# Is "no problemo" Spanish or English? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042 "2016-01-03T04:43:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/21 "2016-01-03T17:55:59Z")
> [@Bonaventure](#): > > If you google “pelear mano a mano” you’ll get plenty of hits showing Spanish usage of the phrase. I suppose it’s possible it re-entered Spanish because it’s so popular in English. Anyway, the Academia looks like it’s lagging far behind usage. Lots of those are bad translations, and others refer to “duels” which may or may not be hand to hand. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/22 "2016-01-03T18:17:29Z")
> [@coffeecat](#): > > _Hoi polloi_ really lost its original meaning. _Hoi polloi_ literally means “the many,” as in “the great unwashed lower classes.” That’s still the (correct) meaning in English (although it was not considered derogatory in the original Greek), although many people mistakenly think it means “the elite.” ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/23 "2016-01-03T18:36:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Next up: is “Gaucho” Spanish or English? > [@Colibri](#): > > At this point, it’s both. > > The etymology appears to be obscure, but in its present meaning it is certainly originally Argentine Spanish. However, it is generally well enough known in English that it is not typically written in italics, and it is understood as the English word for a South American cowboy. Not sure if this question was legit or as any major dude will tell you, a response to \*\*Arrendajo’s \*\*preceding it. As to mano a mano, I stand corrected (I think). ---
**Author:** ![Bonaventure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Bonaventure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonaventure)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/24 "2016-01-03T18:47:43Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Lots of those are bad translations, and others refer to “duels” which may or may not be hand to hand. Several were from Latin American newspapers; maybe this is a Latin American vs Spain thing. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/25 "2016-01-03T18:47:51Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Not sure if this question was legit or as any major dude will tell you, a response to \*\*Arrendajo’s \*\*preceding it. Not being a major dude or having spent a Sunday in Tijuana, could you explain? ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/26 "2016-01-03T19:00:11Z")
Not a fan of Steely Dan? \*\*Arrendajo’s \*\*line: “will be entertained, but cheaply, like a Sunday in TJ.” is based on the song **Babylon Sisters** (_like a Sunday in TJ, that it’s cheap but it’s not free_) which is from the album \*\*Gaucho \*\*which \*\*Ludovic \*\*brought up. “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” is one their lesser known hits. If you’re not familiar the Steely Dan oeuvre, I won’t Do It Again. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/27 "2016-01-03T19:28:41Z")
Wow! This thread is deeper than it appears. Thank you Steely Dan. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/28 "2016-01-03T19:31:36Z")
> [@Bonaventure](#): > > If you google “pelear mano a mano” you’ll get plenty of hits showing Spanish usage of the phrase. I suppose it’s possible it re-entered Spanish because it’s so popular in English. Anyway, the Academia looks like it’s lagging far behind usage. When English speakers use that phrase, they more often think they are saying “man to man”. Ge it? Man-o = man. And I think they usually phrase it “mano y mano”. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/29 "2016-01-03T20:42:23Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Not a fan of Steely Dan? > > \*\*Arrendajo’s \*\*line: “will be entertained, but cheaply, like a Sunday in TJ.” is based on the song **Babylon Sisters** (_like a Sunday in TJ, that it’s cheap but it’s not free_) which is from the album \*\*Gaucho \*\*which \*\*Ludovic \*\*brought up. > > “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” is one their lesser known hits. > > If you’re not familiar the Steely Dan oeuvre, I won’t Do It Again. Thanks. While I like Steely Dan, I can’t say I was enough of a fan to automatically recognize the lyrics from a 35 year old song.😉 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/30 "2016-01-03T20:45:28Z")
> [@coffeecat](#): > > _Hoi polloi_ really lost its original meaning. _Hoi polloi_ literally means “the many,” as in “the great unwashed lower classes.” I am confused, what is its newer meaning? I only know the original. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/31 "2016-01-03T20:46:52Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I don’t speak Spanish, but I say _No hay problema_. And you, sir, are correct. Frankly, it makes my eyes twitch to hear, “problemo.” ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/32 "2016-01-03T20:49:27Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Not a fan of Steely Dan? > > \*\*Arrendajo’s \*\*line: “will be entertained, but cheaply, like a Sunday in TJ.” is based on the song **Babylon Sisters** (_like a Sunday in TJ, that it’s cheap but it’s not free_) which is from the album \*\*Gaucho \*\*which \*\*Ludovic \*\*brought up. > > “Any Major Dude Will Tell You” is one their lesser known hits. > > If you’re not familiar the Steely Dan oeuvre, I won’t Do It Again. It warms the cockles of my heart to know at least a few posters got my Steely Dan reference. What a clever bunch we are! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/33 "2016-01-03T22:09:41Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > And you, sir, are correct. Frankly, it makes my eyes twitch to hear, “problemo.” Hoi Palloi already has the definite article, the, in it. So when someone says The hoi polloi, they are literally saying “the the masses”. El Camino Real is a main drag around here (SF Bay Area) running up the peninsula. It’s very common to hear people refer to it as “The El Camino”. Again, the the highway. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/34 "2016-01-03T22:19:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > El Camino Real is a main drag around here (SF Bay Area) running up the peninsula. It’s very common to hear people refer to it as “The El Camino”. Again, the the highway. Not to mention the Rio Grande River. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/35 "2016-01-03T22:30:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Hoi Palloi already has the definite article, the, in it. So when someone says The hoi polloi, they are literally saying “the the masses”. > > El Camino Real is a main drag around here (SF Bay Area) running up the peninsula. It’s very common to hear people refer to it as “The El Camino”. Again, the the highway. Ugh. I hate those redundancies. That’s like how American Ninja Warrior refers to the final obstacle as Mount Midoriyama. Yama means mountain in Japanese, so they are saying Mount Midori Mountain. Rubs my language bone raw every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/36 "2016-01-03T23:58:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Thanks. While I like Steely Dan, I can’t say I was enough of a fan to automatically recognize the lyrics from a 35 year old song.😉 Comforting to know that there is one thing that **Colibri** doesn’t know. And I say this with mucho respect my fellow Latino. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/37 "2016-01-04T01:51:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Not to mention the Rio Grande River. Or, my favorite, The La Brea Tarpits, which is a double redundancy (and perfectly fine to me.) ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/38 "2016-01-04T04:15:57Z")
…and, of course, the Los Angeles Angels. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/39 "2016-01-04T04:20:34Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > …and, of course, the Los Angeles Angels. Of Anaheim. :smack: What would the closest Spanish version of the phrase be? _De nada_ translates to “it’s nothing”, but it’s meant more as a response to “thank you”. “No problemo” makes me think of an idiom similar to “piece of cake” or the like. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042/40 "2016-01-04T04:30:58Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > What would the closest Spanish version of the phrase be? _De nada_ translates to “it’s nothing”, but it’s meant more as a response to “thank you”. “No problemo” makes me think of an idiom similar to “piece of cake” or the like. As already mentioned in post #3, it’s _No hay problema_ (literally, “There isn’t a problem”). As an aside, _problema_ is one of the exceptions to the rule of Spanish words ending in “a” being feminine: it’s _el problema_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-problemo-spanish-or-english/742042.md?page=3)