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Glossary entry

Portuguese term or phrase:

Gajos

English translation:

schmucks..blokes..buggers...wankers...

Added to glossary by airmailrpl
Dec 5, 2014 19:22
9 yrs ago
Portuguese term

Gajos

Portuguese to English Social Sciences Government / Politics
Remembering that Soares is now 90, and that he is being disparaging, 'dudes' is out and guys is too friendly, but swearing such as bastards woiuld also not fit his style
I tought of "daft buggers", but would be iunterested to hear other ideas, As he lived in France for some time maybe a good French insult might work...

“Hoje, Portugal não existe. Se for de Bragança ao Algarve a pé não encontra ninguém. Não há terras cultivadas, populações, vida. Estes gajos estão a destruir o nosso país, estão a vender tudo, só falta a TAP.”

Mário Soares, ex-Presidente da República

Expresso, 29-11-2014
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 schmucks..blokes..buggers...wankers
4 +1 Guys
3 +2 lunatics, dimwits
5 Peasants/Hillbillies
4 jerks
4 ne'er-do-wells/smart Alecs/blackguards/
1 +1 that lot
Change log

Dec 10, 2014 13:17: airmailrpl changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/1163015">Douglas Bissell's</a> old entry - "Gajos"" to ""schmucks..blokes..buggers...wankers""

Discussion

airmailrpl Dec 10, 2014:
@ Douglas Bissell - Wonder what they do in the US? "jerk" which may have originated from "jerk off"

jerk (n.2) Look up jerk at Dictionary.com
"tedious and ineffectual person," 1935 (the lyric in "Big Rock Candy Mountain" apparently is "Where they hung the Turk [not jerk] that invented work"), American English carnival slang, of uncertain origin. This led 1890s to an adjectival use of jerk as "inferior, insignificant." Alternatively, or influenced by, verbal phrase jerk off "masturbate"
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=jerk
Douglas Bissell (asker) Dec 10, 2014:
I believe the meaning and sarcasm has to be translated as closely as possible too. Alberto was much simpler with his famous diatribe against reporters saying they were "bastardos, para não chamar-lhes filhos de putas". Gajos is a term that can be insulting or all-embracing as Soares uses it in both senses. So if all you buggers can get to come to some sort of consensus, we'd all be much obliged, coz I'm buggered if I'm going to spend more time buggering about with this as I'm a grumpy old bugger myself and feel like buggering off for today, Abraços e beijos para todos, foram espetacular nas respostas e sobretudo nos comentários
VERLOW WOGLO JR Dec 10, 2014:
It cannot sound Portuguese in English. If one is not Portuguese, one will not understand. It is like trying to translate "zé ninguem" as john doe when it is meant to say unimportant bloke. I would simply use a bland colloquial term that allows people to interpret based on what they know about the author of the words.
Richard Purdom Dec 10, 2014:
I agree with you on this Verlow, if he now says 'sacanas', how's that going to be translated?
VERLOW WOGLO JR Dec 10, 2014:
What's the fuss with a word that simply means men? Why invent when he is just referring to men, because that is what gajos means, "men". If he meant to say something else he would have, all of which could have easily been translated to wanker or bastard, or daft, or idiot. Surely, I see no reason to speculate when gajo is simply "um termo coloquial como rapaz ou cara para se referir a um homem?!" Surely "these people" would have sufficed. It is like trying to determine if someone called a "cabrón" is a motherfucker or just a dickhead without amy info on the context.
Richard Purdom Dec 10, 2014:
Douglas, in the US they are more anally inclined, they 'kick asses', 'have someone's ass', threaten that 'your ass is mine'; a compliment is 'I covered your ass' 'saved your ass' etc. There's nowt as strange as folk.
Douglas Bissell (asker) Dec 10, 2014:
@airmailrpl
Brilliant! Best laugh I've had all day
PS according to 'Practical English Usage? by Michael Sawn Page 589 Wank is only GB. Wonder what they do in the US?
Richard Purdom Dec 10, 2014:
imho wanker = somebody a bit daft, inept, unintentionally stupid or inconsiderate; bastard = somebody intentionally mean or inconsiderate: bugger = bloody-minded, obstinate
airmailrpl Dec 10, 2014:
@ Muriel Vasconcellos wank·er
ˈwaNGkər/
noun
Britishvulgar slang
noun: wanker; plural noun: wankers

a person who masturbates (used as a term of abuse).

wanker
While "to wank" means "to masturbate", the term "wanker" is seldom if ever used in British slang to denote "one who wanks". It is quite wrong to infer from somebody's being a wanker that they in fact wank (and vice versa), but of course, fair to assume they do in any case. Herein lies the genius of the insult: if you call someone a wanker, it's probably true, but only literally.

