What does punctuales mean in this context?

Question

" Las mangostas son puntuales y responsables." I am confused on what the meaning would be here, punctual or precise. Presice seems more likely to me, but I would like to confirm that it is correct. Thank you!

Answer 1

A little more context would be helpful, like what the mongooses are doing that makes the author describe them that way, but within the sentence, I'd go for 'precise', because I don't think of mongooses as keeping time very carefully. But, hey, who knows? Maybe some are very punctual. Unless the surrounding paragraph describes the mongooses returning on time for dinner every day or some such thing, though, I would go for 'precise'.

Answer 2

I have to disagree with all the answers so far. In Spanish, "puntual" is always related to time, so the precise, exact translation is only true if it's time related, meaning that they are that way in accomplishing things at the precise or exact time. In other context, "puntual" can mean that it's an isolated event, or something located on a single point, but I think this is not the case here.

Answer 3

And to further nit-pick, the choice cannot be between punctual or precise because punctual can mean precise.

punc·tu·al (pngkch-l) adj.

• 1. Acting or arriving exactly at the time appointed; prompt.
• 1. Paid or accomplished at or by the appointed time.
• 1. Precise; exact.
• 1. Confined to or having the nature of a point in space.
• 1. Linguistics Of, related to, or being the verbal aspect that expresses momentary action or action considered as having no temporal duration.

The choice is between timely and precise.

Answer 4

Hi, welcome

Well, this is a weird sentence. Mangosta and puntuales? Weird, in any case...I guess here it means, precise, detailed.

Yeah, it is a strange sentence. it's for my Spanish summer homework and its a completly random articale. I am pretty sure that it meant precise. Thank you! - caramonkey2, Jun 16, 2010