You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

[koilife]

Aside from an homage to one of the (arguably) great comedic movies of all times, "The Princess Bride," I thought the topic might make for some fun.

I first thought of it several weeks ago when, in a discussion of footwear, a person of British persuasion commented that her feet were like "pasties," by which she was referring to large meat pies (I had to look it up), but which to my unsophisticated American mind meant something altogether different --- something that could double as blister covers . . .

It got me to thinking that there is a lot of humor to be found in misunderstanding the language that we use with each other, especially when it comes to slang, idioms, and colloquialisms. Sometimes, we flat out talk past each without even realizing it (anyone who's married knows that an entire forum of threads couldn't exhaust this source of misunderstanding).

It took me a week to realize that asking for "salsa picante" on the Camino doesn't mean what my American brain thinks "salsa" or "picante" mean. I was marginally faster in grasping that, in Spain, "tortilla" didn't mean what I thought it meant either. Walking with many Brits, Scots, Irish, Aussies, and Kiwis led me to understand the truth of something a Kiwi friend often repeats---I speak American and have no clue what English is. Who knew the "dogs bollocks" was a good thing, or that "That's no plonk," was actually complementary of the vino tinto?! Then, of course, there is the perpetual reminder that "Donativo doesn't mean free."

So, what other words or phrases do people use on the Camino (or "in the real world") that doesn't mean what they think it means, or that we think it should mean . . .

 

[BShea]

You can imagine the look on my face when a British acquaintance told me that he would "knock me up the next morning at 8:00"!!! (American=impregnate).

 

[peregrina2000]

The two most common sources of inter-cultural giggling, I think, is that embarazada does not mean you are embarrassed, it means you are pregnant. And being constipada means having a cold, not being constipated (which may explain why you got the medicine you did in the pharmacy ).

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Al the optimist]

You can imagine the look on my face when a British acquaintance told me that he would "knock me up the next morning at 8:00"!!! (American=impregnate).

HaHa. I remember well when an aunt who had emigrated to Canada came over with her 19 year old. The daughter was shocked that one of her aunts could be so brazen talking about her activity every morning with her neighbour!

 

[wayfarer]

Here when we say "I will yea" it actually means "I won't"

 

[plainlost]

Aside from an homage to one of the (arguably) great comedic movies of all times, "The Princess Bride," I thought the topic might make for some fun.

I first thought of it several weeks ago when, in a discussion of footwear, a person of British persuasion commented that her feet were like "pasties," by which she was referring to large meat pies (I had to look it up), but which to my unsophisticated American mind meant something altogether different --- something that could double as blister covers . . .

It got me to thinking that there is a lot of humor to be found in misunderstanding the language that we use with each other, especially when it comes to slang, idioms, and colloquialisms. Sometimes, we flat out talk past each without even realizing it (anyone who's married knows that an entire forum of threads couldn't exhaust this source of misunderstanding).

It took me a week to realize that asking for "salsa picante" on the Camino doesn't mean what my American brain thinks "salsa" or "picante" mean. I was marginally faster in grasping that, in Spain, "tortilla" didn't mean what I thought it meant either. Walking with many Brits, Scots, Irish, Aussies, and Kiwis led me to understand the truth of something a Kiwi friend often repeats---I speak American and have no clue what English is. Who knew the "dogs bollocks" was a good thing, or that "That's no plonk," was actually complementary of the vino tinto?! Then, of course, there is the perpetual reminder that "Donativo doesn't mean free."

So, what other words or phrases do people use on the Camino (or "in the real world") that doesn't mean what they think it means, or that we think it should mean . . .

Good Morning!

Ok I'll bite what does salsa picante mean in Spain? This is important to me because I am from southern California and picante is important to me!

 

[koilife]

Good Morning!

Ok I'll bite what does salsa picante mean in Spain? This is important to me because I am from southern California and picante is important to me!

It's pretty much the equivalent of ketchup. Although I was told there was a difference, I couldn't tell.

"Salsa picante tabasco" will get (if they have it) Tabasco Sauce. I never found the equivalent of the picante sauce you're looking for, and pepper sauce was hard to find. Hence, I'm carrying a luxury item of some variation of hot habanero sauce to get enough heat and flavor without a great deal of weight.

 

[LesBrass]

.... in a discussion of footwear, a person of British persuasion commented that her feet were like "pasties" ...

That was me... and my pasties... can you see the resemblence



When walking one of the odd things I kept hearing my American friends say was they'd been 'visiting'... when I visit a friend I get in the car and drive to their house... but in the US it can be a simple chat.

Great thread... I love the way language twists and turns and changes, so I can't wait to hear from others.

 

[plainlost]

It's pretty much the equivalent of ketchup. Although I was told there was a difference, I couldn't tell.

"Salsa picante tabasco" will get (if they have it) Tabasco Sauce. I never found the equivalent of the picante sauce you're looking for, and pepper sauce was hard to find. Hence, I'm carrying a luxury item of some variation of hot habanero sauce to get enough heat and flavor without a great deal of weight.

Good idea, I may have to bring "cholula"

 

[nidarosa]

I admit to giggling each time an American says he/she is 'pissed', which means very drunk here in the UK, when what they mean is they are annoyed. Also: Pants ...

 

[LesBrass]

I admit to giggling each time an American says he/she is 'pissed', which means very drunk here in the UK, when what they mean is they are annoyed. Also: Pants ...

Fanny too... which makes me childishly giggle

 

[C clearly]

@koilife - What are the double meanings for "salsa picante" ?

 

[jeffnd]

French woman having a coughing fit: "In French, we would say that there is a cat in my throat."
Me: "In America, we say there is frog in your throat."
French Woman: *dirty look*
Me: "No! Not frog as in French! The animal. But when you can't speak or think of a word, we would say a cat has your tongue!"

