Question for Spanish speakers

[PM5K]

I knew all along she wanted to hook up with her landscaper....

[Phenomanul]

Yeah I can tell the difference too between Japanese and Chinese. But not so much when Koreans enter the scene and so on. Is there a word in Spanish that has the safety net of "Asian" so you won't get someone offended if you can't tell the difference? I bet the only real safe choice you have is just asking them.

Asiático covers them all.... and just like in English, refrain from calling them "orientals" -- as that would refer to inanimate objects and would be tantamount to calling a person a "thing." Very disrespectful.

From Korea = Coreano
From Japan = Japonés
From China = Chino
From Thailand = Tailandés
From The Philipines = Filipino
From India = de La India (saying Indio would not be correct)
From Pakistan = Pakistani
From Mongolia = Mongól
From Vietnam = Vietnamés
From Nepal = Nepalés (not to be confused with nopales -- which would mean 'prickly pear')
From Burma = Burmés
From Bangladesh = Bangladés

I'm stumped on Malaysians and Laoetians....

[ALVAREZ6]

Yeah I can tell the difference too between Japanese and Chinese. But not so much when Koreans enter the scene and so on.

Are you kidding?


Koreans are the easiest to distinguish from the Chinese and Japanese. They normally are a little darker and I can really explain the other differences, I can just tell, maybe because I have a few korean friends.

[img]That's not even the same thing. Yes it's ignorance but those words you just said are derogatory. Chances are if you see a person who looks "Chinese", you'll say they are "chinese" or "chino" even though they may not be.[/img]
True, but not totally. "Chinos" can still be derogatory if you are ignorant enough and you say "chinos" in general for any Asian. Just because "chino" literally means Chinese, it still can be derogatory when put into the right context.

Look at it this way. Do you consider black and white derogatory???? I'm asking you because they are both used so often, and they aren't always derogatory, but from what you just said, they must be. Right? Just because they aren't technical terms like African American or Caucasian doesn't mean they can't be polite at times, but they damn well can be derogatory.

Well, same with "chinos"

[NASpurs]

Are you kidding?


Koreans are the easiest to distinguish from the Chinese and Japanese. They normally are a little darker and I can really explain the other differences, I can just tell, maybe because I have a few korean friends.

[img]That's not even the same thing. Yes it's ignorance but those words you just said are derogatory. Chances are if you see a person who looks "Chinese", you'll say they are "chinese" or "chino" even though they may not be.[/img]
True, but not totally. "Chinos" can still be derogatory if you are ignorant enough and you say "chinos" in general for any Asian. Just because "chino" literally means Chinese, it still can be derogatory when put into the right context.

Look at it this way. Do you consider black and white derogatory???? I'm asking you because they are both used so often, and they aren't always derogatory, but from what you just said, they must be. Right? Just because they aren't technical terms like African American or Caucasian doesn't mean they can't be polite at times, but they damn well can be derogatory.

Well, same with "chinos"

Um... a derogatory word always carries a negative meaning behind it. How is chino a negative word even if a person ignorantly says that all asians are chinos? If you say chino cochino, then yeah that's derogatory. But labeling all Asians as "Chinese" isn't derogatory because it's just plain super ignorant but that's about it.

And no black and white isn't derogatory. When I talk in Spanish I say blanco y negro when referring to each so I'm not going to change when I talk in another language. I don't even know where you got that I would take offense into those words.

Give me examples of what you mean if I'm you think I'm not getting you.

[katyon6th]

I'm 1/2 Filipino and 0 percent Mexican but since I have dark skin and live in Texas, 9 times out of 10 I'm pegged Mexican, it's ing annoying.

[timvp]

My parents have both spent a lot of time in Argentina. They can both pick out an Argentine accent from a mile away. We'll be at a Spurs game and they'll hear some people talking and go up and ask what part of Argentina they are from.

They said it has something to do with somekind of forced lisp you guys do there or something like that.

[Extra Stout]

When an Argentine says "good morning," it comes out sounding something like "bwana di."

Or is that Chileans?

[ALVAREZ6]

When an Argentine says "good morning," it comes out sounding something like "bwana di."

Or is that Chileans?

What in the ???


It comes out as "buen dia"

[timvp]

Manu doesn't have much muthle but he sure does huthle.

[ALVAREZ6]

[Mr Dio]

I'm 1/2 Filipino and 0 percent Mexican but since I have dark skin and live in Texas, 9 times out of 10 I'm pegged Mexican, it's ing annoying.

