Balls

[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?

Comments

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Definitely the Spanish j-as-h sound, "co-HO-ness" especially if you want to sound like a Spaghetti Western.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

And I do, I do...

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I was going to say, I've never heard anyone pronounce it 'co joan uhs', even the gringoiest of gringos. :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's not a word you hear very much over here- but I believe it's catching on.

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

co-HO-neez is how we say it in Texas. And I think we can claim some authority.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I believe you can!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Long e??? My Spanish from Spain ears hurt.
;)

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Same here! Hablo Castiliano!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

:D

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

From one who lives her life in Spanish...the Texan isn't kosher. It's "co HO neighs". :)

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

California pronunciation: like pondhopper says. It is a very common word here. We have a lot of Spanish speaking residents.

[veronikos.livejournal.com]

+1

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[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!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that.

[faunhaert.livejournal.com]

were you able to see the movie?
never know what will go across the waters

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes and no. The movie made the transition but my internet connection is too slow to play it.

[faunhaert.livejournal.com]

i have the same problem
sorry

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Much like the Catalans.

[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...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Paul Simon's greatest flop. What are the songs like?

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

Different, but rather lovely, especially the Gracelandesque 'Trailways Bus'.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Errrrmmm - what does it mean? I've only come across it once, and that was on LJ also

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It means balls.