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    Default Need help with a word

    Hello,

    I work in the office at a stone quarry and most of our miners are from Mexico and I'm have trouble communicating with them.

    There is one word that one of the men keeps repeating to me when he comes in to punch out at the end of the day. I'm not sure if I'm spelling it correctly because I can not find it in my spanish/english dictionary, but here's what it sounds like:

    "Wampa"

    Can anyone tell me the meaning of this word?

    Thank you,
    Sandy

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    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
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    Definitley sounds like "guapa".

    Hi, pretty/beautiful!

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    Moderator SandraT's Avatar
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    Hi exx and Sandy, I think if the guy is Mexican, the meaning could be different. Guapa is definetely a Spanish word (from Spain). Even in Cuba, guapa or guapo means something different.

    I have heard something like wampa in the countryside here in Cuba and it's something like partner or buddy but it's very farmer-like. I don't think this meaning applies either to Sandy's case.

    I found this:
    a slang Spanish word in northern Mexico that was explained to me as meaning a man who lets his wife boss him around, and I think the idea of cuckold may have been involved as well (it wasn't cabrón, however). Something like "henpecked."
    SAndy, all the definitions found don't give us good meanings, so you'd better find out exactly what he is telling you and after you have the real and clear word, we can be of more help.

    and this is from RAE:
    guampa

    (Del quechua wákkhra).


    1. f. rur. Arg. y Ur. cuerno (prolongación ósea). (horn as in cows)

    2. f. coloq. Ur. cuerno (infidelidad matrimonial). Meter guampas.(to be unfaithful to your spouse)
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie

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    Thank you both.

    He's using the word in a sentence with "bonita". Now that I see that the word is not spelled the way I had it, the meaning that exx gave me makes sence. And I have found it in my spanish/english dictionary.

    Now, may I ask, how do I politely but firmly ask him to stop speaking to me like that? I am a married person and this is a place of business.

    Sandy

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    Moderator SandraT's Avatar
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    ok, now you have it. so you can tell him something like this:
    Soy una mujer casada y quiero que me respetes (and I want some respect). Este es un lugar de trabajo.

    I even asked my friend who lives in Mexico about the word... he explained the same about being unfaithful, so I'm happy you didn't spell it correctly.
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie

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    Now I’m wondering how to say “bug off!”. “Déjame en paz, pendejo” is too long. "¡Ya, basta!" is closer but not crude enough. Maybe a muttered "pendejo", or does that even work in Mexico?

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    Moderator SandraT's Avatar
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    bug off: lárgate, piérdete, desaparécete, esfúmate...(esfúmate como la espuma, vuélate como un papalote, etc....)
    there are tons of ways to say this, but gernt, I don't think it will be appropiate for Sandy to tell him that. Being formal and talking seriously but firmly will be of more help in this case than being so rude to the guy. Unless the situation continues and then, she can use other words...don't you think? and she can come back to us for more!!!
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie

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    Por supuesto. Pero tenemos que tener la habilidad de reconocer estas cosas. Gracias.

    Lárgate parece ser común por todas partes, ¿no?
    Last edited by gernt; 08-05-2008 at 01:07 PM.

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