I Don't Get It

[braziliangirl]

For example, the word "cojer" means to take or grab something in Colombia while in Mexico it has an entirely different meaning.

Hmm...

The first time I went to Argentina one of my friends was worried she didn't speak any Spanish and was talking about it to other friend that had traveled there before. "Don't worry, they understand Portuguese, just never say colher because it's offensive", she replied. Colher probably sounds like cojer. And I still don't get the meaning.

So now there are two mystery words for me in this forum: cojer and tabo. 

[beginthebeguin]

FT you are abso-posa-tively 'spot-on' as usual. I'm pulling the collective leg of all P-L members here. 

[michaelb]

Hey, brazilangirl, "coger" is a very crude word that means sexual relations....directly translated into English it would start with the letter "f"....now do you understand it?

[whitey]

Hey, brazilangirl, "coger" is a very crude word that means sexual relations....directly translated into English it would start with the letter "f"....now do you understand it?

And "cojelo sauve" on the coast of Colombia is a popular expression that translates to "take it easy" in English ...

[utopiacowboy]

I've said this to my wife about the problem with Spanish. You travel all over the English speaking world and say to a guy "F*ck off!" or say "I'd really like to f*ck her" and you are universally understood. It's the most popular word in the English language. In the Spanish speaking world, in one place they may use one word for "f*ck" but in another Spanish speaking country, it means something completely different and not even vulgar. Every country has got its own version of "f*ck". That's really the problem - they're never going to get it together like this.

[braziliangirl]

Hey, brazilangirl, "coger" is a very crude word that means sexual relations....directly translated into English it would start with the letter "f"....now do you understand it?

 

Thank you!


Now tabo, anyone?

[robert angel]

BrazillianGirl,
 
Of course you can borrow my pet name!  No patent or copyright on it!


Actually, when it's just my wife and I in private, it's just 'Boo' rather than 'Boo Boo', which just is for once in a while, like maybe if I have a bad headache or something--"Oh Boo Boo--I wish I could make it better"--otherwise, 'Boo Boo' can sound a bit infantile. But even more than Boo or Boobula--we call each other 'Hon' or 'Honey' in private and public.


I spent a lot of time in NYC, where people use all kinds of ethnic words they hear on the street, although typically they have no idea what they actually mean and don't care--as long as they sound cute and/or clearly convey a message--such as 'Drive the car--you SCHMUCK! (Yiddish for you stupid dick) 
 
On the other hand, most New Yorkers can swear in half a dozen languages and know EXACTLY what they're saying. I bet 95% of New Yorkers know some Jewish Yiddish slang words. NYC is THE international 'melting pot' of the world, after all.


Speaking of using foreign words that sound cute and people use, but don't know exactly what they mean, I just looked up a Russian word I've endearingly called my wife a 1000 times, but forgot what it meant--'Babushka'. Turns out it has several meanings--the one that I seem to remember and like best is 'little doll'--actually  nestling dolls--carved wooden dolls, with a smaller doll inside each bigger doll. It's also a common word for 'Grandmother' or 'old lady' in Russia or a term for a scarf an old lady wears.


As with all languages--especially when going from one language to another--you need to be careful. With my first wife, out of no where, I came up with a 'pet word'  of endearment for her: --- "Pookie"


Little did I know, but after not too long, she explained to me that it wasn't such a good choice.

 
As it turns out, back in her province--in their dialect, 'pookie' means 'vagina'. Not the best thing to go around calling your wife!

Live and learn!

"It took me the longest time to realize I was a procrastinator"

[michaelb]

Well some cultures have different bathroom habits.....some of them (The Philippines in particular, although there may be others) don't use paper to clean themselves, instead they use water, but not running water from a faucet, water from a dipper (if that word isn't in your English vocabulary, think something similar to a small sauce pan with a long handle, or a giant spoon, usually made of metal or wood, or sometimes a dried gourd with one side cut off...something like would be near a barrel of water at an outdoor work location, such as a road or building construction site, for people to dip into the barrel to get some water out and then drink it out of the dipper). A tabo, as I understand it, is what they call one of those when it is used for personal hygiene purposes in the bathroom.....naturally, the one in used in the bathroom isn't used for drinking (at least I certainly hope it isn't )......anyway, I think that's what it is, guys more familiar with Asian toilet habits are welcome to correct me if what I wrote isn't right.

[robert angel]

Michael,
 
I could correct you on toilet and hygiene techniques in the Philippines (in a lot of  parts, including rural especially) but it wouldn't be printable, I don't think. You're correct on some of it though....

[Jeff S]

Just so you know Robert, the schmuck is not really a curse word. It really is the part they throw away after a Bris.

[InnocentVixen]

I spent a lot of time in NYC, where people use all kinds of ethnic words they hear on the street, although typically they have no idea what they actually mean and don't care--as long as they sound cute and/or clearly convey a message--such as 'Drive the car--you SCHMUCK! (Yiddish for you stupid dick)

Haha, the other day when my boyfriend was driving back he was stuck in traffic in NY talking on the phone with me and I heard some mumbling which I am sure it was some sort of curse, guess the traffic up there inspires people, I've never heard him curse before 

As with all languages--especially when going from one language to another--you need to be careful. With my first wife, out of no where, I came up with a 'pet word'  of endearment for her: --- "Pookie"

Little did I know, but after not too long, she explained to me that it wasn't such a good choice.
 
