Spanish Word of the Day

Quote: Wizard

"His trouble," since someone is singular.

If I begin using the "strict" singular pronouns, you won't like it.

Fecha: 27-8-14
Palabra: Pisotear

Today's SWD means to trample. I'm pretty sure that the words piso (floor) and pista (court) are related.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to confirm or deny a common etymology with pistachio.

Ejemplo time.

El toro pisoteó a través de la tienda de cerámica. = The bull trampled through the china shop.

p.s. Does Hacía la rueda have some idiomatic meaning in Spanish?

Quote: Wizard

Fecha: 27-8-14
Palabra: Pisotear

Today's SWD means to trample. I'm pretty sure that the words piso (floor) and pista (court) are related.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to confirm or deny a common etymology with pistachio.

DRAE defines pisotear = pisar repetidamente, (where pisar means "to tread")



It's not from "pistachio" which is ultimately Persian in origin.

Presumably "pisar" and "piso" are related, but I could not verify.

The word "pista" means track or aviation runway. It is part of the oft used word "autopista".


I am not sure where you got the definition "court"?

Quote: Pacomartin

The word "pista" means track or aviation runway. It is part of the oft used word "autopista".

The word pista is a good example on the perils of trying to find exact matches for a word in another language. consider this list off the top of my head:

Runway = Pista de atterizaje
Runway = Pasarela (as in a fashion show)
Racetrack = Pista de carreras
Freeway = Autopista
Railroad track(s) = Vía(s) del tren
Clue = pista (*)
dance floor = pista de baile


(*) The game "Clue" was marketed in Mexico as "Quien es el culpable?"

How about this definition? Have you ever heard it used this way before?

Quote: Oxford Dictionary

pista
(España/Spain) (de tenis) court
pista de hierba/de tierra batida
grass/clay court

Quote: Pacomartin

How about this definition? Have you ever heard it used this way before?

No. Tennis court usually goes by "cancha de tenis"

Related, "tenis" is Mexican Spanish for "sneakers," also for running shoes. Cleats, as used in Football, are "tacos" (not related to the culinary treat; also not related "pool cue" is "taco" as well). Cleats as used in track and field (nee atletismo) were called "spikes" in the late 70s. I don't know what they're called now.

Going by these past few posts, I think we can take one word in English, translate it to Spanish, find related words to it, then find other related words and so on until we cover the entire language ;)

Fecha: 28-8-14
Palabra: Zampar

Today's SWD means to gobble up/put away hurriedly.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to discuss the origin and etymology of the word.

Ejemplo time.

Puedo zampar cien McTrozos de Pollo en menos de una hora. = I'm able gobble up one hundred Chicken McNuggets in less than an hour.

Quote: Wizard

Puedo zampar cien McTrozos de Pollo en menos de una hora. = I'm able gobble up one hundred Chicken McNuggets in less than an hour.

I'd never come across that word.

But I dare you to visit a McD's next time you're in Mexico and order "McTrozos." If you get the right item without the cashier asking a single question, I'll take down 50 push-ups off your tab.

Quote: Nareed

I'd never come across that word.

I found it in a book I purchased in the Mexico City airport that was not a translation.

Quote:

But I dare you to visit a McD's next time you're in Mexico and order "McTrozos." If you get the right item without the cashier asking a single question, I'll take down 50 push-ups off your tab.

How many are deducted if the cashier just laughs? So, what do they call them?

Quote: Wizard

How many are deducted if the cashier just laughs?

None.

Quote:

So, what do they call them?

Well, it's not like I eat at McDonald's frequently (if possible I'll find a Burger King instead), or have ordered the mechanically separated chicken meat product deep fried in oil since the late 90s or so. But I think they're called McNuggets de Pollo.