Alborotar

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for November 27, 2009

alborotar (verb) — to mess up, excite, stir up, agitate, disturb. Look up alborotar in the dictionary

No me alborotes con tus historias; estoy tratando de estudiar para mis exámenes.
Don't get me all excited with your stories; I'm trying to study for my exams.

[EmpanadaRica]

Originally Posted by DailyWord

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for November 27, 2009

alborotar (verb) — to mess up, excite, stir up, agitate, disturb. Look up alborotar in the dictionary

No me alborotes con tus historias; estoy tratando de estudiar para mis exámenes.
Don't get me all excited with your stories; I'm trying to study for my exams.

Hmmm interesting.

My first impression when reading the meanings of this verb was that it was a bit negative, but then the example more or less puts it in a positive perspective.

So is it used more often as synonym of 'excite' (as in 'I was excited about it'?) or more like excitement in a 'negative' way?

Could it be used as a synonym for 'molestar' (to bother) as well, like 'don't bother me with your stories, I am too busy studying' e.g.

[laepelba]

Funny that you ask that, Laura. I often try to just read the Spanish part of the example, and not the English translation. After reading your question, I had to go back to look at the example again because I just assumed the "disturb" meaning of alborotar, not the "excite" meaning. So I wonder if the bot was a bit off on the English version of the sentence, or if I'm simply not seeing it correctly. Hmmm....

When I look up "alborotar" in RAE, the last of 4 definitions says "causar alegría". Interesting that the same word can be used for so many "disturbing" ways, and THEN also used for "causing happiness". Hmmmm.... (again...)

ALSO interesting that the RAE shows a relationship between the words alborotar and alborozar. When I look up the definition for alborozar, it seems to have a similar duplicity. I can't wait for someone smarter than I am to explain all of this.

[EmpanadaRica]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Funny that you ask that, Laura. I often try to just read the Spanish part of the example, and not the English translation. After reading your question, I had to go back to look at the example again because I just assumed the "disturb" meaning of alborotar, not the "excite" meaning. So I wonder if the bot was a bit off on the English version of the sentence, or if I'm simply not seeing it correctly. Hmmm....

When I look up "alborotar" in RAE, the last of 4 definitions says "causar alegría". Interesting that the same word can be used for so many "disturbing" ways, and THEN also used for "causing happiness". Hmmmm.... (again...)

ALSO interesting that the RAE shows a relationship between the words alborotar and alborozar. When I look up the definition for alborozar, it seems to have a similar duplicity. I can't wait for someone smarter than I am to explain all of this.

Hi Lou Ann

Yes I felt exactly the same way, it confused me a little also.
It seems interesting that the same word can be used so positively and yet so negatively also depending on context, one might feel a little ambivalent if someone says it to you..?

'I'm excited to hear all the details about your new job' or 'don't bother me with all the details of your new job' do kind of seem like the opposite to me in fact..

Thanx for the RAE info by the way!
I must learn to use it more often myself also () because it contains such valuable info

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I don't think the fact that someone is coming around to distract you when you have to stay peaceful and concentrate for an exam is a positive thing.


@Lou Ann: "Alborozar" is quite a different thing. That's to cause an extreme joy or pleasure.


María está muy alborotada con su primer viaje sola.
María is very excited about her first trip on her own.

Ese político nomás vino a alborotar al pueblo con sus promesas y no cumplió ninguna.
That politician only came to excite everyone in town with his promises and didn't keep any.

Los guerrilleros alborotaron al país y luego se rindieron.
The guerrilleros stirred up the country and then they surrendered.

Mis hijos entraron alborotando a todos alrededor y tuve que regañarlos.
My children came in disturbing everyone around and I had to scold them.

[poli]

Like in English, to upset or to set things off course or excite usually has
negative implications, but not always. Sometimes staying on course can
be a real bore.

[laepelba]

Thanks for the wonderful examples, Malila!