Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
Camioneta destartalada
English translation:
a battered station-wagon (or pickup truck)
Added to glossary by
Alexandra Goldburt
Nov 3, 2008 22:44
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
California Court Certified Interpreter
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Spanish to English, and 3 more.
Camioneta destartalada
Spanish to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
From a statement of a person who had an auto accident, given to the insurance adjuster. "Camioneta destartalada" is how the other vehicle involved in this accident was described.
What would be an equivalent English term for this?
¡Gracias!
What would be an equivalent English term for this?
¡Gracias!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
1 hr
Selected
a battered station-wagon (or pickup truck)
I think this might suggest that the driver was careless and probably often involved in accidents
Note from asker:
| This is an excellent point, Chriswa. Thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
ael
2 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Kate Major Patience
: This is what I'd go for, although I'm British, so maybe I'm used to hearing "battered" van/truck etc.
8 hrs
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Same here, it just sounds natural to me. Thanks.
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| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: for the same reason, I was going to suggest "rickety". But I think "battered" is more "visual"
11 hrs
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Thanks, Carol
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| agree |
JudyK
: I'd go with this too
16 hrs
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Thanks, Judy
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| agree |
Daniel Coria
19 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I'll go with the majority vote. I also think that the point about a driver having been habitually careless, as evidenced by the state of his car, is important here. Many thanks to all who answered and/or voted!"
+3
8 mins
a ramshackle pick-up truck/station wagon
options
Note from asker:
| ¡Gracias, Remy! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
De Novi
: a ramshackled pick-up truck
18 mins
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gracias Zanne!
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| agree |
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
20 mins
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gracias Beatriz!
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| agree |
Bubo Coroman (X)
: yes, "ramshackle" is correct
8 hrs
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gracias Deborah!, aprecio tu aclaración
|
+1
7 mins
Francesca Samuel
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
United States
Professional translator and interpreter
Native in: Spanish , English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
ramshackled/decrepit/falling apart/hooptie
Here's a few choices. I haven't heard this for a while.
LOL
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Note added at 8 mins (2008-11-03 22:53:50 GMT)
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forgot to add pick up truck.
LOL
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Note added at 8 mins (2008-11-03 22:53:50 GMT)
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forgot to add pick up truck.
Note from asker:
| ¡Gracias, Francesca! |
17 mins
beat-up car/ junk pile/ jalopy
as used in USA.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Enrique. I never heard the word "jalopy"! |
18 mins
broken down station wagon (pick-up truck, depending)
camionete could be either a station wagon or a pick-up truck.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Jsalas. Very good point - it can be either one. |
+5
23 mins
Lydia De Jorge
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
Don't just say it, say it right!
Native in: Spanish , English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
94
dilapidated truck/van
sugg
Note from asker:
| Thank you for another option, Lydia! I can see there can be quite a number of options here... |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
S Ben Price
: This is more in line with a insurance claim, ramshackle sounds more literary to me.
36 mins
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Thanks!
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| agree |
Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
1 hr
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Abrazo!
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| agree |
Marjory Hord
: in the context, sounds better. Beat-up & beater are more slangy.
2 hrs
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Gracias Marjory!
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| agree |
kironne
: In Chile, destartalado is very informal, so I thought writing "destartalado" on an insurance claim was pretty sarcastic, but this would be the appropriate serious version. ;)
5 hrs
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Many thanks Kironne! Saludos!
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| agree |
Francesca Samuel
23 hrs
|
+1
59 mins
José J. Martínez
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
United States
ENSP, More than 30 years experience
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Spanish (Variant: Latin American)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Beater Truck
Apelativo en Chicago.
Note from asker:
| Nunca he escuchado "beater truck" - ¡quizás porque nunca he estado en Chicago! ¡Gracias, José! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
S Ben Price
: I don't know where you picked up this term, but it is good one. !! I have owned many "beaters". :)
3 mins
|
1 hr
Eileen Banks
Argentina
Argentina
Native in Spanish
Argentina
Thorough, fast and dependable
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
jalopy
Jalopy is a common slang term in American English, noted in 1924 but now slightly passé, for an old, decrepit and unreliable automobile which has limited ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalopy
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-11-04 00:20:09 GMT)
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LOLOL this word obviously dates me hahaha - glad you found it interesting Alexandra :)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalopy
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-11-04 00:20:09 GMT)
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LOLOL this word obviously dates me hahaha - glad you found it interesting Alexandra :)
Note from asker:
| Very interesting information. Thank you, Eileen! |
6 hrs
wrecked (pick-up) truck
In Chile, destartalada can be said of many things, even a person.
It means sloppy, untidy, slovenly, among other things, but it's quite impersonal.
As I said when agreeing with Lydia, the first thing that came to mind when reading "destartalada" was that it was sarcastic.
So I think a funny way of putting it in English on an insurance claim would be: "Wrecked truck". It's like saying "What else do you want me to say?? It's destroyed!!"
Just a suggestion, anyway!
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Note added at 6 hrs (2008-11-04 05:23:57 GMT)
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Main Entry: wreck
Pronunciation: \ˈrek\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English wrek, from Anglo-French, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse rek wreck; akin to Old English wrecan to drive
Date: 12th century
2 a: shipwreck b: the action of wrecking or fact or state of being wrecked : destruction c: a violent and destructive crash <was injured in a car wreck>
3 a: a hulk or the ruins of a wrecked ship b: the broken remains of something wrecked or otherwise ruined c: something disabled or in a state of ruin or dilapidation <the house was a wreck> ; also : a person or animal of broken constitution, health, or spirits <he's a nervous wreck>
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreck
Note from asker:
| Gracias, Kironne. Con tantas buenas opciones, ¡me costará trabajo elegir sólo una! |
Discussion