español for Gringos

Signs inside an international phone and Internet center....

Estimado Cliente, Por Favor No Raye La Pared.  Gracias.

Esteemed Customer, Please Do Not Mark the Wall.  Thank you.


Near the phone in cabina 4:

Por Favor Evite Las Malas Palabras.  Demuestre Su Cultura.

Please Avoid Bad Language.  Show Your Class.

Signage inside an Italian restaurant seen this week in Quito....

¿Hoy es tu cumpleaños?...Presenta tu cédula a nuestra cajera y obtén una sorpresa...

Is today your birthday?  Show your ID to our cashier and get a surprise.


Distinguida clientela...Por el momento no se aceptan targetas Diners y American Express, unicamente Visa y MasterCard...Se pide disculpas por la molestia y se ofrece un descuento de cinco o diez por ciento si el pago es en efectivo o cheque.  La Gerencia.

Distinguished clientele...At this time we do not accept Diners or American Express cards, only Visa and MasterCard...Please forgive us for the inconvenience, and we offer a 5 to 10 percent discount if payment is by cash or check.  The management.

                                                                             .

Signs of Quito...

Seen this week on the backs of 40 chairs in the waiting room for Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy:

Importante....Por Favor Revisar Que Los Datos Biográficos de su Aplicación estén correctos de acuerdo a su pasaporte.  Si hay alguna descrepencia informar a un funcionario.

Important...Please Check That the Biographical Data in your Application are correct in agreement with your passport.  If there is any discrepancy, inform a civil servant.

                                                                     .

Seen around town in Quito....

At a coffee shop in Gringolandia...a poster showing a ham-filled croissant and scrambled eggs:

Juan Valdez Café -- La Mejor Forma de Empezar Bien Su Díá...Desayuno Francés.

Juan Valdez Coffee Shop -- The Best Way to Start Your Day Right...French Breakfast.


On a large billboard in South Quito advertising the sale of residential homes on credit...a picture of a large, angry, late-middle-aged woman holding a baker's rolling pin....

"Ya No Vivo Con Mi Suegra!"

"I dont live with my mother-in-law any more!"

More signs of Quito....

Graffiti on Manuel Larrea:

Abolición de Trabajo Salariado

Abolish Salaried Labor


At KFC:

Para Chuparse Los Dedos

Finger Lickin' Good.


Large signage outside a school named  Liseo Matovelle:

Formando Personas Moralmente Buenas

Creating Morally Good People.

During years of getting weekly massages in Ecuador, the only English words I have ever heard the practitioner speak are "turn over" and "finish."

It's a situation in which you'll probably need to take charge of any verbal communication.

Ipso facto, here are ten top phrases/sentences to use when getting a massage....

How much for one hour of massage?
¿Cuánto para una hora de masaje?

Do we start with face down?
¿Empezamos con bocabajo?

My shoulder hurts.
Mi hombro duele.

Do it softer.
Hazlo más suavemente.

Two more minutes on this arm, please.
Más dos minutos por este brazo, por favor.

Don't put pressure there, please.
No lo presione por allí, por favor.

I'd like to drink some water, please.
Quisiera tomar agua, por favor.

Please turn down the volume on the music.
Favor de reducir el volumen de la música.

This massage is so good, I'd like to extend another 15 minutes.
Este masaje es tan bueno, quisiera más quince minutos.

That was great.  Do you offer massage here every day?
Eso fue genial.  ¿Se ofrece masaje aquí todos los días?

                                                      .

Ten famous movie lines in español.   In each set, read the top line in Spanish and see if you can recognize the all-time famous line in the original English, before reading the translation.


1. From Sudden Impact:

    Avance, haz mi díá....
   
    "Go ahead, make my day...."

2. From Gone With the Wind:

    Francamente, mi querida, no me importa un bledo.

    "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

3. From Star Wars:

    Hay que la fuerza te acompañe.

    "May the force be with you."

4. From A Few Good Men:
   
    Quiero la verdad.   
    Usted no puede soportar la verdad.
   
    "I want the truth."
    "You can't handle the truth."

5. From Scarface:

    Saluden a mi amiguito.

    "Say hello to my little friend."

6. From Cool Hand Luke:

    Lo que tenemos aquí es una falta de comunicar.

    "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

7. From When Harry Met Sally:

    Tendré lo que ella tiene.

    "I'll have what she's having."

8. From The Wizard of Oz:

    Toto, tengo un presentimiento que ya no estemos en Kansas.

    "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."

9. From The Godfather:

    Mi padre lo presentó una oferta que él no puso negar.

