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Balls

Apr. 24th, 2014 10:37 am
poliphilo: (corinium)
[personal profile] poliphilo
My mother- picking her way line by line through the Telegraph-  came, as she sometimes does, across a word she didn't understand.

"What are cojones?" she asked.

I took a deep breath, couldn't locate an escape route, and told her.

"Oh," she said, vaguely. Her eyes wandered sideways. It took her a few seconds to recoup her forces.

"So how do you pronounce it?"

Which stumped me. Because I don't think its a word I've ever had occasion to speak out loud. Does one go for the full Spanish, or sound the last syllable like a Welsh surname or opt for something in between?

Date: 2014-04-24 09:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] veronica-milvus.livejournal.com
Definitely the Spanish j-as-h sound, "co-HO-ness" especially if you want to sound like a Spaghetti Western.

Date: 2014-04-24 09:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
And I do, I do...

Date: 2014-04-24 10:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] haikujaguar.livejournal.com
I was going to say, I've never heard anyone pronounce it 'co joan uhs', even the gringoiest of gringos. :)

Date: 2014-04-24 12:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
It's not a word you hear very much over here- but I believe it's catching on.

Date: 2014-04-24 11:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] artkouros.livejournal.com
co-HO-neez is how we say it in Texas. And I think we can claim some authority.

Date: 2014-04-24 12:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
I believe you can!

Date: 2014-04-24 01:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pondhopper.livejournal.com
Long e??? My Spanish from Spain ears hurt.
;)
Edited Date: 2014-04-24 02:03 pm (UTC)

Date: 2014-04-24 06:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] veronica-milvus.livejournal.com
Same here! Hablo Castiliano!

Date: 2014-04-24 08:17 pm (UTC)

Date: 2014-04-24 12:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lblanchard.livejournal.com
This is wonderful!

Date: 2014-04-24 12:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
Thanks. :)

Date: 2014-04-24 01:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pondhopper.livejournal.com
From one who lives her life in Spanish...the Texan isn't kosher. It's "co HO neighs". :)
Edited Date: 2014-04-24 02:03 pm (UTC)

Date: 2014-04-24 04:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wyrmwwd.livejournal.com
California pronunciation: like pondhopper says. It is a very common word here. We have a lot of Spanish speaking residents.

Date: 2014-04-24 04:29 pm (UTC)

Date: 2014-04-24 04:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
Thanks. :)

Date: 2014-04-24 03:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faunhaert.livejournal.com
you can find it in the movie
"Frieda "
"http://streamingfaster.com/video/play.php?movie=0120679"
they are shopping in a open air market

hehe
good one momma!

Date: 2014-04-24 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faunhaert.livejournal.com
were you able to see the movie?
never know what will go across the waters

Date: 2014-04-25 07:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
Yes and no. The movie made the transition but my internet connection is too slow to play it.

Date: 2014-04-26 01:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faunhaert.livejournal.com
i have the same problem
sorry
(deleted comment)

Date: 2014-04-25 07:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
Much like the Catalans.

Date: 2014-04-24 09:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] huskyteer.livejournal.com
The only place I've ever heard it pronounced is in a track on Paul Simon's 'Songs from the Capeman' album...

Date: 2014-04-25 07:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
Paul Simon's greatest flop. What are the songs like?

Date: 2014-04-25 11:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] huskyteer.livejournal.com
Different, but rather lovely, especially the Gracelandesque 'Trailways Bus'.

Date: 2014-04-29 04:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ooxc.livejournal.com
Errrrmmm - what does it mean? I've only come across it once, and that was on LJ also

Date: 2014-04-29 08:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
It means balls.

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