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Cabezas Cuadradas

English translation: Square heads

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:Cabezas Cuadradas
English translation:Square heads
Entered by: SeiTT

14:14 Dec 15, 2009
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - IT (Information Technology) / Blogs
Spanish term or phrase: Cabezas Cuadradas
Greetings,

Please, what exactly is meant by the term “Cabezas Cuadradas”? Does it refer to the shape of someone’s skull or a way of thinking?

Please see:
http://boards1.melodysoft.com/app?ID=cabezascuadradas

All the best, and many thanks,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:10
Square heads
Explanation:
There are several meanings to this term. One would need context to figure out which one applies. People from the Netherlands, the Dutch, are sometimes called that. It is a derogatory term and offensive. It is meant to signify someone with rigid thinking. There are more offensive meanings but it depends on the context.
Selected response from:

Rodolfo Peña
Mexico
Local time: 07:10
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2Square heads
Rodolfo Peña
4 +1stubborn/headstrong
Simon Harris
3'Cabezas Cuadradas' (of fixed ideas/rigid mindsets)
Cinnamon Nolan
Summary of reference entries provided
Part of website "cabezascuadradas.com"
Taña Dalglish

  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Square heads


Explanation:
There are several meanings to this term. One would need context to figure out which one applies. People from the Netherlands, the Dutch, are sometimes called that. It is a derogatory term and offensive. It is meant to signify someone with rigid thinking. There are more offensive meanings but it depends on the context.

Rodolfo Peña
Mexico
Local time: 07:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
many thanks excellent

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natalia Pedrosa (X)
5 mins
agree  Rafael Molina Pulgar
1 hr
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
stubborn/headstrong


Explanation:
Although it can refer to physical characteristics, it's normally got a 'mental' reference.

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Note added at 13 mins (2009-12-15 14:27:56 GMT)
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I agree with Rodolfo that it can be even more derogatory - here in Barcelona, the Germans are often referred to as 'cabezas cuadradas' and ex-Barça coach Louis Van Gaal (Dutch) was considered a classic example.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2009-12-15 14:30:27 GMT)
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Perhaps 'blockhead' would be the best translation of the insult!

Simon Harris
Spain
Local time: 15:10
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Crislaine Sanguino
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Crislaine!
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
'Cabezas Cuadradas' (of fixed ideas/rigid mindsets)


Explanation:
On your link, it's obviously the name and so shouldn't be translated. Maybe they call themselves that, as they are "solid" and unwavering in their support for whatever it is they do...
You could put an explanation in brackets, as indicated above.

'Square head/Square head/blockhead' mean stupid in English (a secondary use is as an insult for German/Dutch/Scandinavian people, implying they are stupid), which is NOT the meaning of 'cabeza cuadrada', at least in Spain.

It means someone very rigid in their mentality, outlook.


This is very funny, as W E are "cabezas cuadradas", as gizmo surely knows. Who is "we", well , look at my nationality.
Germans are called "cabezas cuadradas" as we are supposed to have very "sqare" opinions, that is, we don't easily give in.
Heidita, I'm afraid Germans are very methodical for Spaniards
~ cuadrada. 1. com. coloq. Persona metódica y demasiado obstinada.
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=125430


Then there is 'cap quadrat' - which literally means 'square head' but it doesn't have the same meaning as in English at all, it is only somewhat insulting in Catalan. ... Here it is someone who thinks in an extremely orderly way, possibly with some lack of imagination. A more, ah, Germanic mindset and a less Mediterranean one.
http://orenetaaground.blogspot.com/


Cinnamon Nolan
Spain
Local time: 15:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
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Reference comments


12 mins
Reference: Part of website "cabezascuadradas.com"

Reference information:
Literally speaking, "Cabezas Cuadradas" are square heads, but here: http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/cabeza buscado... it says "bigots".

Cabeza English Spanish Translation | Traductor ingles español - 06:17Translation of cabeza on the Internet's leading Spanish English dictionary. ... cabeza de chorlito -> scatterbrain; es un cabeza cuadrada o dura (informal) ...
www.spanishdict.com/translate/cabeza - En caché - Similares -


IMHO, leave "Cabezas Cuadradas" and explain using a Translator's note or other appropriate explanation.




--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2009-12-15 14:27:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Cabezas Cuadradas
Foro de discusión del website Cabezascuadradas.com, de la productora de cultura electrónica del mismo nombre, de la Argentina.

Taña Dalglish
Jamaica
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32
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