As it turns out, back in her province--in their dialect, 'pookie' means 'vagina'. Not the best thing to go around calling your wife!

Oh my, I feel guilty about the name I gave my cat now, it is bad enough I was feeling corny when I found him... he must hate me!!! (name: Pooky Von Purr)

[robert angel]

Re:
 

Just so you know Robert, the schmuck is not really a curse word. It really is the part they throw away after a Bris.

Jeff S,
 
I think if you look up 'schmuck' and the also heavily used (In NYC) word 'putz' at least on line, you'll find lots of different definitions and meanings attached to it. That said, I wouldn't be surprised that if I had the guts to ask a Rabbi--that he'd tell me that yes--you have the original intending meaning correct.It's such a part of NYC vernacular that few really know what the words mean--but they know how to use them for effect.

And it's not 'just' an north east coast thing--my 14 y/o son, Roman Catholic confirmed and all,  raised in the south, complains about having to 'schlep' his heavy book bag and saxophone to and from school....Funny thing is--both my sons are up in NYC (spending their inheritance early)  right now, as I type.

"Schlep":

• move something with difficulty: to lug or haul something from one place to another

In a thick 'Neuw Yawk' accent, 'schmuck' just resonates much better than 'putz'. I can still, in my mind, see angry faces, leaning out of car windows, shaking their heads and waving their arms, spitle flying out of their mouths as they yell:

  "DRIVE the caahhh, yah ssshhhmuuuckkk!!! Wherea'd yah getchyah license from -Disaney Land?"

[jb]

Oh my, I feel guilty about the name I gave my cat now, it is bad enough I was feeling corny when I found him... he must hate me!!! (name: Pooky Von Purr)

I'm imagining his name said with a thick accent, makes it even funnier somehow.
 

Hey, I know a guy who's nickname is Pookie.  I think I'll refer to him by his given name from now on.

IV,  I think once it gets translated into Cat speak, it becomes something of a loving endearment.  I couldn't tell exactly as in google translate, i had to translate from english to cat speak to spanish to cat speak to english, but i think it was all good. 

[dennislevy]

Since my last name is Levy and i was born within 2 miles from yankee Stadium, and I grew up on 190th and Fawt WASHIN TIN AVENOO 
 
(that s Washington heights on the upper West Side of Manhattan.....
 
I think I oughta know! jejejeje
 
Schmuck and putz are univesrally used in New York.....as are words like capice (Italian), do you understand?----You should have seen a nice Mormon girl...(my ex wife who was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in Davenport Iowa ) try to use Yiddish!
 
I was determined to improve communication.....so years later I spent some time teaching my ex novia en medellin some English and some impolite Yiddish...Mel Brooks style
 
and she could finally say....
 
me gusta salir conntigo.  Aunque eres alte cacker....tienes un gran swanstucker!!!!
 
Hopefully, no translation needed......
 
The opinios exprssed are MINE!!!!!
 
 
 

[V_Man]

I've said this to my wife about the problem with Spanish. You travel all over the English speaking world and say to a guy "F*ck off!" or say "I'd really like to f*ck her" and you are universally understood. It's the most popular word in the English language. In the Spanish speaking world, in one place they may use one word for "f*ck" but in another Spanish speaking country, it means something completely different and not even vulgar. Every country has got its own version of "f*ck". That's really the problem - they're never going to get it together like this.

I vote for this as quote of the week! I LMAO at that one.
Mate, in a single stroke you have uncovered the key to all social and economic problems of the hispanic world!
Not only can one say an entire sentance with this English word and a few pronouns but also there is simply something statisfying about pronouncing that word when one is agitated.

[utopiacowboy]

I vote for this as quote of the week! I LMAO at that one.
Mate, in a single stroke you have uncovered the key to all social and economic problems of the hispanic world!
Not only can one say an entire sentance with this English word and a few pronouns but also there is simply something statisfying about pronouncing that word when one is agitated.

No matter where they're from, the Englishman, the Scot, the Aussie, the Yank, the Canuck, the Irishman, the Kiwi - they are united in their delight for the word "f*ck"!

One "f*ck" to unite them all!

[Researcher]

       English can differ though.I had this British friend a few years back and we used to hang out alot.For the most part we always understood each other but sometimes he would say something and I would be totally lost.I remember once we were going to a restaurant that was very crowded.He said "Look at the size of that queue!" I started looking for a giant "Q" because no one I know says queue they say "line" .The Brits also have a different meaning for fag which might be a little confusing!!


       Researcher

[robert angel]

Yes--some words are universal indeed. My wife informed me that her niece, who will be three y/o in September, and is living in Manila, has been spanked several times and is not allowed to go out and play lately, because she picked up the phrase 'F--K You! --from other 'little darlings' in the neighborhood and when upset, was sometimes using it!

Her Grandmother back in the province would possibly have a heart attack if she heard such talk and would definitely discipline her, at least as harshly as the child's parents do.

I don't think I've ever met a Filipino in their teens or older, who didn't know the phrase "Bull Shyt" and how to effectively convey it, if somewhat more casually than most nation's people. I just don't think the words 'B.S'. carry the same gravity there that they do here in the USA, because I have seen some well mannered, educated ladies use the term in an almost 'matter of fact' way--as in when chatting some one new, saying 'No B.S., please'.

[Jeff S]

Yeah - lots of Yiddish has found it's way into common usage, often in a different way than it was intended.


Lots of words from all over have found their way into English. English has more words then French, German, and Spanish combined.