Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
"tres millones de p...[endejos]"
English translation:
"three million s...[uckers]"
Added to glossary by
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Jan 21, 2009 02:03
15 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
Panama
Synesthete with a flair for tasty words!
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Costa Rican, Panamanian, Nicaraguan, Mexican, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Cuban, Honduran, Argentine, US, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, Latin American, Colombian) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
pendejos (in this context) (question about omitting the word, actually)
Spanish to English
Other
Slang
Panamanian politics
(Translation from Panamanian slang into US English slang.)
In an article by a political commentator, referring to the statements given by a presidential candidate:
"Para Balbina el país dominado por las Fuerzas de Defensa era “seguro” porque ella era del círculo íntimo de los dictadores; para los ciudadanos significó cárcel, torturas, desapariciones, exilios, decapitaciones, etc... y para qué seguir. ¿Y las drogas? ¡pero si precisamente fueron las FFDD las que pusieron a nuestro país en manos de las mafias de las drogas! ¡por amor a Dios, puede que seamos (como dice Pedrito en su canción) *******“tres millones de p…”*******, pero tampoco a este extremo!"
The part between ******* refers to Pedrito Altamiranda, who is a Panamanian singer (in)famous for his politically-charged, but humorous, protest songs. That particular line reads "tres millones de pendejos."
I don't find the word particularly offensive (rather, mildly offensive), but the commentator decided to leave it out of his article, anyway (the article was printed in a local newspaper.)
My question is, how would I go about translating this part?
1) It refers to a line in a song, really, so I'd have to paraphrase. Because the song is actually in Spanish, that is. I mean, it doesn't have an English translation...
2) Then, there's the issue of leaving just the initial letter of the word, because the author assumes everyone who'll read the article is already familiar with the song and the particular line.
3) THEN, this is where I come in: "pendejo" could be translated as "dumbass," which I guess is not particularly offensive, either? I'm not sure. It wouldn't be printed in a newspaper article – actually, an opinion piece –, would it? Do I just translate that line as "three million d..." and leave it at that? (I'm concerned that would be interpreted to refer to "dickhead," which in my opinion is stronger than "dumbass.")
Ack! This sounds like a silly question, but I guess it's the silliest things which get us in the end. :/
THANKS A LOT!
In an article by a political commentator, referring to the statements given by a presidential candidate:
"Para Balbina el país dominado por las Fuerzas de Defensa era “seguro” porque ella era del círculo íntimo de los dictadores; para los ciudadanos significó cárcel, torturas, desapariciones, exilios, decapitaciones, etc... y para qué seguir. ¿Y las drogas? ¡pero si precisamente fueron las FFDD las que pusieron a nuestro país en manos de las mafias de las drogas! ¡por amor a Dios, puede que seamos (como dice Pedrito en su canción) *******“tres millones de p…”*******, pero tampoco a este extremo!"
The part between ******* refers to Pedrito Altamiranda, who is a Panamanian singer (in)famous for his politically-charged, but humorous, protest songs. That particular line reads "tres millones de pendejos."
I don't find the word particularly offensive (rather, mildly offensive), but the commentator decided to leave it out of his article, anyway (the article was printed in a local newspaper.)
My question is, how would I go about translating this part?
1) It refers to a line in a song, really, so I'd have to paraphrase. Because the song is actually in Spanish, that is. I mean, it doesn't have an English translation...
2) Then, there's the issue of leaving just the initial letter of the word, because the author assumes everyone who'll read the article is already familiar with the song and the particular line.
3) THEN, this is where I come in: "pendejo" could be translated as "dumbass," which I guess is not particularly offensive, either? I'm not sure. It wouldn't be printed in a newspaper article – actually, an opinion piece –, would it? Do I just translate that line as "three million d..." and leave it at that? (I'm concerned that would be interpreted to refer to "dickhead," which in my opinion is stronger than "dumbass.")
Ack! This sounds like a silly question, but I guess it's the silliest things which get us in the end. :/
THANKS A LOT!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
35 mins
Marcelo González
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
PhD in Translation Studies
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
44
Selected
"tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million d...[umbasses]")
Good questions!!
