ScarletteMayWest t1_j22xkqc wrote
Decades ago I went to Spanish camp. One of the American female counselors accused one of the male South American counselors of being a Latin Lover, only interested in flirting.
He vociferously denied that, stating that he was not a "cabrón" whose only aim was to chase women, he had come to the States to study.
My brain went "cabrón" = "stud/flirt".
Went back to school and the guy in front of me had heard I met a cute guy at camp and started giving me flack. Knowing of my classmate's reputation as a ladies' man, I responded by saying, "Ay, Miguel, qué cabrón eres!"
Spanish teacher was in front of us. Did an actual spit-take and yelled at me.
And that is the story of how I learned that words could have different meanings in different countries and that I had learned my first swear word in Spanish.
BTW, 'Miguel' was not a very bright boy and never did figure out what I had called him because the classroom dictionary had it listed as "buck".
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