You are so right, Madsue, and that is because some words have historical roots that are only understood by that pasrticular culture at that particular time.

Take for example the word carpetbagger. This was a term used after the American Civil War, War of Rebellion (if you're from the South, War of Northern Aggression, etc.) anyway it referred to the folks from the North who came to the downtrodden South with their possessions in carpet-covered valises. Which meant that they were so eager to take advantage of the South that they did not even have the time to wait for a tanner to make a leather valise, they cut up their carpets to put their immidiate possessions. The word underscored that these people were ruthless opportunists.

Yet, this term is a colloquialism now. Trying to come with a Spanish equivalent would not be very meaningful, because the word has been taken away from its root historical source.

Another interesting word is the flim-flam man! Talk about dodgy!

Cheesy may just be such a word. You come close but no cigar. I don't see cursi as corny either. Corny is a term that implies a level of unsophistication, but not quite pretentiousness.

One word I've always found quite hard to translate is 'morbo' . It looks simple, but really isn't, for it has several other meanings besides the kinky one,... .

I sometimes have difficulties trying to express in Spanish (my own language, I know!) what it means to procrastinate, to be judgemental, or what are cravings, etc, etc, etc,...

Wouldn't 'cursi' as in Nancy Reagan (sorry ) be considered plain corny?

It is just that "cursi" indicated extreme negativity and the word "cheesy" is more flexible and does not necessarily evoke negativity as does "cursi".

Saludos,
jer...

Jer-
'Cursi' isn't THAT bad! It depends really on how it says, but no matter how you say it- its never really awful. Negative yes, but not that bad, it can even be used just to tease or joke with someone.

Pim!!! That word morbo!!! Please, please explain what it means!!!!! It was once used in connection with me and I still don�t know whether it was a compliment or insult

Hey madsue, it can mean different things as pim mentioned.

If you give us the phrase and context it was used with you in, we can help you out more(bo) :jeje:

Saludos,
jer...

Hey Madsue,
Depends on the context. If the person loves you it means "You sicky."

If the person does not love you, it's not good!
In dictionary Italian and Spanish morbo means disease. However, a more modern meaning has evolved into meaning morbid (m�rbido)in a pathological sense.

British Author Phil Ball has given Morbo a different context in his book Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football! :

quote:

English writer Phil Ball has put the history of Spanish football into the context of the eponymous Morbo. Hard to pin down in translation (though the author manfully spends a chapter trying to explain the term in its fullest sense), "morbo" encapsulates the fierce rivalry across a club scene fragmented by history, language and politics. The bitter feeling between Barcelona and Real Madrid has, of course, been well-documented elsewhere. Here that famous rivalry is only one component of a landscape of antagonism. In particular, the Basque country in the north-west and Seville in the south both provide breeding grounds for a healthy portion of "morbo", and receive Ball's attention accordingly.

Sicky footie !

Used in sexual context as Pim suggests it means grotesque eroticism a la Marquis de Sade!

In essense morbo is best seen as in experiencing the Jerry Springer Show! :jeje:

Hey Jer, Look at cheesy as campy bad then you can see the cursi that Espe3 and I see!

:jeje: :jeje: Just knew I shouldn�t have asked!!!!!!!! But morbo (in the context said) means just what I thought it did :b: I should be soooo ashamed :b:

Which of course I am (ashamed that is!!!!)

Morbo depending on how its used, yes could be a compliment... but I'd be careful of the person saying it!

Morbo not just referring to kinky- but also like some perverse gratification or liking to something... yes, its usually sexual- I'd even go so far as to say it usually deals with either sex or something related to it-

The Futbol guy- apparently he doesn't REALLY understand what it means- booklady you're right, that IS sick!

(It has nothing to do with rivalry or such things- unless you're talking about sexual tension)

maybe he doesn't explain his inteneded use of Morbo well in the book but you can't say that Morbo cannot be used as a word connected to a sporting rivalry as it is the most popular word chosen to explain el derbi between Real Madrid and Barcelona and think it is the word that Marca used as the headine after the game. Again it is just another use of the word but not necesarily wrong.