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como están mis chabalones
que viene el veinte los veo
Feb 10, 2017 21:29
7 yrs ago
4 viewers *
Spanish term

son de cuidado

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Los Ninís
More from the anthem of the Ninís:

'to watch out for'?

Unos con la barba larga
otros andan rasurados
un complet Tony Montana
se les mira a los chavalos
representan a la empresa
"Los Ninis" **son de cuidado**...
Proposed translations (English)
5 +2 they are dangerous
3 +3 beware
4 +2 are not to be messed with
4 +1 are a force to be reckoned with
3 they are something serious / they are "something" / they are something to watch

Discussion

Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Feb 11, 2017:
@Helena The "ninís" in this song sleep in their body armor with automatic rifles by their side, so maybe these fighters are using the name in a special sense. In any case, the quotes and capital N are in the original text.
Helena Chavarria Feb 10, 2017:
A reference El término nini, procedente de la expresión «ni estudia ni trabaja», se escribe en una sola palabra, sin espacio ni guion, y no es necesario resaltarlo con comillas ni cursiva.

Con motivo de la publicación del informe de la OCDE Panorama de la sociedad 2016, en los medios informativos aparecen frases como «La OCDE advierte del riesgo de exclusión social que corren 40 millones de “ninis”» o «México, entre los países con más ni-nis de la OCDE».

http://www.fundeu.es/recomendacion/nini-ninini-redonda/
Muriel Vasconcellos (asker) Feb 10, 2017:
@Helena No, I didn't know. Thanks for the explanation. I would have enjoyed this challenge if I had had more time to play with it. It was a rush job for a major international organization.
Helena Chavarria Feb 10, 2017:
@Muriel I suppose you know that a 'nini' is a person who 'ni trabaja, ni estudia'.

Proposed translations

+2
5 mins
Selected

they are dangerous

you have to be careful around them, they are dangerous
Peer comment(s):
agree Robert Carter
3 mins
agree JohnMcDove : DRAE: de cuidado 1. loc. adj. Dicho de una persona: Sospechosa, peligrosa.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Francisco!"
+3
5 mins

beware

Peer comment(s):
agree Robert Carter
3 mins
Thank you, Robert :-)
agree Yvonne Gallagher
7 mins
Thank you, Gallagy :-)
agree JohnMcDove : Yes, but I think it works better "The ninis are dangerous people"... Mmm..., "Beware of the Ninis" I guess it could work too, but then you have to make it integrate with the rest of the poem... :-) /../Yes, yes, that's why I added my "mmm" and agree! :-)
2 hrs
It depends on the next verse but I thought 'Beware of the Ninis' sounded alright. Thank you, John :-)
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

they are something serious / they are "something" / they are something to watch

I have already given my "agree" to both entries.

But then, checking the whole lyrics... yes, they are "dangerous" and better "beware of the ninis", but the way it comes across to me in Spanish is that they are "dangerous" in some sort of "admirable" manner...

I.e., "de cuidado" is used as a means to emphasize, "pesqué un resfriado de cuidado" (I caught a monumental cold, type of idea).

So, "the ninis are some (force) to reckon with..."
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a force to reckon with
Something went wrong...
+1
13 hrs

are a force to be reckoned with

Of course, this may not be the appropriate register to describe what are basically a bunch of "sicarios", but I don't suppose you expect us to do all the work for you...

References online are abundant, but perhaps the urban dictionary one below is more appropriate given the same.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2017-02-11 11:30:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In Spain, "de cuidado" can be tagged onto almost anything to intensify its power: "un coche de cuidado/un choque de cuidado"... etc.

http://www.europasur.es/deportes/choque-cuidado_0_776622461....

http://www.diariomotor.com/2010/10/13/el-audi-tt-rs-podria-t...
Reference:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=a%20force%20to%20be%20reckoned%20with

Peer comment(s):
agree JohnMcDove : Yes, this is the right idea. :-)
8 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
18 hrs

are not to be messed with

Just another suggestion - might fit the context?
Peer comment(s):
agree JohnMcDove : Most likely. :-)
3 hrs
Thanks, John
agree neilmac : This may fit the rhyming scheme better...
18 hrs
Thanks, Neil
Something went wrong...
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