Translation Solutions: Adjective Inversion

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Translation Solutions: Adjective Inversion

Adjective inversion (reversing the noun-adjective order) may be used in Spanish as a figure of speech to emphasize a particular quality for aesthetic purposes. However, many adjectives in Spanish change meaning depending on whether they precede or follow the noun, as expert translators well know. For example, un buen amigo is “a good friend,” but un amigo bueno means “a kind friend.” The following examples demonstrate the nuances that translators must address to ensure that the noun-adjective order conveys the original meaning without distortion.

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alguna/alguno indefinite 'some' emphatic negative

¿Asistió alguna persona? No asistió persona alguna.

Did anyone attend? Absolutely no one attended.

alta/alto high in a scale, high level high, tall

una alta funcionaria un funcionario alto

a high-ranking (female) official a tall (male) official

antigua/antiguo former, ancient old, elderly; senior

mi antigua maestra una maestra antigua del colegio

my former teacher a senior teacher in the school

auténtica/auténtico 'real' as a superlative 'real' in the sense of genuine, not fake

¡Es una auténtica maravilla! Es un documento auténtico.

It's a real wonder! This document is real/genuine.

Adjective Meaning when preceding the noun

Meaning when following the noun




baja/bajo low, poor, late low, short

bajo en azúcar en voz baja

low sugar content in a low voice

bendita/bendito 'blessed' for emphasis holy, blessed

¡Otra vez con esa bendita excusa! agua bendita

The same blessed excuse again! holy man

buen/buena/bueno good, fine, fair kind, good, nice

tener buen ojo un ojo bueno

have a good eye/be a good judge a healthy eye, the good eye

cierta/cierto certain, one occasion, once true, sure, definite

en cierta ocasión un rumor cierto

on one occasion a true rumor






clásica/clásico classic, typical classical

la clásica historia la música clásica

the typical story classical music

condenada/condenado 'wretched' for emphasis condemned, convicted, damned; sealed off

¡Esta condenada computadora no

funciona! el preso condenado

This wretched computer isn’t working! a sentenced prisoner

correspondiente understandable as in logical or expected

corresponding/matching, respective, relevant

Llegaron tarde con el correspondiente descalabro

del horario.

los archivos correspondientes

They started late, causing an understandable disruption

in the schedule.

the relevant files






cruda/crudo harsh, harshly realistic raw, undercooked

la cruda verdad el pescado crudo

the harsh truth raw fish

cualquier/cualquiera any, any whatsoever any ordinary, any old

Puedes ponerte cualquier abrigo. Ponte un abrigo cualquiera.

You can wear any coat whatsoever. Just wear any coat.

curiosa/curioso odd, strange curious, inquisitive, tidy, careful

un curioso personaje una persona curiosa

a strange character a curious/tidy person

(depending on context)

dichosa / dichoso blasted, blessed (euphemistic) lucky, fortunate; happy

¡Ese dichoso ruido otra vez! ¡Ese es un niño dichoso!

That blasted noise again! That’s a lucky boy!






diferente various, several different

diferentes ideas una idea diferente

several ideas a different idea

ese/esa demonstrative form demonstrative used in a derogatory sense

Ese hombre nos sigue. El hombre ese…

That man is following us. That confounded man…

eterna/eterno everlasting, tedious/incessant, eternal

Never-ending, interminable, forever

la eterna canción una película eterna

same old song a never-ending movie

extraña/extraño odd, strange stranger; extraneous

Ella era una extraña persona. Él era una persona extraña

en ese pueblo.

She was an odd person. He was a foreigner

in that town.






fantástica/fantástico fantastic (great), superb imaginary, unreal, fantasy

fantástica literatura literatura fantástica

fantastic writing/literature fantasy literature

gran/grande great, big deal, splendid big, large, tall

¡Gran cosa! [irónico] un evento grande

Big deal! [ironic] a big event

ligera/ligero slight, mild, light light, lightweight, light-hearted, frivolous

una ligera tos una comedia ligera

a mild cough a light-hearted comedy

mala/malo bad, ill naughty, wicked, evil, bad quality

de mal agüero una novela mala

a bad omen a poorly written novel






media/medio half average, middle

Dame media libra. el estadounidense medio

Give me half a pound. the average American

menuda/menudo used for added emphasis small, trifling, insignificant

¡Menudo problema! un trozo menudo de madera

What a fine mess! a small piece of wood

misma/mismo same, very same self

La misma persona llamó. El niño mismo llamó.

The (very) same person called. The child himself called.

nueva/nuevo new (as a replacement), latest, another

new, brand-new

una nueva política una política nueva

a new policy (that replaces or

updates the former one) a brand-new policy

(to address something)






pobre pitiable, pitiful, miserable, unfortunate; 'poor' for emphasis

poor, not rich

¡Pobre país! Es un país pobre.

Poor country! It is a poor country.

posible tentative, potential possible, feasible, all

las posibles soluciones todas las soluciones posibles

potential solutions all possible solutions

preciosa/precioso lovely, beautiful precious

una preciosa playa una piedra preciosa

a beautiful beach a precious stone

presente present, now in consideration or discussion

in the present, current

el presente problema el tiempo presente

the present problem the current times






propia/propio himself, herself, own own, characteristic, just, appropriate, befitting, worthy

actuar en su propio nombre nombre propio

acting in his/her name, or

his/her own behalf proper noun

próxima/próximo next in a series near, close

el próximo mes la casa próxima a la escuela

next month the house near the school

pura/puro unmixed; just; sheer clean, pure, unalloyed

puro alcohol alcohol puro

just alcohol 100% alcohol

rara/raro unusual, rare, few strange, odd, eccentric; rare

un raro comportamiento un comportamiento raro

unusual behavior strange behavior






rica/rico delicious, fertile, fruitful, luxurious, rich, abundant

una rica receta una receta rica en nutrientes

a delicious recipe a nutrient-rich recipe

siguiente following next

Observa el siguiente rectángulo. ¿Cuál es el elemento siguiente

en la serie?

Look at the following rectangle. What is the next element

in the series? simple mere, ordinary easy, simple-minded, plain,

unadorned

una simple pregunta una pregunta simple

just a question an easy question

sola/solo single; very, mere, just alone, lonely, on its own; straight

un solo café un café solo

just one coffee a black coffee (without milk)






triste miserable, 'insignificant' for emphasis; sorry, pathetic, pitiful,

deplorable

sad, melancholic; depressing, sorrowful; withered; gloomy

un triste consuelo una noticia triste

small comfort sad news

única/único only, single unique, exceptional, only

un único ejemplar un ejemplar único

the only copy a unique copy

valiente 'great’ or ‘fine’ used ironically brave, courageous

¡En valiente lío te has metido! una valiente mujer

You've got yourself into a fine mess! a courageous woman

varias/varios several assorted, miscellaneous

Hay varias teorías. Hay teorías varias.

There are several theories. There are assorted theories.






verdadero/verdadera 'real' for emphasis real, true, genuine

Fue un verdadero placer

hablar contigo. Es un manuscrito verdadero.

It was a real pleasure talking to you. It is a genuine manuscript.

vieja/viejo long-standing, former; old elderly, 'old' as in elderly

un viejo maestro un maestro viejo

an old teacher an elderly teacher





Education

Translation Solutions: Adjective Inversion