Posh/Pijo

[Jane]

Here in Spain, I get the impression that being referred to as pijo isn´t a very nice thing.
Does this happen in all spanish speaking countries?
Are there any other ways of saying somone is posh/classy in Spanish?

[Tomisimo]

I'm not familiar with Iberian slang so I can't help you with pijo. A pija in Mexico is a screw like these:




You can use clase = classy.

She's really classy.
Ella tiene mucha clase.

[Iris]

Jane, when we tell you that you are very pija, we mean classy and stylish as David said. But you are right that it is often a bit negative, more like the English posh.

[Tomisimo]

I think posh is a British English thing. What exactly does it mean?

[Iris]

Tough call. It's really difficult for me to explain. Certain clothes, accessories and people are posh. I know it's a cliché, but Victoria Beckam is really posh. An accent can also be posh.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by Iris

Tough call. It's really difficult for me to explain. Certain clothes, accessories and people are posh. I know it's a cliché, but Victoria Beckam is really posh. An accent can also be posh.

It´s not just about clothes or accents, I would say it´s a personality thing.
But like Iris rightly said, it´s a tough call explaining it.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Jane

It´s not just about clothes or accents, I would it´s a personality thing.
But like Iris rightly said, it´s a tough call explaining it.

So it's sort of a rich, spoiled kid attitude?

[Jane]

Not exactly, but close enough.
You´re right though, it´s got a lot to do with attitude.

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

So it's sort of a rich, spoiled kid attitude?

This is pijo, and also, I guess, niño fresa in Mexico.
However, everybody's got their own definition for pijo, snob, fresa, posh. These definitions usually points at other people's faults. One never looks into himself and say: how posh I am! unless you are exclusively idiot.
That's why, I think, trying to define these words usually say more of the attempter than of the word itself. Does anybody agree?

[Jane]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

This is pijo, and also, I guess, niño fresa in Mexico.
However, everybody's got their own definition for pijo, snob, fresa, posh. These definitions usually points at other people's faults. One never looks into himself and say: how posh I am! unless you are exclusively idiot.
That's why, I think, trying to define these words usually say more of the attempter than of the word itself. Does anybody agree?

I guess you´re right.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

However, everybody's got their own definition for pijo, snob, fresa, posh. These definitions usually points at other people's faults. One never looks into himself and say: how posh I am! unless you are exclusively idiot.

...
Why do you say that anyone that refers to him/herself as posh is exclusively an idiot?
What does to be posh/ser pijo mean in your opinion ?

[poli]

The word posh, and more so pijo, seem to lend themselves to sarcasm.
Because they both start with the letter p they are rather explosive. I
think sometimes material wealth lends itself to bad taste. You can buy anything you want with enough money, but this could mean really ugly
things: a Cadillac Escalade, a heavy wristwatch with too may knobs and buttons, a very expensive lady's purse with some designer's name on it in bright green leather with lots of brass buckles.All these things can be considered quite posh if you know what I mean.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by poli

You can buy anything you want with enough money, but this could mean really ugly
things: a Cadillac Escalade, a heavy wristwatch with too may knobs and buttons, a very expensive lady's purse with some designer's name on it in bright green leather with lots of brass buckles.All these things can be considered quite posh if you know what I mean.

Poli, your description of some of the things money can buy makes them perfectly detestable.
But, what about those finer(nice and pratical) things of life. Do they also scream Posh/Pijo?

[poli]

I can't speak for the word pijo.
Posh could definitely mean upscale in a positive way. Not all expensive
things are crappy.

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Jane

...
Why do you say that anyone that refers to him/herself as posh is exclusively an idiot?
What does to be posh/ser pijo mean in your opinion ?

I don't really have an opinion about what to be posh is, but I don't like people who is said to be pija, no matter if they are or they are not. As you can see, this definition is only a social competition. Some people want to be considered pija, and some people laugh at people wanting that.
You can keep on wondering what to be pijo is, but this is the kind of discussion I witnessed when I was an adolescent, and I never heard of a definitive (not to say clever) conclusion.

I insist: it's not important the definition of the word itself, but the attitude people's got toward this word.

(jejejé, qué pijo soy, ¿no ves mis zapatos de marca?)

[Iris]

Jane is a perfect example of posh used in a positive way. Do you have a picture for the guys to see- just to illustrate my point?

[Iris]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

I don't really have an opinion about what to be posh is, but I don't like people who is said to be pija, no matter if they are or they are not. As you can see, this definition is only a social competition. Some people want to be considered pija, and some people laugh at people wanting that.
You can keep on wondering what to be pijo is, but this is the kind of discussion I witnessed when I was an adolescent, and I never heard of a definitive (not to say clever) conclusion.

I insist: it's not important the definition of the word itself, but the attitude people's got toward this word.

(jejejé, qué pijo soy, ¿no ves mis zapatos de marca?)

Funny, I remember one day I asked Alfonso if he thought I was posh and he said yes... This explains a lot of things...

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Iris

Funny, I remember one day I asked Alfonso if he thought I was posh and he said yes... This explains a lot of things...

I thought to be posh is to be elegant. What do you think to be posh is?

[Iris]

The same as pijo. Anyway you told me in Spanish, so no possible doubts there...

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Iris

The same as pijo. Anyway you told me in Spanish, so no possible doubts there...

Pijo is an idiosyncratic word. I don't think it means the same as posh.