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While traveling in Madrid 35 years ago it was common for young women to receive a number of "piropos" seemingly innocent flirtaceous compliments. It could be quite startling if you did not know what was happening. The best response was to simply ignore then and go on your way. Is this still done in Spain or has it gone out of custom?
While traveling in Madrid 35 years ago it was common for young women to receive a number of "piropos" seemingly innocent flirtaceous compliments. It could be quite startling if you did not know what was happening. The best response was to simply ignore then and go on your way. Is this still done in Spain or has it gone out of custom?
Like some people in the UK call you " Love ". In that case I find it quite endearing.
I'm in my 50's and I say "sir" quite often, even to men younger than myself. I say "ma'am" more frequently, and to women of all ages, even those much younger.I am not in a position to comment on the question of the OP.
What Sabine refers to in UK is still quite common though, and almost invariably innocent, and rather regional too. In different parts of the country, and always more commonly in the north than the south, people may be called love, or my love, pet, hen, duck, flower (in the south-west), chuck, sweetheart etc and it is very rarely seen as offensive, although I cannot imagine trying to teach a non-native speaker how or when to use them!
One of the large supermarkets banned the use of "love" by staff to customers a few years ago, I think in the north east, but I remember the ban was lifted fairly rapidly.
On the contrary, I find being called 'sir' usually not very complimentary. Police men and women do it, though I have had very little to do with them. A security guard in Stansted airport used it 'at' me on Monday in a way which I found rude and condescending, which is strange, as it seems like it should be a term of respect. He was being rude in a fairly indiscriminating way to everybody, which I found embarrassing on behalf of the many foreign visitors. It can be respectful, but is not universally so.
... in Mexico, I have been referred to as "Senorita." (Although I am also offered discounts for being over 65, even unsolicited!) At first I wondered if it was a silly effort at flattery, which I didn't really care for. However, I've heard it enough now that I wonder if it is now the equivalent of "Ms" in English. Any comments?
I hope it's not the same as when ladies of a certain age begin to be called "young lady" by those younger than they areMaybe getting a bit off topic, but here's another question for the Spanish language experts. I find that in Spain and also recently in Mexico, I have been referred to as "Senorita." (Although I am also offered discounts for being over 65, even unsolicited!) At first I wondered if it was a silly effort at flattery, which I didn't really care for. However, I've heard it enough now that I wonder if it is now the equivalent of "Ms" in English. Any comments?
In Baltimore (maryland, US), women are traditionally "hon"What Sabine refers to in UK is still quite common though, and almost invariably innocent, and rather regional too.
I was there yesterday! Great place!I must have been 5 or 6, I went with my mother to Mercado de artesanias/Cuidadela with my mom.
habits are hard to break. I say "sir" and "ma'am" all the time.I'm in my 50's and I say "sir" quite often, even to men younger than myself. I say "ma'am" more frequently, and to women of all ages, even those much younger.
I grew up saying it, and it just never went away. More a thing of politeness, than respect. Of course, when I was in the military it was custom and courtesy when addressing officers. When I was a copper, it was part of dealing with the public. If I made contact with someone and did not know their name, I needed to address them in some way. I certainly would not say "hey lady" or "hey man", so the logical and polite thing to do is use sir or ma'am.
maybe for the reasons Mark mentioned, a part of police training. I know in the US many military veterans are being hired as security, police, etc...it is a lot harder to stop saying sir/ma'am than you would imagine....Police men and women do it, though I have had very little to do with them.
not like it's a bad habit to have....I say keep doing ithabits are hard to break. I say "sir" and "ma'am" all the time.
And I hope you Americans never stop saying sir / ma'am. I just love hearing it; it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling........it is a lot harder to stop saying sir/ma'am than you would imagine....
