Meaning of a joke

Question

Could someone interpret this humorous exchange?

Papá!, ¡papá! ¿Podemos ver la televisión?. - Sí, pero no la prendan.

Thank you in advance - George

Answer 1

Answered this one about an hour ago...

The punchline of joke is that the children asked their father if they can see the TV instead of watch the TV.

Daddy! DaddyI Can we see the TV? Yes (you can see the TV) but don't turn it on.

It is play between "see" and "watch" the TV. The infinitive verb ver is "to see". The infintive verb mirar is "to watch".

In the US we say watch TV. In Spanish, I believe they use more the idea to see TV

Answer 2

It's saying "father, father!" "Can we watch television?" "Yes but don't turn it on"

• "don't fall in love with it" is definitely wrong, Salazar. "no la prendan" means "don't turn it on". - Gekkosan Apr 21, 2010
• haha you would not believe what I just did. My friend was talking to me about something and I wrote what she said instead of the translation. Haha my bad. Wow, i really sounded like a dork :P - mamasita_s Apr 21, 2010
• It happens. I just wanted to make sure that nobody got confused by a wrong answer. :-) - Gekkosan Apr 21, 2010
• haha thank you very much. I would hate for someone to get confused by me being stupid lol - mamasita_s Apr 21, 2010

Answer 3

Father! Father! Can we watch tv?

Yes, but don't turn it on.

Answer 4

Hi George!

THe joke is a pun on the fact that at least in Spanish you can say "can we watch TV' and "can we watch the TV" and technically it should mean the same, but they gramatically don't, so it says:

Papá!, ¡papá! ¿Podemos ver la televisión?. - Sí, pero no la prendan

• Dad, dad... Can we watch the television?
• Yes, but don't turn it on.

It implies that the dad is only allowing them to stare or look at the TV.

It's not fun when you go into the explanation, but hope it makes you smile.

Z.