Alhaja

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word (http://daily.tomisimo.org/) for August 20, 2009

alhaja (feminine noun (la)) — jewel. Look up alhaja in the dictionary (http://www.tomisimo.org/dictionary/spanish_english/alhaja)

Las alhajas son prendas ornamentales personales, hechas generalmente de piedras y metales preciosos.
Jewelery is an object used for personal adornment, and usually made with gemstones and precious metals.

[irmamar]

Alhaja, Arabian word which means a necessary or worthy thing :)

Anyway, in Spain "joya" is a more common word than "alhaja" :)

[laepelba]

I was wondering about that. In the Rosetta Stone for LATIN AMERICAN Spanish, they also use "joya" for jewelry. How about those of you from Latin American countries. Which word is more common?

[poli]

Joya is more common, but it's very important to know synonymns.

[laepelba]

Remind me, Poli, what country is your Spanish from?

[poli]

My Spanish or shall I say attempt at Spanish is local. I was born in The USA

[sosia]

poli's spanish is the worldwide one, which understands caribean, mexican and castillian spanish :D :D

[laepelba]

Right. I'm specifically looking for input from people like Angelica & Chileno..... native Latino Spanish speakers....

[poli]

Right. I'm specifically looking for input from people like Angelica & Chileno..... native Latino Spanish speakers....
OK then, I will make sure to ignore you and all your queries:)

[laepelba]

NO!!!!! Don't ever ignore me!! Your input is valuable. It's just that sometimes in some specific cases, I'm looking for that specific input. Doh! I need to keep my mouth shut. :)

[María José]

When we say (slang):'Este tío es una alhaja', we mean exactly the opposite: a bum, a loser...

[laepelba]

Actually, we say the same thing in English. "That guy is a gem!" Depending on the TONE (which is of utmost importance for this phrase), it could either mean (1) that the guy is truly a fabulous and wonderful person, or (2) that the guy is such a loser that you need a euphemism to describe him....

[CrOtALiTo]

Also the jewelry are used in the piropos toward the woman.

I mean, if you are crossing the street and, I see you, therefore I can tell you. ( Eres una joya)

[chileno]

:)

Joya is used in Chile.

[laepelba]

Thanks, Hernan! :) (And Poli....) :D

[brute]

I was wondering about that. In the Rosetta Stone for LATIN AMERICAN Spanish, they also use "joya" for jewelry. How about those of you from Latin American countries. Which word is more common?
Please excuse me for butting in!!:D
In Britain we have a different word for jewelry. It is jewellery!:D:lol::lol:

[EmpanadaRica]

When we say (slang):'Este tío es una alhaja', we mean exactly the opposite: a bum, a loser...

:lol: :lol: I like that! :D :thumbsup:

On the risk of being offtopic a bit (kindly indulge me :D):

The word 'tío' is quite frequently used for 'that guy' i.e. in popular way.
I don't think I have seen 'tía' used as frequently in this kind of context? Is there a good female equivalent for it?

[laepelba]

Please excuse me for butting in!!:D
In Britain we have a different word for jewelry. It is jewellery!:D:lol::lol:

You Brits have weird spellings! ;)

:lol: :lol: I like that! :D :thumbsup:

On the risk of being offtopic a bit (kindly indulge me :D):

The word 'tío' is quite frequently used for 'that guy' i.e. in popular way.
I don't think I have seen 'tía' used as frequently in this kind of context? Is there a good female equivalent for it?

I'm SO glad that you said that, because I was wondering why someone would talk about their uncle like that. Haha!! Is this a Spain-Spanish thing, or something that is used all over the Spanish-speaking world?

[EmpanadaRica]

I'm SO glad that you said that, because I was wondering why someone would talk about their uncle like that. Haha!! Is this a Spain-Spanish thing, or something that is used all over the Spanish-speaking world?

Haha.. :lol: Well I confess it had me confused in the beginning as well! :D
It sounded strange to me..I'm used to it now. :D

Yes I think it's used quite often in Castillian (Spain) Spanish, I have seen and heard it used in quite a few contexts. But this question can probably be answered better by María Jose, Irmamar or Sosia. :)

I'm not sure about the frequency of its use in Latin American countries. :)

[poli]

Tío in Spain is like bloke in England. Most Americans will understand the word bloke but never use it unless they want to sound British. Most latinos understand tío to mean guy/bloke, but don't use it because it sounds continental. From what I can tell, to latinos tio means uncle y nada más sino en Peru donde tío significa vejestorio.;)
En Puerto Rico no usan alaja en un modo despectivo, pero perla es la palabra.
Este hombre es una perla.--is no compliment.