Pesado

English translation: a pain, a bore/boring, a drag

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	pesado (informal)
English translation:	a pain, a bore/boring, a drag
Entered by:	Janelle Norman

11:35 Jul 4, 2003

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

Spanish term or phrase: Pesado

In Spain, used to describe a person. "Es un tio muy pesado." In some cases maybe "annoying" a good translation. Is there a better one? And I suppose it depends on what way the person is being "pesado."

Janelle Norman KudoZ activity Questions: 1 (none open) Answers: 1 Spain
Local time: 19:32

pain [He is a real pain]

Explanation:
+

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Note added at 2 mins (2003-07-04 11:38:12 GMT)
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Since this is informal in register, \"pain\" is better than \"annoying\". The idea of \"annoying\" is correct, but it is not at the same informal sociolinguistic register as \"pesado\". This same adjective is extensively used in Latin America in the same sense.

\"pain\" is probably a shortened form of \"pain in the neck\" meaning the same thing

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Note added at 3 mins (2003-07-04 11:38:53 GMT)
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I just confirmed the usage in the Oxford Dictionary

o be a pain in the neck o (AmE vulg) ass o (BrE vulg)
arse ser* un pesado, ser* insoportable, ser* un coñazo (Esp vulg);

Selected response from:

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 13:32

Grading comment

Gracias a todos!! I chose "a pain" because I think it could be the most common translation, although sometimes it may be too strong. I think "a bore" and "a drag" are great options too.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +11

pain [He is a real pain]

Michael Powers (PhD)

3 +8

a real pain in the neck

jerrie

5 +4

he's/she's a drag

Susana Galilea

5 +2

the bloke's a bore

Marcela Robaina Boyd

4 +3

obnoxious

Luis Rey Ballesteros (Luiroi)

5 +1

insensitive, uncaring

Refugio

5 +1

unbearable

Sol

4 +1

complicated, annoying

swisstell

4 +1

he is a pain

Simona de Logu

grumpy

Henry Hinds

a nuisance

Chris Williams

he's too much

Carolingua

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

complicated, annoying

Explanation:
2 posibilidades. Suerte!

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 19:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 32

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +8

a real pain in the neck

Explanation:
depending on context:

annoying
irritating
trying (hard work)
boring

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

1 min confidence:

peer agreement (net): +11

pain [He is a real pain]

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 13:32
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 209

Grading comment

Gracias a todos!! I chose "a pain" because I think it could be the most common translation, although sometimes it may be too strong. I think "a bore" and "a drag" are great options too.

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

agree

DonQuijote: You can use with "neck" or other part of the anatomyyou might wish.

1 min

-> As indicated in the example now added by Oxford - see above - Mike :)

agree

Maria Rosich Andreu

13 mins

-> thank you, Maria - Mike :)

agree

Sheilann: I'm sure we could all name a few!

15 mins

-> Unfortuantely I am afraid we can - c'est la vie! Mike :)

agree

Ricardo Posada Ortiz: si

1 hr

-> thank you, Patricia - Mike :)

agree

Connie Ibarzabal

1 hr

-> thank you, Connie - Mike :)

agree

Сергей Лузан: Yes.

1 hr

-> thank you, Sergio - Mike :)

agree

Marcela García Henríquez

4 hrs

neutral

Refugio: This might be a little too "informal," since it is short for pain in the ass (and pain in the neck is a euphemism for that).

9 hrs

agree

Greencayman

1 day 30 mins

agree

moken: perfecto

1 day 1 hr

agree

marianmare: and I can give you some examples!!!

1 day 11 hrs

agree

James A. Walsh: 5928 days later - now that's what I call a delayed reaction! Better later than never though, eh!?!

5928 days

6 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

he is a pain

Explanation:
more slang, as is the sentence in Spanish.

Simona de Logu
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:32
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

German

36 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

the bloke's a bore

Explanation:
otra

Marcela Robaina Boyd
Argentina
Local time: 14:32
Native speaker of:

Spanish

2 hrs confidence:

grumpy

Explanation:
He's a grumpy guy.

Exp.

Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 11:32
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 355

9 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

insensitive, uncaring

Explanation:
Another layer of meaning.

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Note added at 2003-07-04 21:09:05 (GMT)
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intolerable, hard to take

Refugio
Local time: 10:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 64

10 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

he's/she's a drag

Explanation:
Hasta tiene el mismo sentido de algo que te pesa...

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Note added at 10 hrs 43 mins (2003-07-04 22:19:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

... Del was helping himself to sausage and sage dressing. \"I\'m glad Richard
didn\'t show up. He\'s a total drag to be around. A real mood killer. ...
www.sincereamore.com/fanfic/rebekah/ meaning_of_love_07.html - 35k - Cached - Similar pages

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Note added at 10 hrs 52 mins (2003-07-04 22:27:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Source: The Collins Concise Spanish Dictionary © 2002 HarperCollins Publishers:

drag [dræ>g]
[...]
2 (informal) (= boring thing) lata (informal) f; rollo m (Spain) (informal)
what a drag! ¡qué lata! (informal); ¡qué rollo! (Spain) (informal)
***she\'s a real drag! ¡qué tía más pesada!*** (informal)

Susana Galilea
United States
Local time: 12:32
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 20

11 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

unbearable

Explanation:
Acme Celeb: Alicia Silverstone
more hot celebs..... Interview Alicia talks for you! ... He is unbearable when you're
shooting a scene because he laughs through the whole damn scene. It's great.". ...
www.acmecelebs.com/alicia_silverstone/interview.htm - 12k - Cached - Similar pages

alive and well -- 11 Oct 1983
... I was amazed at how many things the book talks about that I have seen ... can't," or "I
don't want to." Usually he is a charmer, but occasionally he is unbearable. ...
www.thecolefamily.com/italy/831011mom.htm - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

Sol
United States
Local time: 13:32
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4

11 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

obnoxious

Explanation:
My proposal...

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Note added at 2003-07-04 23:33:44 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Features - [ Traduzca esta página ]
... Favorite scene: A date with a really obnoxious guy. ... It\'s called \"Single Man Drought.\".
Could Greg Howell relate to being that obnoxious guy? I don\'t know. ...
starbulletin.com/2000/09/07/features/story2.html - 12k - En caché - Páginas similares

Sample from \"The Grim Reaper is a Hot Chick\" - [ Traduzca esta página ]
... Guy: Ruff...ruff (Sits). GR: Look, you\'re a nice guy...No I take that back,
you\'re an incredibly annoying and obnoxious guy. But, that\'s irrelevant. ...
ttfforensics.tripod.com/tibetantreefrogpublishing/ id23.html - 22k - En caché - Páginas similares

Luis Rey Ballesteros (Luiroi)
Local time: 11:32
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 17

1 day 7 hrs confidence:

he's too much

Explanation:
This is an often used in exasperation, when someone is just more than one can take. I think it's close to "pesado" because it has the same implication of someone who is heavy-handed and perhaps has no idea of how much a pain he's being.

Just another option (though it seems you already have plenty of good ones!!)

Carolingua
United States
Local time: 10:32
Native speaker of:

French,

Spanish,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

2 days 21 hrs confidence:

a nuisance

Explanation:
"A nuisance" covers all of the above without being too rude (pesado is pretty mild)

Chris Williams
Local time: 18:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

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