pendejos (in this context) (question about omitting the word, actually)

English translation: "three million s...[uckers]"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:"tres millones de p...[endejos]"
English translation:"three million s...[uckers]"
Entered by: María Teresa Taylor Oliver

02:03 Jan 21, 2009
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Slang / Panamanian politics
Spanish term or phrase: pendejos (in this context) (question about omitting the word, actually)
(Translation from Panamanian slang into US English slang.)

In an article by a political commentator, referring to the statements given by a presidential candidate:

"Para Balbina el país dominado por las Fuerzas de Defensa era “seguro” porque ella era del círculo íntimo de los dictadores; para los ciudadanos significó cárcel, torturas, desapariciones, exilios, decapitaciones, etc... y para qué seguir. ¿Y las drogas? ¡pero si precisamente fueron las FFDD las que pusieron a nuestro país en manos de las mafias de las drogas! ¡por amor a Dios, puede que seamos (como dice Pedrito en su canción) *******“tres millones de p…”*******, pero tampoco a este extremo!"

The part between ******* refers to Pedrito Altamiranda, who is a Panamanian singer (in)famous for his politically-charged, but humorous, protest songs. That particular line reads "tres millones de pendejos."

I don't find the word particularly offensive (rather, mildly offensive), but the commentator decided to leave it out of his article, anyway (the article was printed in a local newspaper.)

My question is, how would I go about translating this part?
1) It refers to a line in a song, really, so I'd have to paraphrase. Because the song is actually in Spanish, that is. I mean, it doesn't have an English translation...
2) Then, there's the issue of leaving just the initial letter of the word, because the author assumes everyone who'll read the article is already familiar with the song and the particular line.
3) THEN, this is where I come in: "pendejo" could be translated as "dumbass," which I guess is not particularly offensive, either? I'm not sure. It wouldn't be printed in a newspaper article – actually, an opinion piece –, would it? Do I just translate that line as "three million d..." and leave it at that? (I'm concerned that would be interpreted to refer to "dickhead," which in my opinion is stronger than "dumbass.")

Ack! This sounds like a silly question, but I guess it's the silliest things which get us in the end. :/

THANKS A LOT!
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Panama
Local time: 03:27
"tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million d...[umbasses]")
Explanation:
Good questions!!

I'd consider something like this, which would communicate to the readers who are familiar with formal writing conventions that what appears between the brackets was not actually said (but included by the person quoting).

As for your translation of "pendejos," it's fine. Others might also be appropriate, but I think your question was mostly about how to proceed. If that's the real question, this might be a good option.

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Note added at 56 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:41 GMT)
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Given all the possible translations of "pendejo," I'd like to chime: you might consider any one of several options, including "jerk," "dumbass" and "fathead"; personally, I think I'd go for the last one (as it contains no objectionable parts that begin with an "a" and refers ONLY to intelligence, or lack thereof). :-)

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:23:48 GMT)
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oops, that's "chime in" :-) And while I'm doing just that, I agree that "a-hole" (as Lydia suggests) is really common in the US, but again, I'd go with something that has NO objectionable parts (or letters). Why take the risk of having someone even slightly offended over the translation of "pendejo" when other, less objectionable options exist?

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:26:07 GMT)
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FINAL SUGGESTION:

""tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million f...[atheads]")
Selected response from:

Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 22:27
Grading comment
Thank you all for your great suggestions! I decided in the end to use suckers" for "pendejos" (brilliant idea, Lydia, thanks!), and use the writing convention suggested by Marcelo of using the ellipses with the rest of the word inside square brackets. This was a very interesting discussion!! =)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3jerk/fathead/a-hole/dumbass
Lydia De Jorge
4 +1idiots
Peter van der Hoek
3 +2"tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million d...[umbasses]")
Marcelo González
5 -1I personally would leave it "three million pendejos"
José J. Martínez
3jerks/ignoramuses
Taña Dalglish


Discussion entries: 13





  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
I personally would leave it "three million pendejos"


Explanation:
The answer is my opinion.

José J. Martínez
United States
Local time: 01:27
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Well, I don't like leaving words untranslated if I can help it... Thanks, anyway!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Juan Jacob: And "pendejos" is...? // Hi, José... we know that. You're not proposing a translation. I do think María must conserve the (...) Saludos.
7 mins
  -> C'mon Juan, it is not an extreme insult and means 'tonto'
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29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
jerk/fathead/a-hole/dumbass


Explanation:
In the US one frequently hears the term a-hole to avoid using ass...

