Cabalito = exactly?

Question

Another Águila Roja question. Sátur says he thinks Gabi is his son because Gabi was celebrating his ninth birthday that day, and Sátur knew Gabi's mother 9 years and 9 months ago. He says, "Cabalito".

I know cabal means exact, perfect or complete. Does using the diminutive just emphasize the meaning?

"caballito"? - Brynleigh, Dec 6, 2010

Answer 1

I've never heard that before, but based on you context, it sounds like they are just trying to say "Exactly!" or "Spot on!" in a rather cute or familiar way. I don't know whether I am stereotyping here, but it sounds very "Mexican" to me . Anyway, at least, that's how I'd interpret it if I heard that.

I don't know if you've ever seen the show, but it is produced in Spain. The character who said it is a lower-class reformed thief, so his language does sound pretty casual to me, even though he uses the distinción pronunciation. - KevinB, Oct 23, 2010

No, not really. What's the name of the show? - lazarus1907, Oct 23, 2010

Águila Roja - KevinB, Oct 23, 2010

Answer 2

I just saw that part of the show... and I heard both... "clavito" and "cabalito"... or something like that... I've no idea what they mean in those cases

The words sound quite clear to me, so I don't think I'm just hearing them wrong.. It's interesting that native speakers don't know them, either. At least I don't feel so bad. :-) - KevinB, Oct 23, 2010

Answer 3

I'm a medical Spanish interpreter in the US, where I work mostly with Latin American speakers. I can assure you that "cabalito" is indeed very common among Central Americans, especially Salvadoreans. The meaning is the one Kevin B suspected, from "cabal" (> "just like that", "exactly").

Salvadoran novelist Horacio Castellano Moya in 'La Diabla en el Espejo': "...lo que dija el cura sobre las muertos...se aplicaba cabalito a Olga María.' Meaning, precisely, exactly. - dalehunter, Jan 28, 2015

Answer 4

Caballito means "little horse".

Caballito is also a barrio of Buenos Aires.

Edit: I just read something that makes me wonder if it could mean the same as the profanity, da@# it!

Salvadoran novelist Horacio Castellano Moya in 'La Diabla en el Espejo': "...lo que dija el cura sobre las muertos...se aplicaba cabalito a Olga María.' Meaning, precisely, exactly. - dalehunter, Jan 28, 2015

Answer 5

Sorry but I don't understand. I think "cabalito" doesn't exist. Maybe "cabaLLito" diminutive of horse. Regards

As a horse rancher I'm familiar with caballito, but that wouldn't fit the context - Today's his 9th birthday, I knew his mother 9 years and 9 months ago - little horse?. - KevinB, Oct 23, 2010

Yeah! Maybe "Gabilito" ... Cabal haven't got diminutive. - RobertoSpain, Oct 23, 2010