    My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

And #10, from Terminator II:  Judgment Day, needs no translation:
   
    Hasta la vista, baby!


                                          .

Overheard at the dentist's....

¿Qué estamos haciendo hoy?
What are we doing today?

Quisiera que me limpie los dientes.
I would like a teeth cleaning.

Está bien.  ¿Algo mas?
Fine.  Anything else?

Este diente por el fondo duele la mayoría del tiempo.
This tooth in the back is hurting most of the time.

Abre la boca, por favor....¿Duele ello cuando lo toco como esto?
Open your mouth, please....Does it hurt when I touch it like this?

Si, duele.  Este problema est interferiendo en mi dormir.
Yes, it hurts.  This problem is interfering with my sleep.

Debemos inspeccionarlo.  Estoy seguro que podemos arreglarlo.
We need to examine it.  I'm sure we can fix it.

Muy bien.
Fine.

Signs posted at the Akí discount supermarket on 10 de Agosto in Quito...

Ahorra más y vive mejor.

Save more and live better.

Compra cinco productos iguales y recibe cinco por ciento de descuento.

Buy five of the same products and receive a five percent discount.

Todo el supermercado - Tres meses sin intereses con tu tarjeta de crédito preferida.  Monto mínimo $30.

The whole supermarket - Three months with no interest with your preferred credit card.  Minimum amount $30.

Todos los martes frutas y legumbres tienen un 20 % descuento sobre los precios marcados.

On all Tuesdays fruits and veggies have a 20 percent discount off the indicated prices.

                                                                .

Does the new load of fruit come on Wednesday?

suefrankdahl wrote:

Does the new load of fruit come on Wednesday?

Given the Tuesday discount on frutas, this appears to be a brilliant deduction by the Oracle of Oregon.

However, we would prefer not to dwell on this matter here at the español for Gringos despacho to avoid fastidiando al Home Office by going 

cccmedia in Quito

Traffic signs of Ecuador....

Alto

Stop.

Pare

Stop.

No Virar Derecha

Do Not Turn Right.

No Virar Izquierda

Do Not Turn Left.

Ceda el Paso

Yield.

No Dar la Vuelta

No U-Turn.

No Salida

No Exit.

Reduzca Velocidad

Reduce Speed.

Zona Escolar

School Zone.

Inspirational quotes that can change your life have just been posted at www.msn.com ...

The quote in English...followed by the source...then the español translation....


"The minute you're not learning, I believe you're dead."
    -- Jack Nicholson

El minuto cuando usted no está aprendiendo, yo creo que está muerto.


"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."
    -- Margaret Thatcher

A veces necesitaría luchar una batalla mas que una vez para ganarla.


"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."
    -- Warren Buffett

Alguien se sienta en la sombra hoy porque alguien plantó un árbol hace mucho tiempo.


                                                                                      .

Many, many thanks for this thread! Having access to a wonderfully diverse selection of day-to-day phrases and sentences (all of which are adaptable to expansion in creating other related phrases) is truly a very valuable tool to us "Gringos" still learning the language.  I will be returning here on a regular basis to see what new additions have been made.

Bests,

Señor Ramón

Señor Ramon wrote:

Having access to a wonderfully diverse selection of day-to-day phrases and sentences (all of which are adaptable to expansion in creating other related phrases) is truly a very valuable tool to us "Gringos" still learning the language.  I will be returning here on a regular basis....

Lo captas, Señor.  (You get it.)

We'll be presenting more translations off the msn.com inspirational quotes, coming up.

Thanks for the encouragement.

cccmedia in Quito

I always like this saying, said in minor annoyance when one gets poor service in a shop, has to wait too long or is ignored, etc. etc.:

El que tiene tienda, que la atienda, y si no, que la venda.

He who has a store, let him tend to it, and if not, sell it.

Hello again, Gringo sports fans!

Here are some viewer tweets posted on Ecuador TV screens in the original español during last night's ESPNHD-DirecTV telecast of the NBA Finals Game 5*, as Stephen Curry was torching the LeBrons during a magical shooting display in the fourth quarter...

Habían jugadores rápidos como Reggie Miller y Ray Allen, pero Stephen Curry es de otro planeta.

There have been fast-moving players like Reggie Miller and Ray Allen, but Stephen Curry is from another planet.


Gane quien gane, el mejor partido de estas finales hasta ahora.  No se puede pestañear.

Whoever wins, (this is) the best game of these finals up to now.  You can't blink.


Qué buenas FinalesNBA2015 los dos equipos de verdad dejando todo en cada jugada.

What great NBA Finals of 2015 both teams really doing their all on every play.


