In Spanish speaking countries Split bills are much less common than in the English-speaking world.
And there’s always a check dance. It’s goes something like this:
pago yo
I’ll pay
No, no, no no, no, pago yo. Yo te invito.
No, no, no, no, no, (saying no 5 times has a good Latin rhythm) I’ll pay. It’s on me
No, me toca a mi
It’s my turn
There are a couple of phrases from that exchange you’ll find handy.
Me toca a mi is a very common colloquial way to say it’s my turn,
Yo te invito, literally means “I invite you”, but it’s understood as “it’s on me”
So, if you invite someone to eat be careful how you say it, otherwise you’ll be expected to pay. And if you don’t pay after inviting someone to eat, well in Mexico you’d be an elbow.
Yes, in Mexico codo (elbow) means tightfisted.
I have no idea why, if you know why it’s elbow email me and let me know.
Everywhere else and also in Mexico the word you’ll hear is tacaño.
It means miser.
You know, I picked up a lot of colloquial Spanish like this from day one of my Spanish adventure by reading a comic strip called Condorito.
One of the Characters in Condorito is Máximo Tacaño (Maximum Miser). As you’ll see below he is characteristically tightfisted.
Here’s a translation of “Regalo”.
First Frame:
Máximo: Tocaño: Is it true that today is your girlfriend Yayita’s birthday Condorito?
Condorito: Yes, Don Maximo
Second frame:
Máximo: Tocaño: Take, (this) and take it to her it’s a cake (as a) present!
Condorito: But… this isn’t a cake.
Last frame:
Máximo: Tocaño: No, but it is the recipe.
Ja ja ja ja (ha ha ha ha)
By the way, the further you go with me on your Spanish path the more colloquial language I’ll teach you. That way, as you Spanish advances and you start to use it on the streets, in the markets and at the fiestas the more you’ll fit in with everyday normal Spanish life.
Click here to see the steps to take you from getting by to living the language.
Fun! (How do you say fun in Spanish?
I really enjoyed the comic. I’m a beginner pero Yo understood a few palabras.
Muy bien, me gusta
very well
“Toma, llévale esta torta de regalo”..surely a more accurate translation is,”here, take her this cake as a gift”
Hi Marcus,
I believe in Spain, the term, ‘buitre’ (vulture) is often used to describe a tightfisted person or cheapskate!
Hola,
Me gustó su comentario pero la traducción es “tacaño” (stingy) , codo, miserable, tacañete: persona que no le gusta gastar dinero.
Elena
Wow! this is great.
Condorito: Maximo, you have long pockets and short arms!
Pure magic, the way you find to keep learning interesting and inviting. Surely the mark of a great professor…………………………………thank you y muchas gracias
Me gusta!
like
I love the “comic-cartoon” lessons! Thanks for the colloquialisms!
This man really wants to insult his girlfriend and cowardly wants someone else to deliver the
message. Sin verguenza!
Your approach to learning makes sense and the cents to purchase the course is minimal! My husband Allan and I are VERY IMPRESSED! We intend to order after the holidays! God bless you Santamaria for your special teaching gifts!!! Gratefully , Marlene and Allan Mc Cauley
Marcus; codo in Mexico means elbow when you do not pick up the check when you have invited someone for a meal, I’m sure it means the same as an expression we have in England for someone who avoids paying up, The expression is ” That he has short arms and long pockets”, meaning that it is difficult to get to their money, as it would be trying to get to the money in your pocket with your elbow
Hi,
I first came across this phrase in Hialeah, FL, where a restaurant owner told me it was insulting because it meant that you are so cheap, you walk on your elbows to save your shoes.
Hope this helps,
Dave
In Italy, it is common practice to describe a person as “in gamba” – which means “smart.”
It does NOT mean “in the leg” -!!
I just wonder if you are interested to be a teach Spanish for Medical Professionals. I am a Registered Nurse Educator. Thanks!
Not at the moment as I am too busy working in new courses.
Hola! Aprendí de el Condorito acá en Argentina, aunque es de Chile. Me gusta mucho! En mi universidad, había un Día de Naciones , y hay mucho alumnos chilenos de que mostraron la historia del condorito!
As to why ‘codo’ means ‘tacaño’: the fact that ‘codo’ sounds like ‘codicia’ (greed) may have influenced the expression. They come from different Latin bases, but often having a phonetic similarity can help a word or expression gain currency.
