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15:03 Sep 21, 2011
English to Spanish translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / palabras despectivas
English term or phrase:"dork"
What would be the best Spanish equivalent for the word "dork"? It is something close to "nerd" or "geek", but has the added dimension of being stupid...
John Travolta uses the word in "Grease" when he says "I don't want to hang out with YOU DORKS"...
I work with youngsters, and I have heard them use 'es un aparato' with a similar meaning; can't find any proof, though, so it's probably not general enough. Then there's 'traga', but that's closer to nerd, a studious, uncool type. Of course, not all 'tragas' are necessarily intelligent, but I've taught plenty of studious but popular kids. I can ask my daughter this evening, if it's not too late for you. By the way, hope you enjoy Argentina.
I'm not even going to attempt an answer to this, but I would just say that the main idea of "dork" is not so much stupid as uncool. In Valencia, where I live, the exact word kids use for this is "pollo", but that's not even used in the rest of Spain, let alone in Argentina. However, I think a general slang word for "tonto" misses something important. Dorks are above all unfashionable, nerdy, if you like.
Yes, need to know more to be able to advise you well, Bob, esp. re target country and context. In Argentina some good candidates (among many others) would be NABO, GOMA, BOLUDO, PELOTUDO, the latter two being vulgar though more and more commonplace.
Well, I'm in Buenos Aires at the moment. I guess I'd like an Argentine equivalent. They certainly don't use "baboso" here, although from having lived in Mexico for 13 years I am well aware of the term! Hasta se habla de una "sarta de babosadas" a veces - allá...
Explanation: Cuando nos referimos a una persona muy centrada en una especialidad y medio ajena a cualquier otra inquietud humana, solemos decir que es "cuadrada (como un raviol)"
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 mins (2011-09-21 15:24:09 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
That is, if you do not want to use the equally effective but more vulgar options mentioned by Pablo Julián (especially the last two!).
Mónica Algazi Uruguay Local time: 12:41 Works in field Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in category: 24
Explanation: I said I wasn't going to answer, but since everyone else is...
Here's the Wiktionary definition of "dork":
"(US, pejorative, slang) A quirky, silly and/or stupid, socially inept person, or one who is out of touch with contemporary trends. Often confused with nerd and geek, but does not imply the same level of intelligence."
The "usage notes" add: "Narrowly used to indicate someone inept or out of touch, broadly used to mean simply “silly, foolish”" http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dork
So then, perhaps Travolta's character just meant "idiots". If so, plenty of suggestions have already been offered. But I still think it means more than that. A dork is not a nerd in the sense of a swot, but is socially inept and, as I said before, uncool.
I think "ñoño", as used in Argentina, may capture its connotations well. Applied to a person, it generally means "sumamente apocada y de corto ingenio" in Spanish, according to the DRAE. In Argentina, it seems to be used specifically in a way rather like dork. Here is someone in an Argentine roleplay gaming forum distinguishing related terms:
"Ñoño: persona antisocial, sin amigos ni pareja, que vive en un mundo de pedo pensando que nadie lo entiende.
Nerd: persona que privilegia actividades más intelectuales que físicas.
Geek: amante de la tecnología en general y de la computación en particular.
Friki: fanático de algo, a tal punto que parece dedicar su vida al objeto de su fanatismo, dándole más importancia de la que merece."
So a "ñoño" is a bit pathetic and socially inept.
Here, again from Argentina, are "Diez indicadores para saber que sos un ñoño". Here are a few:
"Tienes o has tenido acné?
. Has formado o formas parte de un coro? (si es navideño peor)
. Has ido o vas a misa con tu novia/o? (en ese plan)
Sabes tocar flauta o instrumentos de aire similares?
. Estás en un grupo de investigación?
. Participaste o participas activamente en las olimpiadas de matemáticas?
. Eres amotriz para el deporte? (Especialmente para el futbol)
. Eres o fuiste Boy Scout?
. Usas pantalones de pana?" http://www.taringa.net/posts/humor/9166787/Diez-indicadores-...
I think we're close to the essence of dorkishness here. "Una manga de ñoños como ustedes": could work.
Charles Davis Local time: 17:41 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 24
Explanation: Coincido con Charles en que "dork" es básicamente "uncool/nerdy".
Estas dos opciones recogen la idea en España y quizás sean extrapolables a Argentina
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro Spain Local time: 17:41 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in category: 142
Explanation: Un equivalente muy cercano en argentino. Más que nada la falta de onda, la torpeza tanto física como social... De cool no tiene absolutamente nada.
En este ejemplo creo que lo que más salta a la vista es el tema de la torpeza, la falta de 'onda': "...es un nabo total, recien lo vi bailando y las caras de boludo que pone, son terribles. ..." (http://www.xtreme-addictions.com.ar/foro/archive/index.php/t...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 hrs (2011-09-22 03:43:36 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
En este otro ejemplo la torpeza pasa por la falta de habilidad. ('porteño', perteneciente a la ciudad de Buenos Aires): "...viene de 'nabo', aquel que -en porteño- es un desastre y no sabe hacer las cosas..." (http://blogs.eldiariomontanes.es/entre-dos-orillas/tag/nabos...
Alternativa: 'Un desastre'. Muy común también, como fallo pésimo sobre el desempeño de alguien en el deporte, la vestimenta, el bailar, el 'levante' con el sexo opuesto, la interacción social en general, o lo que fuere. "...encima de que el tipo es un desastre cantando, es nefásta su pronunciación del inglés jaja, ahora sé porqué era tan 'especial' el karaoke. ..." (http://horroroscopo.net/la-era-de-acuario)
Pablo Julián Davis Local time: 10:41 Native speaker of: Spanish, English
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
