¿Qué significa 'pata pata'?

Question

I heard this in a fantastic movie from Argentina. I'm just hoping somebody can clarify the slang for me. Cheers!

were they dancing at the time? - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 13, 2010

no dancing... it sort of seemed like it meant "hurry up" or "alright" - la-maestra-roja, Oct 14, 2010

Answer 1

pata pata = quickly or faster

Sounds right to me. - annierats, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 2

This idiomatic phrase is from the wonderful, Academy Award (Best Foreign Film) winning Argentine movie "El Secreto de los Ojos" (The Secret in their Eyes) and means hurry up, as in I'm tapping my foot impatiently"

Acabo de aprender algo. =) - -cae-, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 3

From Wikipedia:

Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award-winning South African singer and civil rights activist.

In the 1960s she was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music in the U.S. and around the world. She is best known for the song "Pata Pata", first recorded in 1957 and released in the U.S. in 1967. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, and her former husband Hugh Masekela.

Here's the video her famous song Pata Pata. By the way, that was her greatest hit ever and the last song she performed live before she passed away.

Answer 4

Not sure what that specifically means but "la pata" means leg (but not human legs--animal legs only).

Colloquially (and usually with humorous intent), 'pata' is also used for the human foot/leg. - samdie, Oct 14, 2010