Chulo

Lehrer wrote:

Walter wrote:Lizzy, OK I'll bite. What is the "certain way" I should use my chile?

So you're biting the chile????

I'm confused....

OK. I'll try.
It has to do with WHO you ask and HOW you ask.

Were you to ask a waiter, "¿Hay chile?" you have asked if the IS any chile. No problem.

But, if you ask the waiter "¿Tiene chile?" you have just asked if he HAS chile... ie. PENIS. Problem. The waiter either ran into the kitchen in a fit of giggles (if asked by a female) or decked you (if asked by a male)

Same goes for "huevos", which used the first way (hay) works just fine. Used the other (tiene) you have asked the poor fellow if he has any balls. See what I mean? Lizzy

Back to the "huevos" vs "blanquillos" question, to which I didn't get any response...Can you avoid any "huevos" misinterpretation by using "blanquillos", or does that just sound silly? Has anybody ever heard "blanquillos" used here? Is the Mexican person who told me this just being a prude?

eñe wrote:Back to the "huevos" vs "blanquillos" question, to which I didn't get any response...Can you avoid any "huevos" misinterpretation by using "blanquillos", or does that just sound silly? Has anybody ever heard "blanquillos" used here? Is the Mexican person who told me this just being a prude?

The whole huevos faux paux thing seems to get far more attention than it deserves by gringos. You will hear that word far more often than blanquillos. The latter term in my experience is used more by country folk than city. Look at any breakfast menu here and you will find "huevos rancheros or ""huevos a la mexicana etc. I have yet to see blanquillos rancheros listed. Or when eggs are mentioned in recipes huevos is far more commonly used.

IMO the Mexicans mentioned appear to be prudish in the extreme.

To me what many beginner Spanish students don't pick up on the nuance between using the verb tener and the word hay. The former generally denotes possession on a personal level vs the later being a more general term, meaning availability or existence of.

Also the difference in grammatical "person" in the verb form may confuse some. Whereas tienes leaves no doubt as to whom you are speaking, tiene o tienen are more ambiguous and possibly need clarification.

eñe ··· The simplest thing is to remember to ask "¿Hay huevos?" as a habit. Then you will never make that mistake. Lizzy

just ask for chilaquiles and be safe at breakfast.
gm

gringomojado wrote:just ask for chilaquiles and be safe at breakfast.
gm

I apologize for my ignorance: Without a clarification of what that means, I would be very reluctant to use the term. (You didn't mention if it means "eggs" or whatever.)

Lehrer wrote:

gringomojado wrote:just ask for chilaquiles and be safe at breakfast.
gm

I apologize for my ignorance: Without a clarification of what that means, I would be very reluctant to use the term. (You didn't mention if it means "eggs" or whatever.)

They make chilaquiles with yesterday's leftover tortillas, softened in salsa, it is very popular in MX for breakfast. Don't be afraid of asking for huevos in Latin America, very few spots use blanquillos exclusively, and those that use that term also use huevos, as there is so much TV and internet that the language is no longer exclusive.
In a restaurant, it is always better to ask ¿Hay? though, cause the waiter doesn't really have anything, but something may be there.
gm

ROTFLMAO!! funny no matter how you meant it.

Oh Lehrer, that's bee-a-utiful!

Chilaquiles = Bob's favorite breakfast = stale corn tortilllas, torn into pieces, fried and cooked in a red sauce, served with cheese crumbled on top often made with scrambled eggs, refritos, etc. = true Mexican comfort food. Lizzy

bobnliz wrote:ROTFLMAO!! funny no matter how you meant it.

Oh Lehrer, that's bee-a-utiful!

Chilaquiles = Bob's favorite breakfast = stale corn tortilllas, torn into pieces, fried and cooked in a red sauce, served with cheese crumbled on top often made with scrambled eggs, refritos, etc. = true Mexican comfort food. Lizzy

Okay, I remember growing up in West Texas; my best friends were "wetbacks"!!! I learned most of the cuss words and I learned: "¿Quieres ir a la cama?" with the distinction that "la" was necessary to convey intention.

bobnliz wrote:ROTFLMAO!! funny no matter how you meant it.

Oh Lehrer, that's bee-a-utiful!

Chilaquiles = Bob's favorite breakfast = stale corn tortilllas, torn into pieces, fried and cooked in a red sauce, served with cheese crumbled on top often made with scrambled eggs, refritos, etc. = true Mexican comfort food. Lizzy

Green too!
gm