Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Generally the same in DF, though I thought I've been hearing engrapadora for stapler. Those middle m's can be fairly silent though.

Paulie, I know I should be ignoring you, but I thought you might benefit by reading back through your old posts....newbie posts. Look how different you were. Still eager to learn about Latin America. Still willing to share your experience abroad. Not the kind of person to resort to knee-jerk bible-thumping. What happened to you?

amy1982 · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Buenos Aires

ah yes... grapadora vs grabadora. thanks for clarifying!

almost as important as the distinction between peso and beso Wink

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject:

In Spain, they use "ordenador" for computer, but computadora seems to be pretty general around latin america. Maquina can also be used, not disimilar to English.

For stapler, I have also heard both grapadora and engrampadora here. (Ecuador) Grapadora, which was also used in Spain, seems more widespread. Engrapadora would be new to me, but in a living language, changes are constant.

Justin

Weona · Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Chile

Any other countries out there besides Chile where computer is simply, 'computador'???! I swear, this country has it's own little language going on. Their vocabulary is unlike anywhere else in all of LA or Spain it seems.

What do people say for softdrink or soda where you all are? Here it's 'bebida' but I've heard other terms used as well...

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

In Mexico soft drinks or sodas are "refrescos".

nomadamericana · Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 146 Location: Minneapolis, MN

In Argentine its gaseosa

gambasbo · Joined: 23 Nov 2003 Posts: 93 Location: Cochabamba, Bolivia

Refrescos in Bolivia, too.

Mike

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

In La Rep�blica de Yucat�n, it's a refresco or a chesco. If someone asks for something specific, it's Coca (Coke,) Esprait (Sprite,) Sem�p (7-Up,) or Pecsi (Pepsi.)

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject:

In Ecuador, it's all "cola" in general. That makes it really "colita" given the local propensity for diminutives.

In Barcelona they (sometimes) call coca cola "cava americana" (American Champagne) but I think they mean this to be a little snide.

Justin

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

"Colita' here in Argentina could get you into trouble...'una chica que da la colita' indulges in backdoor shenanagins with gentlemen friends...something that Portenos are totally obsessed with as it's the ultimate in 'viveza criolla' which basically means getting one over on someone by fair means or foul...it's the Argentine way...

As for computers, they're always called 'maquina' when in a 'locutorio' but 'computador' in a shop.

ElNota · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Buenos Aires

just to clarify, in Argentina its not "culita" that engages in said practices? It hits a little closer to home by your description.

I'm just picturing a little line of people (also colita) waiting to 'get one over' on an unsuspecting female, all the while gesturing and shouting vulgar piropos.

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Nope, 'culo' is a standard word for 'bum' in Spain but is considered vulgar in Latin America. I watched Shrek on DVD with my girlf's little sister and 'culo' repeatedly came up. The little sister had to be told by her older sister and mum not to use that word.

And, from the classifieds of Clarin an example:

"Animate con mi cola, divertite con mis lolas 1 hora $20" (yep, that's 20pesos, about $6.50

and:

"Colita ardiente y profunda!!!..."

There are dozens more.

I'll PM you their numbers if you're interested Shocked

'Poto' is another word for bum, but it think it's only in Chile (?)

And 'queue' is 'fila' here, not 'cola', for obvious reasons...

Weona · Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Chile

Yeah, poto... great word. Culo is definitely vulgar in Chile, too.... is is "cola".

Once while standing in line, my chilean (host)sister started to crack up when she heard an American say "cola" in a specific context (I forget what it was) while he was talking to some other Chileans he had recently met. The Chileans with whom he was speaking also started to laugh and the poor lad couldn't figure out what it was that he had said... I had to interject and tell him that the word "fila" is more commonly used in Chile, and not "cola"... Smile

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Yeah, '?hay que hacer la cola?' could get you into a bit of an embarrassing situation...