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Ay Carumba

19:07 Nov 11, 2001

[FAQ]

Spanish to English translations [Non-PRO]

Spanish term or phrase: Ay Carumba

Ay Carumba

Lisa

Summary of answers provided

Oh, God! or Oh my God!

kairosz (Mary Guerrero)

By Karacho!!! (or Karaxo) (please read below)

xxxOso

Geez!

trixiemck

Holy cow!

Rufino Pérez De La Sierra

I'll be darn

Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO)

Oh my goodness!

Gail

Oh my Gosh

Myrtha

Oh, come on!

mtpringle

Caramba!

Sheilann

Answers

13 mins confidence:

Oh, God! or Oh my God!

Explanation:
The Spanish term is Ay Caramba, not Carumba

kairosz (Mary Guerrero)
Local time: 14:43
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 54

18 mins confidence:

Oh my Gosh

Explanation:
No creo que la frase tenga una traducción específica, esta frase es utilizada por Taco Bell, es una forma muy informal de expresar sorpresa.

Myrtha
PRO pts in pair: 14

22 mins confidence:

I'll be darn

Explanation:
Just another, also more informal, variant on this subject.

Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO)
Local time: 15:43
PRO pts in pair: 52

The asker has declined this answer
No comment was given

42 mins confidence:

Geez!

Explanation:
I think that´s quite close

trixiemck
Argentina
Local time: 17:43
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 892

The asker has declined this answer
No comment was given

1 hr confidence:

Holy cow!

Explanation:
At least this is the way Bart Simpson uses it...

Good luck!

Rufino

Rufino Pérez De La Sierra
Canada
Local time: 16:43
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 198

4 hrs confidence:

By Karacho!!! (or Karaxo) (please read below)

Explanation:
Hi Lisa,
Just another option for you since "caramba" (NOT CARUMBA Ok?) is the euphemism for the Spanish word "carajo"....

This one's kind of hard to translate! "Karacho" is some kind of sound word, if I may put it that way, and it usually stands for a big bang or a terrible mess; probably stems from "Krach", a German word for noise. It may not make much sense in the context of this song but it makes for a nice alliteration, doesn't it?

Editor's note: According to another worshipper, Juan Carlos (Hansi) Dominguez-Braun, this word is a Germanized version of the Spanish word "carajo" , alternatively used by Spaniards to say "hell", "G*d-dammit", "sh*t" as an expletive. During WW2, the Spanish soldiers of the famous "Blue Division" , infected their German comrades in arms with their word "Carajo". German soldiers of all ranks began using this word, and it became part of colloquial German lingo ever since.

From Oso ¶:^)

Google y el ocio

xxxOso
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 3064

5 hrs confidence:

Caramba!

Explanation:
Does it really need a translation? I'd be tempted to leave the "local colour" because, no doubt, the drift could be understood from the context.

Sheilann
Spain
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 882

The asker has declined this answer
No comment was given

10 hrs confidence:

Oh my goodness!

Explanation:
Just another choice

Gail
Local time: 15:43
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 191

The asker has declined this answer
No comment was given

1 day11 hrs confidence:

Oh, come on!

Explanation:
Ay : Oh!

Caramba: expression of complaint or surprise.
Without mention the Lord's name in vain such as God or Jeez that are not in the Caramba
I 'll go for: come on! or not again! or something in that nature.
To retain the Spanish flavor you should use the same original expression.

exp

mtpringle