... y los chilenos les dirán “porotos.” Correct d.o.p. or not?

Question

I'm reading a paragraph that talks about how different countries use different terms for the same word: Puerto Ricans use the term habichuelas, Peruvians use the term frijoles, etc.

However, something caught my eye. Is this part of the sentence incorrect? ... y los chilenos les dirán “porotos.”

It seems to me that the d.o.p. (direct object pronoun) is incorrect. I'm thinking it should be: ... y los chilenos los dirán "porotos," for ".... and the Chileans call them porotos."

I would seriously love your input. Gracias, Rachel

Answer 1

Chileans will say to you [les] "porotos".[d.o.]

Los chilenos les dirán a ustedes "porotos".

I'm not questioning the use of porotos, qfreed, but thank you for your immediate input. I'm questioning the object pronoun. - SiempreAprendo, Sep 10, 2011

That is why I am saying that les=to you (plural) - 0074b507, Sep 10, 2011

Ahh, thank you for editing and clarifying your first response. I appreciate it! - SiempreAprendo, Sep 10, 2011

I wasn't even considering the use of an indirect object pronoun, qfreed, so thank you for pointing me in the right direction. - SiempreAprendo, Sep 10, 2011

Answer 2

It seems to me that the d.o.p. (direct object pronoun) is incorrect. I'm thinking it should be: ... y los chilenos los dirán "porotos," for ".... and the Chileans call them porotos."

"Decir" can theoretically be used transitively as a synonym of "llamar" when it means to mention someone's name (e.g. La llamaban/decían La Loca". But I would say that this use is not very common, and it is certainly weird applied to things. I am not 100% certain, but I wouldn't advise "los" here with things (even with people, it is unusual).

On the other hand, "les dián pototos" is "they will/would say pototos to you", which makes more sense.

Thank you, lazarus1907! - SiempreAprendo, Sep 10, 2011

Aha! I wrote that as "would" rather than "will" , then changed it. "Would" sounds better. (more conditional) - 0074b507, Sep 10, 2011

Answer 3

In this case I would use "llamar" like lazarus suggests.

Los peruanos los llaman frijoles, los portorriqueños las llaman habichuelas, y los chilenos los llaman porotos.

We are talking about beans and not what people call others.

It can also be used with decir.

les dicen..

Así es, chileno. - Deanski, Sep 11, 2011

Answer 4

Julian:

That would be fine, depending the context. Totally wrong for the context in which was asked...

"I'm reading a paragraph that talks about how different countries use different terms for the same word: Puerto Ricans use the term habichuelas, Peruvians use the term frijoles, etc."

Chileno, I'm afraid you have missed the point, which is nothing more than a play-on-words - a joke - and not an answer to the question: Many uneducated natives will say "Rompido" (incorrect) instead of "Roto" (correct for "broken").

Answer 5

Julian:

That would be fine, depending the context. Totally wrong for the context in which was asked...

"I'm reading a paragraph that talks about how different countries use different terms for the same word: Puerto Ricans use the term habichuelas, Peruvians use the term frijoles, etc."

Answer 6

Más vale que los chilenos digan "porotos" que "porompidos."