I'd consider something like this, which would communicate to the readers who are familiar with formal writing conventions that what appears between the brackets was not actually said (but included by the person quoting).
As for your translation of "pendejos," it's fine. Others might also be appropriate, but I think your question was mostly about how to proceed. If that's the real question, this might be a good option.
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Note added at 56 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:41 GMT)
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Given all the possible translations of "pendejo," I'd like to chime: you might consider any one of several options, including "jerk," "dumbass" and "fathead"; personally, I think I'd go for the last one (as it contains no objectionable parts that begin with an "a" and refers ONLY to intelligence, or lack thereof). :-)
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:23:48 GMT)
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oops, that's "chime in" :-) And while I'm doing just that, I agree that "a-hole" (as Lydia suggests) is really common in the US, but again, I'd go with something that has NO objectionable parts (or letters). Why take the risk of having someone even slightly offended over the translation of "pendejo" when other, less objectionable options exist?
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:26:07 GMT)
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FINAL SUGGESTION:
""tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million f...[atheads]")
I'd consider something like this, which would communicate to the readers who are familiar with formal writing conventions that what appears between the brackets was not actually said (but included by the person quoting).
As for your translation of "pendejos," it's fine. Others might also be appropriate, but I think your question was mostly about how to proceed. If that's the real question, this might be a good option.
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Note added at 56 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:41 GMT)
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Given all the possible translations of "pendejo," I'd like to chime: you might consider any one of several options, including "jerk," "dumbass" and "fathead"; personally, I think I'd go for the last one (as it contains no objectionable parts that begin with an "a" and refers ONLY to intelligence, or lack thereof). :-)
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:23:48 GMT)
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oops, that's "chime in" :-) And while I'm doing just that, I agree that "a-hole" (as Lydia suggests) is really common in the US, but again, I'd go with something that has NO objectionable parts (or letters). Why take the risk of having someone even slightly offended over the translation of "pendejo" when other, less objectionable options exist?
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:26:07 GMT)
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FINAL SUGGESTION:
""tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million f...[atheads]")
Note from asker:
| Aha! Good idea about the writing convention! Thanks! :-) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Juan Jacob
: Por supuesto... hay que mantener a toda costa los tres puntos. Saludos, paisa. ¡A güe...!
20 mins
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Exacto, jeje :-) Muchas gracias, Juan, y saludos
|
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| agree |
jack_speak
: or: d...[ingbats] ; and for maricas, perhaps "sissies"
1 hr
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good options // I especially like the one for "maricas". That might be a lot better than anything that begins with a "q" (with the possible exception of queen). :-) Thanks, Jack!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for your great suggestions! I decided in the end to use suckers" for "pendejos" (brilliant idea, Lydia, thanks!), and use the writing convention suggested by Marcelo of using the ellipses with the rest of the word inside square brackets. This was a very interesting discussion!! =)"
-1
10 mins
José J. Martínez
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
United States
ENSP, More than 30 years experience
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Spanish (Variant: Latin American)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
I personally would leave it "three million pendejos"
The answer is my opinion.
Note from asker:
| Well, I don't like leaving words untranslated if I can help it... Thanks, anyway! |
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Juan Jacob
: And "pendejos" is...? // Hi, José... we know that. You're not proposing a translation. I do think María must conserve the (...) Saludos.
7 mins
|
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C'mon Juan, it is not an extreme insult and means 'tonto'
|
+3
29 mins
Lydia De Jorge
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
United States
Don't just say it, say it right!
Native in: Spanish , English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
102
jerk/fathead/a-hole/dumbass
In the US one frequently hears the term a-hole to avoid using ass...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Rosa Elena Lozano Arton
: Really you are fantastic! And such a lady! This was a real challenge and you made it just right! in my opinion jerk should be fully written...
4 hrs
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Thanks so much for your kind words!!! Un abrazo Rosa Elena!
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| agree |
Raquel Dominguez
: I would settle for a-hole, a brilliant idea because it keeps within the original anatomical limits ("pendejo" used to mean "pubic and groin hair", that is, the lowest of the low). The word means simply "teenager" now, but is pejorative.