*Curry, league MVP, dazzled with 37 points for the winning Golden State Warriors in a 104-91 win over Cleveland -- his 17 in the fourth quarter the most for any player in a Finals fourth quarter in over 40 years.  LeBron scored 40 in a "triple-double" performance.  GSW took a 3-2 lead in games in the Finals.

Update:  The Warriors also took Game 6 to win the Finals.  In a surprise development, the Warriors' veteran swingman André Iguodala -- who hadn't started a single game all season before the Finals Game 4 -- was selected over Curry and L. James as Finals MVP.

I called my doctor's office here in Quito today to schedule an appointment. It went something like this....

Hola, buenas tardes.  Oficina de médicos.  ¿En que le ayuda?

Good afternoon.  Doctors office.  How can I help you?

Hola, Mr. CCC hablando.  Quisiera una cita ordinaria con Dr. Dolberg durante la semana que viene.  ¿Está disponible martes o jueves por la mañana?

Hi, Mr. CCC speaking. I would like a regular appointment with Dr. Dolberg next week.  Is he available Tuesday or Thursday in the morning?

Martes a las ocho, ocho y media o las nueve....

Tuesday at 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00....

Prefiero martes a las ocho.

I prefer Tuesday at 8:00.

Bien.  ¿Qué es tu número de teléfono?

Fine.  What is your phone number?

En esta época, prefiero a usar correos electrónicos.

These days, I prefer to use email.

No problema.   Confirmado.

No problem.  You're confirmed.

Muy bien.  Nos vemos el martes.

Very good.  See you Tuesday.

                                                                                                    .

Buying eggs, bottled water and ice cream bars at the convenience store, through iron security bars...

Hola, tendera, quisiera una docena de huevos en una funda mediana.

Hello, grocery lady, I would like a dozen eggs in a medium-sized bag.

¿Cuántos huevos dijo usted?

How many eggs did you say?

Doce, por favor.

12, please.

Algo más?

Anything else?

¿Hay helados en palo de marca Casero, de sabor chocolate?

Are there any ice cream bars, Casero brand, chocolate flavor?

(opening the freezer near the front) Por supuesto.  ¿Cuántos quiere?

Sure.  How many do you want?

Me quedo con tres.

I'll go with three.

Muy bien.  ¿Algo más?

Fine.  Anything else?

Sólo agua.  Tráigame una botella gigantesca de la marca Tesalia.

Just (bottled) water.  Bring me a giant bottle, Tesalia brand.

Ya.

Got it.

Y cambio por este billete de diez dólares, por favor....

And change for this $10-bill, please....

Aquí está, señor.  Cinco dólares, y cambio cinco. Gracias.

Here you go, sir.  Five dollars, and five dollars change. Thank you.

Muy amable.  Tenga un buen día.

Very kind.  Have a good day.

Igual manera.

Same to you.

                                                                                        .

Calling the local pool to arrange to go swimming....

Hola, buenos días, Academía de Natación.

Good morning, swimming academy.

Hola, estoy visitando la ciudad.  Quisiera nadar mañana.  ¿Se permite al público a nadar allí?

Hi, I am visiting the city.  I would like to swim tomorrow.  Is the public allowed to swim there?

Si, señor.  Hay clases para niños por la mañana.  El público está bienvenido para nadar entre la una y las tres y media.

Yes, sir.  There are clases for kids in the morning.  The public is welcome to swim between 1 and 3:30.

¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada para un día?

How much is the entrance fee for a day?

Tres dólares.  El costo al mes es treinta.

Three dollars.  The monthly cost is 30.

¿Qué más debo saber para nadar allí por la primera vez?

What else should I know to swim there the first time?

Traiga su propia toalla y gorra de nadar.  Podemos proveer una cerradora.

Bring your own towel and swimming cap.  We can provide you a lock.

Muchas gracias.  Nos vemos mañana.

Thanks a lot.  See you tomorrow.

                                                                                  .

Can Quito taxis be loaded to the gills with people and their pets?

This large sign is posted at the taxi stand outside MegaMaxi Supermercado El Bosque...

Información Taxis

La ley de transporte terrestre tránsito no permite mascotas en los taxis...

The ground transport law does not permit pets inside taxis.

La capacidad máxima de personas que pueden transportar es de cuatro ocupantes incluído menores de edad.

The maximum capacity of people who can ride is four occupants including minors.

FYI...products being transported may fill the trunk or maletera but may not be carried in the taxi interior.

Overheard at the fruit mercado....

Hola, Hermanita.  ¿Se vende bananas mas maduras que este montón?

Hello, Little Sister.   Do you sell riper bananas than this bunch?