Dutch man: "What do you call those chimney things in English?"
Me: "We call them chimneys."

 

[DanielH]

This is a great thread. It allows us to laugh while learning from one culture to another. Speaking Spanish I was bewildered when I asked what the egg dish on the countertop was he replied Tortilla. I thought he was having a brain lapse so I asked again again he replied Tortilla. I tried to explain what a tortilla looks like in the U.S.

 

[Al the optimist]

So here we go with some "The Black Country" (West Midlands UK) expressions:- Best of British with them folks!
Bostin is a well-known word meaning amazing, brilliant or excellent.
Our kid is a term for a younger brother or sister. It is also used to refer to any sibling (whether older or younger), or for any younger relative and sometimes also to address an unrelated friend or colleague who may be younger. 'Come on our kid, let's get the bus into town.'
Babby is a local variation of baby, and the shortened form bab is often used as an affectionate term for 'love or dear', as in 'How are you, bab?
Wench is an affectionate term for a girl or young woman.
Fittle is a local word for food, and therefore 'bostin' fittle' is a way of saying great food
Going round the Wrekin is a popular local phrase. It means taking a long and rambling route to a destination or taking a long time to get to the point of a story. The Wrekin is a hill in Shropshire.
It’s a bit black over Bill’s mother’s means that the sky is dark with rain. It's been claimed that Bill is a reference to William Shakespeare, with his mother being Mary Arden of Stratford and the rainstorm usually approaching from the south-westerly direction (one of the main directions for incoming winds and storms to sweep into the UK from the Atlantic).
Yampy is a well-known Midlands word and it is used to describe someone who is daft, mad or losing the plot.
A piece is a local word for a slice of bread and butter, and sometimes also for a sandwich.
A cob is the local word for a bread roll, supposedly because the small round loaves look like street cobbles.
To bawl is to cry loudly, such as the noisy wailing and sobbing of an upset child.
Pop means any fizzy soft drink such as lemonade.
Lamp means to hit or beat up as 'I'm going to lamp you if you carry on', 'He gave him a right lamping.'
Snap is a word for food or a meal - "I'm off to get my snap" is what someone might say when they are going to get their dinner.

 

[newfydog]

Bonked. American for loss of energy due to depleted blood sugar. I understand there are other meanings.

 

[LesBrass]

@Al the optimist ... that made me smile and we've been trying to think of Devonian expressions... here are a few but they do need the Devonian accent

Dretley – Later, in a bit
Grockles – non Devonians
Gert –big
Where’zee bin – where have you been? or Where'zee goin to – where are you going?
maze as a brush – daft, foolish or Yoou’maze – you’re mad
dimpsey - dusk
ark at ‘ee – listen to him
twas ansome – it was lovely
Iff-its – my mum would say we had bread and iff-it for tea and it usually meant whatever was left
Smeechy – smokey
Teddies / Spuds - potatoes
Jaspers - wasps
Thing-a-mi-bob, watcha-ma-callit or thing-a-mi-jig – you’d say this if you couldn’t remember the name of something
Maid – young girl
Where’zee bin maid /buuy– where have you been dear or what have you been doing dear
Ard's a dug's ed – hard as a dogs head
Tis or Twas it is or it was
Alright me 'andsome– how are you
Where be gwain – where are you going?
Anyroad - anyway
teddyoggie - pasty

 

[Isca-camigo]

Bonked. American for loss of energy due to depleted blood sugar. I understand there are other meanings.

Similar to British meaning of Bonked in one way, usually ends up with a loss of energy, but NOT due to depleted blood sugar.

 

[dougfitz]

When travelling in the US last year, there was difficulty just with the alphabet. Our car booking reference was in the form 'ZDxxxxxxx', and whenever I was asked for it, there was always confusion when I used the British noun zed to spell out the reference. Finally a clerk (which I say with an 'a', and not an 'e') pointed out that in the US, this was a zee!

Then there are all the other variations, like pronouncing route as if there was a mass exodus of frightened people. My own favourite comes from my childhood, when my family used to holiday at a small town on Cockburn Sound, and we would pronounce the 'cock' without difficulty. My daughter now lives in that area, and my grand-daughter is horrified when I use that pronunciation over the now more common 'co-burn'. Pointing out that it not only isn't burning, but isn't burning with something else doesn't cut it!

 

[jeffnd]

One of my favorites happened in Roncesvalles. We stopped into the bar before leaving and I ordered toast. The man behind the bar rattled of a string of words in Spanish and all I could pick out was "tequila." I thought it was a bit early for a shot, especially on a Sunday. Turns out he was asking me if I wanted butter. (mantequilla)

 

[Kiwi-family]

http://kiwiana.sarah.geek.nz/content/slang.html

This isn't a bad list, though I do notice she has missed "can't be arsed" (not a phrase I use myself, but one heard frequently enough - meaning can't be bothered) and recent additions to her (now old) list would have to include "Yeah, nah" and "nek minit"

 

[kerrychick]

We have a great one in the Irish language that shockes Americans every time

When they ask me if i speak Irish

My answer is" Cupla focal "which sounds like fuckill
meaning a few words, cracks me up the expression on their faces.

 

[kerrychick]

We have a custom in Ireland when you turn 21

you get the key of the front door,
when asked by an American friend why this is
i said" so you don't have to knock up your mam and dad in the middle of the night"

lol.

 

[Seabird]

Here in the South, when you say "give me some sugar" (pronounced shugah), you're asking
for a kiss, not the sweetener.

