Colombian Sayings

litost says on Dec 9, 2006, 01:34:

I think an equivalent would be 'de Guatemala a Guatepeor!'

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Portena says on Dec 9, 2006, 15:23:

Which would mean???? Sorry for being so concrete, but would that be in reference to Guatemala the country or a town named Guatemala in Colombia? And with a saying that means "from bad to worse" then Gautepour is the worse fate. Is Gautepour a town somewhere?

Just really curious about Colombian sayings... I would think that such a colorful culture would have a lot of interesting sayings!

Thanks,

Portena

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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ColombianoGringo says on Dec 10, 2006, 05:43:

It is a play on words ... , but I don't know if I would call it a pun. The saying turns on the the "mala" part of "Guatemala". The "mala" is replaced with "peor" which means worse.

So the translation of the saying would be "from GuateBAD to GuateWORSE".

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Here are a few more. I will add more as I think of them.

Ese xxxxx es mas viejo que la moda de andar a pie.

translates into the "That xxxxx is older than the the style of walking" It would be used the same way as saying "That xxxxx is older than dirt".


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Mas jodido que puta en Semana Santa.

This one is a bit vulgar. It means literally "Worse off than a hooker during holy week." It is used to mean being broke (no money). The idea is that guys leave the hookers alone during Holy Week(Yeah right!). So you could say. "Estoy mas jodido que puta en semana santa." to mean "I am broke".


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Mas mamado que un chupo

Another slightly vulgar one, but not really. This one literally says "more sucked than a pacifier". It means worn out or very tired. FOr example, last night after two hours in the gym, I told my novia. "Mamacita, ando mas mamado que un chupo." This is why I fell asleep early instead of going out and why I am up at 7:45 am, bored and posting Colombian sayings on PBH.


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MedellinViking says on Dec 10, 2006, 09:26:

My favorite for... Getting my girlfriend worked up:

La hija del tigre sale pintada

The daughter of the tiger came out with the same colors

Live your fantasies because life is short and from all I've seen death is really, really long....

Live your fantasies because life is short and from all I've seen death is really, really long....

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Portena says on Dec 10, 2006, 10:34:

Interesting and funny! Thanks! I'd love to hear more...

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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litost says on Dec 10, 2006, 15:52:

Portena, rest assured that the sayings in Colombia are as colorful and diverse as the country itself. The problem is I'm really bad at remembering them and rarely use them because I've dedicated my linguistic skills to being fluent in several languages and always learning new ones. But I love it when I talk to someone who uses expressions in like every single sentence. Very creative and some downright hilarious.

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Juanchintin says on Dec 10, 2006, 18:16:

Mas sabe el diablo... Otro muy conosido dicho.

"Mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo", means: More knows the devil for being old than, for being the devil.

Shows how our elder are more wise that the youth.

Colombian Born

Colombian Born

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ColombianoGringo says on Dec 10, 2006, 18:43:

No esta cargando ganado!!! This is a funny one to hear. It is typically used by the passengers of any vehicle, (normally a car or bus) whose driver is giving them a rough ride. It means "You're not carrying cattle". I have heard it in buses, taxis and have even yelled it a some of my crazier friends while they drive.

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Portena says on Dec 11, 2006, 04:42:

I've been on a few wild rides like that! Particularly in taxi rides in Chicago, and Argentina. I might try that one. :) The other alternative might be "You're not piloting the space shuttle!" next time the driver launches the vehicle into the air at 80 mph when he comes to an intesection where the light has just turned yellow.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Miguel says on Dec 11, 2006, 09:57:

I like the statement "Estoy comiendo cable" when a Colombiano is referring to the fact he/she is broke.

Costeños like to call a dismal, cloudy, rainy day as "un día cachaco"

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litost says on Dec 11, 2006, 10:03:

I hope I don't get censored for this (very vulgar) but it is really one of my favorites...

"Mas pelado que chimbo recien casado"

Now colombia-lovers, let's see how many can get it.

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Wastelandlive says on Dec 11, 2006, 14:26:

I've never heard it called "Chimbo" before. But it's good to know.

Wasteland

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Wastelandlive says on Dec 11, 2006, 14:28:

"No entendi nie papa" Or, "Estoy azul," both to mean you didn't undersand anything, haven't got a clue, etc.

Wasteland

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sandramoreno80 says on Dec 11, 2006, 16:07:

"No hay peor ciego que el que no quiera ver": Someone who doesn't want to see the truth is more blind than an actual blind person.

"Esta mas enredado que un bulto de cachos": Literally: It's more tangled than a sack full of horns. This means that something's really messed up or really complicated.

"Se despide mas que circo pobre": Used to describe someone who is quite vocal about them leaving but somehow takes ages to finally leave. Like a crappy circus who keeps on displaying "Final Night" signs, but it's never final night, they do so in the hope of bringing in customers.

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Portena says on Dec 11, 2006, 19:20:

Litost - My Spanish isn't fluent : According to my translating software your vulger statement ""Mas pelado que chimbo recien casado"

is translated as

"But peeled that chimbo newlywed"

I will probably never figure that one out! Oh well. I do appreciate all the responses I've gotten here.

Portena

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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litost says on Dec 12, 2006, 02:49:

Ok I'll try to explain this word game...

First you have to know that 'pelado' means peeled or more like shorn (or used out), but is also used for being broke. So it is yet another expression that refers to being broke. 'Chimbo' is colombian paisa for the male reproductive organ... so literally the saying would mean 'More used out than a newlywed's chimbo'.

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Portena says on Dec 12, 2006, 04:44:

Got a Good Laugh from that one! Seems pretty true to life, and not really that vulger at all.

Portena

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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