Silly question about Spanish...

Question

I was watching "Despicable me", and the bad guys tells a woman "You have a face como un burro" (you have a face like a donkey), which she takes like a beautiful compliment, smiling and saying "thank you". Anyone cares to explain the joke? (I'm sure it will be something pretty silly or obvious)

jajaja... no te preocupes, yo tampoco lo entendí!! :)) - Benz, Jan 1, 2011

Answer 1

I love the movie and I believe this scene plays off of the "romantic"-Spanish speaking man saying something "beautiful" in the language...no matter what he/she is saying, it sounds lovely. The woman was clueless and was swooned by the words she didn't understand.

Oh, that famous, exotic Latin accent and machismo. Makes sense. - 0074b507, Dec 31, 2010

Jason hit the nail on the head, she thought it sounded so nice she automatically assumed he was giving her a compliment. - amykay, Dec 31, 2010

Answer 2

...love the movie and I believe this scene plays off of the "romantic"-Spanish speaking man saying something "beautiful" in the language...no matter what he/she is saying, it sounds lovely.

I'll keep that in mind next time I want to insult someone then, hehe. I guess I just need to pronounce the insult in a sweet beautiful way. Hopefully I'll get a reward for my nice words.

Benjamin Franklin did that a lot with the French - nizhoni1, Dec 31, 2010

Too funny Nizhoni and only if I had the smooth sound to the Spanish I speak... jajajaja A guy can dream can't he? - Jason7R, Jan 1, 2011

Answer 3

Probably the joke was she did not understand it.

Puede ser lol - FELIZ77, Dec 31, 2010

I bet she didn't understand it, but why did she get so thrilled about it? - lazarus1907, Dec 31, 2010

Beats me, maybe sarcastic. - BellaMargarita, Dec 31, 2010

Answer 4

I had a French roommate in college who used to play French music cassettes to the girls he picked up (who knew no French.) The words to one of them meant something like I don't want to go out with you, I don't want to hang out with you, I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be your friend, I just want to have sex with you--the girls all loved it and thought it was romantic.

Answer 5

My guess is she didn't understand but the bad guy said it with an angelic look on his face and a smile.

That will make most people feel good.

The safe bet is to say "Yes" or "Thankyou"

Answer 6

I guess I expected a "smarter joke".

Yes, but the good news for native Spanish men is that whatever they say can impress some women without even trying. Trust me, that wouldn't happen to a guy from the - Echoline, Dec 31, 2010

South side of Chicago.... - Echoline, Dec 31, 2010

Cathy, jajajaja, By the way Happy New Year!! - Jason7R, Jan 1, 2011

Answer 7

She was blinded by love and in a state of infactuation.

Plus no question is ever silly!

infatuation:-) - nizhoni1, Dec 31, 2010

Although tris particular question is not silly, I beg to differ with the generalization. We do get plenty of truly silly questions! - Gekkosan, Jan 1, 2011

Answer 8

It's been a while since I've seen the movie. I believe Jason is right. She didn't understand it the first time and assumed it was a compliment. I seem to remember she learned the real meaning of burro later on.