No way! Are you serious?
There's no way in with only 1 eye 1/10 of the way open & my hand over the other that I can confuse you as being hispanic. Then again I've been to the PI several times.
Do you mean the way you speak spanish, if you do?

[hendrix]

From India = de La India (saying Indio would not be correct)

I'm pretty sure saying "indio" is correct. The thing that is incorrect is calling "indios" to "aborígenes".

[Mr Dio]

They said it has something to do with somekind of forced lisp you guys do there or something like that.

Spaniards do the same freakin' annoying thing.
A lisp to try and imitate the long dead king & try to act like royalty.

[Mr Dio]

What does culo mean?
I can't quite put my finger in it. Ooops! I mean, I mean, put my finger on it.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

My parents have both spent a lot of time in Argentina. They can both pick out an Argentine accent from a mile away. We'll be at a Spurs game and they'll hear some people talking and go up and ask what part of Argentina they are from.

They said it has something to do with somekind of forced lisp you guys do there or something like that.

yeah, I can pick out an Argentinian from a mile away by listening to how they speak. Its a very distinctive accent.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

From India = de La India (saying Indio would not be correct)

since when?? a person from India is called Indio or India, plain and simple.

[ashbeeigh]

since when?? a person from India is called Indio or India, plain and simple.

I understand what you mean, but I think what the person meant was like indigenous. "de la india" implies region not ethnicity. "indio" is more like "indian" and the more politically correct term would be "indigenia," correct? Just like in English we say Indian and native american, indigenious, lo que sea.

[Phenomanul]

I'm pretty sure saying "indio" is correct. The thing that is incorrect is calling "indios" to "aborígenes".

I've always been told it was rude. eehhhh whatever. I just call them by their first name...

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I understand what you mean, but I think what the person meant was like indigenous. "de la india" implies region not ethnicity. "indio" is more like "indian" and the more politically correct term would be "indigenia," correct? Just like in English we say Indian and native american, indigenious, lo que sea.

wrong, indigena refers to the local people of a country, which doesn't identify Indians specifically, I mean sure Indians are indigenous to India, that's why they are called Indians. There is nothing wrong with "Indio". Deepseeded racism in the past served to categorize the term "indio" as derogatory, as if being indian was a bad thing. Still the proper way to call an Indian in Spanish is "indio" plain and simple, and there is nothing derogatory about it unless you yourself have something against Indians (to clarify, I'm not saying anyone here does, I'm just saying the word isn't naturally derogatory unless the person saying means it that way).

[mookie2001]

TIMVP ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFRLFORLFORLFORFL, you just redeemed yourself for letting kori make you conservative

[ashbeeigh]

wrong, indigena refers to the local people of a country, which doesn't identify Indians specifically, I mean sure Indians are indigenous to India, that's why they are called Indians. There is nothing wrong with "Indio". Deepseeded racism in the past served to categorize the term "indio" as derogatory, as if being indian was a bad thing. Still the proper way to call an Indian in Spanish is "indio" plain and simple, and there is nothing derogatory about it unless you yourself have something against Indians (to clarify, I'm not saying anyone here does, I'm just saying the word isn't naturally derogatory unless the person saying means it that way).

IT might just ve the fact that all the classes I've taken focus so much on the past and categorization. What the do I actually know? I'm as white as white bread.

[katyon6th]

No way! Are you serious?
There's no way in with only 1 eye 1/10 of the way open & my hand over the other that I can confuse you as being hispanic. Then again I've been to the PI several times.
Do you mean the way you speak spanish, if you do?

Completely serious. And it surely isn't the way I speak Spanish, I speak it like a white girl.

[Mr Dio]

Completely serious. And it surely isn't the way I speak Spanish, I speak it like a white girl.

Are these latinos that think this?
I would think that is a mistake mainly made by the others & not Latinos.

[Phenomanul]

wrong, indigena refers to the local people of a country, which doesn't identify Indians specifically, I mean sure Indians are indigenous to India, that's why they are called Indians. There is nothing wrong with "Indio". Deepseeded racism in the past served to categorize the term "indio" as derogatory, as if being indian was a bad thing. Still the proper way to call an Indian in Spanish is "indio" plain and simple, and there is nothing derogatory about it unless you yourself have something against Indians (to clarify, I'm not saying anyone here does, I'm just saying the word isn't naturally derogatory unless the person saying means it that way).

Fair enough assessment.

[ShoogarBear]

I'm only wondering because I'm being taught to say castellano and I want to make sure it's right.

Are they also teaching you to say "encantada" when you are introduced to someone?

In Guatemala, I was told I could say that only if I was looking to pick up guys.