Pintaba nada?

Question

Ellos formaban una familia donde cada uno tenía su hueco y en la que no pintaba nada, no había espacio para ella.

They formed a family where each one had their space, and in which no one painted anything, no one had space for her.

I don't think I'm quite understanding the meaning of the Spanish sentence, which is about a girl who has gone to live with her aunt's family. What is the meaning of the part where no one painted anything???

Answer 1

Here

la que no pintaba nada

pintar is being used in the sense of "significance" "importance"

So the meaning is that she didn't fit in, she wasn't appreciated, and, as the text continues...

"there was no room for her"

She was an unappreciated outsider is the thrust of the phrase.

A "Cinderella" if you like.

Gracias - ian-hill, Aug 24, 2013

de nada :-) - lagartijaverde, Aug 24, 2013

:-) - lagartijaverde, Aug 24, 2013

Gracias LagartijaVerde! - togtog, Aug 24, 2013

Answer 2

Ellos formaban una familia donde cada uno tenía su hueco y en la que no pintaba nada, no había espacio para ella.

As well as the other very good answers you have received I'd just suggest that 'there was no space for her' rather than 'no one had space for her' would perhaps be a better translation for the last part of the sentence.

Thanks very much - that is very helpful. - togtog, Aug 28, 2013

Answer 3

Never mind... [ Could this post be deleted? ]

How about - she's out of place here? I don't think that 'nothing to do here' is quite what you're looking for. - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 26, 2013

Actually, you are right. I've been thinking on it and that is not a good example. - 003492fc, Aug 26, 2013

:) - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 26, 2013

Don't worry about deleting yr post, I'm sure others will find it interesting and/or helpful, we often learn more from mistakes than we do from perfect answers ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 26, 2013

Answer 4

Is this a better translation then?

They formed a family where each one had their role, and in which she wasn't important, no one had space for her.

Ellos formaban una familia donde cada uno tenía su hueco y en la que no pintaba nada, no había espacio para ella.

(dont' worry about her, mind you. I think she is just feeling sorry for herself!)