Telegram

I clocked on earlier this week to this message: “Valeeeeeen a translation trouble. Telegram.” 

What a welcome. Right. If I’m being honest, I think this is more a question of cultural differences than translation trouble because I guess the understandable question was, who even uses actual telegrams anymore? 

Well, Argentines do. But for specific reasons. By law, when you leave one job (by choice or not), you go to the Post Office and fill out a form to send a free telegram to your soon-to-be former employer. You’re allowed a maximum of 25 words, which the Post Office then plugs into its telegraph system; the message you wrote out is placed in a sealed letter and delivered in person. A literal telegram.

This is basically a free way of sending what’s considered a legally notarized document because the recipient signs it on the other end to confirm delivery. It may sound weird and archaic, but it’s honestly really straightforward and one of the easiest errands you can do at any Correo. Easier than traipsing around New York City trying to find a place with a working fax machine (if you know, you know).

You may also be interested in: Argentina opens up some mail services to private companies

Pata de lana

This came up in conversation, and this time, it was my turn to be unaware of what was being said: turns out a “woolen leg” is a way of referring to someone’s lover. 

The idea is that a seductive philanderer pads their feet to silently scarper after a covert escapade. As usual, it’s hard to find the origins of what seems to be an exclusively Argentine phrase. It’s usually attributed to the long houses known as casa chorizo (popular in Buenos Aires and Rosario), where multiple families lived in one narrow dwelling around a central corridor. Hence why woolen socks were enough, I suppose. 

I find it a bit weird that it’s often in the singular — surely you’d want both feet covered? — and that the definitions of pata de lana are so gendered, almost exclusively defined as men. A bunch of Casanovas making their getaways in cozy socks.

As usual, I’m not revealing who we were talking about — this column isn’t the place for escraches. 

Share your thoughts and translation hang-ups with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!