Embarrassed using the word "oral"?

Question

Hi,

Apologies in advance if the subject might sound rather inconsiderate to someone, but I have to ask this anyway.

Is it just me, or sometimes it feels embarrassing to say word "oral" in formal context? I understand the difference with more neutral, but not as precise "verbal", but still, many times I chose the latter not to provoke jokes and not confuse other people.

Does the same apply to Spanish? Can you freely approach a person and ask him to express himself "oralmente"?

Please feel free to share your insights, Thanks!

If it concerned medications, I can think of more embarrassing ways to receive it than orally. - 0074b507, Nov 23, 2011

No, this is about "oral" vs "verbal" basically, when we really mean "spoken". - vanyatka, Nov 23, 2011

Lol@Q of course but we won't go there - FELIZ77, Nov 23, 2011

I would stay with verbally, de palabra, con palabras. - 0074b507, Nov 23, 2011

Gfreed, you dog. :) - Jeremias, Nov 23, 2011

Q I have a delicious joke on that very subject if anyone dare to listen and maybe translate. - ray76, Nov 24, 2011

Answer 1

Yes you can, but as you said, it's used in a more formal way like:

"Hizo un examen oral"

"Las pastillas se ingieren oralmente" etc.

We have the same "misundestanding" in Spanish.

Answer 2

What has the world come to if you can't use the world oral without feeling embarrassed? I think it's time to develop a slightly broader perspective! Or was this just a joke?

Totally agree! Let's freely use the right word "oral" (not "verbal") when we actually mean "spoken". Oral exam. Oral agreement. Oral communication. - vanyatka, Nov 24, 2011

Answer 3

Saying the word "oral" is not that common... yet, "Oralmente","Verbalmente" are very common and I believe that no confusion is drawn to any of those words while speaking spanish. But if you feel uncomfortable just say "verbalmente"

That is my whole point, they are not quite synonyms. Verbal = by using words (any form, e.g. in writing). Oral = spoken. - vanyatka, Nov 24, 2011

Answer 4

I, too, prefer to say "verbal" in a communication context.

Of course, in a medical setting I say that I prefer "oral' medication.

Thanks, Mariana. Agree, in formal medical context things can only be interpreted one way, no question about it. - vanyatka, Nov 24, 2011

Answer 5

I cannot understand this question , I fail to see why "oral " would cause

an embarrassment , medicine is taken "orally " Oral submissions are

common . Has the young person mixed it up with Orifice .

sorry, ray, could be considered a somewhat inadequate joke, thanks - 00494d19, Nov 24, 2011

"inappropriate" is the word you were looking for Heidita :) - patch, Nov 24, 2011

Actually, both inappropriate and inadequate! - Jeremias, Nov 24, 2011

Here we go again :) inappropriate for me.:) I often feel inadequate but never inappropriate/ - ian-hill, Nov 24, 2011