Spanish Word of the Day

Quote: Pacomartin

They had chocolate shops all over Oaxaca called Mayordamo, but I don't remember the chocolate as very sweet. I thought that milk chocolate was a European invention.

It is a European invention. The Aztecs mixed cocoa with chilies.

It's not as sweet as diabetic-comma-in-a-can (aka condensed milk). Meaning it doens't quite have a lethal dose of sugar.

Quote: Nareed

You know, I didn't actually count the sides of the box.

Back at the office, I looked at the left-over samples. the box has six sides.

So there.

Now here's a word to cause you all nightmares: causante.

It's the same root as the word "cause" and the verb "to cause."

It means <drum roll> "Taxpayer"

Wait, what?

Quote: Nareed

It means <drum roll> "Taxpayer" Wait, what?

That is a puzzle. I gather that meaning is uniquely Mexican

There is a legal definition of the word (in English) testator : a person who has made a will or given a legacy. Could the concept of taxpayer be related to that definition?

causante m/f —cause · testator
causante adj m/f —causal adj · causative adj · triggering adj

Quote: Pacomartin

That is a puzzle. I gather that meaning is uniquely Mexican

I hope so.

I may have stretched it a bit, as it technically means someone who is liable to pay taxes.

Now ponder this:

El producto ofertado causa IVA a tasa cero.

This means the offered item (or product) is liable to a charge of zero percent for the Value Added Tax.

What the hell kind of way to talk is that?

Consider that when you hear complaints about English's many peculiarities.

Fecha: 8 de Deciembre, 2017
Palabra: Alux

Today's SWD could be argued is more of a Mayan word than Spanish, but I think is a common knowledge on the Yucatan peninsula. The closest thing in English I could compare an alux to would be an elf. I'll just refer to Wikipedia for more information on aluxes.



The question for the advanced readers is how often are aluxes mentioned outside of Mayan parts of Mexico and central America?

Ejemplo time.

Un alux esta viviendo abajo de mi casa. = An alux is living under my house.

Quote: Wizard

The question for the advanced readers is how often are aluxes mentioned outside of Mayan parts of Mexico and central America?

I've literally (and I literally mean "literally" literally) never come across this word before.

Quote: Nareed

I've literally (and I literally mean "literally" literally) never come across this word before.

Haven't you stayed at the Hotel los Aluxes?

Quote: Nareed

I've literally (and I literally mean "literally" literally) never come across this word before.

I think the Spanish word is "duende" from Old Spanish duen de casa (“house master”).


Alux


Chaneque, Chanekeh of the Aztecs


In Hawaiian mythology, the Menehune are said to be a people, who live in the deep forests and hidden valleys of the Hawaiian Islands.


Little people have been part of the folklore of many cultures in human history, including Ireland, Greece, the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands, Flores Island, Indonesia, and Native Americans.

Quote: Pacomartin

I think the Spanish word is "duende" from Old Spanish duen de casa (“house master”).

Wikipedia mentions that duende is sometimes used interchangeably with alux, but I think deunde is more of a general term for small human-life mythical creatures while alux is very specific to a kind of creature from Mayan legend.

Quote: Pacomartin

Little people have been part of the folklore of many cultures in human history, including Ireland, Greece, the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands, Flores Island, Indonesia, and Native Americans.

I think weak-minded people need someone to blame when bad things happen. I suppose a naughty little creature with magic powers is a cuter entity to blame than the devil.