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un mediocre siempre piensa que es especial

English translation: average people always think they're something special

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:un mediocre siempre piensa que es especial
English translation:average people always think they're something special
Entered by: aivars

14:00 Jul 10, 2002
Spanish to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary
Spanish term or phrase: un mediocre siempre piensa que es especial
the complete phrase would be:
*El mediocre siempre piensa que es especial , en cambio los más talentosos suelen no tener gran autoestima, y no hacen mayor alarde de lo que hacen"

I wonder what is the right word for the noun "el mediocre" which is very common in Spanish. Is it just "the mediocre? , the middling??"

Although there are middlings (I m trying to mean dull, no talent, vulgar tastes, trite, cliche, etc.) everywhere, I have the feeling that this concept is not so used in Anglo Saxon contexts as in Spanish ones, eg. Argentina

thanks in advance
aivars
Argentina
Local time: 17:20
average people always think they're something special
Explanation:
I think that's pretty much it.
Selected response from:

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 16:20
Grading comment
Impossible to be fair with this one, there were many good and illustrative options. Sometimes I pick the one I just like even when it might not be the most accurate as to the original request.
I agree with the emotional aspects of mediocre, and the lack of a noun for mediocre in English
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +10a mediocre person always thinks that he or she is special
John Guzman
4 +6average people always think they're something special
Marian Greenfield
5 +1SEE EXPLANATION
Terry Burgess
4simple/ common people always think they're something special
Сергей Лузан
4Mediocre people always think they're special...
Rosa Garcia


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
average people always think they're something special


Explanation:
I think that's pretty much it.

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 16:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 14617
Grading comment
Impossible to be fair with this one, there were many good and illustrative options. Sometimes I pick the one I just like even when it might not be the most accurate as to the original request.
I agree with the emotional aspects of mediocre, and the lack of a noun for mediocre in English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Henry Hinds: Yes, there could be variations but this says it fine.
3 mins
agree  Elizabeth Novesky
7 mins
agree  Consult Couture
16 mins
agree  Alana Moceri
49 mins
agree  Сергей Лузан
2 hrs
agree  LoreAC (X)
1 day 6 hrs
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +10
a mediocre person always thinks that he or she is special


Explanation:
some other words for Mediocre

Average
Common
Ordinary

but I would defenetly use Mediocre in the sentence.

John Guzman
Local time: 15:20
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 35

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Consult Couture
11 mins
  -> Thanks
agree  Parrot: "average" & "ordinary" don't carry the same emotional load as "mediocre"
14 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Terry Burgess: Right John:-)))
21 mins
  -> thanks
agree  jerrie
23 mins
  -> Thanks
agree  José Luis Villanueva-Senchuk (X): Ahora sí...
30 mins
  -> Gracias
agree  Bret: Cecilia hit the nail on the head.
55 mins
  -> Thanks - I just wanted to give a couple alternatives :)
agree  Сергей Лузан
2 hrs
  -> Gracias
agree  elenali
3 hrs
agree  Russell Gillis: Agree with Cecilia - mediocre implies that you settle for less in life.
3 hrs
agree  Sery
3 hrs
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22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
SEE EXPLANATION


Explanation:
Hi Aivars!
Mediocre, in English, is, per se, only used as an adjective whereas in Spanish, it can be used as a noun....as in your context.

Roget's thesaurus gives the sinonyms "middling" and "tolerable"---but both are also adjectives.

My honest suggestion would be for you to use [as an example]: "mediocre people (or a mediocre person) always feel they are special [or talented] whereas more talented people tend to lack self esteem"---in other words, just use it as an adjective.

Luck!
terry


    Exp.
Terry Burgess
Mexico
Local time: 14:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 2372

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Сергей Лузан: Quite an interesting suggestion. My set of options is below.
2 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
simple/ common people always think they're something special


Explanation:
¡Buena suerte, aivars!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-07-10 16:27:41 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"Mean people\", if archaic.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-07-10 16:31:16 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"imperfect/ mutilated people\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-07-10 16:32:16 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Re.: Roget’s Thesaurus of Synonyms & Antonyms (over 100,000 words)

Сергей Лузан
Russian Federation
Local time: 23:20
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in pair: 450
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Mediocre people always think they're special...


Explanation:
I just think the word mediocre here is important so to convey the message.

Rosa Garcia
PRO pts in pair: 84
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