So---I have a friend who wanted me to make up a name for a "nice guys" latino motorcycle gang(he's a screenwriter, so far has not quite reached the movies, but is getting close) I just pulled "Mejoreros" out of my head, then thought, "What if it should be "Mejoradores"? Oh wise Jeremy, is there a distinction? I know that "toreador" refers to some really ugly pants of the fifties and "torero" is more correct---but then, there IS "matador". Is is based on whether the root is a noun or a verb?? Zapato, shoe, zapatero, shoemaker. It can't be the idea of "maker", because "toreros" more or less "unmake" bulls. The -ador suffix looks like it goes with verbs(matar, to kill; matador, one who kills, and on the opposite end of that spectrum, salvar, to save(rescue)and salvador, one who saves)

Hollywood awaits your definitive answer!!

Hey Sue, hmmmmmm.... making me think huh

Well, according to wise Jeremy and the RAE ("Real Academia Espa�ola", de la lengua), neither the word "Mejorero" nor "Mejorador" exist in the Spoanish language, sorry

Just go to http://buscon.rae.es/drae/drae.htm
to do the search for yourself if you like.

I loved that comment about "Matadores" undoing bulls Jejejeje.

Normally we add the "ador" or "ero" in the masculine at least to the verb and/ or noun to describe someone who carries out that verb or a place where it is done.

There do not seem to be any rhyme or reason nor rule of thumb to this and it works with either one ending or both, depending on the word used:

* "matar" = "to kill"
hence...
"matador" = "killer"
"matadero" = slaughter house"

* "cazar" = "to hunt"
hence...
"cazador" = "hunter"
"cazadero" = "hunting grounds"

* "comer" = "to eat"
hence...
"comedor" = "dining room" or "someone who eats a lot"
"comedero" = "someone who eats a lot". (also means "trough", oink oink!).

You also have some "frases" made from some of these words such as "limpiarle a algui�n el comedero" which means to fire or take soemones job away (basically leaving him or her without the measn to earn money and hence eat).

* "bot�n" = "button" (any kind)
hence...
" botonero(/a)" = "button maker" or "seller or buttons"
but the word "botonador" on the other hand does not exist in Spanish.

* "lata" = "tin"
hence...
"latonero(/a)" = "tin worker" or "tine salesman"
but the word "latonador" on the other hand does not exist either.

***Jer's Useless Historical Note of the Day for those who Care: many of the streets that surround the Plaza Mayor of Madrid are named after those professions, for example the "calle de latoneros", "calle de botoneros" or "calle de bordadores" ("bordar" is a verb which means to "embroider" hence "bordador" = "embroiderer")

Anyway Sue, just the fact that you have been asked to help name a motorcycle gang scares the he&% out of me

It may be basic but how about "los majos"? kind of like it myself.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. and no, don't even try "los majaderos" for it means "amateurs" and "stubborn" or "hard headed" (figuratively).

C'mon, Jer, it's a FICTIONAL motorcycle gang, in a script called "Rich Urban Bikers"(that is the working title) And, working from English to Spanish in my trusty Vel�zquez, it does have "mejorador" and does not list it as an Americanism.

I like "los majos" but it doesn't have the altruistic slant the guy is looking for. My husband belonged(he claims)to a biker gang in parochial school called "The Iron Tulips"(TULIP is a mnemonic device for remembering some basic tenets of Calvinistic doctrine, and also alludes to Dutch descent---I won't elaborate on that unless begged)

Anyway, NOW you know why I for one would post to the "amor" message section if I were still eligible! I am married to a guy descended from two fairly lugubrious peoples: the dour Dutch on his mother's side and the somber Slovaks on his dad's. I had my chance at a Spaniard and I made the mistake of going home! Oh, well, I was only seventeen, for heaven's sake!!

Sue,
How about "Los Buenos" the good ones?

Thanks, Booklady, I will pass that on, too.

Hey, the fake doggie doo must be for the "d�a de los inocentes" I'll bet, when the folks over there act as we do on April 1.

Sue, I would certainly hope that all those gag items (fak dog poo included) are for that holiday which falls on Dec. 28th according to my patented MADRID CALENDAR

I would hete to see that stuff being sold just for the heck of it

By the way, they are opening the stands little by little this week

I will be putting photos of some of them and the "goods" they sell up on the thread on these stands at www.multimadrid.com/cgi-bin/jersbbucgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000027

as per the request of "beadbird" (member #165)...

quote:

"Any chance of you please please please getting some pics of the stuff in the stalls when they go up?"

Think it is just a coincidence that she refers to the stands as "stalls" considering the "quality" of what they sell there? Now there is one to think about

No one is safe, hahahahahaha!

Saludos,
jer...