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alcapurrias

English translation: alcapurrias

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01:09 Dec 8, 2011

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / radio transcript from Puerto Rico

Spanish term or phrase: alcapurrias

I know that what the literal meaning of this word is, i.e, a type of fritter dish from Puerto Rico.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcapurria

What I would like to know is if it has another meaning in Puerto Rican Spanish as the literal meaning makes no sense in the context of a radio interview which discusses politics and political campaigns and scandals. Here is the fragment of the dialogue where this word occurs:

A: Cuánto se puede recoger en un bingo?
B: Bueno depende, depende...
A: Cuánto se puede recoger en un bingo dime un número? Cuánto recogiste en el último bingo?
B: $3,4...$500.00 dólares. Depende de cuántos alcapurrías y cuántos bacalaos frías
A: Pero es que con eso no se compran 300 o 400 pavos?
B: Pero quién ha repartido 300 y 400 pavos?
A: Cuántos pavos repartío?

This is what the fragment looks like (including the possible typos...). In fact, I can say I'm as confused by "alcapurrias" as I am by "bacalaos frias (sic)" and "pavos" in this context, so if anyone can make sense of this, I would be really grateful! Gracias!

steven fung KudoZ activity Questions: 33 (none open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 0
Local time: 03:24

English translation:alcapurrias

Explanation:
Alcapurrias is spelled correctly ; bacalao (cod fish fritters) are really bacalaitos fritos (diminutive). I have never heard or seen the term in English for Alcapurrias. I don't think it exists. Think of the word tacos or taquitos; is there a word in English?

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Note added at 15 mins (2011-12-08 01:25:12 GMT)
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just like we have dishes that keep the original name from the country, In PR we also have some that are not translatable.

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Note added at 47 mins (2011-12-08 01:57:41 GMT)
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I'm sure it doesn't have another meaning; it's also fried like the cod fritters.
Good luck!

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Note added at 7 days (2011-12-15 02:02:18 GMT) Post-grading
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just a note for those wondering. Neither meat pies nor turnovers will do "justice" to the "alcapurria". It doesn't have a flour crust. It's made from green plantains and green bananas.

Good luck Steven

Selected response from:

Blanca Collazo
Local time: 19:24

Grading comment

gracias Blanca
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

alcapurrias

Blanca Collazo

meat pies/turnovers

Dorothy Heller

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

1 day27 mins confidence:

meat pies/turnovers

Explanation:
I agree that there is probably no adequate translation for "alcapurrias," since they are a specifically Puerto Rican food. The closest I could come to an equivalent would be meat pies or turnovers.

Dorothy Heller
United States
Local time: 19:24
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

13 mins confidence:

alcapurrias

Blanca Collazo
Local time: 19:24
Native speaker of:

Spanish,

English
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

gracias Blanca

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks Blanca. What I really wanted to find out was whether this word had another meaning in P.R. other than the literal one. If there really isn't I'll probably leave it as it is with a footnote explaining that it's a type of local dish.

Asker: Thanks, I've decided to keep the original and explain in a footnote that this is a type of fritter snack.

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