Lo único que puedo decir es que usaba una colonia barata
Lo único que puedo decir es que usaba una colonia barata --quizás Frank mismo se la habría regalado -y que el tono de su voz no parecía alemán, sino eslavo.
The unique thing that I can say is that he used a cheap cologne --perhaps Frank felt the same --but the tone of his voice did not seem German, but Slav.
would that be about right and what is wrong'
17 Answers
My version:
All I can say is that he was wearing a cheap cologne ? Frank himself might have given it to him ? and that he didn't sound German, but Slavic.
As to "was wearing" versus "wore," both are correct in this context, but I think the past continuous is slightly better here.
By the way, in many cities in Mexico, colonia means a neighborhood or district, and many addresses include this word (eg, colonia Oblatos, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México).
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
Oh, come on. REAL men don't wear cologne or perfume. They wear after-shave.
¡No cabe duda,llegando al madurez el HOBRE VERDADERO lleva BARBAS y huele de ajo!:->
Aftershave = Loción para después del afeitado.
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
Oh, come on. REAL men don't wear cologne or perfume. They wear after-shave.
I'm totally macho qfreed...I don't wear cologne, after shave...nothing...and I only shower once a month.
I for one use vodka as an after shave.... am a real man
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
Oh, come on. REAL men don't wear cologne or perfume. They wear after-shave.
yea, but how you say after shave in Sapnis_ Smartie
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
Pequeño Larousse Ilustrado
colonia Reunion de personas que viven juntos.Individos de un pais que viven en una cuidad extranjera.
Agua de colonia, perfume con colonia
Exactly Heidita'I think that to be able to translate it correctly, we have to have more earlier text on the story. Otherwise it is just open to interpretation.
Lo único que puedo decir es que usaba una colonia barata'quizás Frank mismo se la habría regalado -y que el tono de su voz no parecía alemán, sino eslavo.
The only thing that I can say is that he wore a cheap cologne'perhaps Frank himself has given it to him as a gift'and that the tone of his voice did not seem German, but Slav.
My suggestion:
I can only say that he was wearing a cheap cologne'perhaps Frank himself had given it to him as a gift'and that he didn't sound German, but Slav.
I would use was wearing...Quentin?
Heidita: I think the idea conveyed by this sentence, is that the person is trying to recollect some of the characteristics of "Frank's" (friend, father, boss'). This is why I chose to construct the sentence using 'wore', instead of 'was wearing? or even 'used to wear? (usaba), as the text literally suggests.
hmmmmmm
Used to wear *would mean always.....but *was wearing...I would consider it that day but with a certain time sequence. Let's see what others say.
Lo único que puedo decir es que usaba una colonia barata'quizás Frank mismo se la habría regalado -y que el tono de su voz no parecía alemán, sino eslavo.
The only thing that I can say is that he wore a cheap cologne'perhaps Frank himself has given it to him as a gift'and that the tone of his voice did not seem German, but Slav.
My suggestion:
I can only say that he was wearing a cheap cologne'perhaps Frank himself had given it to him as a gift'and that he didn't sound German, but Slav.
I would use was wearing...Quentin'
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
Oh, come on. REAL men don't wear cologne or perfume. They wear after-shave.
I'm totally macho qfreed...I don't wear cologne, after shave...nothing...and I only shower once a month. 
author="Gus" date="1240902644
**colonia barata'this means cheap colony'you want to say
locion barata,or perfume barato**
I never ever heard the word colony use as perfume. Could you kindly show where you found it uses as perfume_thanks
Not Colony...Cologne
Colonia=Cologne
Colonia=Colony also.
The word colonia has two different meanings.
He wore cheap cologne
Usaba colonia barata
Lo único que puedo decir es que usaba una colonia barata'quizás Frank mismo se la habría regalado -y que el tono de su voz no parecía alemán, sino eslavo.
The only thing that I can say is that he wore a cheap cologne'perhaps Frank himself has given it to him as a gift'and that the tone of his voice did not seem German, but Slav.
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
I never ever heard the word colony use as perfume. Could you kindly show where you found it uses as perfume_
thanks
Colonia también significa perfume.
Colonia = Cologne
It's a kind of perfume.
Oh, come on. REAL men don't wear cologne or perfume. They wear after-shave. 