Lydia De Jorge
United States
Local time: 03:27
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 102

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rosa Elena Lozano Arton: Really you are fantastic! And such a lady! This was a real challenge and you made it just right! in my opinion jerk should be fully written...
4 hrs
  -> Thanks so much for your kind words!!! Un abrazo Rosa Elena!

agree  Raquel Dominguez: I would settle for a-hole, a brilliant idea because it keeps within the original anatomical limits ("pendejo" used to mean "pubic and groin hair", that is, the lowest of the low). The word means simply "teenager" now, but is pejorative.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks rdom! It would be my selection too, although I also like 'losers' which is very popular and conveys the meaning!

agree  Luis Javier Otoya
11 hrs
  -> Gracias Luis Javier!
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31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
jerks/ignoramuses


Explanation:
Some suggestions:

http://www.eudict.com/?lang=spaeng&word=pendejo
jerks
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pendejos
a group of stupid, idiots, ignorant, useless people

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ignoramuses
ig⋅no⋅ra⋅mus   /ˌɪgnəˈreɪməs, -ˈræməs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ig-nuh-rey-muhs, -ram-uhs] Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun, plural -mus⋅es. an extremely ignorant person




Taña Dalglish
Jamaica
Local time: 03:27
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
idiots


Explanation:
Well, for starters I don't think you should put the first letter and leave it that because it simply leaves too much room for interpretation that could actually be a lot worse than the actual word you had in mind.
As not everyone might know the line from the song it refers to I would opt for a "mildly" offensive alternative like idiots (I agree with you that pendejos in not particularly offensive). Personally I find idiots just about as offensive as pendejos, probably even less.

An interesting dilemma by the way.

Good luck to you.

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Note added at 53 mins (2009-01-21 02:57:01 GMT)
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Thank you Mara Teresa! I hope it helps a bit. I am actually a frequent visitor of your beautiful country and due to my Venezuelan way of speaking I've been called a pendejo myself once or twice! (Which, as stated before, was not meant to offend me, just to point out there are slight differences in Spanish everywhere).
I wish all of you a great night.

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Note added at 55 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:12 GMT)
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Sorry, by trying to put the accent on the i it fell away completely! My apologies María Teresa.

Peter van der Hoek
Spain
Local time: 09:27
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch
Notes to answerer
Asker: ¡Gracias! "Idiots" works even better than "jerks" and I agree with your interpretation (see my note above.) :-)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Catherine Gilsenan: Agree with "idiots", or "imbeciles", as was suggested earlier. Do not put "jerks" Maria Teresa, as this is too US (unless of course it is for a purely American readership).
7 hrs
  -> Thank you Catherine! I agree with you on jerks, which means unpleasant person more than idiot. Have a great day!
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
"tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million d...[umbasses]")


Explanation:
Good questions!!

I'd consider something like this, which would communicate to the readers who are familiar with formal writing conventions that what appears between the brackets was not actually said (but included by the person quoting).

As for your translation of "pendejos," it's fine. Others might also be appropriate, but I think your question was mostly about how to proceed. If that's the real question, this might be a good option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 56 mins (2009-01-21 02:59:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Given all the possible translations of "pendejo," I'd like to chime: you might consider any one of several options, including "jerk," "dumbass" and "fathead"; personally, I think I'd go for the last one (as it contains no objectionable parts that begin with an "a" and refers ONLY to intelligence, or lack thereof). :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:23:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

oops, that's "chime in" :-) And while I'm doing just that, I agree that "a-hole" (as Lydia suggests) is really common in the US, but again, I'd go with something that has NO objectionable parts (or letters). Why take the risk of having someone even slightly offended over the translation of "pendejo" when other, less objectionable options exist?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-21 03:26:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

FINAL SUGGESTION:

""tres millones de p...[endejos]" ("three million f...[atheads]")


Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 22:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
Thank you all for your great suggestions! I decided in the end to use suckers" for "pendejos" (brilliant idea, Lydia, thanks!), and use the writing convention suggested by Marcelo of using the ellipses with the rest of the word inside square brackets. This was a very interesting discussion!! =)
Notes to answerer
Asker: Aha! Good idea about the writing convention! Thanks! :-)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Juan Jacob: Por supuesto... hay que mantener a toda costa los tres puntos. Saludos, paisa. ¡A güe...!
20 mins
  -> Exacto, jeje :-) Muchas gracias, Juan, y saludos

agree  jack_speak: or: d...[ingbats] ; and for maricas, perhaps "sissies"
1 hr
  -> good options // I especially like the one for "maricas". That might be a lot better than anything that begins with a "q" (with the possible exception of queen). :-) Thanks, Jack!
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