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Spanish in Latin America
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Ben Round de Bloc



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
amy1982 wrote:
what are the acceptable words for computer and stapler? i had a hard time figuring those out... maquina? grabador(a)? that's the best i could do but it didn't seem like those were universal...

Where I live, computadora is used for computer. Inform�tica is computer science. The words Centro de C�mputo are painted on doors to computer labs on campus . . . but some clever students usually manage to remove the first three letters of the last word soon after each repainting.

I think the more universal word for "stapler" is grapadora, but Yucatecans use the word engrampadora.

A grabadora is a tape/cassette recorder.
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Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
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?
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amy1982



Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 192
Location: Buenos Aires
PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ah yes... grapadora vs grabadora. thanks for clarifying!

almost as important as the distinction between peso and beso Wink
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Justin Trullinger



Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
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
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Weona



Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 166
Location: Chile
PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
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...
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moonraven



Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Posts: 3094
PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In Mexico soft drinks or sodas are "refrescos".
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nomadamericana



Joined: 18 Dec 2004
Posts: 146
Location: Minneapolis, MN
PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
In Argentine its gaseosa
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gambasbo



Joined: 23 Nov 2003
Posts: 93
Location: Cochabamba, Bolivia
PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Refrescos in Bolivia, too.

Mike
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Ben Round de Bloc



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1946
PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:06 pm    Post subject: Refrescos Reply with quote
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.)
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Justin Trullinger



Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
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