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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

la cabrona

English translation:

the old girl

Added to glossary by T o b i a s
Oct 24, 2018 19:09
5 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Spanish term

cabrona (as term of endearment)

Spanish to English Other Slang
This man who is living in the US continually refers to his poor, sick mother as "cabrona". I don't think I should translate it with the hateful term "bitch" or something equally harsh. Am I correct in feeling that this is more of a term of endearment, and should be softened in English? Maybe "old lady" or something similar?
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 the old girl
5 Tough
4 so-and-so
4 Tough old bird
Change log

Oct 29, 2018 12:25: T o b i a s Created KOG entry

Discussion

Chema Nieto Castañón Oct 25, 2018:
Sí, neilmac, y con la misma naturalidad, ese mismo grupo de jóvenes que dice "Hola cabrones" en tono cariñoso y festivo se referirá a "esa cabrona de profesora" con un sentido inequívocamente despectivo...
neilmac Oct 25, 2018:
In Spain Groups of male friends often greet each other with what seem like insults (maricón, cabrón...), but in context they are more like terms of endearment. I imagine women do something similar.
Chema Nieto Castañón Oct 25, 2018:
@spanruss Esta/aquella cabrona no tiene significado concreto salvo por contexto específico [en Whatsapp es de esas expresiones a las que necesariamente tienes que añadir un emoticono para especificar su sentido]. Puede utilizarse como expresión ofensiva y rencorosa hacia alguien (como "bitch") tanto como constituir una referencia a alguien que es capaz de adivinar siempre lo que me pasa, lo que he hecho o lo que voy a hacer -pasando por cualquier matiz intermedio. La misma expresión en el mismo texto puede variar de sentido en función del contexto específico, y ser en unos casos tierna expresión de cariño y en otros evidenciar con ella el más cruel de los desprecios. .
spanruss (asker) Oct 24, 2018:
Hi Richard. Neither "ser" nor "estar" forms are being used. Simply "esta cabrona" or "aquella cabrona". Each time he speaks of her, he always expressing concern about what his mother is going to think about his bad behavior.
Juan Jacob Oct 24, 2018:
@Richard Me guié por "as term of endearment"... según yo. Saludos.
Richard Cadena Oct 24, 2018:
Context please The use of the terms "cabrón / cabrona" have a completely different meaning when used with the verbs "ser" and "estar". Please provide some context.

Proposed translations

+1
1 hr
Spanish term (edited): cabrona
Selected

the old girl

My mother didn’t mean to teach me to be empathetic. In fact, the old girl is utterly lacking in empathy herself. At 74 years old, she is a mouthy force to be reckoned with. The contestants on "The Voice" have no idea what offensive, foul-mouthed insults are flung their way from her living room every week, and God help you, you idiot, if you mess-up her order at the drive-thru.
https://www.omaha.com/momaha/blogs/lkirkle/my-mother-s-cereb...

I was directed to the quiz WRT my younger brother, then took did it for my dad and for some reason did it for my mum. OMG That's when I realized the old girl was not only an enabler but a narc in her own right.
http://narcissisticparents.blogspot.com/2010/01/really-mean-...



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Note added at 16 hrs (2018-10-25 12:03:37 GMT)
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OED:
¶old girl: Applied colloq. to a woman at any time of life, either disrespectfully or (occas.) as an endearing term of address, spec. one's mother or wife; also, a former pupil of a girls' school or college; also attrib. Similarly, to a mare, etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree Corbett AM : this is what came to mind for me as well - the old girl or even 'my old lady' used by men mostly and not just towards their mothers but sometimes towards their wives, regardless of age.
14 hrs
Exactly. Thank you.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "There probably isn't a true English equivalent. But your suggestion is at least something you might hear as a playful jab to reference one's mother. Thanks"
5 mins

Tough

Sí, en este sentido, es positivo: rudo, correoso, resistente, fuerte, firme.
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12 hrs

so-and-so

Cabrona is sort of milder version of "sinvergüenza" -> You old so-and-so! (hum) → ¡sinvergüenza!
Similar options could be te old dear/girl/besom (bizzum) ...

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Note added at 12 hrs (2018-10-25 08:05:40 GMT)
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https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/scottish-word-of-the-day-...

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Note added at 12 hrs (2018-10-25 08:07:23 GMT)
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Ultimate Prizes - Google Books Result
https://books.google.es/books?isbn=0307775135
Susan Howatch - 2011 - ‎Fiction
The old besom went and poisoned him by mistake.” ... “Adelaide and I agreed never to tell you children because we knew how fond of the old besom you were,” ...
Example sentence:

You never thought of a word of sass, or of calling her an old so-and-so in your mind.

Maggie Casey was an old besom with hardly a penny to bless herself.

Reference:

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/so-and-so

Something went wrong...
15 hrs

Tough old bird

While agreeing with Tobias, I also think bringing in tough as suggested by Juan Jacob might help.

I have heard this used when referring to old(er) women who are either ill or struggling in some other way - 'she's a tough old bird'.

As the poster says the mother is ill, so I hope this helps.

I've no exact references. I just remember hearing it, most likely on tv.

Example sentence:

She'll be ok - she's a tough old bird

Something went wrong...
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