"menudo" vs "que" in exclamations

Question

Hola a todos!

En uno de los hilos recientes de Heidita hubo una palabra "menudo" que basicamente significa lo mismo que "What a....". Puede ser que en algunos contextos significa lo mismo que "Que". Bueno, no se si me explico claramente. Entonces voy a poner unos ejemplos:

!Menudo tipo que bebe dos cervezas en solo un minuto!

es lo mismo que

¡Que tipo que bebe dos cervezas en solo un minuto!

?

Agradeceria cualquier respuesta de vosotros. Muchisimas gracias de antemano.

agradecería muchísimas - 0074b507, Apr 8, 2011

Thanks qfreed. To be honest, sometimes I am too lazy to put the tildes above letters.. - bomberapolaca, Apr 9, 2011

Answer 1

It's a regional thing, Bombera. On my side of the world, it is very unusual to use "Menudo", which is either a soup,or a reference to small change.

I am more likely to use "tremendo" than "menudo".

I second that statement Gekko. Here in Texas (practically Mexico) it's the same. I didn't even understand Menudo that way until Heidita's Mystery Word post. - DJ_Huero, Apr 8, 2011

I have always gone for Mexican Spanish... Thanks a lot, cold-blooded creature ;P - bomberapolaca, Apr 9, 2011

Answer 2

Far from being an expert, I'd venture to suggest that "¡Menudo/a...!" is a local expression from Spain, from what I've researched. So, learn it if you are going to Spain, and do whatever you wish if you are not, hehe.

I'd call it a "linguistic nihilism" ;) - bomberapolaca, Apr 9, 2011

Answer 3

This has nothing to do with answering the original question.

In English, from Wikipedia:

Menudo can refer to:

Menudo (band), boy band

Menudo (album), three of their albums went by this name

Menudo: La Reunion (2005), a music project composed of former band members

Menudo (soup), traditional Mexican soup

Menudo (stew), Filipino meat stew

Before starting to learn Spanish, menudo (to me) always meant Mexican tripe soup or the band that Ricky Martin came from. Lately, my current workbook is trying to convince me to use "a menudo" for often instead of "frecuentemente" (I am not sure I quite get the difference between between frequently and often, but?). I am starting to be able to associate "tripe soup" with "often", now I see I will need to add another association.

:) - bomberapolaca, Apr 9, 2011

Answer 4

On my side of the world, it is very unusual to use "Menudo", which is either a soup,or a reference to small change.

Wow, that is why somebody answered today something about a soup!!! funny, I get it now,

Hmmm, maybe this is only used in Madrid.

Menudo is an expression of admiration.

Menudo tipo! What a man!

Menudo cuerpo! what a figure!

menuda cena...

Anything with menudo means something exagerated.

menudo,da

En frases exclam. toma a veces un sentido ponderativo: ¡menudo lío!

Right. We use "tremendo" for that. :-) - Gekkosan, Apr 8, 2011