...he asked camply

britabroad says on Jan 14, 2008, 08:17:

Kalder,
My missus (sancocho queen) tells me that ´quiseria´is used for future wishes/actions etc.
eg: Quisiera vivir en Inglaterra ( mentiroso), Quisiera viajer a Cartagena, or Quisiera ser mas guapo (impossible).
So, I guess, you have been constantly asking for a beer at some time in the future, hence the wrinkled brow reaction.
If you would like something there and then she says to use ´quiero´ - which sounds a bit rude to our highly mannered English ears ( I want a beer!), but is, apparently, correct Spanish.
Glad you asked this cos I´ve been using quisiera wrongly too.
The cold guinness was wishful thinking I´m afraid, but many cold Club Colombias await.

Leave the big stick at home...carry a cannon!

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kalder says on Jan 14, 2008, 09:18:

Thanks for that brit.

I was told however by a Spaniard that 'quiero' is a little harsh and that 'quisiera' is what you should use to request something politely in Spain. But, then again, he was a gay man. Or maybe it's just an Iberian thing. It's all interesting. I'll ask my wife tonight.

Yeah, I thought the cold Guinness thing was too good to be true. You can get the bottled stuff in Cali. Or so I've been told. But cold Club Colombia sounds just dandy. I look forward to working my way through a couple of slabs with you.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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britabroad says on Jan 14, 2008, 09:52:

Have you not come across the Colombian belief that THEY speak correct Spanish and that modern Spanish is all wrong? Obviously the Spanish think the reverse.
Like those colonial cousins of ours in ...where is it?...oh yes, the USA. Some say that their incorrect spelling is actually correct because it´s how it was spelt back in seventeen hundred and cold death.
As long as you got your beer (and it didn´t have lime in it and salt stuck to the rim of the glass), who cares anyway? Keep in touch.

Leave the big stick at home...carry a cannon!

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kalder says on Jan 14, 2008, 12:20:

I hear you brit. And I'm with you on that daft lime and salt malarkey.

I'll be in touch.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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kalder says on Jan 14, 2008, 12:20:

Oh, and I've just discussed 'quisiera' with La Kalder. It's the equivalent of 'I would like'. Which admittedly does sound a bit poofy. Especially if you imagine using it to order a pint in Kilburn.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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manINred says on Jan 14, 2008, 13:02:

Kalder, I do believe that it is 'faggy' in the same way that using 'tu' instead of 'usted' or 'vos' can be (and is) considered as such. It all has to do with over-familiarity and unnecesary courtesy. If I went up to a male in Medellin and started saying 'tu' all over the place, he would probably feel uncomfortable. Just like if I was needlessly polite (quisiera) in an atmosphere that did not warrant such courtesy, as you say, it may sound a bit poofy!

Of course to compicate matters, this will change from region to region.

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rocinante says on Jan 30, 2008, 15:01:

Not addressing anything but the original post and only speaking of Colombia, the sure fire way to make requests - for a favor, permission, or for an object is to use the following construct:


Real nice, will work anywhere - even hamburger joints:
(using poder helper in the conditional plus the action verb, in this case DAR)
¿Me podría dar una cerveza? OR ¿Podría darme...?

Note the above the example has an indirect object pronoun, ME, because I am asking that you bring something (direct object, affected by the action in the verb - giving the WHAT? beer) TO/FOR me - IO pronouns answer the question "to/for who?". IO pronouns should always be in a sentence that has an Indirect Object, stated or not. I know it's redundant.

Here are some examples of everyday requests most have indirect objects.

Talking to Tú

1.) ¿Me podrias decir la hora? ¿Podrias decirme la hora? could you tell me the time?

2.) ¿Nos podrias traer la carta? ¿Podrias traernos la carta? could you bring us the menu?

3.) ¿Nos podrias traer dos cervezas? ¿Podrias traernos dos cervezas? could you bring us two beers

4.) ¿Podrias volver en un momento? could you come back in just a moment? (note: there is no direct object and no receiver of the direct object, so there is no indirect object pronoun)

5.) ¿Me podrias prestar tu lapicero? ¿Podrias prestarme tu lapicero? May I borrow your pen? (Medellín lapicero, esfero in Bogotá and bolígrafo in Spain - I don't know what the coronchos say)

Change podrias to podria and you are speaking to Usted (don't forget to change " tu lapicero" to "su lapicero" in #5 ) - you can add por favor or start with Usted (or both) to increase politeness as in ¿Usted nos podrias la carta, por favor? - which really kicks it up and is almost too wordy.

