# "Shortcut phrases" in print in other languages (cf. English "dunno", "gimme")

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-phrases-in-print-in-other-languages-cf-english-dunno-gimme/702253>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 23, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-phrases-in-print-in-other-languages-cf-english-dunno-gimme/702253 "2014-10-23T14:57:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-phrases-in-print-in-other-languages-cf-english-dunno-gimme/702253/21 "2014-10-23T21:13:40Z")

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Chinese has  
甭 Beng, which is a quick pronunciation for 不用 BuYong  
别Bie, which amongst other things, is a quick pronunciation for 不要.

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-phrases-in-print-in-other-languages-cf-english-dunno-gimme/702253/22 "2014-10-24T00:12:29Z")

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> [@bordelond](#):
>
> This case is kind of the opposite – a phrase shortened even in formal speech (right?) retains the long-obsolete spelling. Does it ever get rendered as something like "_esque … ?"_) in very informal French writing?

The French language is notoriously conservative, although e.g. “Qui est-ce qui” can be substituted with just “Qui.” (roughly, “who is it who” vs. “who”). “Qui est-ce que” and “Que est-ce que” can also be replaced with inversion. But these are official usages and not slang.

Some contractions like p’tit occur, and especially so in French-based languages or dialects like pidgins.

On the other hand, internet idiots use the “longcut phrase” “should of” instead of “should’ve.”

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-phrases-in-print-in-other-languages-cf-english-dunno-gimme/702253/23 "2014-10-24T01:02:40Z")

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double post

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**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-phrases-in-print-in-other-languages-cf-english-dunno-gimme/702253/24 "2014-10-24T02:53:47Z")

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In common Brazilian Portuguese, many people will convert a phrase like _O que você está fazendo?_ (“What are you doing?”) into _Que cê tá fazendo?_ (same thing, but more like “What’s up?”), chopping part of _você_ (you) and part of _está_ (3rd\* person of the non-permanent “to be”).

And _você_ is already a contraction of the archaic _vossa mercê_.

- the “you” used by most Brazilians is really conjugated as 3rd person. Rarely will a Brazilian use “tu”.

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