lucas, palos -- used in reference to amounts

English translation: thousands and millions (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	lucas, palos -- used in reference to amounts
English translation:	thousands and millions (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)
Entered by:	María Eugenia Wachtendorff

03:57 Sep 1, 2006

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Finance (general) / foreign business

Spanish term or phrase: lucas, palos -- used in reference to amounts

I'm translating correspondence between a company in Argentina and a company in US. The terms "lucas" and "palos" are used. From the context, I'm assuming that "lucas" refers to thousands, as in 300 lucas meaning 300,000. I'm also guessing that "palos" means millions, as in dos palos, meaning 2,000,000. I'm guessing these are "colloquial" terms, just like we say in English 300 "big ones" to mean $300,000. I'd appreciate confirmation of my hunches. Thanks.

gindavid

thousands and millions (Chile)

Explanation:
This is in my country, Gindavid. I wasn't aware of the use of the same colloquial terms in Argentina.

Selected response from:

María Eugenia Wachtendorff
Chile
Local time: 13:57

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +6

thousands and millions (Chile)

María Eugenia Wachtendorff

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

thousands and millions (Chile)

Explanation:
This is in my country, Gindavid. I wasn't aware of the use of the same colloquial terms in Argentina.

María Eugenia Wachtendorff
Chile
Local time: 13:57
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 287

Notes to answerer

Asker: I really appreciate your answer. Now I can finish my translation with confidence.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Monica Colangelo: that's it, my friend, we've been using lucas for thousands and palos for millions for as long as I can remember:):)

32 mins

-> May you and your pretty nenitas get and enjoy many, many palos, dearest! ;D

agree

Henry Hinds

1 hr

-> Gracias, Henry

agree

MikeGarcia: Valid both for Argentina and Chile, and I think also Uruguay...

2 hrs

-> Thank you, Sir! :)

agree

David Brown: I have heard my Latin American friends use these words here in Spain

3 hrs

-> Thanks, David :)

agree

Julia Martínez: That's right. In Argentina, '300 lucas verdes' = '300,000 dollars'; and '5 palos verdes' = '5 million dollars'. As the asker said, these terms are pretty colloquial.

5 hrs

-> Thank you, Julia

agree

Sergio Gaymer

8 hrs

-> Gracias, Sergio

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