Spanish Word of the Day

Quote: Wizard

The whole movie was about furious people, who of course tend to use a lot of profanity. It was probably not easy to translate.

Perhaps Nareed can watch the trailer, and make some comments on the Spanish. However, I am willing to bet most of the slang doesn't make the trailer. The trailer has autogenerated subtitles and the computer thinks they are speaking Italian,


this lengthy interview in a talk show has subtitles that don't seem to be auto-generated.

I don't trust dictionaries very far with slang words so let me ask here, what does mecachis mean?

http://img.desmotivaciones.es/201011/the_thinking_cat.jpg
http://xjan.cachislamar.com/images/cachis2.jpg


mecachis= interj. U. para expresar extrañeza o enfado.

I agree with you. The dictionary definition is pretty non descriptive. In some photos the character looks surprised, and in others they look irritated.

Quién fuera
Estoy buscando una palabra
En el umbral de tu misterio.
¿Quién fuera Alí Baba?
¿Quién fuera el mítico Simbad?
¿Quién fuera un poderoso sortilegio?
¿Quién fuera encantador?


It was suggested that "¿Quién fuera... " could be translated as "if only i was". But that doesn't sound like a question. The penultimate line wouldn't make much sense either, as you wouldn't say "if only I was a powerful lovespell".
Literally, it seems to mean "who could be" or "whoever could be", but that doesn't make much sense either.

What is the best English translation to these lyrics.

Quote: Wizard

I don't trust dictionaries very far with slang words so let me ask here, what does mecachis mean?

So what is the answer? Neither Cachis nor Mecachis is translatable by Google and as they say on the internet without pics it didn't happen. Or as I should say on this thread: Without Pics It Did Not Happen, Senor.

Perhaps a Future Subjunctive tense of some sort?

The difference between if I was King and the much more correct if I were King, but applied to the act of discovery at some time in the future. Not who could be but more who could I discover to be Ali Baba, Simbad or enchanting.

Quote: Pacomartin

It was suggested that "¿Quién fuera... " could be translated as "if only i was".

Poetry and I don't get along well, but that seems right. Except I don't think it should be a question. An alternate translation is "If only I could be," or "If I were."

Quote:

The penultimate line wouldn't make much sense either, as you wouldn't say "if only I was a powerful lovespell".

I recall a certain British royal personage wishing he were a tampon, so....

Quote: Fleastiff

Perhaps a Future Subjunctive tense of some sort?

The difference between if I was King and the much more correct if I were King, but applied to the act of discovery at some time in the future. Not who could be but more who could I discover to be Ali Baba, Simbad or enchanting.

It is actually Past Subjunctive tense. As a statement it is fairly straightforward to translate.
Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría. (If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.)

But the lyrics are questions, not statements. To be fair the songwriter is known for being very poetic and his lyrics are obscure even in Spanish. He is from Cuba and often considered the artistic heart of Castro's revolution.

No comment needed.

Comments on Jeb's Spanish. Surprisingly, I could follow what he was saying.