Yes Slarti, the king actually uses the informal "you" always. And yeah Donkey, you're right, he said "¿Por qué no te callas?" which means "Why don't you shut up?". In Spanish we use "callas" for "shut up" and "be quiet", but I'm pretty sure the king actually meant "shut up" .

I agree with you. In Spain, this incident hasn't had much impact, except for the surprise it caused to see the king react like that (he's a very calm, jovial and diplomatic person). All that has been said is that the incident has been "unfortunate". On the other hand, in the news, for a week every day, we have seen Chavez making "funny" remarks about the incident and using it in his demagogical speeches to the Venezuelans through his "public" television channel.

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The only way I know it is "callate la boca". Not sure if that's spelled or said correctly.

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"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics

Well that's not the whole picture now, is it? He was told to shut up because he wouldn't, even if it was not his turn to talk and kept interrupting the person who should have been talking. Furthermore, he was doing this insulting in a very unpleasant way. It says so in the article you posted in the OP. You can also see it in the video I linked.

And he does a really good job. In Spain people are proud to have him as king (except republicans and anarchists, of course... ).

I'm starting to think your image of our king is that of a medieval one or something, who has the power to establish the prima nocte and shit like that... Our king is not a dictator; he doesn't even rule - we elect our governments democratically. If people didn't want him, he wouldn't have much reason to be. But that's not the case.

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Yeah, "cállate la boca", but it's pretty rude, at least in Spain. It means "shut your mouth" but in an aggresive way. It's the kind of expression a pimp would use, or a punk. Pitty you're not our king, it would have been awesome .

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The former Spanish PM deserves any disrespect he gets. He is a war criminal who should be sitting in a jail cell for life. Yet he is rewarded for his murderous ways.

I have no respect for institutions of royalty in any nation. I can't imagine having pride in such a decadent and phony institution. What the hell is the matter with people?

Its got nothing to do with Spain in particular. I just find the institution, be it the queen of england or the king of Spain, to be contrary to my egalitarian ideals.

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

you have the best answer. the majority of venezuelans who support chavez do not live in the US or canada, they live in Venezuela, in the poor and low middle class neighborhoods. They also were not enrolled in private british schools located in caracas or maracaibo, they can't write on english language forums. the support approval rating for chavez is around 60-65%.

It is disrespectful to tell someone to 'shut up' in that way, the king did not even use the formal 'se' (por qué no se calla) and used the informal "te" (por qué no te callas). You don't expect to hear that from a third level state diplomat much less from a King .

But Gloria, asumo que sos Puertoriqueña?

Se usa mas el "tu" en España que en Latino America, aunque el uso esta creciendo en estos paises tambien. A veces en España (coregíme si no tengo razon, Gato) Usted es usado para poner distancia entre tu a la persona con quien hablás.

Anyway, I'm in full support of him saying shut up in whatever manner he sees fit. Chavez is way out of line.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Cuando hablas con una persona que no conoces, una persona mayor o en un ámbito profesional, se usa el pronombre Usted en vez del pronombre Tu. Su uso demuestra respeto y deferencia, esto es una norma del idioma español. Bogota y otras regiones de Colombia usan tambien el pronombre Usted en situaciones informales (con familiares, amigos y conocidos) pero este uso es la excepción en latinoamérica.

No es cierto. Estoy, ahora, en Buenos Aires, y estaba en Peru y Guanajuato Mexico, y lo mas del tiempo escucho "tu" en la calle, con cualquier persona. La unica vez cuando oigo Usted aqui es en restaurantes o cosas así.

En Antioquia, Colombia, de donde es mi padre, y aqui en el Rio de la Plata, se usa "vos" en lugar del tu. ¿Quizas pensás en este cuando decís que dijiste sobre Colombia?

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

El Vos se usa en Argentina pero esto es una peculiaridad regional y solo sustituye al pronombre Tu. Tu eres joven y por eso la gente te trata de 'Tu' o 'Vos', de forma informal y casual (como yo lo estoy haciendo ahora contigo). Pero si le dices a una persona mayor 'Tu' en vez de 'Usted' pues es de mala educación. Si entras a un hotel y el recepcionista te tutea (usa el pronombre tu) es tambien mala educación a menos que exista o se cree alguna confianza entre ambos.

I know four languages, but I cant be bothered to learn a fifth

I hate to be a party pooper, but discussion on these boards is supposed to be in English, so that everyone can participate. You guys are more than welcome to continue this in PMs, or create a thread in the "Off Topic" section.

You rabble rouser, Donkey.

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"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics

He hablado con mi Mama Anfitrione acá, y tambien la mama de mi compañero de cuarto, quien es Mexicana, y me dicen que el uso de Tu es mas comun, ye dicen tambien que en unos pocos años, Usted desparacerá, como el Vos antiguo en España. (Vos, os, conjugado "eís").

Lo que sea, lo que es importante es que el Rey de España es Español, ¡y en España, se usa Tu!

Y tambien, se usa vos en partes de Colombia, NO solo Argentina, y tambien en Guatemala.

Yo sé lo que digo.

Sorry about breaking the rules by the way, I'll stop now.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Snap! You beat me to my own castigation.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9