expressions of surprise or expostulation in addressing persons,
regardless of age or sex. In all of these sketches Platero's master
addresses him as he would a child, with affectionate concern and sincere
sympathy,--#¿qué te pasa?# _What is the matter?_
#2.# #me lo he llevado#; _me_ is the dative of concern or interest
and represents the person to whom the action is of special interest;
_lo_ is the redundant use of the object pronoun.
V. EL NIÑO TONTO
#1.# el #pasar#; when the infinitive is used as subject or
predicate, it usually takes the definite article in the
masculine singular.
#2.# #alegre él#, this redundant use of the pronoun is frequent in
the popular language, for the purpose of emphasis.
#3.# #aquel mal viento negro# = _la muerte_.
#4.# #mariposa gallega# refers to the quotation from Curros
Enríquez which follows and which is equivalent in Castilian to:
_Mariposa de alitas doradas_.
#5.# #Estará sentado#; the future is frequently used in place of
the present to express conjecture or probability; see Chapter 3, note 3.
VI. EL CANARIO VUELA
#1.# #se muriera... se comieran,# subjunctives in substantive
clauses after _por miedo de que_, an expression of feeling or emotion.
#2.# #se lo;# another instance of the dative of interest combined
with the redundant use of the object pronoun; see Chapter IV, note 2.
#3.# #nadie#, subject of _saber_.
#4.# #ladrándole#; _le_ refers to _campanilla_.
VII. EL ALJIBE
#1.# #mirador con sol#; when the water in the cistern is low, the
reflection of the sunny _mirador_ may be seen at the bottom.
#2.# #montera# refers to the glass roof with which many patios are
covered.
#3.# #hace años;# _hace_ in time expressions, when the action is
not continuous, may usually be translated by _ago_.
#4.# #galería#, _underground reservoir_.
#5.# #tiene el brocal esculpido#; the cisterns in the patios may
be ornamental, hence the marble curbing.
#6.# #Villegas#, the name of a man, perhaps a well-known character
in the town.
VIII. LA SANGUIJUELA
#1.# #más cada vez#, _more and more_.
#2.# #lo más claro#; the neuter article is used before masculine
adjectives having an abstract meaning.
#3.# #a Raposo#; verbal expressions of advantage (or disadvantage)
require the dative of the person and the accusative of the thing; in
English this relation is expressed by the prepositions _for_ or _from_.
Translate, _I asked R. for help_, or _I asked help from him_.
#4.# #abrirle a Platero la boca#; the definite article takes the
place of the possessive adjective modifying a noun which refers to parts
of the body or articles of clothing when the noun is used as the object
of a verb. The possessor is indicated by the dative of interest,
_a Platero_.
#5.# #suelte#; subjunctive in an adverbial clause introduced by
_para que_.
IX. LAS TRES VIEJAS
#1.# #Vendrán#; future of probability or conjecture; see Chapter
III, note 3.
#2.# #Que te caes;# this is said as a kind of warning to one of
the gypsies and may be freely translated, _Be careful or you will fall_.
#3.# #Van a cuerpo; ir a cuerpo# is equivalent to English _to go
without a wrap or coat_.
X. LA CARRETILLA
#1.# #¡Qué sonreír el de la chiquilla!# Literally, _What a smile
that of the little girl!_ Translate by _How the little girl smiled!_
#2.# #encendiese#; imperfect subjunctive after _como si_ in an
elliptical sentence, with a present condition contrary to fact.
XI. EL PAN
#1.# #igual que#. See note to Chapter I, note 5.
#2.# #que#; object of _levantan_; the antecedent is _canastos_.
XII. LA ARRULLADORA
#1.# #reventando sangre#; the girl's lips look so red that they
seem to be on the point of bursting from an over-supply of blood.
#2.# #durmiendo al hermanito#, _putting her little brother to
sleep_: the transitive use of _dormir_.
#3.# #la hora de mayo#, _May-time_.
#4.# #la Pastora#, reference to the Virgin Mary, the
'Shepherdess'.
XIII. ALEGRÍA
#1.# #hace como que#, _acts as if_.
#2.# #es de juguete#; _is a plaything, a toy donkey, a donkey to
play with_.
XIV. EL SELLO
#1.# #fina y malva#; _malva_ is used here as an adjective and
refers to the color of the flower of the mallow, a delicate pink.
#2.# #Los había#; to avoid repetition, the personal pronoun is
used with _haber_ to refer to a noun previously expressed.
#3.# #¡Qué latirme el corazón!# _How my heart beat!_
#4.# #qué sé yo#; this expression is very idiomatic and is
translated in various ways; as it is used here, the English _and I don't
know what all_ conveys the meaning.