Once you become familiar with the waiter or bartender you can bring these down to the others in the other thread, namely 2-4.

Lastly, don't ask in your most polite Spanish for "guaro" from your "parce" as it will sound goofy. Can you Imagine "Would you be so kind as to bring me your finest congnac, homie?" Make sure you have unity when you speak.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on Jan 31, 2008, 07:15:

Kalder I was wrong in my original post, which I wrote 7 months ago, just before moving here. I based my advice from instructors regarding other countries.

Quisiera is totally acceptable but on the high side of politeness here in Medellín. What I wrote in the other, although applicable in other countries, is not applicable here.

I am not going to edit the post as I believe in maintaining the integrity of the board. I wish Peter would disable the edit feature afer 20 mins like other sites do.

Using the example I cited above you can't go wrong in any country.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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curramberochris says on Feb 2, 2008, 09:05:

I would say the use of quisiera would be more suitable in formal situations. I have never used it and I have rarely heard it used in Colombia. Perhaps that´s because I live in Barranquilla and the use of usted is something I find quite foreign!!!!

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rocinante says on Feb 3, 2008, 07:53:

Agreed Chris. BUT in Medellin quisiera is more prevalent. I don't use it. Also in Medellin men use UD and Vos, never Tu.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Plato says on Feb 11, 2008, 21:08:

Aahh some good posts!

Thanks,

Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

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venustimon says on Feb 17, 2008, 13:39:

" Quisiera" is used to express " I would like"

As in "Quisiera verte de nuevo" " I'd like to see you again"
"Quisiera una hamburguesa" I'd like a burger"
If your boss says "Quisiera un reporte en una hora" This could be a bit more imperative" but only in this context.

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morphus says on Apr 19, 2008, 07:20:

Just say "oye, deme una cerveza".

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rocinante says on May 12, 2008, 07:01:

Que grosero!

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Bellita says on May 27, 2008, 14:58:

Quisiera una cerveza is fine, but when I ask for I bear I say "Me gustaria una cerveza por favor" or "Me regalas una cerveza por favor" or just " una cerveza por favor" I am a Native Spanish speaker.
I know "regalas" sounds funny but a lot of Colombians say that.
Diana

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Bellita says on May 27, 2008, 18:17:

Sorry I meant beer not bear hehehe!!

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morphus says on May 28, 2008, 07:05:

Would'nt "me regalas una cerveza por favor" sound like you want the beer for free?

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rocinante says on May 28, 2008, 09:01:

No morph it's very common for women here to ask someone else to "gift" them whatever it is they are asking for weather it be a beer they intend to pay for or a pen that needs to be borrowed. Some will use the past tense meaning "you gave me a beer" "Me regalaste una cerveza" . This is really asuming and the requester usually already knows the the person they're asking really well.

Using the past for something present is a way to say it is so in stone that it already happened. "Me fui" when you are about to leave = "I'm gone". We use that in English as well.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on May 29, 2008, 13:00:

OK yesterday some old guy in my favourite bar said "Me ragalas una Pilsen". Usually this is more heard from the mouths of the ladies.... Also every now and then you a see a single guy in the back of a taxi. Go figure

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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morphus says on May 30, 2008, 09:51:

If i'm in a loud bar i'll just say "una pilsen" or the name of the beer I want like I do in the US. You can just say "dos Pilsens" or "dos Coronas". When I finish my beer, i'll say "mas Pilsen".

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rocinante says on May 30, 2008, 13:19:

Many times Quisiera means you don't expect what your asking for to actually happen. Almost like a wish or a longshot. Therefore it sounds faggy in a bar and roughly translates to "I'm hoping you might serve me a Pilsen". At least this is the way it is in Medellín.

Yeah Morph it's the same as in the US. Crowded bar you can even hold up two fingers and flash the bottle and that is sufficient.

Fancy joint - "Podría(s) darme una Pilsen".
Normal joint - "Me daria(s) una Pilsen" This is really the best all around way.

Of course if you are friends with the Bartender "quiero", "me da(s)", "Una mas (cerveza)" and if you're a regular like me and Douglas at the 5 doors you can say "Lo de siempre, Lloyd" - The usual, Lloyd.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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