A friend gave me a laptop and I discovered your site…sounds like so much fun I’d love to take your courses…I’m saving here and there to get the courses…I’m not working so it may take a while.
Seems like such a fun and easy way to learn the language.
Marcus-
Thank you! I love comics, and reading them in Spanish seems like a great way to learn the language.
I appreciate your approach! And as someone else said, your generousity of spirit.
Sincerely,
Matt Gordon
PS- I live in Connecticut but was born in Puerto Rico where I lived for only 1 year- hence my need for Spanish lessons!. I am going to PR for Thanksgiving and hope to work on my spanish while I am there.
I enjoy your instructive chatter about the Spanish language and I like the tecnique you use in the Synergy trial lessons, but the lessons are a bit too elementary for me., Do you have some that
are appropriate for someone who knows a basic vocabulaary and basic grammer, but that needs
practice in sentence formation, in listening skills,and in translating or responding to oral spanish?
Hola Robert,
Here’s a preview from Bola de Nieve.
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/bola-de-nieve-preview/
It will help you with sentences. If it is still too easy let me know and I’ll guide you from there.
Saludos,
Marcus
I live in Spain. It is true that learning a new language, connecting with the locals always makes the lesrning more fun, and a whole lit easier. Easier because they see you try and want to help
what a great way to teach spanish, i know spanish and I enjoyed reading this. How fun!!!
A great way to teach spanish. I am a slow learner but am doing great while studying for an exam in two months. If only I knew this when I was in school labouring over all that I did’nt need to know.
Hola Marcus! Your tips are always so interesting, practical, enjoyable and encouraging. You utterly transform the language learning experience! Congrats and keep it up! Thanks too for your generosity of spirit. Me sería un prazer de encontrarle nel futuro. Muchas gracias! Bill
I always though it was codo because they do it by tapping with the elbow bent and the hand up close to the body—there is no way you can reach in a pocket in this position. You have to have your arm out straight to pick up the tab or dig in your purse of billfold.
Right arm horizontal and bent at elbow, closed fist upward direction. With left hand open tap right elbow 3 times. (as if the right hand clinches money tightly and the left hand tries to knock some of it loose). To emphasis the point (telling your friend they are cheap), say “Codo !” as you tap your elbow.
It many other places the term is tacano (missing the tilde on my computer) – and the gestures vary but it means tightwad. Here is a site I found: http://www.elearnspanishlanguage.com/articles/gesture-tacano.html
In Europe if you grab your elbow when talking about someone it means there cheep. That’s a common sign like some we have here.
I am wondering if some or most of the colloquialisms are the same in Spain as in Mexico. I visit with friends in Spain and am learning Spanish through my contacts there.
Hola
Every country will have its own colloquialisms, however the ones I point out are used all over the Spanish speaking world.
Saludos
Marcus
Isn’t the comic strip called, “Regalo?” Qué significa esa palabra en inglés?
Regalo means gift.
As far as I know we use it in Holland as to indicate that with one’s elbow it is SUPER hard to get to your back pocket where your wallet is.
Here in Mexico the word “codo” is indeed used in normal conversation, in the meaning of “being cheap”.
My Mexican wife thinks the term being cheap “codo” might originate from the saying “la duele el codo” in that the person uses an excuse, or, won’t or can’t extend their arm to pay because they have a sore elbow… thus being too cheap to pay. Can also be indicated by touching ones elbow with the palm of your hand.
Regards…
Page’ para su instrucciones, para olvido como encuentra en el internet. Ayudame por favor.
Hello
Where can I buy the comics? I live in Alhama Murcia Spain
It’s on newsstands in Latin America but will be hard to find in Spain. The bigger point is the value of funny comics because the pictures give you clues to the meaning. Plus, they often use colloquial language and you can have fun reading them.
It’s satisfying when you use the clues to figure out the meaning even if you don’t get it every time.
So, try and find a comic that you enjoy or at least read the funny pages in the newspaper.
Saludos
Marcus
Hola, esa tira es correcta pero desde luego no es español de España, en donde el primer párrafo sería así:
¿Es cierto que hoy es el cumpleaños de tu novia…? – curiosamente se corresponde con la traducción al inglés que usted pone: ‘is it true that…?
Saludos desde España.