Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

regular

English translation:

fair

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-11-27 17:54:10 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Nov 24, 2015 03:26
8 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Spanish term

regular

Spanish to English Medical Psychology mental, emotional history form
So I have seen this on many numerous times on psychological examination forms, and have always translated the option of 'regular' (in Spanish) as 'normal' in English... But I don't understand why the option exists at times, such as in the following example. Am I missing a broader idea of it?

() Tengo hijos Cuantos? ________
La relacion con ellos es: () Ninguna (x) Buena
() Regular () Mala

Okay. So how can the relationship be good OR/AND normal?! Wouldn't those sort of be the same thing (if we assume good to be status quo/normal)?
I can't find my other examples of it right now, as this is the document in front of me, but suffice it to say they work nearly identically: options for good, bad, normal/regular, and none.
'Ordinary' o 'average' sean mejores? Todavia suena fea asi a mis oidos. Like ordinary or normal or average is a bad thing, in comparison to 'good.'

I think that normal is a good translation, it just annoys me that that doesn't make complete sense to me, so I thought I would finally ask.

Gracias in advance. :)

Discussion

Anja Dean (asker) Nov 24, 2015:
Thank you. Fair does make the most sense, since as Muriel said so-so is not quite in line with the formality aspect. :) Thank you!
Charles Davis Nov 24, 2015:
Yes, it's obviously between good and bad, but it's not as good as "average" or "ordinary". If you describe your relationship as "average" or "ordinary" it means it's OK, not great, but nothing particularly wrong. "Regular" means there is something wrong, but it's not as bad as "mala".

I think Muriel's suggestion of "fair" is about right, which is why I've agreed with it. It has to be something that implies "not as good as I would like it to be".
Luz Esther Nov 24, 2015:
Perhaps what Muriel Vasconcellos is suggesting is better "FAIR"
Luz Esther Nov 24, 2015:
That is correct, but is more like "average" or "ordinary" - there is already an entry for "Good" and an entry for "Bad" so this "Regular" would be something in between. Yes?
Charles Davis Nov 24, 2015:
I have heard elderly people in Spain use it many times when you ask them how they are, and it's like elderly people in Britain saying "mustn't grumble": in other words, I don't feel well, I have aches and pains and so on, but I feel I have to put a brave face on it.

If someone describes their marriage as "regular" they definitely have problems: it is far from being a happy marriage.
Charles Davis Nov 24, 2015:
Regular doesn't mean normal, it means "no demasiadamente bien" (DRAE 14). If you ask someone how they are, or how something went, and they answer "regular", they mean on the bad side of normal: not too good, so-so. It expresses lack of enthusiasm, and it often tends to imply pretty poor.

Proposed translations

+4
3 hrs
Selected

fair

This is how I often translate "regular" in similar contexts. The expression that captures it best is "so-so"- but I realize that wouldn't be formal enough.
Peer comment(s):

agree Charles Davis : Exactly: fair at best; the implication is "not too good".
1 hr
agree Luz Esther
1 hr
agree franglish
1 hr
agree James A. Walsh
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I don't quite know how to do this part of the system. :)"
4 mins

normal

It falls between good and bad. There's room for improvement.

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Note added at 15 mins (2015-11-24 03:42:02 GMT)
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I tend to overanalyze things, too. :-)
Note from asker:
Now that I see you type that out, it seems so simplistic to be of that idea. I think my brain gets locked on the fact that the word usually translates easily as 'regular' or 'normal' and is also usually a cognate. :)
Peer comment(s):

neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : In my experience, it means less than 'normal'.
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
34 mins

OK

I'm not sure about "normal", because what is normal? OK implies neither good not bad.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : In my experience, it means less than OK. In my dialect, OK means that it's very good unless it's pronounced with a sardonic tone, which can't be captured in writing.
2 hrs
OK means the same as your suggestion, fair. It's not very positive.
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

regular

Mira la definición de las palabras, creo que "regular" es la mejor manera de traducirlo aqui y tambien a los sinonimos de la palabra.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Charles Davis : "Regular" is not a quality descriptor in English
2 hrs
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