 

[annakappa]

@Al the optimist ... that made me smile and we've been trying to think of Devonian expressions... here are a few but they do need the Devonian accent

Thing-a-mi-bob, watcha-ma-callit or thing-a-mi-jig – you’d say this if you couldn’t remember the name of something

Maybe useful, or may be not, but in Costa Rica, we use the word CHUNCHE when we don't know, or can't remember the name of something. However, I don't know if this is valid in Castilliano (Spain)!

 

[annakappa]

In Manchester, where I was brought up, we have tea, when it's really the evening meal ( supper).
We, well especially the men, say "luv" ( love) to any person, especially in shops or on buses. My husband was horrified when he first went to my part of the world.
Poorly means ill, under the weather. Never used the word sick, which N.Americans love to use, because that for us means throwing up!
A butty is a sandwich.
There must be loads more, but I've lived out if England since 1966, so language of course has changed!

 

[Sue M]

One of my funniest Camino memories is of coming to the rescue of a young female friend in a pharmacy by MIMING 'sanitary towels'! I leave it to your imagination, bearing in mind that I was nearly 70 at the time . . . The shop assistant looked horrified, but we English were laughing hysterically - and we got the required items!

 

[Damien Reynolds]

From a Californian's perspective:

"Bad ass" is good, great even. (and one of my favorite expressions.)

"Seriously" means I agree.

"That's sick" means "bad ass."

"Whatever" means I'm tired of talking about it and I disagree.

"Chill" means hang out and enjoy the situation... or "Relax" depending on the context.

"Stoked" = "Psyched" = "I am pleased with this situation."

Damien

 

[newfydog]

From a Californian's perspective:

"Bad ass" is good, great even. (and one of my favorite expressions.)

"That's sick" means "bad ass."


Damien

Sort of like the French use of "terrible" I was once told I had an "accent terrible", and was disappointed, until they explained that means good. Sort of like a "killer accent" I guess.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

oooh, Killer = good. Thanks for the addition.

 

[William Garza]

My Traveling days..
A..Little ways
A...Ways
A...Long Ways.

Teh farmer or rancher would help out in giving distances in these terms.

A little ways is within a 2 or 3 miles
A Ways was around an hour or two's drive

A Long Ways meant you better bring a change of clothes...

Not to be confused with walking distances

A little ways meant you dont have to take a water bottle and one or two gates..

A Ways meant more pointy cows and gates

A Long ways means your footwear better be sturdy and many gates to cross.
And be,ready to run from said pointy headed cows.

A burrito here..is a taco in California..is a chimichanga somewhere else.

A taco..is a burrito is a chimichanga somewhere else
A tortilla here, is a flour one..everywhere else..is corn..and apparently..an omlete somewhere else.

 

[Kurt5280]

Never ask for a "Napkin" outside of America...because if you are male most Pilgrims will wonder why you want a feminine product...then after the laughter try asking for a "Serviette" instead...but likewise I will never forget while on the Camino being asked if I wanted to "douche before dinner".

 

[Damien Reynolds]

Never ask for a "Napkin" outside of America...because if you are male most Pilgrims will wonder why you want a feminine product...then after the laughter try asking for a "Serviette" instead...but likewise I will never forget while on the Camino being asked if I wanted to "douche before dinner".

Um, please explain the douche.

 

[Kurt5280]

please explain the douche.

I was sweaty and muddy and the Albergue Hospitalero was suggesting that I should shower or wash before eating dinner...it loses something in the translation to English.

 

[RobertS26]

You can imagine the look on my face when a British acquaintance told me that he would "knock me up the next morning at 8:00"!!! (American=impregnate).

At least he gave you a warning.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Um, please explain the douche.

Douche is shower, in French, ducha is Castellano, but in the US the word is a derogatory term that describes a product/ procedure some women to shower a particular bit. It is typically used in combo with the word bag....

 

[Bumpa]

At least he gave you a warning.

A little off topic but the first night on the West Highland Way...we walked into Drymen, North of Glasgow. We kept speaking about Dry-men. We were corrected that it was pronounced as Drim-en as there were no dry men in town

 

[Kurt5280]

Hence, I'm carrying a luxury item of some variation of hot habanero sauce to get enough heat and flavor without a great deal of weight.

Good idea, I may have to bring "cholula"

The first week I thought Spain needs to invent peanut butter...second week all I could do was think about eating eggs (fried eggs, scrambles eggs, soft-boiled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, etc) and I wanted to initiate a new Spanish law that every town had to serve cooked eggs 24/7 somewhere...by the third week the only sauces I had seen was something like bland ketchup for french fries and mayonesa for bocadillos and hamburguesas...and the only three times I ate Spanish food with sauces was in Astorga, Santiago, and Finisterre and each of these Spanish sauces were absolutely amazing...so first thing when I arrived in Denver I went to an all night breakfast dinner for cooked eggs covered in Southwest green chili sauce...which was my favorite and most common meal for the next week...so I strongly agree that you need to bring sauces to Spain...and maybe some peanut butter too.

 

[koilife]

@koilife - What are the double meanings for "salsa picante" ?

For a reasonably complete review of salsa, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_(sauce). "Salsa picante" is a specific kind of salsa that has chunks of tomato, chile, etc., and is often referred to as just "picante". Usually we see mild, medium, and hot levels of spiciness for most salsas and picantes, but even the spiciest of the "salsa picantes" that I had in Spain were closer to milk toast than a US mild, and they generally had the taste and consistency of ketchup.

 

[koilife]

Thing-a-mi-bob, watcha-ma-callit or thing-a-mi-jig – you’d say this if you couldn’t remember the name of something

To that I'd add "drinky-thing" when I don't know or remember what to call the thing we're drinking from.

