One of the entertaining aspects of learning Español in my previous foray into embracing the language was learning how so many expressions in English just really are not translated literally into Español. That is, they certainly can be, but they wouldn’t be.  It stands to reason, I suppose, since the languages derive from different cultures, which could account for such differences.

I want to outline three of those here, and I’ll ask any Spanish-speakers out there reading this (if there are any at this point, apart from Lupita) to chime in with any they know of.  I am still getting started, so I’m sure there will be many more to come.

I need to think of a term for these, if there isn’t one already.  Mi amiga virtual, Amy (Rocket Spanish instructor) often refers to words in Español that sound similar to their counterparts in English as “cognates”.  So, perhaps there is already a term for these words and phrases that are not translated literally, but I don’t know what it is just yet. 

Caballero

Back in 1985, during one of the first few sessions of the semester, I learned that the Spanish word translated as “gentleman” in English is “caballero”, which, when literally translated, means horseman.  Now, of course, the word gentleman doesn’t actually have that much to do with a man’s being gentle (or even chivalrous or courteous), as much as it deals with his being a part of the “gentry”.  It’s a term synonymous with “nobleman” or “well-bred”.  It usually referred to someone who held land in his estate, as well.

So, it’s not particularly odd, I guess that the word used for the same purpose in Español, has nothing to do with gentleness, either.  In fact, it would literally be translated as “horseman” — a man who owns/rides a horse.  Now, owning a horse doesn’t have any more to do with being what most folks today think of as being a gentleman than owning land.  But did find it quite amusing upon first learning it.  Still do, in a way.  It’s part of what’s entertaining, though, about learning a new language.

De nada

English speakers are accustomed to saying “you’re welcome” upon being thanked by someone.  Of course, there are other answers we offer, as well.  Examples I can think of easily are “no problem/no sweat”, “you bet”, and, if you work for a certain chicken sandwich monger in the South and are programed to talk like a robot, “my pleasure”.  (That gets so old once you’ve heard it parroted several times during the same visit by a 17-year-old for whom you can clearly tell it’s not natural conversation!)

Anyway, the phrase “you’re welcome” has no place as a response to gracias (“thank you”) in Español.  Bienvenido is the word you’ll hear when someone is welcoming you into her house, or maybe her city or organization.  It is not, however, what you’ll hear upon expressing gratitude.  Ironically, you might be inclined to express gratitude, though, upon being told bienvenido.

The more likely response to your gracias would be something like de nada or por nada, which, when literally translated (word for word), amounts to “for nothing”.  Now, here’s where the word nerd in my emerges, I suppose, but I cannot help but prefer the Inglés version in this particular case — a rare departure from the norm for me.

The reason is that I have never been enamored with responses like “for nothing”, in any language.  If someone thanks me for something, I tend to assume that it’s certainly not “nothing” (double-negative intended) to her.  Likewise, if I care for this person, whatever I gave/did for her was likely not “nothing” to me, either.  It may cause me no discomfort to give the gift or perform the act, but it’s not “nothing”, or I wouldn’t have considered it worthy of giving/doing for someone I care for.

But enough of that.  Let’s move on!

Te echo de menos

This particular phrase (sentence) in Español is evidently specific to European Spanish speakers.  (“Te extraño” is more common here in the Americas.)  The words, translated separately, are quite odd in Inglés, actually — “throw you from less”.  I’ve read some speculation on how it translates, but I can find no absolutes yet.  The intended Inglés meaning — not word for word, but contextual — is “I miss you.”

Well, I guess I can see the (loose) connection between “throw you from less/least” to “I miss you”.  Still, I suppose the point is that, many times, concepts are what we need to be translating — not mere words.  And that is the point with the 2 aforementioned terms we covered, as well.  It’s difficult for someone like me to grasp that, but I’m working on it.  And it’s fun, as well.  For now, though….

¡Hasta luego!