Spanish term
Geology and Hydrogeology / Proofreading
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
calzoncillos
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!
| 4 +9 | underwear |
Jaime Avendano
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| 5 +2 | Underwear, underpants. |
Sarah Leonard
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| 4 +2 | Men's underwear - See below |
Phoenix III
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| 4 -2 | pants |
Luke Mersh
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Non-PRO (1): Juan Jacob
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Proposed translations
United States
Technical Translations
Native in: Spanish 
, English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
underwear
Spain
Master's degree, 9+ years' experience
Native in: English (Variants: British, US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, English, and 1 more.
Underwear, underpants.
I would say, "do you have A pair of underwear/underpants" rather than ONE.
pants
| 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
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| disagree |
Jennifer Levey
: Wrong for US English.
6 hrs
|
United States
True words...
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Spanish (Variant: Latin American)
Works in: Spanish to English, Spanish, English, and 1 more.
Men's underwear - See below
briefs - boxer briefs- boxer shorts, etc.
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Note added at 31 mins (2015-03-15 17:54:01 GMT)
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I would say either briefs - boxers - etc.
| agree |
Jaime Blank
: ... if the sex of the owner is unknown :)
1 day 8 hrs
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hahaha! one kudoz question at a time! :-) thanks!
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| agree |
Deby Novitz
: Men's underwear.. at least here in Argentina. :)
19 days
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Thanks so much!
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