muchacha?

[RT Gooch]

Hello. RT here.

I was chatting on Facebook with one of my amigas the other day, and I opened with, "Hola muchacha, que tal?"

It turns out that she was taken aback somewhat by my referring to her as 'muchacha'. She tried to explain it, but my Spanish isn't good enough to follow along when she is writing idiomatically.

Can someone tell me why this pissed her off? I always thought that muchacha was a friendly term for 'girl', no different than 'chica'.

Thanks.

 

[Headcrusher]

muchacha = chica = girl = mujer

muchacha = empleada = housekeeper
a cleaner

Greetings !

 

[kermus]

It's a pity that in spanish there are'nt words similar to "gorgeous", "cutie", "sweetness"(althoug this last i think that the girls use with boys, too) that we can use without the "chica" feels shameness. U could use "linda"(cutie) but the girls could feel it a bit pejorative, the same with "chica."

I suggest u to use diminutives of their names if u want 2 be more friendly. i.e: "Eli(Betty)" instead Elizabeth; "Jenny" instead Jennifer; "Carlita" instead Carla, etcetera. And if u speak to many girls that it's probable that u don't remember their names then u could use "señorita" but in a context of familiarity: "Hola señorita, ¿qué cuentas?"/"Hi miss, what's up?"

 

[Gaahl]

It's a pity that in spanish there are'nt words similar to "gorgeous", "cutie", "sweetness"(althoug this last i think that the girls use with boys, too) that we can use without the "chica" feels shameness. U could use "linda"(cutie) but the girls could feel it a bit pejorative, the same with "chica."

I suggest u to use diminutives of their names if u want 2 be more friendly. i.e: "Eli(Betty)" instead Elizabeth; "Jenny" instead Jennifer; "Carlita" instead Carla, etcetera. And if u speak to many girls that it's probable that u don't remember their names then u could use "señorita" but in a context of familiarity: "Hola señorita, ¿qué cuentas?"/"Hi miss, what's up?"

come on! of course that are word similar like the ones that you mention in Spanish in case that you want to flirt with a girl (I think that you don´t belong to the hood Rhinox )
anyway for example:
cutie=preciosa
sweety=linda
gorgeous=hermosa
and a lot of more, so as you can see those word exists in Spanish, by the way do not forget that English is rather limited than spanish in adjectives
Diablito

 

[Gaahl]

and by the way RT Gooch, it would be way better if you start the conversation with a girl saying things like:
Hola preciosa, como estas?
Hola linda, que te cuentas?
that is in case that you have enough confidence with the lady, but if it is just a lady that you first met in the chat, you can do something more polite like:
Hola, como estás?
without using any adjective at all
hope that you found my post useful

 

[RT Gooch]

Thanks everyone, those are good tips (I also use 'carino' when I would say 'sweetie' in English)...

But I still don't understand what was 'WRONG' with muchacha!

 

[electro]

It's a pity that in spanish there are'nt words similar to "gorgeous", "cutie", "sweetness"(althoug this last i think that the girls use with boys, too) that we can use without the "chica" feels shameness. U could use "linda"(cutie) but the girls could feel it a bit pejorative, the same with "chica."

I suggest u to use diminutives of their names if u want 2 be more friendly. i.e: "Eli(Betty)" instead Elizabeth; "Jenny" instead Jennifer; "Carlita" instead Carla, etcetera. And if u speak to many girls that it's probable that u don't remember their names then u could use "señorita" but in a context of familiarity: "Hola señorita, ¿qué cuentas?"/"Hi miss, what's up?"

think you are wrong
Sweetness = Dulzura
Cutie= Bonita, or even better simpatica
Gorgeous= Preciosa

 

[Gaahl]

Thanks everyone, those are good tips (I also use 'carino' when I would say 'sweetie' in English)...

But I still don't understand what was 'WRONG' with muchacha!

oh! alright, yeah I skip to explain you that part , if you say "muchacha" for example to a boricua lady (from Puerto Rico or even Venezuela or Colombia) is the same as saying in english "girl"; the problem is that the word "muchacha" it has been used a lot of time by the aristrocracy to call to the young maids that work for them in our country; for example one could said: "muchacha, ve a comprar el pan" the literal translation would be "girl, buy the bread", but what it really means in Perú is "service girl, buy the bread"; so as you can see it is like a pejorative term, also it can be referred to denote a girl that comes from the Andes or a "chola" like we usually say in everyday speaking
hope that this explanation is useful

 

[kermus]

think you are wrong
Sweetness = Dulzura
Cutie= Bonita, or even better simpatica
Gorgeous= Preciosa

Thx to both Gaahl and to u Euro. Well, i meant actually (and i see that i was wrong) that in my case when i chat or talk with a girl from Europe or US i can use cutie, sweetie, etcetera, and it's normal to them. But when i use those words in spanish with peruvian girls, ("hola preciosa" for example) usually they seems a rather uncomfortable, so i don't use much those words with women in spanish. But i live in a zone where the women r a bit cold or polite with the migrants, in Lima or others cities i can be more warm to them and they also r warmer.
Anyway, perhaps Gaahl is right about me, at seems i don't use very well neither the english nor the spanish, sorry 4 the mistake RT Gooch.

 

[meretriki]

The use of "muchacha" in Peru is almost exclusively associated with the word for maid. "Street" words to flatter a girl: "rica" "mamacita" "preciosa" "ricurita" "bombon", there's a bunch depending on how well you know the girl.

 

[electro]

The use of "muchacha" in Peru is almost exclusively associated with the word for maid. "Street" words to flatter a girl: "rica" "mamacita" "preciosa" "ricurita" "bombon", there's a bunch depending on how well you know the girl.

Do remember the use "mamacita" "ricurita" and Bombom do imply some sort of advance. You would not use those words with a girl you just met,
you will see as a "mandado" or to forward.

 

[meretriki]

You would not use those words with a girl you just met,
you will see as a "mandado" or to forward...

I would. Most girls would see it as a compliment, specially if your tone is appropriate and you're not too overt with the body language. I'm willing to bet no girl would be offended by those words, unless you're saying them in the presence of her guy.

 

[Sergio Armani]

The use of "muchacha" in Peru is almost exclusively associated with the word for maid. "Street" words to flatter a girl: "rica"

..(ricura).. will be more apropriate if you are talking to the girl.....like..Hola ricura...

 

[Captain James E. Raynor]

The last time I used this word chatting with a girl, she kindly told me to fuck off.

I do not recommend it, it's appalling for women. You can use in turn "flaca", "amiga", "chinita" or finally the most formal word "señorita".

EX1: Hola, amiga, qué tal??
EX2: cómo estás, flaca? todo bien?

Jim Raynor