 

[koilife]

Never ask for a "Napkin" outside of America...because if you are male most Pilgrims will wonder why you want a feminine product...then after the laughter try asking for a "Serviette" instead...

Thank you! That explains a couple reactions I never understood . . .

 

[koilife]

Wench is an affectionate term for a girl or young woman.

Never heard that used in any capacity other than a prostitute, and a cheap one at that. At the local Renaissance Festivals (not sure if that translates into Europe, where there actually was a Renaissance) here in the US, you can usually pay a "wench" a dollar for a kiss that leaves a bright red lipstick mark on cheek or neck (or forehead for those of us endowed with a more refined landscape there).

 

[koilife]

Whenever I said "Hola" the hospitalero, clerk, etc. would switch to English. Thus, I suspect that "Hola" doesn't mean "hello" but must instead mean, "Hi there. I'm a Spanish illiterate, so won't you please switch from Spanish to English because otherwise I won't understand a thing you say." Or perhaps it was just my particular dialect of Spanish . . .

 

[AlwynWellington]

The daughter was shocked that one of her aunts could be so brazen talking about her activity every morning with her neighbour!

The reverse is true. The teen-age daughter of a friend had a exchange scholarship to a college (high school) in a mid western US state. Travelling light she had not taken all her stationery with her. On her first day she couldn't understand why all the guffaws from the local boys and girls when she asked for a rubber.

'visiting'

Here the phrase "... make a (quick) visit" can mean "... go to the loo/toilet/bathroom"

'pissed'

Here "pissed" means inebriated while "pissed off" means annoyed.

Whenever I said "Hola" the hospitalero, clerk, etc. would switch to English.

A few years ago I was at Albert, the town that remained in allied hands for most of WW1, prior to going to nearby battlefields with New Zealand connections. There had been a parade and fair in the town on the Saturday night. In the basilica (with iconic statuary atop a tower) the next morning, a few minutes before Mass was to start the priest was coming down the aisle greeting the few in attendance. He greeted me with "Bon jour". I had copied the rate and manner of his speech perfectly in replying "Bon jour". He, of course, knew better and immediately spoke to me in very good English.

 

[DanielH]

Thanks everyone for all the great laughs today with our language. I hope that you all got a kick out of it too (in other words "a laugh") buen camino to all

 

[Robo]

Fanny too... which makes me childishly giggle

I still feel somewhat uncomfortable when Americans talk about 'Fanny Packs'.
It just conjures up all sorts of unmentionable images of who knows what!

Sorry I'm originally British and words like that are not used in polite company

 

[Robo]

From a Californian's perspective:

"Bad ass" is good, great even. (and one of my favorite expressions.)

"Seriously" means I agree.

"That's sick" means "bad ass."

"Whatever" means I'm tired of talking about it and I disagree.

"Chill" means hang out and enjoy the situation... or "Relax" depending on the context.

"Stoked" = "Psyched" = "I am pleased with this situation."

Damien

How the meanings change . In australia 'seriously' is often used with a rising tone 'question' inflection and generally means.......I think your talking complete BS

 

[Robo]

I might leave it to a native born Australian to explain how Australians use the term...... Yeah-No.

I find myself doing it now!

 

[JMac56]

I might leave it to a native born Australian to explain how Australians use the term...... Yeah-No.

I find myself doing it now!

No offence Robo, but the use of "Yeah-No", or even worse "Yeah-Nah", is an example of the gradual "boganisation" of the English language here in Australia. It is nothing though compared to the incessant, inappropriate use of the word "like" at the start, in the middle, and at the end of sentences - anywhere in fact. No need for a simile. Shudders!

 

[Damien Reynolds]

How the meanings change . In australia 'seriously' is often used with a rising tone 'question' inflection and generally means.......I think your talking complete BS

Ok, seriously, when used with the same questioning tone you described, means the same thing here. I was thinking of the more conformational seriously. Serious used alone doesn't have the ambiguity.

 

[dougfitz]

I might leave it to a native born Australian to explain how Australians use the term...... Yeah-No.

I find myself doing it now!

I generally think of it as meaning 'I understand you, but your are such a insert expletive for asking and I do not intend to do that'. See also http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yeah+no for some other great interpretations including support for @JMac56's view on this.

 

[Robo]

I generally think of it as meaning 'I understand you, but your are such a insert expletive for asking and I do not intend to do that'. See also http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yeah+no for some other great interpretations including support for @JMac56's view on this.

I usually hear it in the context of agreeing with a statement .... You hear it on tv interviews all the time.

I.e.

Yes you are right......in that NO it didn't occur. (Yeah.....No he wasn't there...)
I agree.....that wasn't the right thing to do. (Yeah, No he shouldn't have done that.)
or
Yes I am leaving the team.....no I don't regret the decision. (Yeah, No I'm comfortable moving on.....)

If you are not used to it, it sounds like constant indecision

 

[dougfitz]

I usually hear it in the context of agreeing with a statement .... You hear it on tv interviews all the time.

I.e.

Yes you are right......in that NO it didn't occur. (Yeah.....No he wasn't there...)
I agree.....that wasn't the right thing to do. (Yeah, No he shouldn't have done that.)
or
Yes I am leaving the team.....no I don't regret the decision. (Yeah, No I'm comfortable moving on.....)

If you are not used to it, it sounds like constant indecision

Those are some very polite interpretations, @Robo. I suspect I would hear it more often with the 'yeah' given a long rising tone of derision, followed by a compact 'no' or 'nah' that is uttered to ensure that the listener knows that the matter under question should not be re-prosecuted.