I suppose it all originates from our repressed Victorian sexualities, from back when everybody thought they were the only ones to suffer the secret shame of being an actual wanker.

Most children these days learn the word "wanker" long before they learn its literal meaning.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wanker
Richard Purdom Dec 8, 2014:
I see I've missed the bus here Douglas, but you can never 'translate' this properly Douglas, he actually means 'the international taxpayers and institutions that have financed my snout-in-the trough lifestyle over the years, and now propose to sell-off my personal airline, they'll be wanting my chauffeur-driven car next, and get my mate Pinnochio out of that jail in Evora'

As for 'guys', that is dated transatlantic stuff which is also used for girls these days, so right out. I don't agree with bugger, that might be what he wanted to say, but he didn't and you shouldn't really say he did...
Douglas Bissell (asker) Dec 7, 2014:
After seeing all the input, some helpful, and some copy/paste, I have opted for 'bugger'.
Why?

Well, I can see an old statesman calling the new oposition a buch of buggers, while also describing himself a 'bad, old bugger'. So the insult is also redirected against himself to 'sodften' it a bit, withoyt softening its attack on the opposition at all

Soares would never call himself a type or individual.

I've gone for 'bugger' (in this specific case 'daft buggers), without any sexual meaning, but I think it rounds up the idea.
Nick, Ana, Mário, Susanne et al.
I would like to thank you all for your input

Thanks to all you buggers you helped me, may yee never be called 'daft', the lot of ya!
Nick Taylor Dec 6, 2014:
Ha ha! Thanks Mário, but I have already "wasted" my go by being too literary :-)
If I were to use a word instead of type/gajo for Soares himself I think I would go for "Aquele CHATO or Boring Old Fart"
Mario Freitas Dec 6, 2014:
@ Nick, "Types" is a great solution, IMO. Why don't you post the suggestion. I guess most of us will agree with that.
Susanne Rindlisbacher Dec 6, 2014:
BTW: In the interview, Soares calls himself by the same word: "Sou o gajo que lhes atira mais às trombas". As we all know, "gajo" can mean a number of things but so do "guy", "type, and "individual".
Susanne Rindlisbacher Dec 6, 2014:
Ana and Nick "individuals" or "types" might go in the right direction
Susanne Rindlisbacher Dec 6, 2014:
Ana I've read Doug's comments and see his problem with "guys". This is why I haven't agreed with any of the suggested answers. The thing is that there are portuguese words for expressions like "jerk", "lunatic", "bugger", etc. but Soares didn't use them.
Ana Vozone Dec 6, 2014:
Well put, Nick "types" still has a small hint of irony...
Nick Taylor Dec 6, 2014:
Quite so. And for any feminist "TYPES" ;-) how about a non-sexist approach....A word which is quite often used derisively but maintains a sort of neutrality is, in fact, "TYPES"
E.g. The unchastised subprime-exec-TYPESare the scum on the cesspool. Our brand of capitalism is rotten.
- These paparazzi TYPES are the scum of the earth.
- I'm not saying I agree with the man, but these knee-jerk apologist TYPES are ruining this country. image.
Ana Vozone Dec 6, 2014:
@Susanne Susanne, you live in Portugal, so maybe you have noticed how Mário Soares and his son João speak about their opponents. They always use "gajos". It is not an innocent term. Their use of "gajos" is meant as an insult. They never use "gajos" when talking about their friends. This, I dare say, is a known fact for anyone watching politics in this beautiful country ;)
Mario Freitas Dec 6, 2014:
@ Susanne & Robert, No doubt the "correct" translation would be "Guys". But see Doug's comments and how he noticed the sarcasm in the original. Gajos allows that mood and guys doesn't. He's clearly looking for a word that is not so "friendly", and that would purge the irony in the translation.
airmailrpl Dec 6, 2014:
according to Google Translate.. according to Google Translate..
Gajos => dudes, guys, blokes
Susanne Rindlisbacher Dec 6, 2014:
90 or not: He said "gajos" (guys) and NOT bastards or anything else. What he might have thought is neither here nor there.
Nick Taylor Dec 6, 2014:
I suppose the way we answer depends on whether we agree with a doddering old codger well past his prime or we spin it to lessen the impact...insult...or whatever is construed by such babble...I am sure the old adage "Least said soonest mended" could well be applied to such childish outbursts.
Mario Freitas Dec 5, 2014:
;) He he...
Ana Vozone Dec 5, 2014:
Naughty, naughty, Mario, we're not supposed to discuss politics here ;) I'll just say that "o gajo imbecil" is not the one in power... it's Mr Soares himself, but he turned 90 today, so...
Mario Freitas Dec 5, 2014:
I didn't konw about that, Ana So, if you're going through the same we are going through here in Brazil, with a complete imbecil in power, I guess it's ok to use a "heavier" word, like bastards.
Ana Vozone Dec 5, 2014:
Bastards... Doug, anyone living in Portugal these days has been "blessed" with Mario Soares' insulting words. Everything he says about the current government is meant to be insulting, that's for sure. He is a loose cannon, totally out of control, and the media love it. I am pretty sure he would love your suggestion of "bastards"... ;)
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida Dec 5, 2014:
Rogues? ...
Mario Freitas Dec 5, 2014:
@ Doug, You already suggested the best possibilities (dudes, guys and bastards), though I think "dudes" is too teenage slang and bastards is what they really mean (actually assholes). "Gajos" is as common as "guys" in English, but guys really carries no sarcasm. Let's think of something...

