Disturbios

[irmamar]

I want to say "disturbios en la frontera sur". May I use "riots" or "unrest" one or the other? And "in" or "on" the south of the border?

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I want to say "disturbios en la frontera sur". May I use "riots" or "unrest" one or the other? And "in" or "on" the south of the border?

Unrest on the southern border

(southern to rhyme with other )

[irmamar]

Wouldn't 'riots' be correct?

[pjt33]

Quizás. Un "riot" es un disturbio violento y caótico que dura poco tiempo.

[Elaina]

Para mí "riots" es un enfrentamiento de un grupo de gente contra otros, el gobierno, los políticos o gente que se amasan para exigir algo. Riots aka civil unrest.

¿Es esta la clase de "disturbios" a que te refieres?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Wouldn't 'riots' be correct?

As already said, possibly. But a riot at a border is unlikely -who would care? Unrest is a far more general and long-term low-level trouble.

[irmamar]

Well, I don't know who would care, but that was one of the reason for the Second Civil War in your country (which rhymes with scrounchy ).

I don't know what kind of unrests/riots there were.

Thanks.

[poli]

Había una guerra civl nada más y era suficiente, y ciertamente habían disturbios en la frontera del sur antes de la guerra.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by poli

Había una guerra civl nada más y era suficiente, y ciertamente habían disturbios en la frontera del sur antes de la guerra.

Thanks, poli. But I don't understand the difference between 'unrest' and 'riot'.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thanks, poli. But I don't understand the difference between 'unrest' and 'riot'.

A riot is something specific and active which has a particular activity (petrol bombs, burning tyres, tear gas) and a specific duration of hours to days. Unrest is a very general and unspecific expression which is an umbrella word for various activities, including riots, but also (say) incursions, guerilla warfare, hostages, etc.