BajaNomad

Ni Modo

Ken Bondy - 8-21-2007 at 11:05 AM

I should know this, and maybe I do, but can someone tell me the precise translation for "ni modo"?? Gracias,
++Ken++

DENNIS - 8-21-2007 at 11:05 AM

I think it means, "No way."

Eli - 8-21-2007 at 11:31 AM

Ken Bondy, I have always interpeted Ni Modo as "Oh well". I have heard it used in the following instances;

hurricane blew away my roof, dang, ni modo.

My father died yesterday, ay, ni modo.

It sure is hot. Pues, si es, ni modo.

His wife left him. ¿A poco? pues, ni modo, ya tinea que pasar.

Pues, ya sabes, es otro P-nche lunes, y ni los guienas ponen. Si pues, ni modo.

There will be no classes at the school today, ni modo.

Otro ves, The truck battery is dead, pues, ni modo.

Her husband got drunk and beat her again. Ni Modo.

The coffee machine broke, ni modo.

The price of tortillas went up again, pues, ni modo, a si es.

I read it as cultural way of stoically expressing an acceptance of disapointments small and large, it is an easy answer for when you don't know what else to say, covers all bases. I use Ni Modo almost daily.

I have also heard it used in kind of an ironic positive sence.

Ni modo, por fin se va a casar ellos. ¿A poco? pues, ni modo.

Osprey - 8-21-2007 at 11:40 AM

Ken, glad you asked. This is just my humble (but qualified) opinion:

It comes from the Maya and spells out their fatalistic culture. The whole sentence would be "No Way this could have been avoided." The Maya gods were many and all powerful. The gods were in charge and it became a given that ill fortune was their doing, that the Maya were powerless to prevent what awaits them on the very uncertain journey of life, death. This whole fatalistic approach to life defines modern Mexican culture -- it is a core part of the guilt-free, seemingly carefree or casual, mos o menus attitude that has made Jimmy Buffett famous, keeps parot-heads happy.

We start a long road trip in a brand new car. Twenty miles into the trip we think "What's that funny noise" and the whold trip is ruined. Mexicans around here start a similar adventure in an old beater and (usually) have a safe and carefree ride. If they break down, they say "Ni modo" and it don't mean "OH chiit".

Paula - 8-21-2007 at 11:56 AM

Actually, ni modo means Norway. Ni=nor. Modo=way. Norway.

When the family piles into the trusty, reliable 1972 Ford Pinto and it breaks down on the way to the beach they can't believe that the trusty car has failed them. Never happened before. To a Mexican, there is no place on earth stranger than Norway. So when something unexpected happens, they just say ni modo. Norway.

Eli - 8-21-2007 at 12:10 PM

Too funny Paula, thanks for the chuckle.

DENNIS - 8-21-2007 at 01:05 PM

Did I say No Way? I meant Norway. Yeah. That's what I meant. Norway.
Thanks, Paula.........The heat, you know. So confusing some times.

Osprey - 8-21-2007 at 01:12 PM

Paula, at the risk of being called wishy (and washy) I like your rendition better than mine.

Osprey - 8-21-2007 at 01:17 PM

Paula, my wife is teaching me how to use Mexican language shortcuts like that: "he's gone" = SAFEWAY

Ken Bondy - 8-21-2007 at 02:09 PM

Thanks everyone. Sara your examples are great. I had a general impression that "ni modo" was used as "no matter" and I guess that was correct but it really is a bit more than that. Anyway thanks for the responses. ++Ken++

fdt - 8-21-2007 at 04:40 PM

Ken, disculpa que no conteste a tiempo tu pregunta, Ni modo. ;D

Ken Bondy - 8-21-2007 at 04:46 PM

Fernando, no hay una problema, yo entiendo, ni modo :)

[Edited on 8-21-2007 by Ken Bondy]

Ken Bondy - 8-21-2007 at 05:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paula
Actually, ni modo means Norway. Ni=nor. Modo=way. Norway.

When the family piles into the trusty, reliable 1972 Ford Pinto and it breaks down on the way to the beach they can't believe that the trusty car has failed them. Never happened before. To a Mexican, there is no place on earth stranger than Norway. So when something unexpected happens, they just say ni modo. Norway.