#5.# #¿Quedó algo por... ?# _Was there anything left?_
XV. EL TÍO DE LAS VISTAS
#1.# #tío#; the use of this word is somewhat similar to that of
English _fellow, man, or old man_, when applied to persons whose names
are not known.
#2.# #comprar su fantasia#, _to buy a 'look.'_
XVI. LA COZ
#1.# #si tú no puedes venir#; _si_ (unaccented) is frequently used
at the beginning of a phrase to express surprise or expostulation.
Translate by _why_.
XVII. ESCALOFRÍO
#1.# #no sé qué# gives an idea of vagueness and strangeness.
#2.# #el camino asaeteado de estrellas#; the rays of starlight
shining through the branches of the trees suggest arrows.
#3.# #se enredara;# subjunctive after _como sí_; see Chapter X,
note 2.
#4.# #cual si# = _como si_.
#5.# #que se acerca#; the author speaks of the village as
approaching the donkey, hence the omission of _a_ before _que_.
XVIII. PASAN LOS PATOS
#1.# #darle agua a Platero#; see Chapter IV, note 2.
XIX. LA NIÑA CHICA
#1.# #la veía venir#; the independent infinitive follows verbs of
seeing or hearing.
#2.# #¡Platerón! ¡Platerillo!# etc. denoting, respectively,
largeness and smaliness. _-ón_ may also express grotesqueness, _-illo_
good-natured ridicule, and _-ete_ depreciation. Translate by _big,
clumsy Platero_ and _tiny, little Platero_.
XX. LOS TOROS
#1.# #¡A que no sabes...!# _I'll wager that you don't know...!_
#2.# #llevasen#; subjunctive of indirect command after _dejaba_.
#3.# #pedir contigo la llave#; at the beginning of a bullfight
there is a ceremony in which a man on horseback asks the _presidente_
for the key to the _toril_ (bull-pen where the animals are kept before
the fight).
#4.# #piensen#; subjunctive of indirect command after _he dicho_.
#5.# #cuadrilla#, _the team of bullfighters_.
#6.# #presidentas#; _patronesses_, distinguished ladies chosen to
act as patronesses at the bullfight.
#7.# #Apenas#; read, #Apenas si (hay)... un viejecito (que)...#
XXI. SARITO
#1.# #dos veces grana# seems to mean that the cape in addition to
the original red of the cloth was stained red with blood from the
bullfights.
#2.# #a mí mismo#; the appropriate form of _mismo_ may be used
with the prepositional form of a personal pronoun to express emphasis.
XXII. ALMIRANTE
#1.# #Tú no lo conociste#, _You did not know him_. In normal
Castilian, _le_ is the more usual form of the accusative for persons
(here the horse is personified). The author reveals his Andalusian
origin by the use of _lo_ throughout the book.
#2.# #Lauro#, probably a servant.
#3.# #charret#; the correct spelling of this word is _charrette;_
being a French word, the final _e_ is silent and is pronounced as if it
were spelled _charret._
#4.# #Hubo que llamar#; _haber_ (impersonal), followed by _que_
and the infinitive of some other verb, expresses necessity or
obligation.
#5.# #que todo lo borra#, _which effaces everything_; when the
neuter pronoun _todo_ precedes the verb as its direct object, _lo_ must
be used with it.
#6.# #Lord#, the fox terrier previously mentioned in a chapter of
_Platero y yo_ not included in the present text.
#7.# #hubierais#, subjunctive in a statement contrary to fact.
XXIII. EL CANARIO SE MUERE
#1.# #hacía jardín...,# _turned the open room into a garden._
#2.# #abrían#; peculiar use of _abrir_ which should be used
reflexively here.
#3.# #otro canario viejo,# _another old canary, another old song
bird._
#4.# #habrá#; see Chapter III, note 3.
#5.# #un errar encantado#, _a magic flutter_.
XXIV. SUSTO
#1.# #Soñaba... tibia# (poetic phrasing), _cast a rosy, dreamy
light._
#2.# #áspera alegría#, _garish brightness_.
#3.# #¡El tonto de Platero!# _De_ is used idiomatically between a
noun and a qualifying adjective; cf. English 'the fool _of_ a Platero'.
Translate by _the foolish Platero_.
XXV. LOS GITANOS
#1.# #viene ... a cuerpo#; see Chapter IX, note 3.
#2.# #Friseta#, a local name.
XXVI. LA CORONA DE PEREJIL
#1.# #A ver# = _vamos a ver_, 'let us see'.
#2.# #¡A la una, a las dos, a las tres!# _One, two, three, go!_
Note the use of the preposition and article with the numeral.
