# English to Spanish translation (of a phrase) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353 "2003-10-19T13:21:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MalFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@MalFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MalFrog)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/1 "2003-10-19T13:21:27Z")
I want to send an SMS to a potential SO. It needs so be brief and crisp to fit the SMS envelope. However I want it to stay true to my natural cadence but not include too many accented characters (I don’t know how to do that on my phone). I want to say: "Hi gorgeous. Hope you had a good weekend. Missing you. Love Malfrog…” But it would be really cool if I could do it in Spanish (yes I know I could put it through Babel but I want it to be as authentic as possible). Any takers (talkers) ?? ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/2 "2003-10-19T13:48:42Z")
Hola preciosa, Espero que hayas pasado un buen fin de semana. Te adoro. ---
**Author:** ![zabrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dbc845/32.png) [@zabrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zabrain)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/3 "2003-10-19T13:49:47Z")
_Hola magnífica. Espere que usted tuviera un fin de semana bueno. Perderlo. Adore Malfrog_ only one accent, or, by changing gorgeous to beautiful you get; _Hola hermosa. Espere que usted tuviera un fin de semana bueno. Perderlo. Adore Malfrog_ with no accents. From [www.freetranslation.com](http://www.freetranslation.com) ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/4 "2003-10-19T13:50:44Z")
Oops forgot the missing you part. Insert “Te extraño.” ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/5 "2003-10-19T13:59:06Z")
I would say as **CBEscape** did. But would change the ending thus: “Hola preciosa, Espero que hayas pasado un buen fin de semana. Te extraño. Con amor, Malfrog” Con amor = with love Con mucho amor = with much love 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MalFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@MalFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MalFrog)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/6 "2003-10-19T14:31:25Z")
Thanks. Guys… ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/7 "2003-10-19T16:08:56Z")
I second **CBE** ’s post, even with the “Te adoro” part. Keep that part in mind for another message! **zabrain** ’s is too formal and gramatically incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/8 "2003-10-19T23:10:01Z")
I’d avoid all use of Usted… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/9 "2003-10-19T23:34:53Z")
He can also use hermosa, instead of preciosa. That’s about the only part freetranslation got right. ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/10 "2003-10-19T23:55:39Z")
Err… I don’t agree with “hermosa”. Better use “preciosa”. Believe me, I’m a mexican, and “hermosa” sounds a little… say… joking. Then: _“Hola, preciosa. Espero que hayas pasado un buen fin de semana. Te extraño. Con amor, Malfrog.”_ does the trick, so **CBEscapee** and **Kinthalis** are right. If you want to sound more respectful, talking of “usted”, then the phrase will be: _“Hola, preciosa. Espero que haya pasado un buen fin de semana. La extraño. Con amor, Malfrog.”_ But I don’t recommend this last treatment, it’s better the first phrase. “Bonita” sounds nice for girls, too, so you can use it instead of “preciosa”. Thinking it better, “bonita” is more tender; “preciosa” sounds as if you’re talking like a casanova. Btw, **zabrain** , your translation is very, very bad, with all my respects. Then, my last recomendation: _“Hola, bonita. Espero que hayas pasado un buen fin de semana. Te extraño. Con amor, Malfrog.”_ Done. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/11 "2003-10-20T00:57:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\*He can also use hermosa, instead of preciosa. That’s about the only part freetranslation got right. \*\* freetranslation used _magnifica_. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/12 "2003-10-20T01:18:31Z")
No one would say “Mi vida” instead of “preciosa”? Yo tengo una muñeca, De boca chicquita, Que dice te quiero, Te adoro mi vida, Mi cielo, mi amor. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/13 "2003-10-20T01:18:33Z")
No one would say “Mi vida” instead of “preciosa”? Yo tengo una muñeca, De boca chicquita, Que dice te quiero, Te adoro mi vida, Mi cielo, mi amor. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/14 "2003-10-20T02:00:08Z")
Well ‘Mi vida’ is ‘my life’, not gorgeus. But I do agree that it could be used with the same result 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/15 "2003-10-20T02:03:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CBEscapee \* > \*\*freetranslation used _magnifica_. \*\* It said hermosa when changing gorgeous to beautiful. At least, that’s what the person says it says. ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/16 "2003-10-20T03:31:23Z")
I don’t mean _literal_ translations, but the ones we commonly use in our romantic life. “Magnifica” would be very ridiculous, caution, **MalFrog** (I hope you’re still reading). You could say “Qué hermosa mañana” (What a beautiful morning) and also “Qué mujer tan hermosa” (What a beautiful woman), but if you say “hermosa” to a lady as if calling her, it sounds funny (maybe not a century ago). Don’t ask me why, you should be a native spanish speaker to understand it. “Gorgeous” is equivalent to “pretty” and “beautiful”, as in spanish “bonita”, “guapa”, “preciosa”. But I insist that “bonita” sounds more tender for **Malfrog** ’s intentions. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/17 "2003-10-20T07:26:36Z")
Instead of preciosa, you could use _guapa_. Te extreño is good - _Te hecho de menos_ is better IMO. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/18 "2003-10-20T08:12:00Z")
How can one compliment a Latina woman on her beauty as a hispanic woman? Latina Linda? What is the most complimentary form of female compliment? ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/19 "2003-10-20T09:34:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Te extreño is good - Te hecho de menos is better IMO. Nop! It’s “Te extraño”, no “te extreño”. And “te hecho de menos” is wrong, it’s “te echo de menos” (I miss you). I know why freetranslation used “magnifica”… it’s not refering to a girl, but, for example, a building or a big artwork. “Magnifica” is ok with objects, not with persons. IMO, don’t use those translators. The results are disastrous. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353/20 "2003-10-20T10:02:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grousser \* > \*\* > > IMO, don’t use those translators. The results are disastrous. \*\* They’re good for a laugh… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-to-spanish-translation-of-a-phrase/208353.md?page=2)