Spanish Word of the Day

Quote: Wizard

Given that it was almost two years old, I hope I won't get too many push-ups for it.

It's not so much that it was a repeat word, but we went back and forth for three weeks. I don't remember all the words, but I do remember the drama.

June 26th, 2012 at 6:50:42 AM

Quote: Nareed

"Coraje" is used much more to denote anger or irritation. A common expression is "no hagas corajes," which means "don't get angry," or "don't throw a tantrum." You do NOT say "Tengo coraje con alguien," any more than you'd say "tengo enojo con alguien." Remember Spanish doens't work that way.

But, I repeat, in every version of the Wizard of Oz (that copycat! :P), el León Cobarde always wanted "valor."

June 26th, 2012 at 7:01:45 AM

Quote: Wizard

I'm not saying your're wrong, but I checked three dictionaries and they all say that coraje primarily means courage.

SpanishDict.com, which I know you hate, says it means (1) courage, (2) rage. Same thing with Reverso and my Harper's dictionary. In the book where it was used, it was used to mean courage. I suspect the usage is different depending on which Spanish-speaking country you're in.

From the DRAE the Spanish word comes from Old French (not directly from Latin)
coraje. (Del fr. ant. corages).
1. m. Impetuosa decisión y esfuerzo del ánimo, valor.
2. m. Irritación, ira.

Fecha: 23-5-14
Palabra: Yacer

Today's SWD means to lie down.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast yacer y acostarse.

Ejemplo time.

Dorothy yace despues de atravesando el campo de amapolas. = Dorothy lay down after crossing the field of poppies.

Quote: Wizard

The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast yacer y acostarse.

Yacer could be interpreted as lying down like a corpse, whereas acostarse means to lie down in a bed.

Quote: Pacomartin

Yacer could be interpreted as lying down like a corpse, whereas acostarse means to lie down in a bed.

Which would you use for Dorothy in the poppy field?

Quote: Wizard

Which would you use for Dorothy in the poppy field?

I think acostarse, but I am not positive.

Dorothy lies down among the poppies --
Dorothy se acuesta en el campo de amapolas.


The verb "yacer" seems to loaded with other possible meanings.
yacer. (Del lat. iacēre).
1. intr. Dicho de una persona: Estar echada* o tendida.
2. intr. Dicho de un cadáver: Estar en la fosa o en el sepulcro.
3. intr. Dicho de una persona o de una cosa: Existir o estar real o figuradamente en algún lugar.
4. intr. Tener trato carnal con alguien.
5. intr. Dicho de una caballería: Pacer de noche.

* NOTE:echar is one of the most difficult verbs to translate since it has dozens of possible meanings

Quote: Pacomartin

Yacer could be interpreted as lying down like a corpse, whereas acostarse means to lie down in a bed.

Yup.

The type of epitaph that begins "here lies..." is used in spanish as "Aquí yace...." or "Yace aquí..."

The other relevant word for today is "Cumpleaños" meaning "Birthday," but only as the anniversary of your birth. The actual day of birth is "Día de nacimiento."

Example "¡Féliz Cumpleaños, Mike!"

The translation is left as an exercise for the student.

Quote: Pacomartin

Yacer could be interpreted as lying down like a corpse,

In the context I found the word, the one doing the lying down (or is it laying down?) is still alive.

Despereaux yacía socre su espalda, abriendo y cerrando los ojos.

Quote:

Example "¡Féliz Cumpleaños, Mike!"

The translation is left as an exercise for the student.

Happy anniversary of your birth, Mike.

Quote: Wizard

In the context I found the word, the one doing the lying down (or is it laying down?) is still alive.
Despereaux yacía socre su espalda, abriendo y cerrando los ojos.

What does "socre" mean?

My comment was not that the verb always describes laying down a cadaver, but that it often carries that connotation. I was not sure if it can be applied to the Dorothy in the Poppy fields situation without sounding funny. In English the sentence "Here lies the toaster" may be grammatically correct, but it will sound strange.



The Albert Einstein quote: Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity is translated using "yacer" for "lies".
Albert Einstein poster

Quote: Pacomartin

What does "socre" mean?

Sorry, should have been sobre.

Quote: Wizard

Sorry, should have been sobre.

Despereaux lay on his back, blinking his eyes.
Despereaux yacía sobre su espalda, abriendo y cerrando los ojos.

So in English we are using the past tense of the verb "to lie" which is an intransitive verb. We are not using the present tense of "to lay" which a transitive verb.
to lay: to put something down lay(s)|laid|laid|laying
to lie: to rest or recline lie(s)|lay|lain|lying

As it is an ongoing action, in Spanish we use the imperfect (past) tense.

I suppose the following sentence might imply he was sleeping, which would be incompatible with him blinking,
Despereaux se acostaba sobre su espalda, abriendo y cerrando los ojos.