#3.# #alboroto blanco y rosa#; _rosa_ is used here as an
adjective; see Chapter XIV, note 1. Translate by _pink, rosy_. The
adjectives suggest the color of the children's dresses.
#4.# #por no perder#; _por_ followed by an infinitive frequently
expresses purpose.
#5.# #¡Que gana Platero!# _Platero is going to win! Que_ is
frequently used elliptically to introduce a phrase and in such cases has
a variety of meanings. Here _que_ is emphatic or intensive.
#6.# #Que# is used here because the sentence that follows is
dependent upon #les dije# of the preceding sentence.
#7.# #un lacedemonio#; among the Spartans it was the custom to
place a wreath on the brow of men who distinguished themselves in
contest and competition.
XXVII. LOS REYES MAGOS
#1.# #Los Reyes Magos#; the day of Epiphany (_Epifanía_) is
celebrated the sixth of January and commemorates the visit paid to
Christ in Bethlehem by the Three Wise Men, Gaspar, Balthasar, and
Melchior. It is a common belief among Spanish children that on the eve
of Epiphany the Wise Men come mounted on camels and that they leave
presents in the shoes which the children have placed on the balconies.
#2.# #no fueran a pasar#; the subjunctive is used because doubt is
implied. Translate by _lest the Wise Men might pass_.
#3.# #tita#, _aunty_. This is a contraction of _tiita,_ diminutive
of _tía_.
#4.# #deslumbre#; after _cuando_, conjunction of time, the
subjunctive is required when uncertainty is implied.
XXVIII. EL ALBA
#1.# #lo que habría sido del pobre Platero#, _what would have
become of poor Platero_. When proper names are qualified by an
adjective, the definite article is used.
#2.# #hubiese caído#; subjunctive in protasis (_condition_) of
contrary to fact condition of which _habría sido_ is the apodosis
(_conclusion_).
XXIX. CARNAVAL
#1.# #Carnaval#, the three days preceding Ash Wednesday, given
over to merrymaking. Cf. the _Mardi Gras_ of New Orleans.
#2.# #doquiera# = _dondequiera_.
XXX. LA MUERTE
#1.# #se levantara#; subjunctive after _quise_, an expression of
wish.
#2.# #sumió la enorme boca desdentada hasta la nuca#; the lips
lacking the support of the teeth, sink inward; obviously, it is an
exaggeration to say that they sink as far back as the nape of the neck.
XXXI. NOSTALGIA
#1.# #que tienen posadas en sus ramas sus propias flores#, etc.
_whose blossoms are nestled in the branches like a swarm of
butterflies_. Because the blossoms of this shrub grow close to the
branches, they suggest to the poetic imagination of the author a group
of butterflies.
#ABBREVIATIONS #
_adv_. adverb
_aug_. augmentative
_coll_. colloquial
_conj_. conjunction
_contr_. contraction
_dim_. diminutive
_f_. feminine
_inf_. infinitive
_inter_. interjection
_m_. masculine
_n_. noun
_pl_. plural
_pro_. pronoun
_rel_. relative
Radical changing verbs are indicated by (_ie_), (_ue_), or (_i_), placed
after the infinitive.
VOCABULARIO
#A#
#a# to, at
#abajo# under, below; #calle#--down the street
#abandonar# to leave, desert
el #abandono# indifference, carelessness
la #abeja# bee
#abierto,-a# open, clear
#abnegado,-a# abnegated, self-sacrificing
#abrasado,-a# scorched
#abril# _m_. April
#abrir# to open
#absorto,-a# amazed, absorbed in thought
#absurdo,-a# absurd, nonsensical
la #abubilla# hoopoe (_a bird with a beautiful crest_)
#aburrido,-a# weary, languid
#aburrir# to tire, weary; #----se# to become weary
#acabar# to finish, end; #---- de# to have just
#acampar# to encamp
#acariciar# to caress, fondle
la #acción# action, gesture
#acechar# to pry; #---- de reojo# to watch from the corners of the
eyes
el #aceite# oil
#aceitoso,-a# oily, greasy
