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August 04, 2005
Pendejo
Transnation Translation
The real entries on this topic can be found on EWSN and The Narcosphere. I've simply cut-and-pasted spiced with some personal commentary. But to encapsulate: Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez in a public speech conjured the word pendejo when describing George Bush (see funny image). As an American, the first word that comes to mind is "asshole", though I would be absolutely wrong.
Reuters Spanish printed the headline:
Chávez llama 'pendejo' a Bush y rechaza intervención"El presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, llamó "pendejo" a George W. Bush y amenazó con cortar el suministro petrolero a Estados Unidos por financiar a grupos de personas violentas en la oposición, que protestaron por tercer día consecutivo en respaldo a un referendo contra el mandatario."
While the Miami Herald used the word chump, Petroleum word was more direct printing pendejo with a quick translation in brackets:
In his most bombastic and inflammatory rhetoric to date, Chavez characterized President Bush as "a pendejo [idiot, in vulgar terms] for allowing himself to be convinced that Chavez had been overthrown on April 11, 2002”
From Salon:
"Pendejo" is a much-loved noun, which can also become adjectival, adverbial and exclamatory. It literally means "pubic hair" -- but the meaning is more on the order of "a trouble maker," "a boor" or "a grouch." I have heard it used in relatively polite company, and it has the added advantage of being available in the feminine ("pendeja") or masculine ("pendejo") forms. Cassell's says the best definition is "a bloody nuisance."
The word does have some local variance. As an adjective, in Latin America it can mean idiotic or cowardly. In Peru, smart or cunning and in Mexico and the Caribbean, ham-fisted. As a noun, from a fool, kid to a know-it-all. But no where can it be found translated (authoritatively) as asshole.
Perhaps the misunderstanding comes from watching Spanish-language films with English subtitles. Pendejo is frequently subtitled as 'asshole'. But even asshole in the English language can vary from affectionate banter between friends "You asshole.", to annoyance "What an asshole." to rage "Asshole!"
So it is also with pendejo. What the true intent of Chavez was in using such a word he may only ever know. Yet there is another reference we might consult:
Chilaquil American English dictionary:
asshole
From the Latin arbustus
1. n. A person who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Posted by rst at August 4, 2005 02:32 PM
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