Paula I just had Babelfish translate "ni modo" for me. Guess what it came up with? Norway. Honest, try it.

fdt - 8-21-2007 at 05:49 PM

It is used also as, Ni hablar, ni que hacerle, ni lucha que hacerle and some from my zip code would also say Ni pedo.

Osprey - 8-21-2007 at 06:31 PM

Wink, wink, you can trust your fellow Nomads. Why don't you share with us what you know? We can't know what you do. We are just trying hard to understand. If you have some special knowledge we could miss after reading countless books, spending time in Mexico, living here, being a part of the people, the country, give us a hint.

Ken Bondy - 8-21-2007 at 06:49 PM

Fernando is "pedo" what I think it is? Related to flatulence?

fdt - 8-21-2007 at 07:02 PM

ni pedo, thats what it means :lol:

vacaenbaja - 8-21-2007 at 11:14 PM

Reminds me of spanish class when the teacher asked the class to use the verb tocar. THe first student said yo toca
la guitara. The teacher then asked the wise guy of the class
looking to stump the inattentive student. He promptly replied
to the whole class with a grin "yo toca mi muchacha!" or
something like that ...it was a long time ago......

Oso - 8-22-2007 at 07:15 AM

Also:
"Ponerse pedo"= to get drunk
"No hay pedo"= no problem, nothing to fight about
"Esta bien pedo"= He's really drunk.

Ken Bondy - 8-22-2007 at 07:35 AM

Now I'm confused. I thought "pedo" means "fart". Oso does it also mean "drunk"? I've always thought "drunk" was "borracho". Help.

DENNIS - 8-22-2007 at 07:39 AM

Well, Ken, you should know by now that in Mexico, nothing is what it's supposed to be and everything is something else.

amir - 8-22-2007 at 10:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
... in Mexico, nothing is what it's supposed to be and everything is something else...


Ni modo, pedo! :rolleyes:

DENNIS - 8-22-2007 at 05:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by amir
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
... in Mexico, nothing is what it's supposed to be and everything is something else...


Ni modo, pedo! :rolleyes:

It's allright with me, Amir, that you choose to have a silly icon speak for you. Your words remain in the realm of the unknown.
I have to comment on your past implied knowledge of the Spanish language, being the idiom of your birth in Argentina. Why do you not speak your native tongue here or, at least show a knowledge of it? You havn't in the past.
I honestly dont believe you know the meaning of your last post except that, it was meant to be mean.
Are we back to that point again?

Oso - 8-22-2007 at 08:01 PM

Ken,
Borracho is the common vernacular term most used in Mexico for drunkard or the condition of being drunk. Pedo, as a slang term. means fart or in slang terms; trouble, conflict or difficulty or the condition of being drunk The polite or PC term for the condition is "Ebrio".

Ken Bondy - 8-22-2007 at 08:49 PM

Gracias Oso. I wasn't aware of "pedo" being used in that context. I think I have heard "ebrio". Appreciate su ayuda!!!! ++Ken++

bajajudy - 8-22-2007 at 09:07 PM

I have never been able to forget the word after reading "King of the Moonn" when the guy says...my numero es pedo.

HUH?

amir - 8-22-2007 at 10:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
It's allright with me, Amir, that you choose to have a silly icon speak for you. Your words remain in the realm of the unknown.
I have to comment on your past implied knowledge of the Spanish language, being the idiom of your birth in Argentina. Why do you not speak your native tongue here or, at least show a knowledge of it? You havn't in the past.
I honestly dont believe you know the meaning of your last post except that, it was meant to be mean.
Are we back to that point again?


Dennis, it was supposed to be funny! I may not have the command of the language, but I do like to play with words. I just forgot to add :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

It's like my silly Avatar, it doesn't just speak for me, it IS me!

It was not meant to be mean. I am sorry you took it that way. Normally you have a great sense of humor, and only sometimes somebody will have to tell you to adjust your dosage. You are way off with your attacks here. Again I'm sorry for the unintended effect of my ineffectual attempt at trans-literal humor, and my words should ever remain in the realm of the unknown.

And I never implied anything about my first language. I spoke castellano until I was 13 years old and then strictly English for the next 42 years. Thanks to threads like this one, my Spanish is becoming more proficient and maybe some day it will no longer offend you.

Please try to stop making assumptions about me and having expectations about my writings, in whatever tongue or idiom they may be.

Sinceramente,
-- Amir

Oso - 8-22-2007 at 10:55 PM

¡Huy que pedo! :lol: