Mar 15, 2015 17:22
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term

calzoncillos

Spanish to English Art/Literary Textiles / Clothing / Fashion Underwear
Hi!
I'm translating a pitch with a script for an animated series, a comedy, and a male character in his forties/fifties can't find his 'calzoncillos'. I have no reference to the model (I don't know if they are boxer shorts, briefs, thongs or what), so I need a word that is more general. I was thinking of "underpants", but it would be great if a native speaker of American English or someone who feels confident enough could answer how natural that would sound. The pitch will be shown to an American audience. It's sarcastic humor (think 'Family Guy'). Then they refer to the "calzoncillos" and I was wondering about reference (singular or plural). The lines go like this:
-- ¿Viste mi calzoncillo? (In Argentina sometimes we refer to them in the singular)
-- ¿Tenés UN calzoncillo?
-- Es de mi viaje a X, es de (material). No puedo usar otro.

So, should the singular/plural issue be dealt with like this?

-- Have you seen my underpants? (Would Americans say 'Did you see...?')
-- You have only ONE pair of underpants? (I omitted 'Do' to make it more colloquial)
-- They are the ones I brought from X, they’re (material). I can’t wear any others.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Juan Jacob

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Proposed translations

+9
4 mins
Selected

underwear

If you don't know exactly if their boxers or briefs, I think the best generic term is underwear.
Peer comment(s):

agree Laura Messer : I agree - "underpants" is more a term little kids use.
5 mins
agree Ana Vozone
14 mins
agree eski : Say no mre. :))
33 mins
agree Carla Bucholz
33 mins
agree Sandra Cirera-García
2 hrs
agree Ray Ables
3 hrs
agree rocio_tanzola
3 hrs
agree Jaime Blank
1 day 8 hrs
agree jpatters
37 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks!"
+2
5 mins

Underwear, underpants.

You could use underpants or underwear for USA English. Calzoncillos are more often used to describe briefs rather than boxers, though the term can be used interchangeably. So, as you mentioned, a generic term could be used.

I would say, "do you have A pair of underwear/underpants" rather than ONE.
Peer comment(s):

agree Lydianette Soza
7 mins
agree Julie Thurston : underpants
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
-2
6 mins

pants

Literal translation
Peer comment(s):

disagree Sarah Leonard : If this is for American English, as mentioned above, underwear is a better term. Pants for us are like trousers in the U.K.
2 mins
disagree Jennifer Levey : Wrong for US English.
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
30 mins

Men's underwear - See below

Having owned a store (wholesale and retail) for 13 years where I sold men's and women's high quality underwear I will say that this is men's underwear as in:

briefs - boxer briefs- boxer shorts, etc.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 31 mins (2015-03-15 17:54:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I would say either briefs - boxers - etc.
Peer comment(s):

agree Jaime Blank : ... if the sex of the owner is unknown :)
1 day 8 hrs
hahaha! one kudoz question at a time! :-) thanks!
agree Deby Novitz : Men's underwear.. at least here in Argentina. :)
19 days
Thanks so much!
Something went wrong...
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