My grade school Spanish teacher was very insistent about usted, and taught us with a Castilian accent. Which helped a lot in Southern CaliforniaGetting quite off topic, but I had an old, strict Spanish teacher from the upper class for a while, and after twenty years, I still have problems NOT saying Usted to people. As it is, I tend to start off saying Usted to all adults (except fellow pilgrims, if we have slept in the same room we're on first name terms!), then quietly modify to tu if THEY say it first.
my instructor felt the use of usted vs tu was a class distinction not appropriate for the modern day. She also probably voted socialist"Usted" is used to address (politely, with respect) older people, I was taught in my Spanish class in Alicante this April. And, one day on the Camino, I passed an old man who said "Buenos dias", and I replied "Buenos dias, senor". He immediately replied, corrective: "Usted!"
Uh? Usted goes nowhere in "Buenos dias senor". Makes no sense whar so ever."I passed an old man who said "Buenos dias", and I replied "Buenos dias, senor". He immediately replied, corrective: "Usted!"
my instructor felt the use of usted vs tu was a class distinction not appropriate for the modern day.
.
Replace "senor" with "usted".Uh? Usted goes nowhere in "Buenos dias senor". Makes no sense whar so ever.
I think you misunderstood. He was not correcting you, as you were perfectly correct in saying "Buenos días señor." What the man said back was a contraction of "y a usted" which means "and to you." In English someone might say "Good morning" and get the reply "same to you"."Usted" is used to address (politely, with respect) older people, I was taught in my Spanish class in Alicante this April. And, one day on the Camino, I passed
an old man who said "Buenos dias", and I replied "Buenos dias, senor". He immediately replied, corrective: "Usted!"
Given the variety of answers to the OP I wonder if we all share the same understanding of what the word "piropos" means in English?
I think that closest definition is "chat up lines"
What do others think?
Given the variety of answers to the OP I wonder if we all share the same understanding of what the word "piropos" means in English?
I think that closest definition is "chat up lines"
What do others think?
well, i think as usual we just got sidetracked.Given the variety of answers to the OP I wonder if we all share the same understanding of what the word "piropos" means in English?
I think that closest definition is "chat up lines"
What do others think?
Ok - got it! Thanks.
Quite different from the terms of endearment still used (mainly) by older people such as "cariño", "rey" "corazón" etc.
ja ja ja.... The woman shopassistant in the bakery ever says me " Hola guapo" or "adios guapo" And I answer "gracias"It has gone a bit out of custom. I will leave it to others here to give more information ( my English is somewhat too limited to handle this,to me,delicate subject ).
I found this interesting link from a couple of years ago.
http://elpais.com/elpais/2011/03/30/inenglish/1301462442_850210.html
Not all piropos though are flirtatious or " catcalling a woman ". I remember a senior shopassistant in a bakery calling every customer " Amor ".
Like some people in the UK call you " Love ". In that case I find it quite endearing.
Yes, it can surprise non native Spanish speakers that "hombre" and "señor" can be used for both genders depending on the contextThe one I like the best if when I turn up on the Camino and old Spanish friends greet me with an astonished "!Hombre!" and laugh and answer back "!No, mujer!" ;-) SY
Hey man, you gotta be kiddingYes, it can surprise non native Spanish speakers that "hombre" and "señor" can be used for both genders depending on the context
Yes, it does surprise me, but it's nice to know. Here, it's common to hear "you guys" or "buddies" in reference to both genders. But not "man," except as in "mankind" but even that has morphed into "humankind."Yes, it can surprise non native Spanish speakers that "hombre" and "señor" can be used for both genders depending on the context
Yes, it does surprise me, but it's nice to know. Here, it's common to hear "you guys" or "buddies" in reference to both genders. But not "man," except as in "mankind" but even that has morphed into "humankind."
While traveling in Madrid 35 years ago it was common for young women to receive a number of "piropos" seemingly innocent flirtaceous compliments. It could be quite startling if you did not know what was happening. The best response was to simply ignore then and go on your way. Is this still done in Spain or has it gone out of custom?
The one I like the best if when I turn up on the Camino and old Spanish friends greet me with an astonished "!Hombre!" and laugh and answer back "!No, mujer!" ;-) SY
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