la #acera# sidewalk
#acerca# about
#acercarse# to approach, come near to
el #acero# steel
#acompañar# to accompany
#acordarse# (_ue_) (de) to remember, recall
#acostar# (_ue_) to lay down, put to bed; #----se# to go
to bed
#acostumbrado,-a# accustomed, ordinary
#acuoso,-a# watery, liquid
#achicharrar# to overheat
#adelantar# to advance; put forward; #----se# to come forward
#además# moreover, besides; #---- de# besides
#adentro# within, inside; #tierra ----# inland
el #adjetivo# adjective
la #admiración# admiration, wonder
el #admirador# admirer
la #adolescencia# youth, adolescence
#adolescente# young
#adormilarse# to doze
#adornar# to ornament, embellish
#adulador,-a# coaxing; _m. and f_. soother
#adular# to flatter, soothe
#adverbial# adverbial
el #adverbio# adverb
#afable# kind, agreeable
#afanoso,-a# laborious, industrious
#afilado,-a# sharp, keen
#afilar# to grind, render keen; to grow thin
#afirmativamente# affirmatively
#afirmativo,-a# affirmative
#afuera# abroad, out-of-doors; #las ----s# isolation,
remoteness
#agarrar# to grasp firmly; #----se# to become fastened
#agigantado,-a# gigantic, enormous
#ágil# nimble, light
#agradecido,-a# grateful, thankful
#agrio,-a# sour, sharp
el #agua# _f_. water
#aguantar# endure, stand, suffer; #---- ancas# stand being
ridden double
el #aguardiente# brandy
#agudo,-a# sharp, shrill, brisk
#ahí# there, in that place
#ahora# now
#ahorrar# to save, spare
#ahuecar# to make hollow
el #aire# air, atmosphere
#aislar# to isolate
el #ala# _f_. wing
#alabastrino,-a# alabastrine, like alabaster
el #alacrán# scorpion
el #alarde# boast, display
el #alba# _f_. dawn, daybreak
#albo,-a# white
#alborotar# to disturb, excite
el #alboroto# disturbance, hubbub
el #alborozo# joy, merriment
el #alcance# following _or_ overtaking (_a person_); #a
su ----# within her reach
la #alcancía# money box
#alcanzar# to follow, overtake
la #alcoba# bedroom
#alegre# merry, joyous
#alegremente# merrily, happily
la #alegría# merriment, joy
#alejarse# to go, far away
#alerta# _adv_. carefully, vigilantly
#alerto,-a# alert, vigilant
el #alfiler# pin
#algo# something, anything; _adv_. somewhat
el #algodón# cotton, cotton plant
#alguien# somebody, some one
#algún, alguno# some, any; _pl_. some, any, a few
la #alita# _dim_. of #ala#
el #alivio# comfort, solace
el #aljibe# cistern, reservoir (_of water_)
el #alma# _f_. soul; staff
la #almagra# (_usual form_ #almagre#) red ochre, red earth
#almenado,-a# embattled; furnished with teeth
#Almendral# _a local name, probably of a farm near Moguer_
el #almendro# almond tree
#el almirante# admiral (_here the name of a horse_)
el #almirez# brass mortar (_for kitchen use_), basin
#alrededor# around, round about; #a su ----# around him
#altivo,-a# proud, haughty, insolent, loud
#alto,-a# high, tall; #en voz ----a# aloud
el #alumno# pupil
#alzar# to raise, lift up
#allá# there
#allí# there
#amable# amiable, pleasing, kind
#amanecer# to dawn, be evident at dawn; #al ----# at dawn
#amanerado,-a# affected
#amar# to love
#amarillento,-a# yellowish, golden
#amarillo,-a# yellow
el #ámbar# amber, amber color
la #ambición# ambition
#ambos,-as# both
#amedrentar# to frighten, discourage
el #amigo# friend
la #amiga# friend
la #amistad# friendship; #trabar ---- con# make the acquaintance of
el #amo# master, owner
el #amor# love
#amoroso,-a#, loving
las #ancas# crupper; #aguantar ----# stand being ridden double
#ancho,-a# wide, broad
la #Andalucía# Andalusia (_a regional name applied to southern
Spain_)
#andaluz,-a# Andalusian
las #andanzas# wanderings
#andar# to walk, go (_from one place to another_) to travel;
#¡anda!# come!