 

[Al the optimist]

The two most common sources of inter-cultural giggling, I think, is that embarazada does not mean you are embarrassed, it means you are pregnant. And being constipada means having a cold, not being constipated (which may explain why you got the medicine you did in the pharmacy ).Buen camino, Laurie

When I first went to Spain I was forever apologising about my lack of Spanish and saying "Estou emberazada" when I got things wrong! Also it took quite a while before I realised why people smiled curiosly when ever I said "Soy calor"!

[B]Thing-a-mi-bob[/B], [B]watcha-ma-callit [/B]or [B]thing-a-mi-jig [/B]– you’d say this if you couldn’t remember the name of something

I have a friend who after a stroke has memory problems. Most new topics of conversation are preceded by It's (pause....), you know a [B]Thing-a-mi-bob[/B]/[B]watcha-ma-callit/thing-a-mi-jig. [/B]
We have a running competition to see who prompts him right first! :)

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I usually hear it in the context of agreeing with a statement .... You hear it on tv interviews all the time.

I.e.

Yes you are right......in that NO it didn't occur. (Yeah.....No he wasn't there...)
I agree.....that wasn't the right thing to do. (Yeah, No he shouldn't have done that.)
or
Yes I am leaving the team.....no I don't regret the decision. (Yeah, No I'm comfortable moving on.....)

If you are not used to it, it sounds like constant indecision

I do it, here in Canada. The Yes means "I have heard what you are saying", the No is the answer. So... "Yes, I understand what you are asking me do do, but no, I will not be doing it."

 

[Anemone del Camino]

How the meanings change . In australia 'seriously' is often used with a rising tone 'question' inflection and generally means.......I think your talking complete BS

I think the list Damien has provided us with is not only a regionalism (North America) but proper yo a younger genration, mostly Ys/Milleniums.

 

[David]

The American use of the word 'momentarily' always amuses me. In English (real English ) it means 'just for a moment' whereas in American English it seems to mean 'soon'.
"This is your captain speaking, we will be landing momentarily in Boston", etc - to us it brings up the image of the plane just touching the runway with its wheels and flying away again.

 

[David]

We aren't quite direct when we speak (southern English here!) and others can easily mistake what we mean by what we say .. as in ..

 

[t2andreo]

Isn't the English language wonderful? We all speak it, after a fashion. But, get three or four pilgrims together with a bottle or two of vino tinto, and we become quickly a mini-Tower of Babel...This string is hilarious (funny) and amusing. I enjoy it immensely. Thank you to everyone...

My comment on the English language is that, absent colloquialisms and local slang, we do all speak the identical language. Perhaps 90 - 95 percent of the words overlap among English speakers, worldwide. For THAT we should all be grateful. I find that it is the colloquialisms and slang that alter one's spoken speech at times, so as to make us incomprehensible to nearby persons.

Having many 20-something nieces and nephews, I find myself constantly having to re-learn my vocabulary as new "isms" creep into the lexicon. I admit that, at times, speaking to a younger person, or a person from another English speaking county can be challenging at times. Watching a movie or a TV show can be similarly challenging. And, when the alcohol comes out, all bets are off...

I travelled globally for 35 years during my professional career and enjoyed hearing the varied English dialects, colloquialism, and alternative uses for even common words. it was challenging at times, but always educational. At home, I avail myself of English language television programming made available through our Public Broadcasting System (PBS), the BBC cable channels, and otherwise, to ensure that my ear does not fail to recognize alternative dialects or use of English vocabulary.

In parallel, I regularly find myself speaking English as a first language to speakers of English as a second (or third) language. This occurs during my several annual journeys to visit friends in Europe or related to the Camino.

When I speak English to someone, for whom English is a secondary or tertiary language, I try to eliminate all contractions (isn't, ain't, aren't would've, etc.) as these are frequently confusing to most persons who learned English afterwards. I also try to avoid all colloquialisms, as have been related here.

Some years ago, before hosting some friends, visiting from Belgium who spoke excellent English, learned as a third language (after Dutch/Vlaams and French) as guests, I provided each with a paperback book on American colloquialisms and slang. They were amused, and in some cases horrified to see how American English varied from the standard-UK English they were taught. We walked through the various scenarios and, in the end, all was well. One of the women was traveling to the States to attend university here. For her, the book on colloquialisms and slang was a veritable lifesaver. All was well that ended well.

I hope this adds to the dialog.

 

[scruffy1]

Got in late on this one but let's return for a minute to the original post and the word "pasties".I was very happy to read such eloquent definitions and wide ranging thoughts about the word and many others. However, it is obvious that many here have never served in the Armed Forces, U.S. Navy here, and were granted a better education than I. Pasties are/were a device or bit of costume, or censorship placed (pasted) over ...well...ah...that means...the pointy bits of an exotic dancers upper protuberances ostensibly in order to preserve morality and good taste(?).No, I shall not provide a photo, don't really wish to be suspended from the forum.

 

[t2andreo]

Further to my last, I have one example of misuse of the Spanish language that may be appropriate to the dialog.

I used the term "caliente" to refer to the ambient temperature one day in August at Sanitago. I was corrected and told the the correct term to describe a hot or warm day was "caldo" or "dia caluroso."

On the other hand, "caliente" was used to describe a "hot" or sexy person, usually female. I took this to be a sort of vulgar reference. After the initial embarrassment, as I was working the lines outside at the Pilgrim Office, I thanked profusely the local person correcting me, and never made that mistake again.

I hope this helps...

 

[judydaisy]

We English "pull your leg" when teasing. The Spanish pull or take your hair... Ouch!
We also might go and visit George (or see a man about a dog) while others might visit the loo, toilet, facilities or servicios and I believe that on the other side of the Pond one might visit the john!

