Puertorican Spanish language q

[gettinblurry]

First time q in Chatterbank (I normally hang out in Media & TV) & not sure it's the best place but I think it's the busiest board on the site, & I believe there may be some Spanish speakers here... Feel free to redirect me!

Long story short, Mrs Blurry's father is at death's door, and being from Puerto Rico, my mother in law doesn't speak much English (I speak even less Spanish)

I'd like to say to her on the phone “give my love to my father Bernardino" but it's not the kind of phrase that lends itself to online translation.

Any help?

I'd ask Mrs Blurry, but don't really want to hassle her.

If there's a better place on AB to post this, I'll be happy to take that advice too.

[anneasquith]

id think your in the best place to get a response.

[pa___ul3]

"da mi amor a mi padre Bernardino" should do the job or "di a mi padre que le quiero" just means tell my father i love him

[MarkRae]

Hi,

Firstly, sorry to hear of your bad news.

Secondly, it's important to realise that you can't just transliterate one language into another, and the Spanish simply don't use the phrase "give him my love" - it would just sound weird.

Instead, you will need to find a Spanish phrase which encapsulates what you are trying to convey and, I think, in this instance you would want to tell your mother-in-law that her husband is in your thoughts.

So, you might like to consider something like "le dicen que está en mis pensamientos".

Finally, steer very far away from online translation sites - they are all, without exception, worse than useless...

[gettinblurry]

Cheers guys - pa___ul3: pretty much what I thought, but I know there's sometimes a bit of an issue with context in Spanish. Not sure if it's an American Spanish or Spanish Spanish thing (if that makes sense!)

[Buenchico]

It's a long time since I studied Spanish but, as I recall, 'love' wouldn't be translated directly. 'Recuerdos' (loosely 'regards', although a dictionary will tell you that it means 'remembrances') is probably what should be used.

So
"Da mis recuerdos a mi padre, Bernardino"
is probably the closest translation to what you've written.

However others might be able to provide something more intimate (as the circumstances seem to require).

[MarkRae]

Absolutely right, Chris. 'Amor' is totally wrong in this context and, depending how it's phrased, will actually convey the nuance of "give him one from me", fnar fnar...

[gettinblurry]

MarkRae and Chris;

Thanks, you've encapsulated my problem with the language perfectly, not to mention with online translation sites.
One time, feeling I knew what I was doing, I once (apparently) told my mother in law that she was the love of my life :0

The real nightmare is it's not 'real' spanish anyway...

[pa___ul3]

I did think recuerdos at first, that's how you'd generally say give my love but I thought amor would be suitable in this case.
Apparently lat.am spanish would use dale cariños a mi padre Bernardino

[pa___ul3]

and mark I think you're wrong, amor doesn't just mean the romantic sense

[MarkRae]

Indeed it doesn't, but it could be taken that way in the way you phrased it. It's totally inappropriate in this particular context, so best avoided altogether...

[Buenchico]

That's interesting, Pa__ul3.

I checked a few websites and also found 'dale' for the first word but I was hesitant to use it as (in Castellan Spanish) 'dale' is associated with expressing displeasure at another's obstinacy. "¡Dale que dale!" means (roughly) "Come along! Hurry up!".

[pa___ul3]

it's the imperative isn't it? It's been 10 years now since I graduated so my Spanish is very rusty! I still don't see any problem in using amor for parents though!

[gettinblurry]

Perhaps I should say...
Planning to call the mother in law tomorrow. God knows, not making light of the situation, but I have been drinking tonight & now I'm getting confused.

No offence to any of you (glad of all help, honest!) but I was kinda hoping to get a response from someone who had had experience of South American (OK the Mrs would say Central American) Spanish.

I'm gonna have to read through these answers in the morning :)

Thanks to all anyway!

[MarkRae]

I do understand, and certainly sympathise.

But, surely you're very keen to convey to her that you are concerned about her husband, so I really do suggest that you tell her that he is in your thoughts rather than risk the embarrassment (which you say you've already experienced!) of telling her something which conveys an inappropriate nuance suggesting that you're in love with him, or worse...

[gettinblurry]

@ MarkRae, if you're still there...

You're absolutely right. Thanks for your thoughts, they are appreciated.

I have to call tomorrow, see if mrs blurry is there, if not it's her mother I talk to.

[MarkRae]

Best of luck.