Feb 21, 2011

Word Play

Today I would like to share with y’all just a few of the language challenges I am having here in Spain. Hopefully this will give a glimpse into my daily struggles to a) learn Spanish and b) not embarrass myself too horribly:

When my sisters asked me last weekend if I wanted a “chupetin”, they were offering to me a lollipop not a hickey, or “chupetón”. And, when I am out at night in el Barrio, I need to be extra careful that I ask for a “chupito”, or shot, not a hickey.

And the next day in class when I am telling the person sitting next to me what I did the other night, I need to be very careful to say “Estoy echo polvo” (I am very tired) rather than “Yo echo un polvo” (I had a one-night stand).

Fortunately this doesn’t happen very often to me, but in a situation where I am too hot and I want to say something, it’s important that I say “Tengo calor” rather than “Estoy caliente”.
Tengo calor = I am hot (temperature-wise)
Estoy caliente = I am hot (like a hottie)

And if I have a sore neck, me duele al cuello, not al culo (butt).

And no, I am not going to tell you which of these slips I have and haven't made. However, I will say that I have learned a new expression in Spanish:  Tierra, tragame!

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