Tuesday, October 25, 2011

OH, O!

It was inevitable…
Bound to happen…
That I’d say something ridiculous one day…
In Spanish…
I'm trying to learn the language on my own...
And I find it interesting...
That “o” or “a” at the end of a word…
Changes the meaning, for example…
Hermano is brother
Hermana is sister.
Also interesting...
Is that many Spanish words look like English words…
Except with an “o” at the end. …
Like concrete. In Spanish it is concreto.
So I figure if I just add “o” at the end of an English word…
I might be able to bluff my way...
Till I really learn the language.
Well, yesterday, I’d been writing for a few hours…
And thought it’d be nice to go out and get some coffee.
I drove to the local coffee shop…
Sidled up to the counter…
And feeling confident I could at least order some coffee…
I said, “Mitrias café mocho por favor?”
The young woman looked at me and smiled.
“Si,” I said smiling back, “mocho con creama y asucar.”
Now the woman is really laughing and two others have joined in.
What in the hell did I say that was so funny?
An American standing behind me—also laughing—piped in…
“You just order boogers with cream and sugar.”
“I did?”
“Moch-A is a blend of coffee,” the woman explained…
“Moch-O means boogers. And it’s spelled differently.’”
Thankfully, I still know how to have a sense of humor…
And this loca gringa  laughed along with them.
So?
Ever say something totally ridiculous in a foreign language?
Or do you have a funny story about you and a moko?

Always, Em-Musing

2 comments:

PM Kavanaugh said...

That's so funny, Leigh! Good for you for putting yourself out there and trying to learn a new language....I loved languages in school. Italian is my favorite; Spanish, a close second. I don't have a story to share, but I'm sure I bungled a bunch of phrases while visiting Italy and other cities. Your story is a winner.

Unknown said...

I'm sure my nephew will love the Spanish version of a Moch-O. lol!