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Optimistic Cynic
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Legalize the Constitution
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| Godfather, like at a baptism
_______________________________________________________ despite them
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Enjoy Computer Living
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| It literally translates to godfather, or more specifically, the godfather of your child.
-Loungechair
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Nosce te ipsum
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| The English equivalent is "compadre". |
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| It strikes me as something they say a lot in westerns taking place near the border, I would think "pardner" would interchange in just about any line. Judging by your post, I doubt you re thinking of the root word literal meaning as others have alluded to.
Or you could just say tovarisch. |
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Gracie Allen is my personal savior!
| quote: Originally posted by Woodman: The English equivalent is "compadre".
Agreed. It's that common - and commonly understood - and describes a relationship that doesn't quite exist in the same way in the English-speaking world. I would also argue that in those places where westerns are supposed to take place and where the word is generally used in English (at least in my experience), the original meaning of the word is actually commonly understood. So, for that matter, is the fact that there isn't really an English word that conveys the same meaning - which is why the Spanish word is adopted by the English speakers who use it. By the historical trends that have guided the development of the English language, the correct English word should in fact be compadre. |
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| quote: Originally posted by TMats: Godfather, like at a baptism
A Spanish speaking friend explained the distinction to 'padrino,' but I don't remember what it is.
Year V |
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Thank you Very little
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| a way of addressing or referring to a friend or companion.
"that includes you, compadre"
amigo, buddy, chum, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate, musketeer, pal, ese, dawg, |
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Irksome Whirling Dervish
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| quote: Originally posted by HRK: a way of addressing or referring to a friend or companion.
"that includes you, compadre"
amigo, buddy, chum, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate, musketeer, pal, ese, dawg,
This is it 100%. I work with Hispanic people every day and "compadre" is never said. Instead the truncated version of "compa" is always the default expression. You could say compadre but the listener would slightly wonder why you didn't say compa. It also means co-worker or teammate, depending on context, like a lot of Spanish words. As another example of truncation, you could properly, say "hasta luego" as a salutation to mean "until later" aka "goodbye until we see each other again" however you could quite commonly say, "hasta" as you leave to mean the same thing and it would be understood that way, especially among friends, family or co-workers. |
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Gracie Allen is my personal savior!
| quote: Originally posted by Keystoner: quote: Originally posted by TMats: Godfather, like at a baptism
A Spanish speaking friend explained the distinction to 'padrino,' but I don't remember what it is.
Aglifter got it. You ask someone to be a padrino because they're socially superior to you and will pull strings for the kid from time to time. To be a compadre is to pretty much accept that you're family. |
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Do---or do not. There is no try.
| quote: Originally posted by Woodman: The English equivalent is "compadre".
That reminds me of a skit that David Frye (one of the great impressionists of the '60s through the '80s) did about Richard Nixon meeting Golda Meir with George Jessel providing diplomatic tips: Nixon: What's the word for hello? Jessel: The word for hello is "shalom." Nixon: And the word for goodbye? Jessel: The word for goodbye is "shalom." Nixon: Uh, how do I tell which is which? Jessel: If she leaves after you've said it, you've said goodbye. |
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| quote: Originally posted by recoatlift: Don’t want to piss of a Sicilian.
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Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well. -Epictetus |
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