"...la vecindad te techos enchopopotados de dos aguas."

Question

"...la vecindad te techos enchopopotados de dos aguas."

This phrase occurs in the Meme Ortiz chapter of "La Casa en Mango Street", in the Spanish translation. Un techo de dos aguas refers to a roof of two waters, which is to say a roof where the water flows off in two directions, what we call a gabled roof. Enchopopotado means black-tarred. So the phrase, which describes the view from a roof in a poor part of Chicago, describes "the neighborhood of black-tarred gable roofs."

What I want to know, especially from a native espanohablante, is this: do you think you would actually hear this phrase or choice of words used in real life?

Gracias de antemano, J

Truth? No, but it does look in black and white :) - Silvia, Aug 4, 2010

Answer 1

...la vecindad de techos enchapopotados de dos aguas.

Enchapopotados = con chapopote. (for waterproofing) we rather use "impermeabilizar" nowadays.

Not a very usual phrase. It is more of a literary use.

Thanks - that's what I was wondering. Also, thanks for explaining the root of enchapopotado - I was having trouble figuring that out. - Jeremias, Aug 4, 2010

Answer 2

I would quibble over whether it should be gable roofs (compound noun) or gabled (adjective) roofs.

I am assuming the te should have been de.