My new favorite word.
As of today, my new favorite word is molido.¬† It’s means ground in Spanish — ground as in ground coffee.¬† I think I’ll be saying it again and again until someone beats the crap out of me.¬† But then — ha ha!¬† I’ll be able to say, “Yo estoy molido.”
There are some other words and phrases in Spanish I think are really terrific.¬† My favorite is “l’horoscopo” — which is how it is said, but probably not how it is written, and “piso mojado” — wet floor.
December 24th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Albondegas– Meatballs– is one of the most spectacular words in any language.
December 25th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
I like piso mojado. Emily’s favorite is embarasada because of the false cognate power.
December 26th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
If I write a novel someday, I want it to have a character named Senor Piso Mojado!
December 29th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
I’ve been thinking about this one, and I’d have to add ‘computador’-computer- as another favorite Spanish word. I’ve also been pondering the concept of “false cognate power.”
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:35 am
“Mojado” is also Mexican slang for a Mexican national in the US illegally — it’s the equivalent of “wetback.” NOT to be used unless you are of Mexican descent, its “term of endearment” or playful status doesn’t seem to transfer well across nationalities. Even I was looked at sideways for using it in a total joking context sometimes, and I am noticeably half-Mexican.
My favorites:
cacahuate (peanut)
pinchaso (slang — “fuck up”)
bicicleta (durrr)
computadora (for the obvious pejorative term embedded in the center)
January 4th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Oh wow, I just realized what “Mojadita” means. Little wetback- It’s the name of a Flaco Jimenez song. I should also say that Mexican cursing is the most vivid I’ve ever heard.
January 14th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Actually, I’m showing my students A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN in my American film class this week. I think it’ll be an interesting viewing experience for them. Plus, there are a lot of parallels between the way Mexicans are viewed in the US and the way migrant workers are viewed in China.