el #ángel# angel
la #angustia# anguish, heartache
el #animal# animal
#anochecer# to grow dark
el #ansia# desire, longing
#ansioso,-a# anxious, eager
#ante# before, in front of
#antes# before, formerly; #de# before
#antiguo,-a# old
#antojarse# to seem
el #añil# indigo plant, indigo blue
el #año# year; #el ---- pasado# last year; #hace ----s# years
ago
#apagar# to extinguish; #----se# to be extinguished, go out
el #aparato# apparatus
#aparecer# to appear
el #aparejo# harness
#apartar# to remove
#apenas# scarcely, hardly; the minute
el #aperador# farmer, wheelwright
#apelillado,-a# moth-eaten, worm-eaten
#aprender# to learn; #---- de memoria# to commit to memory
#apresurarse# to hasten, hurry
#apretar# to tighten, compress, press
#apurarse# to worry, grieve
el #arabesco# arabesque, Arabic decoration
#ardiente# burning, hot
la #arena# sand
#aristocrático,-a# aristocratic
#armonioso,-a# harmonious, pleasing
#arrancar# to pull out, draw out
#arrastrar# drag, force
#arrebatado,-a# rapid, impetuous
#arrebolado,-a# red, rosy
#arriba# above, up, over; upstairs; #calle ----# up the street
el #arriero# mule-driver
el #arrimo: al ---- de# close to, cuddled against
#arrodillar# to bend the knee; #----se# to kneel down
el #arroyo# brook
el #arroz# rice
el #arrullador# person who lulls to sleep
la #arrulladora# person who lulls to sleep
el #arsénico# arsenic
el #arte# art
el #artificio# artifice, artificiality
el #artista# artist
#artístico,-a# artistic
#asaetear# to shoot arrows
#ascender# to ascend, cling, mount
#así# thus, in this manner; #---- que# as soon as
#asimilar# assimilate
#asmático,-a# asthmatic
el #asno# donkey
el #asnucho# _dim. of_ #asno#
#asomar: ----se# (#a#) to appear at
#asombrar# to shade; frighten, astonish
el #asombro# fear, amazement
#asonantado,-a# assonant (_with rhyme of vowels only_)
el #aspecto# aspect, appearance; #cobrar un ---- extraño# to assume
a strange appearance
#áspero,-a# rough, harsh
#astroso,-a# sordid, unkempt, slovenly
#asustar# to frighten, terrify
#atascar# to stick in the mud
#aterido,-a# stiff with cold
#atezado,-a# dark
el #atolladero# deep, miry place
#atrás# backward, back
#atravesar# to place across
#atreverse (a)# to dare
#aún# yet, still
#aunque# although, even if
#áureo,-a# golden
la #aureola# aureole, halo
la #aurora# dawn
el #autor# author
#¡ay!# alas!
la #ayuda# help, assistance
#ayudar# to help, assist
el #azabache# jet
la #azotea# flat roof (_of a house_)
#azul# blue
#B#
#bajar# to descend, go down, take down
#bajo,-a# low; _adv_. underneath; _prep_. under
#balar# to bleat
el #balazo# shot; wound (_from a ball_)
el #balcón# balcony, open gallery
el #balido# bleating
la #banda# band
la #bandada# flock (_of birds_)
la #bandera# flag, banner
la #banderita# _dim. of_ #bandera#
#bañar# to bathe
la #barba# beard; #---- nazarena# Christlike beard
el #barco# boat
la #barriga# abdomen, stomach
la #barriguilla# _dim. of_ #barriga#
#basado,-a (sobre)# based (on)
#bastardilla# _adj. and n.f_. italic type; #en letra ----#
in italics
#beber# to drink
#Bécquer,# Gustavo Adolfo (1836-1870) _Spanish poet famous for his
"Rimas"_
la #belleza# beauty
#bello,-a# beautiful
el #beso# kiss
la #bestia# animal
el #bien# good
#bien# well, very; #estar ----# to be proper
el #billete# ticket, bank note, bill
el #blanco# whiteness
#blanco,-a# white
#blandamente# softly, gently
#blando,-a# soft, mild, gentle
la #blandura# softness, gentleness
la #blusa# blouse
la #boca# mouth
el #bocado# bit (_of a bridle_)
la #bocaza# _aug. of_ #boca#
la #bodega# store room, warehouse
el #bolsillo# pocket, purse
el #bollo# small loaf, roll
#bonito,-a# pretty
el #bordado# embroidery
#bordar# to embroider
#borrar# to erase, efface
el #borrico# donkey
el #borricuelo# _dim. of_ #borrico#
el #borriquillo# _dim. of_ #borrico#
el #borriquito# _dim. of_ #borrico#
la #bota# boot
el #bote# small boat
la #brama# bellowing _or_ lowing (_of cattle_)
el #brazo# arm
#breve# brief, small
#brillante# brilliant, bright
#brincar# to leap, jump
la #brisa# breeze
el #brocal# curbing (_of a well_)
la #broma# joke, jest
el #bromuro# bromide
la #bruja# witch
#bruñido,-a# polished, burnished, brilliant
#bruscamente# abruptly
#brusco,-a# rude, sudden
el #bruto# brute, beast
el #brutote# _aug. of_ #bruto#
#bueno,-a# good, well, in good health; well and good
#bullanguero,-a# noisy, boisterous
el #burro# donkey
la #busca# search; #a la ----# in search
la #butaca# armchair
#C#