En absoluto.  Allí están las maduras.

Absolutely.  Over there are the ripe ones.

Córteme una mitad de este montón, por favor.

Cut me off half of this bunch, please.

Ya.

I got it.

   .........

Frutero, ¿Dentro de esta piña, es blanca o amarilla?

Fruit vendor guy, is this pineapple white or yellow inside?

Es amarilla.

It's yellow.

¿Es dulce?  (DOOL-say)

Is it sweet?

Claro que si.

Sure is.

Me quedo con dos de las amarillas.  Y corte sus sombreros, por favor.

I'll take two of the yellow ones.  And cut off their 'hats,' please.

   .........

Cuñada, ¿Cuál clase de fruta es esta pequeña?

Sister-in-law, what kind of fruit is this little thing?

Es una maracuyá, Señor.

It's a passion fruit, sir.

¿Cómo se llama ella en inglés?

What do you call it in English?

No sé, Senor.

I don't know, sir.

¿Es amarga?

Is it bitter?

Poca amarga.

A little bitter.

¿Cuánto cuesta tal frutita?

How much for such a little fruit?

Veinticinco centavos.

25 cents.

Véndeme solamente una, para probarla en casa.

Sell me just one, to try it at home.

Muy bien.  ¿Algo mas?

Very good.  Anything else?

Nada más, nada menos, gracias.

Nothing more, nothing less, thanks.

                                                                 .

Top ten fruits now in season at local Ecuadorian mercados this time of the year (July)....

10.  pears            peras

9.  green grapes  uvas verdes

8.  apples             manzanas

7.  oranges          naranjas

6.  bananas         bananas   

5.  pineapple       piña     

4.  strawberries   frutillas

3.  mangos          mangos

2.  apricots          albaricoques

And the #1 fruit now available at the mercados....

1.  passion fruit   maracuyá

During the Papal visit to Quito, a large sign was noted just inside the main entrance to La Basílica cathedral showing a priest attending the bedside of an anciano, with Jesus and two angels in the background....

Servicio Sacerdotal Nocturno

Priestly Night-time Service

Solamente Para Caso de Emergencia

Only In Case of Emergency

Bautismo, Confesión, Comunión y Unción de los Enfermos

Baptism, Confession, Communion and Last Rites for the ILL

Gratuito

Gratis

Desde las 10 de la Noche Hasta las 6 de la Mañana

10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (365 days a year)

                                                                   .

Do you think it was usually there or just for this papal visit?

cccmedia wrote:

Top ten fruits now in season at local Ecuadorian mercados this time of the year (July)....

10.  pears            peras

9.  green grapes  uvas verdes

8.  apples             manzanas

7.  oranges          naranjas

6.  bananas         bananas   

5.  pineapple       piña     

4.  strawberries   frutillas

3.  mangos          mangos

2.  apricots          albaricoques

And the #1 fruit now available at the mercados....

1.  passion fruit   maracuyá

por favor professor   the vegetables?

Accomodating the Oracle:

Vegetables (a word spelled the same in both languages)....

10. Lettuce          Lechuga

9.  Carrot             Zanahoria ('h' is silent)

8.  Eggplant         Berenjena

7.  Tomato           Tomate

6.  Peas               Guisantes

5.  Mushrooms    Champiñones

4.  Onion             Cebolla

3,  Potato            Papa

2.  Cole Slaw      Ensalada de Col

1.  Corn              Maiz....or Choclo

Here's a few more vegetables:

Corn, on the cob - mazorca

Beet - remolacha

Green Beans - habichuelas

Peas - not only guisantes but also arvejas and chícharos

Artichoke - alcachofa

Spring Onion - cebollín or cebollino

Muchas gracias

Signs posted inside Restaurante Tradicional Plaza del Teatro in Quito....

Seco de Pollo + Mediana $2.50.

Chicken plate plus medium (Coca Cola) $2.50.


En Marcha Impulsando Tu Negocio. (Quito transit system)

On the move animating your business.


Buzón de Sugerencias.

Suggestion box.

Pressing forward with our recent food and restaurant theme...

Here are some historical notes about the cuisine in Peru, from the menu of La Chispa Peruana (The Peruvan Spark) restaurant, J.L. Mera y la Niña in Quito...

La cocina peruana es considerada como una de las más variadas y ricas del mundo.

Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most varied and delicious in the world.

Gracias a la herencia pre-incaica, incaica y la inmigración española, africana, chino-cantonesa, japonés y italiana principalmente hasta el siglo XIX...

