Que significa 'esquenunes'?

Question

Que significa 'esquenunes'?

Answer 1

Hi Claireericha,

This must be a Roberto Arlt night or something. Again this is another word that I believe was popularized by his writing (but not necessarily invented by him). I have seen is described in the following way:

Quizá la canción haya querido pintar, más o menos fidedignamente al "porteño pícaro" que vive del dinero y el esfuerzo de su viejita y encima la obliga a cocinarle, a tenerle la ropa limpia y a cebarle mate. Pero no solo no había muchos de esos (en los barrios se los miraba francamente mal, se los llamaba "esquenunes" y no suscitaban la admiración de nadie)

If you are unaware of some of the background it might be helpful to try looking up "portiños" (Argentineans of Buenos Aires) and "Provincianos" (Argentineans outside of Buenos Aires). Here's a reference that describes the type of tension that exists between the two groups Regional Prejudice

I suppose then after reading this it boils down to this type of regional prejudice that becomes tokenized with the term esquenunes.

Thanks lzanoni1 you've been really helpful! - claireerichards, Oct 19, 2009

Answer 2

I think it's actually "Es Que En Lunes"

Rather than "Esquenunes"