tells me that "pinche" properly means "a kitchen helper" and many other bad words in Mexico once had a somewhat innocuous meaning. Fernando says that colonial Spanish priests taught their flocks to substitute these harmless words for *!#%*!!! (in Florida, we called them cuss words).

In a 1980s Mario Almada tough-guy narco-flick, the bad dude drew his gun and snarled, "Cálale, pinche ojete." Hmmm. I looked up "ojete" in the dictionary. It means "buttonhole." I don't think that's what Bad Dude had in mind. The cuss word meaning prevails.

Although I often tell my son, who's studying to be a chef, "Pinche Daniel, come and help me in the kitchen, please." He chuckles. And complies.

(This post was edited by Carol_Wheeler on Jan 30, 2009, 8:04 PM)

esperanza

Jan 30, 2009, 6:56 PM

Post #30 of 40 (3487 views)

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Re: [Carol_Wheeler] Most useful words and phrases

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Carol's right: the non-obscene meaning of pinche is the lowest of the low kitchen helpers. Judy often says she's my pinche, and that one day if she's lucky, she will graduate to sous chef.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Oscar2

Jan 30, 2009, 7:56 PM

Post #31 of 40 (3477 views)

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Re: [Carol_Wheeler] Most useful words and phrases

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Carol, yes I know because I’ve heard youngsters call their friends out boisterously by saying: oyes pinche, ven paca. Of course, being an older cuss, it kind of takes me back a bit, but than I realize, hey, its their time, their age, their thing. My past has had its similarities and its really much the same, just different time, different place, different words. Reflecting on it, can be amusing, and sometimes downright hilarious…

tashby

Feb 5, 2009, 7:03 PM

Post #32 of 40 (3441 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Most useful words and phrases

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As I struggle to learn Spanish, and inflict my version of it on any native speaker so that I might practice, I've found the phrase gracias por su paciencia extremely useful.

I do confess I didn't utter it the other day to the young woman at the local Telcel outfit. Boo her.

GringaGirl

Mar 4, 2009, 11:58 AM

Post #33 of 40 (3385 views)

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Re: [mazatlanlee] Most useful words and phrases

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I like the usefull expressions, but would like to know what they mean in English. When I go to Mexico in June I may need them! Thanks!

GringaGirl

Mar 4, 2009, 12:02 PM

Post #34 of 40 (3383 views)

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Re: [mazatlanlee] Most useful words and phrases

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What does "aqui vivo" mean?

Oscar2

Mar 4, 2009, 1:32 PM

Post #35 of 40 (3378 views)

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Re: [GringaGirl] Most useful words and phrases

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Quote

What does "aqui vivo" mean?

I "live here." Or I've heard it in reverse, "vivo aqui."

(This post was edited by Oscar2 on Mar 4, 2009, 1:32 PM)

sergiogomez / Moderator

Mar 4, 2009, 6:55 PM

Post #36 of 40 (3359 views)

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Re: [GringaGirl] Most useful words and phrases

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Oscar has it right. Vivo aquí (I live here) and aquí vivo (here I live) mean exactly the same thing. Spanish word order is a lot more flexible than English word order, so you can get away with saying things like "here I live." Far from being frowned on, playing with word order is viewed more as a fun game that everyone plays. It can be useful, really, especially when you can't quite figure out how to say something or the words just won't come out right. Something as simple as "he just showed up/arrived" (él ya llegó) can turn into ya llegó, llegó ya, or ya llegó él. It would be rare to hear ya él llegó, although...you never know. A good brain hiccup or an overly playful mind could come up with a phrase like that. Spanish is nothing if not flexible.

tashby

Mar 4, 2009, 9:15 PM

Post #37 of 40 (3347 views)

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Re: [sergiogomez] Most useful words and phrases

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Spanish is nothing if not flexible.

And on that note, I'll offer this video that focuses on the flexibility of "pinche" since that word is discussed within this thread. (Yes, naturally, there is some profanity. Don't go to the link if that makes you uncomfortable. If it doesn't, and if this video educates/amuses you, there's also a funny one on "pendejo" on the same website, among others.)

From Don Juan de la Boca....

http://warrenhardy.com/...e-la-boca_Pinche.php

sergiogomez / Moderator

Mar 4, 2009, 10:22 PM

Post #38 of 40 (3341 views)

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Re: [tashby] Most useful words and phrases

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Gold mine! Dirty words, slang, idioms, and proverbs are the heart and soul of every language. As much as I shy away from talking about some of these words and sayings with people I want to think well of me, I often stop to think about them at home and laugh out loud. How in the world did people come up with some of these things, and how did they come to mean what they mean?

DavidMcL

Mar 5, 2009, 3:19 PM

Post #39 of 40 (3318 views)

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Re: [sergiogomez] Most useful words and phrases

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In fact - right here on good ole Mexconnect (yes that is its new official name now) there is an excellent piece on pendejos and the various types thereof!

http://www.mexconnected.com/mex_/dt/pendejos.html

Not that I am in any way suggesting that you use these to describe one another on the forums!

Enjoy!

David
David McL
WebJefe

sergiogomez / Moderator

Mar 18, 2009, 6:04 PM

Post #40 of 40 (3178 views)

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Re: [sergiogomez] Most useful words and phrases

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Demand words. Travel guidebooks might teach you how to ask where the bathroom is, but everyone needs to be able to say what they need and how soon they need it. "Dígame dónde está el baño, que ya me ando meando" (Tell me where the bathroom is, I'm about to pee my pants) might not ever make it into the pocket translator. The first time I crossed the border, I ran for the first bathroom I could find. Literally. Then I had to stop and rummage through my purse for the 35 cents I needed to get access to the loo. Talk about culture shock.

So, useful ways to say how fast you need it.

Lo necesito cuánto antes.
Lo necesito lo antes posible.
I need it as soon as possible.

Lo necesito de emergencia.
I need it, and it's an emergency!
I need it RIGHT NOW!!!

Lo necesito, y me urge.
I need it (bad and soon).

Lo necesito, pero no me urge.
I need it, but it's not a big deal.
I need it, but I'm not in a hurry.
Be careful saying this to a Mexican unless you're willing to wait days or weeks for what you want.

Lo necesito ahorita.
I need it right now!
More emphasis on ahorita = more urgency.

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