Proposed translations

+1
49 mins
Selected

schmucks..blokes..buggers...wankers

Gajos => schmucks..blokes..buggers...wankers
Peer comment(s):
disagree suesimons : Too agressive.
6 mins
check out Ana's opinion - and she lives there
agree Ana Vozone : I think you totally got the idea of Mr. Soares' spirit and intention! Well done!
47 mins
agradeço
neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : 'Schmucks' and 'blokes' seem too gentle; I don't have a feel for 'buggers' as an American, and I've never heard of 'wankers'.
3 hrs
never heard of 'wankers'. - You must not watch British movies then
agree Diana Coada (X) : I'd go for ''schmucks'' or ''bastards''. Completely agree with Ana.
16 hrs
thank you
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, Tosser would also work"
+1
10 mins

Guys

No contexto da frase, guys é sem dúvida o que se encaixa melhor.
Peer comment(s):
agree suesimons : Yes!
44 mins
Something went wrong...
+2
17 mins

lunatics, dimwits

Looking around for synonyms, I could think of a couple dozen words that would work here:
Lunatics, fools, dingbats, airheads, dopes, pricks, birdbrains, cretins, dimwits...
The text certainly carries a mood of sarcasm, but "gajos" does not really express it implicitly. It's the context that makes it obvious.
I like lunatics and dimwit better, as they sound less aggressive.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2014-12-05 19:41:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant "explicitly" above.
Peer comment(s):
agree Elda Veiga : I actually like "dimwits", I think it fits :)
41 mins
Gracias, Eldita!
agree Muriel Vasconcellos : I like 'dimwits'. In my experience, a well-chosen legitimate word is often more effective than a swear word.
3 hrs
That's the way I thought, Muriel. The original does not use a swear word, but the sarcasm must be kept. Thank you!
Something went wrong...
13 hrs

jerks

Mais uma sugestão...
Example sentence:

But when they're not killing you, robbing you, or writing you a ticket, those jerks can start to seem like colorful characters.

I swear the achievement for 25 ranked wins in a row is hard enough without those jerks online who keep disconnecting everytime you try for it.

Something went wrong...
2 hrs

ne'er-do-wells/smart Alecs/blackguards/

ne'er-do-wells/smart Alecs/blackguards/good for nothings/layabouts/scoundrels/miscreants etc.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2014-12-06 08:57:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As Mário Soares, in his dotage, has already got one foot in the grave and will soon be keeping Luís Vaz de Camões company, maybe more eloquent tems befitting his age are the order of the day.
Something went wrong...
+1
3 days 6 mins

that lot

you can never 'translate' this properly Douglas, he actually means 'the international taxpayers and institutions that have financed my snout-in-the trough lifestyle over the years, and now propose to sell-off my personal airline, they'll be wanting my chauffeur-driven car next, and get my mate Pinnochio out of that jail in Evora'
Peer comment(s):
agree Susanne Rindlisbacher : I agree with "that lot" and disagree with what "he actually means". Also, "that lot" doesn't work if Douglas wants the same term for "sou o gajo" and "estes gajos".
1 day 1 hr
Something went wrong...
4 days

Peasants/Hillbillies

It simply means rustic person as in "camponês", do campo; ignorante;
countryman, farmer, cottager, landsman, peasant, rustic, hick, farmer, agriculturalist; rustic, person who lives in a rural area; hillbilly, ignorant person, etc

hillbilly
s. indivíduo ignorante, campesino, homem do campo, homem sem educação formal

also see the word
Bauer [german]: agricultor, lavrador, camponês, peão, etc




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