 

[koilife]

No offence Robo, but the use of "Yeah-No", or even worse "Yeah-Nah", is an example of the gradual "boganisation" of the English language here in Australia. It is nothing though compared to the incessant, inappropriate use of the word "like" at the start, in the middle, and at the end of sentences - anywhere in fact. No need for a simile. Shudders!

Like, get a clue!

 

[Devon Mike]

Further to my last, I have one example of misuse of the Spanish language that may be appropriate to the dialog.

I used the term "caliente" to refer to the ambient temperature one day in August at Sanitago. I was corrected and told the the correct term to describe a hot or warm day was "caldo" or "dia caluroso."

On the other hand, "caliente" was used to describe a "hot" or sexy person, usually female. I took this to be a sort of vulgar reference. After the initial embarrassment, as I was working the lines outside at the Pilgrim Office, I thanked profusely the local person correcting me, and never made that mistake again.

I hope this helps...

On many menus along the Camino, I had a choice of Bocadillo Caliente or Bocadillo Frio. I never realised I was asking for a sexy sandwich.

 

[koilife]

We English "pull your leg" when teasing. The Spanish pull or take your hair... Ouch!
We also might go and visit George (or see a man about a dog) while others might visit the loo, toilet, facilities or servicios and I believe that on the other side of the Pond one might visit the john!

Sometimes we go "to see a man about a horse" or we "hit the head".

 

[Devon Mike]

Sometimes we go to see a man about a horse.

Yes and sometimes I need to go and park my bike.

 

[koilife]

Got in late on this one but let's return for a minute to the original post and the word "pasties".I was very happy to read such eloquent definitions and wide ranging thoughts about the word and many others. However, it is obvious that many here have never served in the Armed Forces, U.S. Navy here, and were granted a better education than I. Pasties are/were a device or bit of costume, or censorship placed (pasted) over ...well...ah...that means...the pointy bits of an exotic dancers upper protuberances ostensibly in order to preserve morality and good taste(?).No, I shall not provide a photo, don't really wish to be suspended from the forum.

Yeah . . . blister covers.

 

[koilife]

At risk of grabbing "the third rail" . . .

What I say, "Honey, we need to do this."
What I mean, "Honey, you need to do this."
What my wife understands, "There he goes again, passing the buck."

What I say, "Can we talk about this later?"
What I mean, "I really don't want to talk about this."
What my wife understands, "He might say 'yes' if I bring it up every few days."

What I say, "Honey, you look lovely in that dress."
What I mean, "I HATE it when you ask if that dress makes you look fat."
What my wife understands, "He's looking for <insert local colloquialism for 'relations'>."

What I say, "Let me think about that."
What I mean, "I'm killing the discussion without saying 'no'."
What my wife understands, "He might say 'yes' if I bring it up every few days."

What I say, "Are you OK with me going on Camino this summer?"
What I mean, "I am going on Camino this summer."
What my wife understands, "I get to go to <Washington DC or Las Vegas or New York or Chicago or Napa Valley or San Francisco or wherever> with my sister for a girls' week out."

What I say, "I don't think so."
What I mean, "No."
What my wife understands, "He might say 'yes' if I bring it up every few days."

Vive la difference.

 

[LesBrass]

Got in late on this one but let's return for a minute to the original post and the word "pasties".I was very happy to read such eloquent definitions and wide ranging thoughts about the word and many others. However, it is obvious that many here have never served in the Armed Forces, U.S. Navy here, and were granted a better education than I. Pasties are/were a device or bit of costume, or censorship placed (pasted) over ...well...ah...that means...the pointy bits of an exotic dancers upper protuberances ostensibly in order to preserve morality and good taste(?).No, I shall not provide a photo, don't really wish to be suspended from the forum.

HAHAHA... glad I added the photo now, otherwise you'd think I had very odd feet

 

[Pelegrin]

Maybe useful, or may be not, but in Costa Rica, we use the word CHUNCHE when we don't know, or can't remember the name of something. However, I don't know if this is valid in Castilliano (Spain)!

In Castellano (Spain) CHUNCHE doesn´t mean anything The most similar word is CHINCHE (bed bug) so it's better not to say CHUNCHE in Spain.
In previous post it has been mentioned the "false friend" embarazada / embarrased. The word Preñada(pregnant) exists in Spanish but must be only used for animals. Saying "Mujer preñada" sounds very bad. You must say "mujer embarazada" and "perra preñada" (dog).
But now even "embarazada" is used for animals (especially pets) what sounds very corny to me. and therefore "preñada" is regrettably condemned to disappear

 

[kerrychick]

One of my favorites happened in Roncesvalles. We stopped into the bar before leaving and I ordered toast. The man behind the bar rattled of a string of words in Spanish and all I could pick out was "tequila." I thought it was a bit early for a shot, especially on a Sunday. Turns out he was asking me if I wanted butter. (mantequilla)

My sister and i found this one out very quickly ,we love our butter and always have to ask for mantequilla.
That and" Vino tinto" are our most used spanish words !

 

[annakappa]

I still feel somewhat uncomfortable when Americans talk about 'Fanny Packs'.
It just conjures up all sorts of unmentionable images of who knows what!

Sorry I'm originally British and words like that are not used in polite company

Me too! Don't like!!!
(Here in CR, they are called Canguro (kangaroo).

 

[Robo]

Yawl.................... Is a type of sailing vessel with two masts .... Or maybe Y'all haven't seen one

 

[AlwynWellington]

In the mode of recent posts:

man says: some brilliant observation
woman says: "What?"
man thinks: "She didn't hear/understand me. Shall I rephrase or repeat?"
woman thinks: "I'll give him a chance to change his mind!"

