ProZ.com global directory of translation services
The translation workplace
Ideas
KudoZ home » Spanish to English » Slang

garabato

English translation: scribble/scribbling


Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:garabato
English translation:scribble/scribbling
Entered by: skam
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

22:00 Jul 25, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Slang
Spanish term or phrase: garabato
Unfortunately, I have no context. It is a recording with a mostly unintelligible sentence except this term is very clear. The speaker is Mexican.

Thank you.
skam
scribble/scribbling
Explanation:
scribble traducción | Diccionario Inglés-Español | Reverso
diccionario.reverso.net/ingles-espanol/scribble - En cachéscribble traducción Ingles - Espanol : scribble a n garabatos mpl I can't read his scribble no consigo leer sus garabatos a wall covered in scribbles una ...
Selected response from:

Jenni Lukac
Local time: 18:20
Grading comment
Thx!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2scribble/scribbling
Jenni Lukac
3 +2doodle
Laureana Pavon
4scribble & four letter word (if it were from Chile)
traductorchile
4chicken scratch
Pablo Julián Davis
3expletivexxxmediamatrix


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
doodle


Explanation:
A doodle is an unfocused drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. (Wikipedia)

Garabatear = To doodle

The minute I saw your question this is what came to mind, but I don't live in Mexico.

Laureana Pavon
Uruguay
Local time: 13:20
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  fionn: I do live in Mexico, and garabato does refer more to a doodle (absent-minded drawing) than to a scribble (poor writing). Though in a humorous sense it could refer to the latter.
26 mins
  -> Gracias por tu comentario
agree  Helly Wolf
36 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
scribble/scribbling


Explanation:
scribble traducción | Diccionario Inglés-Español | Reverso
diccionario.reverso.net/ingles-espanol/scribble - En cachéscribble traducción Ingles - Espanol : scribble a n garabatos mpl I can't read his scribble no consigo leer sus garabatos a wall covered in scribbles una ...

Jenni Lukac
Local time: 18:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Thx!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Laureana Pavon: I think this sounds even better than the answer I proposed
13 mins
  -> Thanks, Laureana. Doodles are usually drawings. What mediamatrix says is very interesting. In Spain, it always refers to illegible writing.
agree  eski
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, bro. Hope all is well.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
chicken scratch


Explanation:
Almost always this term is a humorous way to talk about poor handwriting (or drawing). Or it could be a humorous way to refer to writing in general.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2011-07-25 22:10:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Since your query was labeled 'Slang' I offered that translation: Poorly written signature or other writing. Of course, without context we're a little lost. I'm fairly certain that the next most common usage of this word is this one: an iron hook such as you might hang something from on a wall - say a hanging plant or whatnot.

Example sentence(s):
Pablo Julián Davis
Local time: 11:20
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
expletive


Explanation:
I don't know about Mexico, but here in Chile 'garabato' is synonymous with 'palabrota' --> swear word, expletive, etc. And it usually refers to the spoken word, not writing.

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=777763

xxxmediamatrix
Local time: 12:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 19

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Marjory Hord: Never heard that in Mexico!
25 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
scribble & four letter word (if it were from Chile)


Explanation:
As mediamatrix said, in Chile it also has that meaning (when its oral speech)
Just for enlightening worldwide understanding and peace.

traductorchile
Chile
Local time: 12:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Return to KudoZ list


KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.



See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations

Terminology | Jobs and directories | Member activities | Education | Tools
About ProZ.com | ProZ.com basics | Advertising | Support | FAQ | Terms of use
ProZ.com social network linksFacebookLinkedInTwitterDiggStumbleUpondel.icio.us
Print page
Copyright © 1999-2012 ProZ.com - All rights reserved. Privacy