7 hrs
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Thanks rdom! It would be my selection too, although I also like 'losers' which is very popular and conveys the meaning!
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| agree |
Luis Javier Otoya
11 hrs
|
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Gracias Luis Javier!
|
31 mins
Taña Dalglish
Jamaica
Jamaica
Native in English
Jamaica
Translating the Ideas Behind the Words
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
jerks/ignoramuses
Some suggestions:
http://www.eudict.com/?lang=spaeng&word=pendejo
jerks
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pendejos
a group of stupid, idiots, ignorant, useless people
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ignoramuses
ig⋅no⋅ra⋅mus /ˌɪgnəˈreɪməs, -ˈræməs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ig-nuh-rey-muhs, -ram-uhs] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -mus⋅es. an extremely ignorant person
http://www.eudict.com/?lang=spaeng&word=pendejo
jerks
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pendejos
a group of stupid, idiots, ignorant, useless people
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ignoramuses
ig⋅no⋅ra⋅mus /ˌɪgnəˈreɪməs, -ˈræməs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ig-nuh-rey-muhs, -ram-uhs] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -mus⋅es. an extremely ignorant person
+1
33 mins
Peter van der Hoek
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
High quality and a heart for deadlines.
Native in: English , Dutch
Works in: Dutch to English, Flemish to English
idiots
Well, for starters I don't think you should put the first letter and leave it that because it simply leaves too much room for interpretation that could actually be a lot worse than the actual word you had in mind.
As not everyone might know the line from the song it refers to I would opt for a "mildly" offensive alternative like idiots (I agree with you that pendejos in not particularly offensive). Personally I find idiots just about as offensive as pendejos, probably even less.
An interesting dilemma by the way.
Good luck to you.
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Note added at 53 mins (2009-01-21 02:57:01 GMT)
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Thank you Mara Teresa! I hope it helps a bit. I am actually a frequent visitor of your beautiful country and due to my Venezuelan way of speaking I've been called a pendejo myself once or twice! (Which, as stated before, was not meant to offend me, just to point out there are slight differences in Spanish everywhere).
I wish all of you a great night.
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Note added at 55 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:12 GMT)
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Sorry, by trying to put the accent on the i it fell away completely! My apologies María Teresa.
As not everyone might know the line from the song it refers to I would opt for a "mildly" offensive alternative like idiots (I agree with you that pendejos in not particularly offensive). Personally I find idiots just about as offensive as pendejos, probably even less.
An interesting dilemma by the way.
Good luck to you.
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Note added at 53 mins (2009-01-21 02:57:01 GMT)
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Thank you Mara Teresa! I hope it helps a bit. I am actually a frequent visitor of your beautiful country and due to my Venezuelan way of speaking I've been called a pendejo myself once or twice! (Which, as stated before, was not meant to offend me, just to point out there are slight differences in Spanish everywhere).
I wish all of you a great night.
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Note added at 55 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:12 GMT)
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Sorry, by trying to put the accent on the i it fell away completely! My apologies María Teresa.
Note from asker:
| ¡Gracias! "Idiots" works even better than "jerks" and I agree with your interpretation (see my note above.) :-) |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Catherine Gilsenan
: Agree with "idiots", or "imbeciles", as was suggested earlier. Do not put "jerks" Maria Teresa, as this is too US (unless of course it is for a purely American readership).
7 hrs
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Thank you Catherine! I agree with you on jerks, which means unpleasant person more than idiot. Have a great day!
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Discussion
http://www.noslang.com/dictionary.php
2.- Con base en eso, busca un equivalente en inglés y, según yo, sólo le pones la primera letra y, sin duda, le pones puntos suspensivos...
IMO, of course you must leave the ..., but perhaps not d... (dickhead, too strong), but ass... Saludos.
Y aún más: “… y hoy se quejan de la inseguridad… después que llamaron hasta maricas a los policías”.
Why would he leave out "pendejos" and write "maricas" in full, I wonder?