soguilla

Question

My sister said she heard our aunt use soguilla, it means necklace, as a small girl and she thought it might be a Indian word, but some others have also heard it. Any info would be great. Especially if you can lead to a site that shows the history of the word.

Answer 1

soguilla is a very unusual use (in Spain) for necklace. it comes from the word "soga" which means rope around your neck (actually a soga is used to hang people) and is the diminutive form, soga - soguilla/soguita

It is even listed in the RAE, dictionary, as you can see the origin is soga:

soguilla.

(Del dim. de soga).

1. f. Trenza delgada hecha de pelo o de esparto.

Answer 2

In the US there is a necklace that is worn snug against the neck, it is called a choker. Choker comes from the word choke which can mean iinability to breath due to an object (rope, hands,etc) that is tightened around the neck. Is there a word that is used in Spain for a necklace that is worn snug against the neck'I think I have seen Flamenco dancers wearing chokers. Maybe soguilla is this type of necklace.

Answer 3

Hi Martio, this is possible, the word is not used in Spain (soguilla) though.

Answer 4

interesting word. i notice that there are a few modismos using soga.
hacer soga - to lag behind (this is pertinent as it is also an animals lead rope)
dar soga a alguien - to make fun of somebody (don't know where this comes from)
and this one is obviousy to do with the hangmans rope
estar con la soga al cuello - to be in deep water (or colloquially, to be in the shit)

Answer 5

How do you define modismo? An expression. They are very interesting. One of the persons I asked about soga grew up in Chimayo, NM, a small community in northern NM. He also said soga referred to a lasso used to catch horses, cattle etc. Lasso is a Spanish word that means the same thing in English. I think though that estar con las soga al cuello would translate closer to being in the jaws of death.

Answer 6

exactly, with a hangmans noose about your neck. but i think that a modismo is a saying in that you can interpret it in many ways, unlike a Refrán which is a proverb and can be fairly definite. that's the beauty of translation.