Glossary entry (derived from question below)
May 7, 2013 21:12
11 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
la vaina
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Testimonial
El motorista saludó a los ilegales, en un gesto parecido cuando se
saluda a un grupo de amigos: «¿Qué hay muchachos?»
dijo. Ellos respondieron: «Bien la vaina, bien.»
saluda a un grupo de amigos: «¿Qué hay muchachos?»
dijo. Ellos respondieron: «Bien la vaina, bien.»
Proposed translations
(English)
3 +4 | everything | Steven Huddleston |
3 | yuh / jeez | Noni Gilbert Riley |
Proposed translations
+4
22 mins
Selected
everything
This is one of those words we use (Especially around the Caribbean) as place-holders for many reasons, usually to make reference to something that is annoying either a little or a lot, without actually naming it. Thus, “¡Que vaina!” means something like “Damn this!” while “Deja esa vaina.” means “Stop that.” or “Stop doing that.” So it seems to me that answering “How are you doing?” this way is the equivalent of saying “Fine, everything’s fine!”
Example sentence:
Fine, everything’s fine!
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Ashleigh Martinez
3 mins
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Thank you, Ashleigh!
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agree |
Jorge Merino
1 hr
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Thank you, Jorge!
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agree |
Anthony Ottey
1 hr
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Thank you, AnthonyLee!
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agree |
Patricia González Schütz
7 hrs
|
Thank you, Patricia!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, Steven."
45 mins
yuh / jeez
My experience is from Venezuela.
I agree with Stephen's comments about it being used as an everything gap-fill, and mainly with negative connotations.
So here are a couple more options....
And there is a chance the use might be ironic. Would that fit?
I agree with Stephen's comments about it being used as an everything gap-fill, and mainly with negative connotations.
So here are a couple more options....
And there is a chance the use might be ironic. Would that fit?
Discussion