What did I say? ( Spanish punctuation).

Question

In Spanish punctuation appears to be more important than in English. here are three phrases using the same words. Each has a different meaning due to the punctuation.

Have a look at them and post your translations, I'm sure they will bring a smile .

¿Cómo amaneciste vieja?

Como amaneciste vieja.

Cómo, amaneciste vieja.

As always please advise of errors

hey my old buddy! Hope you are well! - billygoat, Jan 7, 2015

Hi Billygoat good to see you - pacofinkler, Jan 13, 2015

Answer 1

I think the first one should have a comma after amaneciste.

¿Cómo amaneciste, vieja? How was your "wake up" , honey. As this expression is not used in English, I can't translate it well, but "vieja" is ofttimes used affectionately.

Como amaneciste vieja. "Like/as you woke up old."

¿Cómo? Ameneciste vieja. How? you got up old.

(Hice varias cambios de ortografía y puntuación para que tuviera sentido,) Pero es posible que haya cometido un error. Veremos.

Answer 2

Paco, as Daniela said, I would also add a comma on the first one.

¿Cómo amaneciste, vieja? = how did you sleep, old lady?

Unlike Daniela, I think the following is meaningless. (aka: wrong)

Como amaneciste vieja.

¿Cómo, amaneciste vieja? = What, you woke up old lady? (expecting to have died during the sleep)

Answer 3

In English, punctuation is very important, one comma is the difference between cannibalism and caring.

Go eat grandma.

Go, eat grandma.

Go eat, grandma.

True Andrae a perfect example ! :-) - pacofinkler, Jan 8, 2015

Answer 4

I think it means, "How did you sleep, old lady?" At which point you'd get slapped.

yes, I forgot to add that.... I will do it now. - chileno, Jan 7, 2015

Naa vieja can be a term of endearment- just as the women call the husbands gordo. - pacofinkler, Jan 8, 2015