BajaNomad

Chimera ?

alafrontera - 2-20-2010 at 12:33 PM

My girlfriend (de Argentina) uses this word a lot, I can't find it in a dictionary and it doesn't translate online. In context it seems to mean "path" or "journey". Something like that anyway. Any help ?

DENNIS - 2-20-2010 at 12:34 PM

chimera [kai-mia-ra]
sustantivo1. Quimera, monstruo fabuloso.
2. Quimera, ilusión, imaginación vana.

LOSARIPES - 2-20-2010 at 01:21 PM

Aqui va otra definicion... basicamente lo mismo...
quimera

1. f. Monstruo imaginario con cabeza de león,cuerpo de cabra y cola de dragón.
2. Ilusión,fantasía que se cree posible,pero que no lo es:
en lugar de actuar,se pierde en quimeras.

alafrontera - 2-20-2010 at 04:55 PM

Thanks, this is why I asked here and didn't ask her. It was used in a negative way during an arguement, as if my "path" is:

"Illusion, fantasy is believed possible, but it is not:
instead of acting, is lost in illusions."

and...

"Chimera: illusion, vain imagination."

This is the problem with "international affairs", you don't know when you should be offended (peeed off) :fire:

alafrontera - 2-20-2010 at 05:10 PM

Ahh... with the alternate spelling quimera we have "worry, unfounded suspicion".

Not what she meant but interesting just the same.

Chimera

Osprey - 2-20-2010 at 07:06 PM

Here's your demon.

Evil devil - sometimes invisible

Osprey - 2-20-2010 at 07:09 PM



chimerawq2.jpg - 49kB

This is the Classical Referance

Gypsy Jan - 2-20-2010 at 08:48 PM

Chimera - "Homer's brief description in the Iliad is the earliest surviving literary reference: ...a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire."

If you ask me, which you are, I think she means that you say something and then it turn around and deny it, while also blaming someone else for perverting the meaning.

A Chimera sets up a lose-lose scenario.

Perhaps you need to talk honestly to your lady.

[Edited on 2-21-2010 by Gypsy Jan]

Tano - 2-21-2010 at 10:09 AM

The word is "quimera," and it became rather popular in Spanish-speaking countries at the time Chaplin’s movie "The Gold Rush" was released and was translated as "La Quimera de Oro," which sort of gives you an idea of what the word means in popular parlance: a desirable but elusive goal. What I find interesting is that a person would "use this word a lot," since today it is not that common and is considered somewhat pedantic.

I would recommend that every time your girlfriend uses the word, you just reply, "Calláte, boluda." (In this case, the "ll" is pronounced like the "g" in the word "genre.") Good luck.

DENNIS - 2-21-2010 at 10:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Tano
"Calláte, boluda." (In this case, the "ll" is pronounced like the "g" in the word "genre.") Good luck.


"Shut up, Stupid." Yeah...that'll go a long way. :lol:
I've heard "Callate" a million times and never heard the LL pronounced like anything other than Y. In which country are you refering to?

[Edited on 2-21-2010 by DENNIS]

Natalie Ann - 2-21-2010 at 11:35 AM

Coupla years back I took Spanish lessons in Ensenada from a teacher originally from Mexico City. She was all over my pronunciation of "ll".... insisted that the correct pronunciation was a "j" as in pajamas. Retrained myself to say it that way - my friend Magda was proud of me. Went back to the Sur where folks laughed themselves silly over my 'new' language.

nena

[Edited on 2-21-2010 by Natalie Ann]

DENNIS - 2-21-2010 at 12:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
"ll" is more fricative in a lot of the Spanish-speaking world, including Argentina whence hails the lady in question... ;>

--Larry


Thanks, Larry. That clears up another question which has been on my mind lately. On the PGA tour, there's a young golfer from Argentina named Villegas and the commentators pronounce the LL as ZH. I couldn't understand why...till now.

arrowhead - 2-21-2010 at 01:50 PM

quimera = pipedream

alafrontera - 2-22-2010 at 12:08 AM

Yes my Argentinian lady does pronounce the ll as the G in genre, she is really messing with my Spanish ;) Her friend from Uraguay does the same but not the friend from Colombia.

She is definately using the word to mean fantasy/ illusion/ pipedream; she doesn't like it when I talk of retirement in Mexico, Central America or Puerto Rico. That is why in context I thought it meant path or journey. She wants me to stay here :rolleyes:

Actually I'm learning many new words and sometimes it's funny. She uses the word "choclo" for corn-on-the-cob. Apparently in Mexico that is a type of shoe, like a loafer :o

[Edited on 2-22-2010 by alafrontera]

alafrontera - 2-22-2010 at 12:19 AM

Just to expand a bit, it is really interesting how words differ so much from country to country. We take Tango Argentino lessons and this is why we know so many South Americans. It amazes me how almost every night there are discussions about words, it's a wonder they can communicate at all. They constantly look at each other with uncertain curiosity ;)

Martyman - 2-22-2010 at 09:13 AM

I believe there is also a fish called a chimera

Tano - 2-22-2010 at 10:04 AM

Just to tie up some loose ends on the subject for those interested in the Spanish language: Dennis must have heard the word “cállate” many times, but not “callate,” which I wrote as “calláte” just to emphasize the stress, but the accent is not actually written. If you just read/write “callate,” the stress falls on the second “a,” a typical Argentinian/Uruguayan way to pronounce it.

The expression “Callate, boludo/a,” sounds to somebody from that region like “Shut up, dummy” did to Lamont Sanford when Fred disagreed with him and told him so.

Martyman - 2-22-2010 at 10:09 AM

Fred also said "Aunt Ester...you're so ugly, they put yer face in dough and made gorilla cookies"

DENNIS - 2-22-2010 at 10:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Tano
Dennis must have heard the word “cállate” many times


In fact, I have. Most often here on Nomad. :lol:
I sense your frustration trying to explain the nuances of language. In some cases, you just have to be there.
Thanks.

Skipjack Joe - 2-22-2010 at 10:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman

I believe there is also a fish called a chimera


Yes, the ratfish. I caught 2 off catalina on one trip at about 4AM several years ago. This led me to subsequently do a term paper on the animal. Their mouth structure indicate that they are an early evolutionary offshoot from our bony fishes that currently dominate the oceans.

Spotted_ratfish.jpg - 48kB

DENNIS - 2-22-2010 at 10:20 AM

Looks like one of them there fish assembled by commitee. :?:

arrowhead - 2-22-2010 at 10:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Tano
Dennis must have heard the word “cállate” many times


In fact, I have. Most often here on Nomad. :lol:
I sense your frustration trying to explain the nuances of language. In some cases, you just have to be there.
Thanks.


If anybody wants a short lesson on how to say "shut up" in Spanish, here it is:

Cállate = "be quiet", the politest way to say it. OK to say in polite company.
Cállate la boca = "shut your mouth", a stronger way to say it. Not used in polite company.
Cállate el hocico = shut your big snout, a strong, vulgar way to say it. Be careful who you say it to.

Oso - 2-22-2010 at 04:50 PM

Around here, a Cholo is a gangbanger.