Caballero

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for October 16, 2009

caballero (masculine noun (el)) — gentleman. Look up caballero in the dictionary

Ese caballero me ayudó a arreglar el problema.
That gentleman helped me fix the problem.

[bobjenkins]

Yo lo he visto en la puerta de los servicios.

Después de enfermarse y hundirse al hombre enfermo le llevaron al hospital.

[laepelba]

It seems (by the definitions in RAE) that this is more than just what Americans would refer to as "gentleman", but more "nobility".

Caballero seems to refer to a horseman. So is the general sense that of nobility on horseback?

Oh - and is there a term "caballera" for a female?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Caballero" is a respectful term for a man, just like the word "gentleman", Lou Ann.

A "caballero" rides horses only in old tales with dragons and jousts. In that case, he's a knight.
"Jinete" is the contemporary word for a man who rides horses. And as far as I know, "jinete" is also used unchanged for a woman ("la jinete"), but most people tend to use rather "amazona" for a woman who rides horses.

The female counterpart of a "caballero" is a "dama". "Caballera" is not Spanish.

[CrOtALiTo]

The gentleman of the movie was the Zorro.

[irmamar]

Un caballero también es un hombre muy educado y de buen comportamiento. Se dice de él que actúa de forma muy caballerosa.

Mi vecino es todo un caballero. Es elegante, distinguido, amable, agradable, nunca dice una palabra más alta que otra y sabe comportarse en todas las situaciones

Para una mujer se diría que es toda una señora.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Mi vecino es todo un caballero.

Yo también

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yo también

Bueno, pues Perikles es todo un caballero. Es amable, distinguido, educado, etc.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Bueno, pues Perikles es todo un caballero. Es amable, distinguido, educado, etc.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yo también

¡Y además humilde!

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

"Caballero" is a respectful term for a man, just like the word "gentleman", Lou Ann.

A "caballero" rides horses only in old tales with dragons and jousts. In that case, he's a knight.
"Jinete" is the contemporary word for a man who rides horses. And as far as I know, "jinete" is also used unchanged for a woman ("la jinete"), but most people tend to use rather "amazona" for a woman who rides horses.

The female counterpart of a "caballero" is a "dama". "Caballera" is not Spanish.

Thanks, Malila!!

Originally Posted by irmamar

Un caballero también es un hombre muy educado y de buen comportamiento. Se dice de él que actúa de forma muy caballerosa.

Mi vecino es todo un caballero. Es elegante, distinguido, amable, agradable, nunca dice una palabra más alta que otra y sabe comportarse en todas las situaciones

Para una mujer se diría que es toda una señora.

Thanks for expounding on this, Irma. I have a question about one thing you said: "nunca dice una palabra más alta que otra"? I know the literal translation of this is "he never says one word higher than another", but what does that mean?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I have a question about one thing you said: "nunca dice una palabra más alta que otra"? I know the literal translation of this is "he never says one word higher than another", but what does that mean?

He doesn't raise his voice.

[laepelba]

OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS!! That makes a LOT of sense!

[irmamar]

I guess you could say (in English) "stronger" instead of "higher" . But I'm not sure.

[laepelba]

Actually, "He doesn't raise his voice" is exactly what we would say in English.

[irmamar]

Yes, I know it, but I have the doubt if I could say in English "a word stronger than another".

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Yes, I know it, but I have the doubt if I could say in English "a word stronger than another".

You could say something like that, but it would mean exactly that.

Usar palabras fuertes que no es precisamente decir algo en tono o voz alta.

Palabras fuertes serían también subidas de tono, y no se refiere al volumen de la voz. ¿Correcto?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I guess you could say (in English) "stronger" instead of "higher" . But I'm not sure.

Louder.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

but I have the doubt if I could say in English "...".

but I was not sure whether I could say in English ".."
but I had my doubts about saying in English ".."

¿Como se dice en Español utilisando 'duda' ?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

but I was not sure whether I could say in English ".."
but I had my doubts about saying in English ".."

¿Como se dice en Español utilizando 'duda' ?

No estaba seguro,a de si podía decir en inglés.

Pero tenía mis dudas acerca de decir en inglés.

Originally Posted by irmamar
but I have the doubt if I could say in English "...".

pero tengo la duda si podía decir en inglés.

but I have the doubt if I can say in English.

pero tengo la duda si puedo decir en inglés.

Esta última me suena mejor. (And I don't even use a handkerchief)