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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

Papito

English translation: Buddy

09:29 May 30, 2008
Spanish to English translations [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Spanish term or phrase: Papito
I would like to know what will be the best way to translate this term from Colombian Spanish into American English.
It's the translation of a conversation between an uncle and his nephew.
Mzia
English translation:Buddy
Explanation:
"My boy"

To get us out of this confusion, I'm going to go ahead and post the response that most closely fits with the target term, although it has been mentioned in the body of several answers.

I could not agree with Daddy (even though it is a translation of Papito) because in this context, the nephew would not have said it to the uncle.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2008-05-30 14:21:34 GMT)
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In Colombia (my husband and his family are from Colombia), it is acceptable for any family member to refer to little kids as papito. We have a 3 year old and with all the family members calling him papito, he thinks it is his name! When a mother say it to her (very young) child, it is more like saying, "baby."

This seems to be the case in Mexico and Colombia.

Selected response from:

Erin DeBell
United States
Local time: 17:40
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5See below!
Vladimir Martinez
5 +1Buddy
Erin DeBell
4 +1Daddy
Maria Elena Martinez
3sonny boy
eloso (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Daddy


Explanation:
padre / father, papá / dad, papi, papito / daddy. madre / mother, mamá / mom, ... papi, papito / daddy. madre / mother. mamá / mom. mami, má (Méx) / mommy ...
www.forodeespanol.com/Archive/TheFamilyBasicVocabulary/xlr/... - 105k -

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Note added at 45 mins (2008-05-30 10:15:34 GMT)
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Podría ser "buddy" en este caso

Maria Elena Martinez
Netherlands
Local time: 23:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: I don't think is the right version. This is a conversation betewwen an uncle and his nephew.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Remy Arce: absolutely right!
2 hrs
neutral  Jennifer Levey: daddy refers specifically to a child's father - it cannot be used to refer to an uncle
3 hrs
neutral  Erin DeBell: The child would not be saying this to the uncle...it must be the Uncle speaking to the nephew...buddy works
4 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Buddy


Explanation:
"My boy"

To get us out of this confusion, I'm going to go ahead and post the response that most closely fits with the target term, although it has been mentioned in the body of several answers.

I could not agree with Daddy (even though it is a translation of Papito) because in this context, the nephew would not have said it to the uncle.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2008-05-30 14:21:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In Colombia (my husband and his family are from Colombia), it is acceptable for any family member to refer to little kids as papito. We have a 3 year old and with all the family members calling him papito, he thinks it is his name! When a mother say it to her (very young) child, it is more like saying, "baby."

This seems to be the case in Mexico and Colombia.



Erin DeBell
United States
Local time: 17:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 7
Notes to answerer
Asker: I tried to send you a message with the rest of the context but the message doesn't get delivered to your e-mail address,


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marina56: ok
20 hrs
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
sonny boy


Explanation:
One more option.

eloso (X)
Argentina
Local time: 18:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
See below!


Explanation:
If it´s the uncle calling "papito" to his nephew the real meaning is: my little boy,little child of mine,my boy,my young boy.
It´s a familiar and a very colloquial way we use in Latinamerica to call someone´s atention.Oftenly friends or relatives.
e.g: Look my boy,it´s not like this!
Mira Papito...esto no es así!

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Note added at 4 hrs (2008-05-30 14:10:27 GMT)
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e.g: No my dear boy,I won´t do it!
No papito,no;...no lo voy a hacer!

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Note added at 20 hrs (2008-05-31 05:33:07 GMT)
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Also in a sexual way girls,they use to say: Papi or papito to those who are really near or close to us....That´s just the way it is!
Tipycally from we Latinamericans(God save the Time) ....and...by the way?...Did we ask for any papers on 1492?...with all my respect!,
Just a suggestion!
Cheers!

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Note added at 21 hrs (2008-05-31 07:28:24 GMT)
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Sorry and with all my respects....more context is not needed when you are a latinamerican!

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Note added at 21 hrs (2008-05-31 07:29:19 GMT)
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Papito..............................my boy!

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Note added at 23 hrs (2008-05-31 09:10:46 GMT)
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I even would say:...Buddy or Pop..and sometimes in Uk they say hooray Henry(refering the King)...Hooray Bob!

Vladimir Martinez
Spain
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  teresa quimper: I fully agree with Vladimir Martinez. Would translate it as "my boy" (uncle to nephew)
1 hr
  -> my boy....!ThankZ Teresa!
agree  Alejandra Tolj
2 hrs
  -> ThanZ Alejandra!
agree  Romado: "my boy" is perfect
6 hrs
  -> Gracias Papito!
agree  Cecilia Welsh
7 hrs
  -> Ulisses didn´t realize there´s a Lady of Arcadia....ThankZ sweetie!
agree  Yaotl Altan
1 day 2 hrs
  -> Gracias Yaotl!
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