la tierra abajo debajo

Question

This is fun to say but is it correct when describing Australia?

Ha, I seriously doubt it is correct. Interesting question. - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

oh well, it will help me remember the difference between abajo and debajo - swampy, Oct 18, 2010

You know what's also fun to say?? "Gato enratado no quiere pescado."!! and "trabajaba"!! - Echoline, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 1

No, esta frase no existe en español. Sí es frecuente decir que los australianos son nuestros "antípodas" : son los habitantes situados justo en el lado opuesto del globo terráqueo.

Answer 2

Well, there ya go, Swampy...if I am understanding lolamartega correctly, it looks like they refer to Australia and New Zealand together as "Las Antípodas" (The Opposite Feets...as they are on the opposite side of the earth and their feet are pointing in the opposite direction from ours).

Oddly the entry for The Antipodes is more enlightening than the entry for antípodas.

I learned something new and interesting. - swampy, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 3

In Spanish you could also say 'en Oceanía' for Australia/New Zealand in the way 'Down Under' is said in English.

Answer 4

"Down under" is a phrasal verb. Most phrasal verbs, and this one included, are simply replacing one word, so this doesn't work in Spanish. You could say "Australia está debajo de Asia," or "Australia está abajo."

I'm not sure I understand how it is a phrasal verb...where's the verb? to be, perhaps? - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

Also, what do you mean by "replacing one word"? That's the first time I've heard that. - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

I guess you're right, webdunce. May I borrow your dunce cap? ha ha. This is actually 2 prepositions. Phrasal verb, ie: "Get back" is replacing the one word "Return." - 005faa61, Oct 18, 2010