Embarazo

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for November 8, 2009

embarazo (masculine noun (el)) — pregnancy, obstacle, hinderance. Look up embarazo in the dictionary

Su embarazo fue de alto riesgo y tuvo que estar mucho tiempo en reposo.
She had a high risk pregnancy and had to stay in bed a lot.

[EmpanadaRica]

Interesting that this word is used both for pregnancy as well as for obstacles/hinderance.

Would this be a literal obstacle (i.e. e.g. an object lying on the road that you have to circumvent when driving in a car) or could this be equally used for the figurative meaning (e.g. mental or emotional obstacles?)

Would you use the same word for e.g. blockage of sorts? For instance if you pull a blank during an exam or a test, or in terms of a writers block etc?

In addition to this, how could obstruction be translated best (as in deliberate blockage) such as e.g. 'obstruction of justice'?

[Elaina]

Doesn't it also mean "embarrassing"?

That was an embarrassing situation.

Esa era una situación embarazosa. (not sure of the spelling of embarazosa)

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by EmpanadaRica

Interesting that this word is used both for pregnancy as well as for obstacles/hinderance.

Would this be a literal obstacle (i.e. e.g. an object lying on the road that you have to circumvent when driving in a car) or could this be equally used for the figurative meaning (e.g. mental or emotional obstacles?)

Would you use the same word for e.g. blockage of sorts? For instance if you pull a blank during an exam or a test, or in terms of a writers block etc?

In addition to this, how could obstruction be translated best (as in deliberate blockage) such as e.g. 'obstruction of justice'?

Usually we use embarazo to design pregnancy. In some occasions we say "embarazo" with another meaning, but quite few. For instance:

Puedo decir, sin embarazo ninguno, que el tema de la crisis se hablará en la próxima reunión (there aren't obstacles to talk about this matter and I not ashamed because of it)

In an exam, or if I were a writer, I'd say: "me he quedado en blanco", "estoy en blanco".

Obstruction of justice: obstrucción a la justicia.

Originally Posted by Elaina

Doesn't it also mean "embarrassing"?

That was an embarrassing situation.

Esa era una situación embarazosa. (not sure of the spelling of embarazosa)

Good spelling

This is a very common sentence.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Elaina

That was an embarrassing situation.

Esa era una situación embarazosa.

correct, and note the double consonants arr+ass in English to indicate two short vowels.

Originally Posted by irmamar

Usually we use embarazo to design pregnancy.

In an exam, or if I were a writer, I'd say: "me he quedado en blanco", "estoy en blanco".

*cough* designate

"estoy en blanco" - I am embarrassed, or the opposite?

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

correct, and note the double consonants arr+ass in English to indicate two short vowels.

*cough* designate

I remember once you told me the same

"estoy en blanco" - I am embarrassed, or the opposite?

My mind is in blank (I can't remember anything!)

[hermit]

creo que "estar en blanco" = "to draw a blank". (when trying to come
up with an answer, i suppose this can be embarrassing, too.)

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

My mind is in blank (I can't remember anything!)

My mind is blank (blank is an adjective originally meaning white)

[Elaina]

Thanks Irmamar! I get a medal now.....

So on a funny note, can you guess how back in the beginning of time "they" (powers that be) came up with the word "embarrass"?
My rendition is...... they caught some one with their pants down...."in bare ass"

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Elaina

Thanks Irmamar! I get a medal now.....

So on a funny note, can you guess how back in the beginning of time "they" (powers that be) came up with the word "embarrass"?
My rendition is...... they caught some one with their pants down...."in bare ass"

I'm not sure whether this is right, but interesting.