Thread: pais generoso

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this technically qualifies as "slang," but a friend of mine from Argentina has been visiting the US for a little less than a month now, and he keeps describing it as un pais generoso. He tried to explain the meaning to me but I just didn't quite get it. Anyone able to clarify? I understand the literal translation, but that usually tends to be waayyy wrong! Thanks!

Leslie

Hi Leslie, it's a very common expression in Argentina. We use it, for example, when we see a person with zero talent ice-skating on TV and making a fortune..., or a "top-model" with her own reality TV show, or a politician that never really goes to work except at the end of each month to collect his payment. What a generous country!" we say.

By the way, politicians are often called "ñoquis" and if you're interested I'll explain in another post.

Hi there! That's an excellent explanation, MVictoria!

So, to sum up, "Argentina es un país generoso" or "¡Qué país generoso!" would lead to the idea that in this country some people get something positive while they don't deserve it.

You would use these expressions whenever you notice something unfair, such as the examples provided by MVictoria.

Originally Posted by vicente

Hi mvictoria

Would you say then that it is not a complimentary phrase?

Well, definitely not... You can check my post above. If there's something you don't understand, I'd be glad to clarify it for you.

Originally Posted by vicente

Oh, I understand your post. I just wanted to make sure that the phrase didn't have a nicer meaning because it would appear that les8874's friend was being something less than a courteous visitor to the U.S. considering this comment: "a friend of mine from Argentina has been visiting the US for a little less than a month now, and he keeps describing it as un pais generoso."

I see your point now, too, Vicente! I assumed that Leslie's friend was referring to Argentina (though the proximate antecedent for it is "U.S.", as you point out) to use the expression in the sense we generally use it (to make reference to our country)... Perhaps, Leslie can help us on that...

Originally Posted by vicente

Ooops! I hadn't thought the friend might be referring to Argentina! The sentence could be taken either way now that you mention it Guadalupe Assumptions get me in trouble all the time!

Haha! And I hadn't thought the friend might be referring to the U.S. until you mentioned it

hi all,
just wanted to say that i enjoyed this thread...from the expression to the meaning to the assumptions!
good one!