Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
bonita
English translation:
darling, sweetie, sweetheart, honey
Added to glossary by
philgoddard
Aug 20, 2009 17:05
14 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
bonita
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Dialogue
This term is used affectionately in a dialogue by a younger character to an older lady. Any ideas how this could be expressed in US English?
Many thanks
Many thanks
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +5 | darling | philgoddard |
5 +3 | sweetie | Henry Hinds |
4 +2 | sweetheart | Jim Tucker (X) |
4 +1 | pretty | Luciano Giusti |
4 +1 | beautiful | delveneto |
3 +1 | dear | MJ Barber |
3 | honey | Ian in Spain |
Change log
Sep 3, 2009 04:41: philgoddard Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+5
9 mins
Selected
darling
Does this work in the US? It does in UK English.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-08-20 19:34:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
My American wife says yes.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-08-20 19:34:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
My American wife says yes.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Beta Cummins
1 hr
|
agree |
Isabelle17
2 hrs
|
agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: This is how Woody Allen addressed the older ladies in his audience during his standup routines in the 60s. //Oh if I ever get to the point where I'm googling Woody Allen, just shoot me.
2 hrs
|
Thanks! You've either got a good memory, or you've been Googling :)
|
|
agree |
MJ Barber
: could be a possibility, if we just had more context
2 hrs
|
I'm not sure we need any here - but thanks for agreeing.
|
|
agree |
jude dabo
: ok
3 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
9 mins
honey
"Honey" in my experience is the most common expression of endearment in the States and I think would be appropriate enough in this case. My American cousins may disagree though!
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Rosa Paredes
: Not appropriate from a younger person to an older lady
10 mins
|
But neither is "bonita" in the original Spanish.
|
|
agree |
philgoddard
: I don't agree with Rosa. This is one of many acceptable suggestions.
2 hrs
|
disagree |
jude dabo
: and I do agree with rosa wholeheartedly.inappropriate indeed!
2 hrs
|
agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: Have to disagree with the disagrees here; easily conceivable from, say, a savvy middle-aged woman to an older lady -- a plucky waitress in a diner to her guest, for example.
5 hrs
|
disagree |
Yasutomo Kanazawa
: Have to agree with rosa and disagree with philgoddard
12 hrs
|
agree |
Penelope Ausejo
1892 days
|
+3
11 mins
sweetie
Probably used the most, although some people also find it to be annoying. "Cutie" would be more literal, but not used so often I would think.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
philgoddard
: This is a good answer, but how can you put 5 for something which is a matter of opinion? 5 means "I know this is the correct answer". There are lots of possible translations.
6 mins
|
No problem at all, my opinion is 5 because it's a good answer.
|
|
disagree |
Rosa Paredes
: Neither one for an older person.
9 mins
|
Hey, Rosa, it's used all the time with older persons, including some who find it, well... annoying, and I guess many others who like it. But used it is.
|
|
agree |
Kim Metzger
: My aunts used to call me sweetie-pie. And I would have no problem calling my grandmother a sweetie.
23 mins
|
Gracias, Kim.
|
|
agree |
Ana G. Piskulic
: very suitable term !!!
45 mins
|
Gracias, Ana.
|
|
agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
2 hrs
|
Gracias, Jim.
|
|
agree |
Enrique Huber (X)
: Bien tocayo
5 hrs
|
Gracias, Tocayo. Y nunca sabe uno dónde se va a armar la bronca.
|
|
agree |
Jesús Romero
6 hrs
|
Gracias, Pery.
|
|
disagree |
Yasutomo Kanazawa
: Nothing wrong with the term sweetie, but not in this context, where a younger person is addressing an older person.
12 hrs
|
Please read my Cultural Note. You mean it would not work at all in Japan. Our culture, however, is quite different.
|
+1
14 mins
pretty
http://www.chacha.com/question/how-do-you-say-'pretty-l...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2009-08-20 17:22:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://educatecenter.com/Sp_Res_adjetivos.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2009-08-20 17:24:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=boni...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2009-08-20 17:22:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://educatecenter.com/Sp_Res_adjetivos.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2009-08-20 17:24:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=boni...
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Marina56
: Yo pensé en esta, no nos olvidemos que la famosa "Pretty Woman" en español es "Mujer Bonita"
19 mins
|
Gracias Marina
|
+1
36 mins
beautiful
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2009-08-20 17:43:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Compare:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2009-08-20 17:43:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Compare:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org....
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Bubo Coroman (X)
: this is what I would use myself because it shows respect as well as hinting that the speaker wants the woman to know she's still beautiful
15 hrs
|
Thank you, Deborah.
|
+2
2 hrs
sweetheart
I don't see this proposed yet, but it should also be on the list. This was another way Woody referred to the older ladies in his audience, over and over (like "darling").
+1
2 hrs
dear
I know it's not a literal translation, but, depending on the context, of which I wish more could be provided, it might be a possibility.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: why not
6 mins
|
Discussion
it's Kismet
philgoddard: our answers are given, so we've done our part :-). I find it very unlikely that NONE of the answers so far already given will not fit the context, whatever it may be.
http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=bon...
bonito2, ta.
... ...
2. adj. Lindo, agraciado de cierta proporción y belleza.
And you tell me that "bonito" does NOT mean beautiful...
It MAY not mean beautiful, but it CAN obviously mean beautiful.
In the context above it sure CAN mean beautiful.
Also, "bonita" does NOT mean beautiful. (This would be "bella"). It's less than beautiful, more like "pretty" or "nice".