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Further to my last, I have one example of misuse of the Spanish language that may be appropriate to the dialog.

I used the term "caliente" to refer to the ambient temperature one day in August at Sanitago. I was corrected and told the the correct term to describe a hot or warm day was "caldo" or "dia caluroso."

On the other hand, "caliente" was used to describe a "hot" or sexy person, usually female. I took this to be a sort of vulgar reference. After the initial embarrassment, as I was working the lines outside at the Pilgrim Office, I thanked profusely the local person correcting me, and never made that mistake again.

I hope this helps...

Sorry to disappoint, but caldo means broth, bouillon...

 

[Robo]

Manchester in Australia is a term for bed linen..... Because in the 'colonial days' the supply ship carrying bed linen came with products from 'Manchester'......being the manufacturing location for much of the bed linen. Cotton mills etc....

But we don't call our cutlery 'Sheffield'

 

[Anemone del Camino]

We English "pull your leg" when teasing. The Spanish pull or take your hair... Ouch!
We also might go and visit George (or see a man about a dog) while others might visit the loo, toilet, facilities or servicios and I believe that on the other side of the Pond one might visit the john!

The John really is quite vulgar in my opinion. The little girls' room works, or going to powder once nose.

 

[AlwynWellington]

we don't call our cutlery 'Sheffield'

Those of us from these parts who are longer of tooth than you @Robo, remember both Manchester and Sheffield in use in "shops of standing/quality".

So, it was something of a disappointment (or let down) when I studied on the fringe of Manchester's CBD in 1970-71 to find the cotton warehouses were either empty or offices. And one of them, not far Piccadilly Gardens (the then - and now - principal open space in the CBD), was the start up home for our postgraduate school. And to see the cotton mills in the surrounding districts abandoned many years before and by 1970 quite derelict.

 

[J F Gregory]

I laugh at these things being said. I once did international work for a not for profit organization called 'Magic Pennies' working with children in the orphanage communities in Eastern Europe shortly after the Iron Curtain came down. While working in Romania the women and girls would laugh at the title of the organization. Their translation in Romanian was "Magic Penis". The organization changed the name to World Change for Children.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

In Castellano (Spain) CHUNCHE doesn´t mean anything The most similar word is CHINCHE (bed bug) so it's better not to say CHUNCHE in Spain.
In previous post it has been mentioned the "false friend" embarazada / embarrased. The word Preñada(pregnant) exists in Spanish but must be only used for animals. Saying "Mujer preñada" sounds very bad. You must say "mujer embarazada" and "perra preñada" (dog).
But now even "embarazada" is used for animals (especially pets) what sounds very corny to me. and therefore "preñada" is regrettably condemned to disappear

In Castellano, the word "chisme" means "thingammy" or "doo-hicky."

Those worried about not getting hot sauce on their food can ask for "salsa brava," one of the only spicy sauces you'll find in northern Spain... in finer establishments they may have "chimichurri," a peppery Argentine sauce. Or if you like a real classic and are not sleeping too near to anyone else that evening, ask for salsa ali oli --- very garlicky mayonnaise. All are superb on fried potatoes... "patatas bravas" are world-class bar food!

Occasionally you'll see
"preñada" used in food terms, to describe a sausage roll or a filled pastry.

 

[koilife]

Those worried about not getting hot sauce on their food can ask for "salsa brava," one of the only spicy sauces you'll find in northern Spain... in finer establishments they may have "chimichurri," a peppery Argentine sauce.

Rebekah --- May God bless you a thousand times over! These just made my list of Camino-lingua and will shortly be permanently embedded in my consciousness!

 

[lunna]

Probably not smart to tell an American woman she's homely.

 

[Robo]

I admit to giggling each time an American says he/she is 'pissed', which means very drunk here in the UK, when what they mean is they are annoyed. Also: Pants ...

Of course we all understand that 'pants' are something a gentleman wears under his trousers!

 

[JMac56]

Like, get a clue!

Like, he was like...and then I was like....clueless like.

 

[Al the optimist]

Some threads are just a joy to read. This is definitely one (as long s it remains seemly).

 

[HeidiL]

Spanish is another language with similar differences, even within mainland Spain. The pilgrim menu is usually easy. But when you go off the pilgrim menu and start ordering other stuff, regional differences show up. There are at least four different words for "oven baked piglet" (cochinillo asado in Castillian) in different regions, and don't get me started on all the sausages!

 

[englishstu]

In Virginia I had a problem with the word Spaghetti; being from Hull Yorkshire I say something like spughetti, whereas the supermarket assistant was saying some thing like spahgehetti. we got there in the end. Re phone give me ring/bell is to be avoided.

I studied horticulture for a while at a German botanical garden ; the latin name for Pine is Pinus, we pronounce it with a long I as in P eye nus, they and other continentals pronounce it Peenis. Though classically it is probably correct I never did get used too it, .

 

[Kurt5280]

Pilgrim Service in the small chapel

Spanish is another language with similar differences

I grew up in South Florida and I have a Southern accent and dialect and I learned conversational Spanish from Cubans and Puerto Ricans...later in life I moved to Colorado and realized that Mexican Spanish is completely different but when I traveled to Italy and could understand Italians but I still struggle understanding Spanish in Mexico...regardless of whether it is Spanish or English because of accents and dialects there are just times when I have to smile and respond, "What a great accent...but I have no idea what you are saying."

 

[pudgypilgrim]

How funny, Kurt. I also grew up in South Florida and I find Mexicans far easier to understand than Cubans and many South Americans, since they tend to speak at a much slower pace, more akin to the speed of American English.

 

[Texas Walker]

In Castellano, the word "chisme" means "thingammy" or "doo-hicky."

