Voices en Español

The other day on the radio I thought I heard someone describe another person as “velnerable.” I didn’t know what that meant and neither did the dictionary. Turns out that the word “velnerable” doesn’t exist. The person had mispronounced the real word that he meant to say, (or at least that’s how the word sounded to my ears). However in doing so, he had combined two real Spanish words leading to a very funny meaning, if you considered it literally.

That got me thinking about doing a list of mashups. None of the following words exist but they sound like they could! They’re parts of real Spanish words that have been mashed together. Can you guess their meanings? (Answers after the jump.)

1. bacabundo
2. mezcaldo
3. protoculo
4. trepalenguas
5. vergozoso
6. velnerable

a). A social climber who stutters.
b). Deserving respect because it is defenseless and easily damaged.
c). A bum who lives on top of a car’s luggage-rack.
d). A perfect butt.
e). An unappetizing broth that consists of fruit juice and the leftover liquid you have after you cook vegetables and boil chicken.
f). Someone who makes the people around him extremely happy whenever he acts like a fool.

Answers:

The real Spanish words that actually exist are in bold in parenthesis.

1. bacabundo (baca + vagabundo)

Answer: C; a bum who lives on a car’s roof rack

2. mezcaldo (mezcla + caldo)

Answer: E; an unappetizing broth that consists of fruit juice and the leftover liquid you get after you cook vegetables and boil chicken.

3. protoculo (protocolo + culo)

Answer: D; a perfect butt.

4. trepalenguas (trepa + trabalenguas )

Answer: A; a social climber who stutters.

5. vergozoso (vergonzoso + gozoso)

Answer: F; someone who produces joy in others whenever he acts foolish.

6. velnerable (venerable + vulnerable)

Answer: B; Deserving respect because it is defenseless and easily damaged.