Thanks to the heritage of the pre-Incans, the Incans and the immigration from Spain, Africa, Canton-China, Japan and Italy mainly up to the 19th century...

...mezcla una gastronomía y esquisitos sabores de cuatro continentes.

...a cuisine has been mixed from exquisite flavors from four continents.

                                                                   .

From the menu posted above the cooked-lamb luncheon counter at Quito's Santa Clara market....

Caldo con pata de borrego

Leg of lamb soup


Caldo don lengua de borrego

Tongue of lamb soup


Papas con carne

Potatoes with meat


Mondongo de borrego

Lamb sausage

Famous food and restaurant slogans translated into español...

KFC/Kentucky Fried Chicken...

Finger lickin' good.

Se chupa los dedos.


M&M candies...

Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.

Se derrite en su boca, no en su mano.


And three from McDonalds...

I'm loving it.

Estoy amandolo.

You deserve a break today.

Merece un descanso hoy.

Would you like fries with that?

¿Quisiera papas fritas con eso?

                                                          ,

Table Talk

What time is dinner?

¿A que hora cenamos?¨


Hearty appetite.

Buen provecho.


Pass the turkey, please.

Pásame el pavo, por favor.


What do you (plural) want to drink?

Qué quieren a tomar?


Cranberry juice mixed with passion fruit.

Jugo de arándonos mezclado con maracuyá.


Dessert is cake and chocolate ice cream.

El postre es torta y helado de chocolate. (cho-koh-LAH-tay)


Everything was delicious.

Todo era rico.

Let's take a break from our food theme, and translate a few more famous slogans.    This time, from Spanish to English....

Dinero habla.  Nadie camina.

Money talks, nobody walks.
    (Denison the Men's Clothiers,
           Route 22, Union, New Jersey) 


Hazlo nomás.

Just do it.
    (Nike)


Vivan en su mundo.  Juegen en lo de nosotros.

Live in your world. Play in ours.
   (PlayStation)


Cuando te importa bastante a mandar lo mejor.

When you care enough to send the very best.
    (Hallmark)


Sigue andando y andando y andando....

It keeps going and going and going....
    (Energizer batteries)

Docentes siempre serán docentes. Sin capacitación, tontos para tontos.

Signs inside a watch shop or relojería on Garcia Moreno in El Centro, Quito....

Toda clase de pilas, pulseras, composturas.

All types of batteries, wristbands, repairs.


Also in the shop...a large calendar promoting Ecuador's new electronic money for locals without bank accounts, on behalf of - dineroelectronico.ec

Dinero Electrónico...Banco Central de Ecuador

E-money...Central Bank of Ecuador

Activa Gratis Tu Cuenta

Open Your Account For Free

(A cell phone code of *153# was indicated.)

Signs of the times, QuiCentro Mall in Quito....

Outside Payless Shoesource...

Alerta de Moda, Botas Con Cordones.

Fashion Alert, Boots With Laces.

50% de Descuento, 2do Artículo,
Compra Una y Llévate Otro Con 50% Descuento.

50 Percent Off, Second Item,
Buy One and Get Another at 50% Discount.


English-language slogan on female shopper's T-shirt...

Love Stinks ... Let's Drink

Amor apesta...Bebamos

                                                       .

Signs of the Times in Quito...

Outside a stationery and office supplies store at QuiCentro Mall:

¿Buscas Tecnología?  Entra SuperPaco.

Looking for Technology?  Come into SuperPaco.


Billboard at Avenidas Mariana de Jesús and América:

Cumplimos Tus Sueños.  Ven Por Tu Crédito.
Co-Operativa de Ahorros, 29 de Octubre.

We Fulfill Your Dreams.  Come in For Your Loan.
29th of October Savings Co-Op.


At the same intersection, a large sign that even a newly-arriving Gringo could translate....

¿Problemas Con Alcohol, Drogas?
Servicios Gratuitos.  02 292 0027

                                                       .

Due to the 'foodie factor' on this thread, we now visit the inside signage at El Pollo de Oro (The Chicken of Gold) on Calle Foch near Amazonas in Quito....

Pollo Entero 13.99 

Whole Chicken $13.99

Delicioso pollo a la broaster sazonado con aderezo de la casa...

Delicious broasted chicken seasoned with the house's sauce...

Acompañado con guarnición de papas a la francesa...

Served with a garnish of French fried potatoes...

una ración de ensalada más sopa.

a portion of salad, plus soup.


Cuarto de pollo 3.99  Quarter chicken $3.99

(includes same sides plus beverage)


Another sign inside 'de Oro'...

Rápido, Sano y Sabroso.

Fast, Healthy and Tasty.

                                       .