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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

la madre que los parió

English translation:

or whoever the fuck

Added to glossary by NegraVera
Aug 11, 2011 01:52
12 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term

la madre que los parió

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Narrativa
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!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 or whoever the fuck
3 +5 whoever the heck it is
4 +1 Tom, Dick, or Harry (for the entire list)*
4 +1 ...or whatever the hell his name is
4 nondescript

Discussion

NegraVera (asker) Aug 11, 2011:
Corrección ... y estoy convencido de que si el autor fue fulano o mengano o la madre que los parió... Me olvidé del verbo!

Proposed translations

+3
2 mins
Selected

or whoever the fuck

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)
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another possible solution:

'...or their damn mother...'
Note from asker:
Thank you, Hugo!
Peer comment(s):
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 !
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "This answer keeps the register of the original phrase."
+5
4 mins

whoever the heck it is

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)
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Or, possibly, whoever the hell it is
Note from asker:
Thanks, Mike! As David states, the text needs something stronger, but your answer is very helpful.
Peer comment(s):
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
Something went wrong...
1 hr

nondescript

nondescript agrees with equivalent of fulano and mengano.
Something went wrong...
+1
6 hrs

Tom, Dick, or Harry (for the entire list)*

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.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Jenny.
Peer comment(s):
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.
Something went wrong...
+1
12 hrs

...or whatever the hell his name is

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)
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Hola NegraVera;
Always glad to help.
eski :))
Note from asker:
Thank you, eski.
Peer comment(s):
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 :))
Something went wrong...
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