La Palabra del Día: Torpe

Question

Torpe

clumsy, slow, dim-witted, awkward

Special thanks to RabbitWho for the idea for this word

If you have ideas for good words, please send me a PM – I will make it a future word of the day.

This thread is kindly moderated by drvicente. Please correct your posts according to drvicente’s indications and suggestions, and of course use the corrections to learn from your errors! .

Posts which will not be corrected or accepted:
• Captions with 3 words or less
• Paragraphs should not be longer than 1 1/2 lines but can have up to 3 line for practice.
• Posts which make no sense in either language
• Posts which consist mainly of lyrics or idioms which do not translate.
• Captions copied directly from books or other sources.
• Multiple posts from one person, or those who don't write the sentences in both English and Spanish.
Remember to correct your posts as suggested or they can NOT be "accepted".
Do not use subject pronouns in Spanish
Please refrain from overloading with graphic content (ie; bold smileys, etc). It makes it harder for the correctors to be able to read your posts…. )

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My Example:

Soy un pelín torpe, así que tal vez eso fuera la razón por la que no era atlético cuando estaba en el colegio.

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I’m a tad clumsy, so that is probably the reason I was not athletic when I was in school.

• ouch! - Ada-S Jan 17, 2012
• hehe Is this the hurdles or the limbo? :) - ajaks Jan 17, 2012
• ¡Madre mía! ¡Qué daño! :) - Cordobesa Jan 17, 2012
• en colegio...:::sigh:::more mistakes there, but that one is dunce corner material!!! - Heidita Jan 17, 2012
• You taught me a new word! Un pelín. Thanks Chris. - MLucie Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 1

When I searched Google for images of dimwits, the results made me laugh.

Cuando busqué en Google por las imágenes de los torpes, los resultados me hicieron reír.

• Jejeje.Great way to start my day pesta:D - Jraider Jan 17, 2012
• Cool! - RaulSpaniard Jan 17, 2012
• Me hace reír, ¡también! - territurtle Jan 17, 2012
• hehe estoy de acuerdo! - billygoat Jan 17, 2012
• Coool :) - Amor_y_paz Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 2

Comprendo a la dama . Fui muchas veces tan torpe que al nuestros viajes al extranjero llevé conservas, pero no abrelatas, confiando en mi navaja suiza. En fin recogí una colección buena de abrelatas de países diferentes.

I understand the lady. I was many times so dim-witted that on our journeys abroad I have carried tins but no can opener , trusting my swiss army knife. In the end I have gathered quite an nice collection of tin openers from different countries.

• " a nice collection " I would put " I was so clumsy that on our journeys abroad" Terrific porcu as usual. - ray76 Jan 17, 2012
• Hola Porcupine...in English, I would say: I was so dim-witted on our journeys abroad that I have brought cans but no can opener..... :) - IndianaChris Jan 17, 2012
• Thanks Ray and Chris - porcupine7 Jan 17, 2012
• Buena frase amiga :) - Amor_y_paz Jan 17, 2012
• Gracias Amor y paz - porcupine7 Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 3

Generalmente se considera que el perezoso es un animal muy torpe, pero no obstante, este animal consigue sobrevivir sigue sobreviendo en su medio ambiente natural.

Generally sloths are considered to be very slow and clumsy animals, but nonetheless, they continue to survive in their natural environment.

• I am not quite sure if "natural" is redundant when added to "medio ambiente". Thanks in advance. :-) - Stadt Jan 17, 2012
• i didn't know that they could ride a bike:) - Jraider Jan 17, 2012
• ...este animal sigue sobreviendo... - drvicente Jan 17, 2012
• Stadt, what a wonderful picture, how clever the photographer must have been to take it in that moment... I do love the name sloth so much! - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• Gracias, Vicente. I should have known that. :-) - Stadt Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 4

Una amiga íntima es alguien con quien puedes compartir un silencio torpe en comodidad.

A close friend is someone with whom you can share an awkward silence in comfort.

