No dejes que los bichos te muerdan

Question

Does this make sense? Don't let the bedbugs bite?

Answer 1

I think that the phrase would get you a few weird looks at best. It's not something that I've ever heard anyone say at bedtime in Spanish which makes sense since it's a rhyme in English...good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite...I just think it gets lost in translation.

Look at this though. I like "...que los chinches/bichos no te piquen."

Answer 2

Alba is right. This is funny, because a long time ago, I learned from some good friends to use that expression when going to bed: "na, nite, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!" So, just for fun, I translated it and used it in Spanish with my kids: "buenas noches, que duermas rico y que no te muerdan los bichitos de la cama":

However, I use this largely as a personal joke (for myself), since it is outrageously weird Spanish, and utterly without cultural context. My kids smile and take it in stride because they know I'm "weird", but I think that's about the best you can hope for if you start trying this expression with your Spanish-speaking friends: "Ah, there goes that crazy Jeezle saying weird things again!"

As Alba correctly points out, the expression essentially gets lost in translation.

Oh, and by the way: I would *not* use "bichos" or "chinches". To me, it would sound much too literal, ominous, and scary! - Gekkosan, Oct 7, 2010

Answer 3

¡Que no te piquen los bichos/chinches!!!!

Answer 4

I've always heard "chinche" for "bedbug". I don't know how well the English phrase translates into Spanish as a saying. You are aware that "bicho" has many none literal meanings in various places, right?

Yeah, but my various checkings have indicated bichos as the word that seems to fit best, plus I love that word so much. - jeezzle, Oct 6, 2010