"¡ venga ! " A Canarian expression ? ¿ Una expresión canaria ?
One hears this expression used often, at least in Gran Canaria,especially at the end of a conversation etc. My question is whether this is 3rd pers. singular imperativ or subjunctive of " venir "..to come which I think would mean respectively COME ! or MAY YOU COME.
Anyone got any ideas? ¡ Gracias de antemano !
4 Answers
When I say goodbye to my friends I usually use the expression "¡Venga, hasta luego!" maybe that is the expression you are looking for. In that case, it is very common to hear it in Spain, not only in Canarias but also in the peninsula. In the middle of a conversation, if somebody tells you something difficult to believe you can also say "¡Vengaaaa!" or "¡Venga ya!" meaning "no way!!!". And also when you want someone to hurry up you can say "¡Venga!" (= Come on!). So in spoken Spanish ¡venga! is used very often.
"venga" could certainly be either one, I've never heard of vengá... But one would be inclined to believe it would be a regional usage of the word. The best case in situations así would just be to listen to when it is used, and imitate and just not worry exactly what it means, unless por suerte we have someone here who is familiar with the area.
In Spain, certainly Sounthern Spain, it's used as a goodbye phrase, I actually used to think it was the opposite of hello!
It means: I have to go now, I'm going, I'll be on my way. Or ' come on!, as in an order to oneself, perhaps.
Strangely it never changes, it's never, ever ''vengamos''. Even if 8 people are leaving, one of them will say ' ¡Venga!'
Cerainly, I've heard this all over Andalucía and I strongly suspect that it's used in large parts of Spain!
Big Mike says,
The best case in situations así would just be to listen to when it is used, and imitate and just not worry exactly what it means
That's so true. Here in Guatemala they use "¡Va!" all the time to mean different things, e.g., Okay, got it, well then, you've got it, etc.