• Awww ... - territurtle Jan 17, 2012
• I like it, hollybee. - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• Supercute. - mstivers Jan 17, 2012
• Sweet faces. - Leatha Jan 17, 2012
• Thank you all. :) - hollyjollybe Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 5

I'm very clumsy, so I don't usually go skating.

Soy muy torpe, así que no suelo ir a patinar.

• jejej - buena idea!! :) - IndianaChris Jan 17, 2012
• muy bien amiga :) Again your sentence is perfectly correct. However it is more natural (in England anyway) to say ...."don't usually go skating" - billygoat Jan 17, 2012
• Muchísimas gracias por la corrección, Billygoat :) - Cordobesa Jan 17, 2012
• de nada - billygoat Jan 17, 2012
• thanks billy, eres el mejor:) - Heidita Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 6

Men always want to be a woman's first love. That is their clumsy vanity. But what we like is to be a man's last romance.

Los hombres siempre quieren ser el primer amor de una mujer. Esa es su tonta vanidad. Pero lo que nos gusta es ser el último romance de un hombre.

• Tienes razón. - porcupine7 Jan 17, 2012
• Really well written English! - bandit51jd Jan 17, 2012
• Ha ha! It's true, except I think boys want both things! - rabbitwho Jan 17, 2012
• I always say boys when I suppose I mean "men".. when I meet some men I'll tell you for sure. - rabbitwho Jan 17, 2012
• Ooooo, that is cold Coffeelate! - Yeser007 Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 7

Nunca he visto a un gato torpe,entonces....¿Porqué necesitan nueve vidas?

I have never seen a clumsy cat,so....Why do they need nine lives?

• So-Entonces :] - coffeelate Jan 17, 2012
• They are not clumsy, they are lucky :D - coffeelate Jan 17, 2012
• Gracias coffee:) - Jraider Jan 17, 2012
• My vote of the day. - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• Buena frase amigo :) - Amor_y_paz Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 8

Turtles are slow, awkward and clumsy, but not dim-witted!

Las tortugas son lentas, torpes y patosos patosas, ¡pero no lerdos lerdas!

• :) - Amor_y_paz Jan 17, 2012
• Are they speed readers also?Jeje:) - Jraider Jan 17, 2012
• Qué lIndo! - porcupine7 Jan 17, 2012
• ...tortugAS...patosAS...no lerdAS. - drvicente Jan 17, 2012
• Vicente, being one shade of red, I crawl slowly into the Dunce Corner and hide in my shell. Thanks a million (or two) for your near infinite patience! - territurtle Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 9

Mi amigo es un poco torpe. Sigue tropezando con algo todo el tiempo.

My friend is a bit clumsy. He goes on tripping over something all the time.

• lol - IndianaChris Jan 17, 2012
• Muy bien, Castor..como siempre... - drvicente Jan 18, 2012

Answer 10

Le compadezco del hombre en el anuncio de Geiko, siempre me parece mas amable que torpe.

I feel sorry for the man in the Geiko ad, he always seems more kind than dim-witted.

"So simple even a caveman can do it."

"Tan facil hasta un hombre de las cavernas podría hacerlo."

• Loved those ads! - pacofinkler Jan 17, 2012
• Right, I guess Mexico isn't such a great Geiko market. - Jeremias Jan 17, 2012
• Está muy bien tu frase, lo único que cambiaría sería el principio: "Lo siento por el hombre del anuncio" :) - Cordobesa Jan 17, 2012
• The funny thing was I had meant to use compadecer, which I believe does take the construction I used. - Jeremias Jan 17, 2012
• ¡No hay problema! Se podría cambiar por "Compadezco al hombre del anuncio" :) - Cordobesa Jan 18, 2012

Answer 11

Creo que los animales más torpes en la naturaleza son las jirafas. Cuando quieren beber agua no se arrodillan ante el agua sino que se estiran las piernas delanteras al máximo hacia fuera y tratan de alcanzar el charco así con su cuello largo.

