Please, lower your weapon

Question

Could you just say bájela and the usted form by default indicates (something akin to) please? Gracias.

So what's your suggested translation? - Gekkosan, Oct 19, 2011

bájela is it ;) remember like we said "déme una hamburguesa" almost implies please and is better than dáma una hamburguesa at the Jack in the Box. - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 1

Ok:

Bájala is equivalent to : "Drop it, kid"

Bájela is equivalent to: "Drop it, sir"

Bájela, por favor: drop it, please, sir.

Baje su pistola por favor: please lower your gun, sir.

Baja tu pistola, por favor: Kid, lower your gun, please.

Make sense?

Yes. So if I'm in Jack in the Box, getting robbed, by a kid, it's "Baja tu pistola, por favor" and then "déme una hamburguesa". - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

Depends on whether it is the same kid serving the hamburger, some other kid, or an older person. - Gekkosan, Oct 19, 2011

two different kids. - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

but one I respect. - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 2

Por favor baje su arma, is the closest translation using "usted".

Your not really saying though, I'm not translating anything here Gekko, just saying, entre "bájela" y "bájala" la primera casi me suena como "por favor" o sea que soy loco en el coco. - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

me sorprendieron usando "bájela" y no "bájala" a un enemigo. Verás? - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 3

not really, the "usted" form, although more formal, doesnt necessarily imply the "por favor"

Answer 4

Formal/informal of "you" has nothing to do with politeness, but of respect and of not crossing social barriers. When criminals accost their victims, they usually "tutear" because they have no respect for their targets.

respect = politeness - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011

I disagree - in Spanish. When I was kidnapped, the guy driving said "excuse me" when he accidentally bumped my head, but he was still "tuteándome" and threatening to kill me with a big 45 automatic, while robbing me - 005faa61, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 5

Well they walk into what will amount to be a gun fight and the lead guy says "bájela". and he does.

That's not incorrect; it's just different from what you wrote in English. "Bájela" is equivalent to a cop saying "Drop it!" - Gekkosan, Oct 19, 2011

Then what would Bájala be if "Bájela" is drop it (sueltela? que la suelte!!!!!) - jeezzle, Oct 19, 2011