Thread: macana??

Can someone please explain what "que macana" means? I get the feeling it has a negative connotation. Thanks!

Originally Posted by amayo

Can someone please explain what "que macana" means? I get the feeling it has a negative connotation. Thanks!

It means something like, "what a pain."

According to the Diccionario de Americanismos this phrase is an spontaneous interjection used to express disappointment. The source indicates that is used in Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Peru.

Here is the link: Diccionario de americanismos | Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española

a 'Macana' is a mistake that creates a problem.

The translation of the idiom would be "What a shame!"

Originally Posted by chris.r

It means something like, "what a pain."

IMHO, I don't think it has a negative connotation. It is just an expression which could be translated as "what a pain!" or "that's terrible"

Person 1: Ayer tuve un accidente de transito en la autopista. Menos mal fue leve. Mi auto va a estar en el taller por tres semanas
Person 2: Que macana! Y no tienes otro auto que puedas usar durante esas tres semanas?

Yeah, you can say "macana" regarding the problem, but too regarding the action that originates the problem, for example "he made a Macana", in spanish we say "se mandó una macana", he made a mistake that originate a problem.

Okay, so it´s not so much a negative comment, so much as it's a comment made regarding something negative. Thanks for the clarification!