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  3. Poetry & Literature

la madre que los parió

English translation: or whoever the fuck

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:la madre que los parió
English translation:or whoever the fuck
Entered by: NegraVera

01:52 Aug 11, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Narrativa
Spanish term or phrase: la madre que los parió
Me pueden ayudar con esta frase? Aquí está el contexto:
...y estoy convencido de que si el autor el fulano o mengano o la madre que los parió, aquello no cambia el sentido mismo de la novela.
Gracias anticipadas!
NegraVera
Ecuador
Local time: 23:51
or whoever the fuck
Explanation:
one possibility among many that conserves the language register

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Note added at 3 hrs (2011-08-11 05:00:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

another possible solution:

'...or their damn mother...'
Selected response from:

JH Trads
United States
Local time: 00:51
Grading comment
This answer keeps the register of the original phrase.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5whoever the heck it is
Michael Powers (PhD)
4 +3or whoever the fuck
JH Trads
4 +1Tom, Dick, or Harry (for the entire list)*
Jenni Lukac (X)
4 +1...or whatever the hell his name is
eski
4nondescript
esing (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
whoever the heck it is


Explanation:
I believe it is being used in a figurative sense in this context

... the author or so and so or such and such or whoever the heck it is

I believe something along these lines is called for.

Mike
Mike

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Note added at 5 mins (2011-08-11 01:58:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or, possibly, whoever the hell it is

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 00:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 143
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Mike! As David states, the text needs something stronger, but your answer is very helpful.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: a wee bit watered down Mike lol but that's the meaning :) so let's see how it goes :)
2 mins
  -> Thank you, David - yes, I believe it should at least be "whoever the hell it is" and not "heck" - Mike
agree  George Rabel: Agree with David: Hell is the one. Fuck is too strong and Heck is too soft
46 mins
  -> Thank you, George - Mike
agree  franglish: whoever the hell, yes
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, franglish - Mike
agree  Antoni Morey i Pasqual: definitely whoever the hell
5 hrs
  -> Thank you, Antoni - Mike
agree  Peter Collins: I would also go with whoever the hell also, but a lot depends on the wider context. If the rest of the text uses strong language then I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to use 'who the fuck'.
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Peter - Mike
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
nondescript


Explanation:
nondescript agrees with equivalent of fulano and mengano.

esing (X)
India
Local time: 10:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in TamilTamil
PRO pts in category: 4
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
or whoever the fuck


Explanation:
one possibility among many that conserves the language register

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-08-11 05:00:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

another possible solution:

'...or their damn mother...'

JH Trads
United States
Local time: 00:51
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 10
Grading comment
This answer keeps the register of the original phrase.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Hugo!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: this is the right register and spot on IMO :)
4 mins
  -> Thanks David, conserving the language level is key, no matter how much we may dislike an expression :)
agree  Altogringo: This is what I would say, but whoever the hell (as per George below) is a strong enough alternative for broader use
2 hrs
  -> thanks !
agree  Ana Gutierrez: yes, 'la madre que te pario" is strong language, so it warrants this.
7 hrs
  -> thanks Ana !
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Tom, Dick, or Harry (for the entire list)*


Explanation:
Tom Dick, or Harry is the classic phrase. *One of the problems here is achieving a correct sentence structure in English. Some possibilities: I'm convinced that if any other writer had written the novel, its meaning would have remained essentially the same. Or: I'm convinced that if any other Tom, Dick, or Harry had written the novel, its meaning would not be essentially different. Or a more freely translated solution: I'm convinced that the meaning of the novel would have been essentially the same, regardless of who wrote it/ regardless of who the author might have been.

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 06:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 156
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Jenny.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  FVS (X): Yes, I think the register is really very mild here. Hecks and fucks don't really do it.
57 mins
  -> THanks, FVS. At least here in Spain, the phrase is used by everyone and is not considered to be extreme language.
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
...or whatever the hell his name is


Explanation:
Perhaps a little sronger tone is necessary (without necessarily going overboard) :

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2011-08-11 14:48:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ot Kirk Hammit, or whatever the hell his name is. | Facebook
www.facebook.com/...or-whatever-the-hell-his-name-is/134477... - CachedNot Kirk Hammit, or whatever the hell his name is. | Facebook.
►
Ghost Whisperer - Jim, Sam, Whatever the Hell His Name Is - Ghost ...
www.fanpop.com › television › ghost whisperer › videos - CachedDelia admits she was wrong and brings Sam/Jim back to Melinda.
Jean Ralphio or whatever the hell his name is
melociraptor.tumblr.com/.../jean-ralphio-or-whatever-the-hell-his-n... - Cached17 Jul 2011 – Jean Ralphio or whatever the hell his name is is the WORST. The character is useless. The actor is not funny. Parks, please cut your losses ...
WHO IS BDL, Boar D. Laze, or whatever the hell his name is? | Cook ...
www.cookfoodgood.com/?p=28 - Cached2 Feb 2010 – The WHO IS BDL, Boar D. Laze, or whatever the hell his name is? by Cook Food Good, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a ...
NICKLAS BENDER OR BENDTNER OR WHATEVER THE HELL HIS NAME IS ...
mysun.co.uk/.../nicklas-bender-or-bendtner-or-whatever-the-hell-hi... - Cached7 Mar 2010 – NICKLAS BENDER OR BENDTNER OR WHATEVER THE HELL HIS NAME IS! .... are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. ...
Or whatever the hell that US footie player name is.. I know his ...
www.formspring.me/.../or-whatever-the-hell...name-is...his.... - CachedOr whatever the hell that US footie player name is.. I know his last name is Jones... Disgusting smh. GetDownRexy asked 4 weeks ago 12 responses ...


Saludos
eski :))

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Note added at 19 hrs (2011-08-11 20:58:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hola NegraVera;
Always glad to help.
eski :))

eski
Mexico
Local time: 22:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, eski.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  claudia16 (X): this is used as an insult on its own so yes this sound right
2 hrs
  -> Thanks & also for your comment: Saludos, claudia16. eski :))
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