I think giraffes are the most clumsy animals in nature. When they want to drink water thy don't bend down before the water but stretch their front legs outward and wide apart and try to reach the puddle that way with their long neck.

• Foto muy interesante - porcupine7 Jan 17, 2012
• :) - Amor_y_paz Jan 17, 2012
• Hacen parecer extrañas, ¿no? [@Vicente, look ... please look!! You see I got my noun/adjective agreement right this time?] ;-> - territurtle Jan 17, 2012
• ¡Me he reído mucho con tu frase, Dewclaw! Nunca había visto beber a las jirafas (sí, en español se escribe con j). Además, con lo largo que el texto sólo dos cositas: "los animales", "sino que" :) - Cordobesa Jan 17, 2012
• I can do it, Vicente, really -- honestly -- I can! May I please have 3,482 more chances?? ;) - territurtle Jan 17, 2012
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Answer 12

No conozco a ningún príncipe, pero en verdad no creo que sean menos torpes que otros hombres, sino que fueron criados mejor que lo demás y esconden su torpeza en una manera mejor.

I don't personally know any princes but I don't really think they are less crude than other men, I just think they have been better brought up, and hide their crudity in a better way.

• Maybe it's 'los otros'and maybe esconden á' . Or maybe not? - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• No conozco a ningún príncipe, pero en verdad no creo que sean menos torpes que otros hombres. Sí que creo que fueron criados mejor que lo demás y esconden mejor su torpeza. - drvicente Jan 17, 2012
• Oh vicente, owing to stres, I just did a self help correction, making it longer.. - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• At the moment it is a sort of cross betwen our versions, I'll correct it again later, I have to fetch my husband from the station now. - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• Ok...I will look at the new version, Anni...you always keep me on my toes! - drvicente Jan 17, 2012

Answer 13

Algunas personas inteligentes son torpe socialmente.

Some intelligent people are socially awkward.

From Sherlock, created and written by Steven Moffat of Dr. Who fame.

• Algunas personas inteligentes son torpes socialmente. - drvicente Jan 17, 2012
• Yes, I watched some of the new Sherlocks, he seemed autistic, truth be told. - annierats Jan 17, 2012
• I love the new Sherlock! - mstivers Jan 17, 2012
• The old Sherlock by sir Arthur Conan Doyle wasn't strange and akward at all.(ahum,ahum). And yes annierats he does seem to be autistic, well played, a modern addict with his patches, In a study in Scarlet he was mentioned as a sociopath. - 00434ec3 Jan 17, 2012
• Some of the cops do call him a sociopath but his total lack of awareness of social expectations is more autistic. Sociopaths are slicker and more manipulative. My least favorite diagnosis to work with. - Leatha Jan 18, 2012

Answer 14

Si eres torpe, no debes andar de en skateboard. If you´re clumsy, you shouldn´t skateboard.

• Ouch!!!! - Jraider Jan 17, 2012
• ....andar en skateboard..o andar en patineta...I think the English word is more popular... - drvicente Jan 17, 2012
• jeje - tienes razón... :) - IndianaChris Jan 17, 2012
• Gracias, drvicente! - mstivers Jan 17, 2012

Answer 15

Una vez, mi mejor amiga era encuestadora del censo y iba a una colinia nudista para contar personas. Cuando abrió la puerta de la primera casa, supo la verdad y le sintío muy torpe allí.

One time, my best friend was a census taker and she was in a nudist colony to count people. When she opened the door of the first house, she found out the truth and she felt very awkward there.

• This is a true story.... - sanlee Jan 17, 2012
• Typo in the English- "census taker". :-) - Stadt Jan 17, 2012
• Thanks, Stadt! - sanlee Jan 17, 2012
• Ha ha! I could do that, no problem. I don't get it though.. I'm so much more comfortable in clothes. I would join a pyjamas colony, do they exist? - rabbitwho Jan 17, 2012
• :) - sanlee Jan 17, 2012
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