Those worried about not getting hot sauce on their food can ask for "salsa brava," one of the only spicy sauces you'll find in northern Spain... in finer establishments they may have "chimichurri," a peppery Argentine sauce. Or if you like a real classic and are not sleeping too near to anyone else that evening, ask for salsa ali oli --- very garlicky mayonnaise. All are superb on fried potatoes... "patatas bravas" are world-class bar food!

Occasionally you'll see
"preñada" used in food terms, to describe a sausage roll or a filled pastry.

In South Texas or northern Mexico, chisme is gossip.
When wanting to say the day was really hot, I said "Ay calor" which served. (Took German in high school and learned that conditions like heat and hunger should take third person constructions. It seems to apply well in other situations...)
I thought it was interesting upthread when the Brit-speaking person referred to lemonade as being fizzy (carbonated) as I've never known a lemonade that was fizzy. Here lemonade is a still drink that really should involve only lemon juice, sugar, and water. Served over ice on hot days. I won't get into the famous soda/soda pop/pop divide in the US--they make maps of this stuff!
There is no salsa picante in Spain, IMHO, because they are used to bland food and think it's normal. I eat what is normal in the area. There is pimenton (pls excuse lack of accent marks) which is sort of like chipotle powder but the sweet pimenton is a little milder. (Chipotles are smoked ripe jalapenos.) Before I got in an area with a Whole Foods store and found some pimenton, when I went to my local grocery and picked up a frozen octopus to boil, I had to use my little jar of chipotle powder for the seasoning. It worked.
When we returned from the CF in 2014, the ladies at church wondered if I'd learned any new Spanish words. I told them, not really, but I learned new meanings for the ones I already had: Menu isn't menu (ask for the carta), tortilla isn't tortilla, esta bueno isn't OK (use vale vale) but it was all very educational for me. I'm becoming bilingual in measurements! 3 Km=2 miles, 3 m=10 feet...the temps I'm hopelessly lost.
Thanks to all y'all for a fascinating collection of observations.

 

[Introibo]

I booked a cottage near Galway on the West Coast of Ireland two years ago for myself and
my cousin. The lady who owned the cottage chatted with me on the phone and I was surprised
to hear her say we'd picked a good week to go as there was to be a large gathering of Galway
hookers and to be sure to go down and see them ! I think she must have judged the silence on
my end of the phone well and went on to explain that it was a gathering of traditional fishing boats.

Thank goodness for that. Whilst I enjoy watching sport as much as the next man I didn't really want
to spend the weekend talking to a lot of rugby players.

 

[t2andreo]

Yes and sometimes I need to go and park my bike.

I cut to the chase..."It is time to water the grass..."

Of course, I make certain at least all the ladies present are way, far away...

 

[t2andreo]

Of course we all understand that 'pants' are something a gentleman wears under his trousers!

They ARE???

 

[t2andreo]

The John really is quite vulgar in my opinion. The little girls' room works, or going to powder once nose.

How about..."I need a pit-stop...?"

A reference to motorcar racing...

Innocuous, and descriptive of a maintenance stop, toilet stop, feed stop, etc.

 

[t2andreo]

Sorry to disappoint, but caldo means broth, bouillon...

Perhaps, but, I can find at least two, online Castilian dictionaries that offer "warm" or "hot" as one definition.

I should mention that this term "caldo" has several listed alternative definitions and uses. It is usually used with another word to form a descriptive phrase, as in "It is a hot day...'caldo dia'..."

As long as I do not get slapped for calling someone something vulgar, all is good. I will get fed...

 

[AlwynWellington]

... since they tend to speak at a much slower pace, more akin to the speed of American English.

Americans speak slowly!!! Not the ones I've met. I guess, as with regional variances in Spain there are regional variances in the US.

Like, my wife, in a wheel chair and I presented ourselves at John F Kennedy Airport to go to San Francisco. Bearing in mind this was New York we were quite perturbed when the check-in person asked her colleagues for a pusher.

 

[dougfitz]

I guess, as with regional variances in Spain there are regional variances in the US.

Just a few. Here is one map of the dialect variations across north America -->> http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/AmericanEnglishDialects.gif.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Just a few

A few years ago my then early 20s daughter did a trip between university papers that included a month mainly in England. About 25 years before I had lived in Manchester for a year and widely traveled throughout the UK. So, warned her to expect a new mode (variant, dialect, brogue, whatever) of speech every 20 miles or so. Before leaving she was incredulous on this point. On her return she confirmed hearing a new mode of speech about every 20 miles.

 

[bystander]

A few years ago my then early 20s daughter did a trip between university papers that included a month mainly in England. About 25 years before I had lived in Manchester for a year and widely traveled throughout the UK. So, warned her to expect a new mode (variant, dialect, brogue, whatever) of speech every 20 miles or so. Before leaving she was incredulous on this point. On her return she confirmed hearing a new mode of speech about every 20 miles.

Still true, Alwyn, which is why we have RP (received pronunciation)/BBC English as a lingua Franca in the UK so as to be understood countrywide ! Though it can be thought of as "posh" to speak it and in some rough parts i.e. North of the Thames E-W corridor (only teasing) can provoke, as I have discovered on occasion, an adverse reaction -"000, la-di-dah"

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Perhaps, but, I can find at least two, online Castilian dictionaries that offer "warm" or "hot" as one definition.

I should mention that this term "caldo" has several listed alternative definitions and uses. It is usually used with another word to form a descriptive phrase, as in "It is a hot day...'caldo dia'..."

As long as I do not get slapped for calling someone something vulgar, all is good. I will get fed...

As I tried to say before... Right, whatever.... Perhaps you are confusing Italian with Castellano.