The most irritating expression in English and Spanish

[Marianopolita]

BBC Mundo always comes up with interesting discussions and topics about language. Being a language enthusiast, I try not to miss out on the interesting articles they post and ensuing discussions by avid readers.


I was not sure where to post this because the article is in Spanish but it’s about the most annoying expression in English based on a survey of almost a thousand people who were asked. According to the survey conducted among Americans, the most annoying expression in English is 'whatever' and then four other expressions rank in the choices among those surveyed. IMO, the expressions and words selected say a lot about the spoken language, the word origin and how language usage spreads and permeates by means of different channels, media of communication etc. Speakers themselves are the primary channel IMO.

(To note since I live outside of the American vernacular, I do find those expressions to be typical of the USA and crossed over to other English- speaking regions).

The BBC then asked 'what is your most annoying Spanish expression' to begin a discussion about Spanish and this I find equally as interesting as the readers are from all over the Spanish-speaking world. I think language, the way people speak, their choice of words etc. reveal so much about a person, group of people, etc. What is also interesting to observe is if you use any of the words, expressions in English and/ or Spanish on a regular basis.

Click on the link in the middle of the article to read the Spanish discussion.

"Whatever se utiliza en conversaciones informales. (…) Es una manera de desdeñar a alguien. En ese aspecto resulta irritante. Mucho más que las otras expresiones que incluimos en la encuesta", aseguró Azzoli.

Otras expresiones irritantes

Las otras coletillas que produjeron un mayor rechazo entre los encuestados fueron You know (sabes, 25%) It is what it is (es lo que es, 11%), Anyway (de todos modos, 7%) y At the end of the day (al final del día, 2%).

En la encuesta, realizada el pasado mes de agosto, participaron cerca de 1.000 personas.

BBC Mundo - Cultura y Sociedad - La expresión más irritante en inglés



Can you find that irritating expression?


-Marianopolita.

[El Rey de Mangu]

Originally Posted by Marianopolita

BBC Mundo always comes up with interesting discussions and topics about language. Being a language enthusiast, I try not to miss out on the interesting articles they post and ensuing discussions by avid readers.

I was not sure where to post this because the article is in Spanish but it’s about the most annoying expression in English based on a survey of almost a thousand people who were asked. According to the survey conducted among Americans, the most annoying expression in English is 'whatever' and then four other expressions rank in the choices among those surveyed. IMO, the expressions and words selected say a lot about the spoken language, the word origin and how language usage spreads and permeates by means of different channels, media of communication etc. Speakers themselves are the primary channel IMO.

(To note since I live outside of the American vernacular, I do find those expressions to be typical of the USA and crossed over to other English- speaking regions).

The BBC then asked 'what is your most annoying Spanish expression' to begin a discussion about Spanish and this I find equally as interesting as the readers are from all over the Spanish-speaking world. I think language, the way people speak, their choice of words etc. reveal so much about a person, group of people, etc. What is also interesting to observe is if you use any the words, expressions in English and/ or Spanish on a regular basis.

Click on the link in the middle of article to read the Spanish discussion.







BBC Mundo - Cultura y Sociedad - La expresión más irritante en inglés



Can you find that irritating expression?


-Marianopolita.

What a great thread!

My wife simply drives me crazy with this one:
"Eres tu que sabes"

Other pet peeves: "osea", "tu vez", "tu me entiendes"...
I cannot imagine in my tenure at Citi, sitting in a meeting, uttering "you understand me?" after every statement I made. Between that and "perate" (esperate), two most irritating meeting phrases I have ever heard!

Lmao

[mountainannie]

Welll, you know, at the end of the day, Americans don't really speak "English" , we just pick up any old word that is lying around them. ya tu sabes? it is like -whatever

I swear on a stack of bibles that my father spent the better part of my 12th year of life saying to me "no, I don´t know,"

my brain worked faster than my mouth but i just was not gonna give any one else the chance to take away the floor

[El Rey de Mangu]

Originally Posted by mountainannie

Welll, you know, at the end of the day, Americans don't really speak "English" , we just pick up any old word that is lying around them. ya tu sabes? it is like -whatever

I swear on a stack of bibles that my father spent the better part of my 12th year of life saying to me "no, I don´t know,"

my brain worked faster than my mouth but i just was not gonna give any one else the chance to take away the floor

My favorite English irritation is: "like".

"You know, like, I mean, like I was so wasted the other night"

The more modern irritation: "so"

"I am SO over that".

Just horrible.

[Berzin]

The worst for me are porque si and porque no.

Those aren't replies. I can't even translate them to let my english speaking friends know why I get so angry when someone (usually a chica) uses either phrase as a response to one of my questions.

And when I use them, they tell me I'm not allowed to because I'm not Dominican!!!

[Black Dog]

"Totally awesome" In my 51 years I have seen some things that ARE "totally Awesome" but NOT everyday! eg We were in NY at the Lion King and a couple were shown to their seats which they described as "totally awesome" actually they weren't even good! I know a Canadian, ask her how she is "totally awesome".
"Have you heard Britney's new single? it's totally awesome" NO IT'S NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phew, sorry about that!!!!!

[El Rey de Mangu]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

"Totally awesome" In my 51 years I have seen some things that ARE "totally Awesome" but NOT everyday! eg We were in NY at the Lion King and a couple were shown to their seats which they described as "totally awesome" actually they weren't even good! I know a Canadian, ask her how she is "totally awesome".
"Have you heard Britney's new single? it's totally awesome" NO IT'S NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phew, sorry about that!!!!!

haha! "It's SOOO not AWESOME"

[ExtremeR]

Osea = "Es que, osea, es obvio que soy mejor que tu, osea"
Porque si = Berzin's example is a good one.
Si, ta' bien = "Por favor ven mañana a las 10 - Si ta' bien, esperame sentado"
Algun problema con eso?

[BettyDiamond]

"Can I ask a question ?" duhh you just did and you didnt have my permission dummy

[BettyDiamond]

Can we run this up the flag-pole and see who salutes ? or should we just bounce ideas off of each other ?