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Originally Posted by lauracipolla
EXCELLENT EXPLANATION, VICENTE!!! wow!  thanks.
So, is it safe to say that the use of "a" (indicating one of many) in the case of "just friends" would make it 100% clear? (well, unless of course you have many "significant others" -i.e., boyfriends). (BTW, I recently saw "significant other" translated as "significante otro"... AHHHHH  )
laura |
No Laura, I don't think it would. If you say "a boyfriend" it would be as you said...that you probably have
significantes otros...jejeje. If you said "a boy FRIEND" they MIGHT get it but it is better to say "guy friend" or "male friend" or something like that in order to be 100% clear.
Let me put it this way: If you happen to be talking about me with your boyfriend please do not describe me as "a boyfriend". Call me a guy you know, a male acquaintance, a buddy, a dude, or anything else but not a boyfriend. I'm too young to die!!
I don't know if it is used much anymore but in earlier days a mature woman would refer to her "gentleman friend" which meant a man she was dating and was a more polite and dignified way of saying boyfriend.