Galician is a language rich in culture and history, spoken predominantly in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. It shares its roots with Portuguese and has evolved with a unique blend of influences from Latin, Germanic, and Celtic languages. As with any language, idiomatic expressions in Galician offer a fascinating window into the local culture and worldview. These expressions often cannot be translated literally into English without losing their meaning and charm. This article aims to explore some of the most interesting and commonly used idiomatic expressions in Galician to help English-speaking learners grasp the subtleties of this beautiful language.
What Are Idiomatic Expressions?
Idiomatic expressions, or idioms, are phrases or expressions that have a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning. These expressions are integral to everyday language and can be challenging for language learners to understand and use correctly. In Galician, idioms often reflect the region’s history, geography, and cultural practices. Learning these expressions can significantly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the language.
Common Galician Idiomatic Expressions
1. “Irse polo cerro de Úbeda”
Literal Translation: “To go by way of Úbeda’s hill”
Meaning: To go off-topic or to digress
This idiom is used when someone strays from the main topic of conversation. It is akin to the English expression “to go off on a tangent.”
Example: “Estábamos falando do proxecto, pero el foi-se polo cerro de Úbeda falando das súas vacacións.”
(“We were talking about the project, but he went off on a tangent talking about his holidays.”)
2. “Estar no quinto pino”
Literal Translation: “To be at the fifth pine tree”
Meaning: To be far away
This expression is used to describe a place that is very far or difficult to reach, similar to the English phrase “in the middle of nowhere.”
Example: “A súa casa está no quinto pino, tarda moito en chegar alí.”
(“His house is in the middle of nowhere, it takes a long time to get there.”)
3. “Non dar pé con bola”
Literal Translation: “Not to hit the ball with the foot”
Meaning: To be clumsy or to make mistakes continuously
This idiom is used when someone is not succeeding in their attempts, akin to the English expression “can’t get anything right.”
Example: “Hoxe estou tan canso que non dou pé con bola.”
(“Today I am so tired that I can’t get anything right.”)
4. “Estar coma un peixe fóra da auga”
Literal Translation: “To be like a fish out of water”
Meaning: To feel uncomfortable or out of place
Just as in English, this expression is used to describe someone who feels out of their element or uncomfortable in a particular situation.
Example: “Naquela festa, sentíame coma un peixe fóra da auga.”
(“At that party, I felt like a fish out of water.”)
5. “Estar a velas vir”
Literal Translation: “To be waiting for the candles to come”
Meaning: To be waiting for something to happen without taking action
This idiom is used to describe someone who is passively waiting for something to occur, similar to the English phrase “to sit on one’s hands.”
Example: “Non podes estar a velas vir, tes que facer algo para cambiar a situación.”
(“You can’t just sit on your hands, you have to do something to change the situation.”)
Idioms Related to Animals
6. “Ser coma unha cabra”
Literal Translation: “To be like a goat”
Meaning: To be crazy or eccentric
This expression is similar to the English idiom “to be as mad as a hatter.”
Example: “Señor, vostede está coma unha cabra se pensa que iso vai funcionar.”
(“Sir, you are as mad as a hatter if you think that is going to work.”)
7. “Matar dous paxaros dun tiro”
Literal Translation: “To kill two birds with one shot”
Meaning: To accomplish two things at once
This idiom is identical to the English phrase “to kill two birds with one stone.”
Example: “Podemos matar dous paxaros dun tiro se facemos a compra mentres esperamos o autobús.”
(“We can kill two birds with one stone if we do the shopping while we wait for the bus.”)
8. “Buscarle tres pés ao gato”
Literal Translation: “To look for three feet on the cat”
Meaning: To make things more complicated than they are
This expression is used when someone is complicating a simple situation unnecessarily, similar to the English idiom “to make a mountain out of a molehill.”
Example: “Non busques tres pés ao gato, a solución é ben sinxela.”
(“Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, the solution is quite simple.”)
Idioms Related to Food
9. “Estar coma un cesto de mazás”
Literal Translation: “To be like a basket of apples”
Meaning: To be in excellent condition or health
This expression is used to describe someone who is in very good health, similar to the English phrase “fit as a fiddle.”
Example: “Despois do seu descanso, está coma un cesto de mazás.”
(“After his break, he is as fit as a fiddle.”)
10. “Ter mala uva”
Literal Translation: “To have bad grapes”
Meaning: To have a bad temper or to be in a bad mood
This idiom is used to describe someone who is irritable or has a bad temper, similar to the English phrase “to be in a foul mood.”
Example: “Hoxe ten mala uva, mellor déixao só.”
(“Today he is in a foul mood, better leave him alone.”)
Idioms Related to Nature and Weather
11. “Chover a cántaros”
Literal Translation: “To rain pitchers”
Meaning: To rain heavily
This expression is similar to the English idiom “to rain cats and dogs.”
Example: “Esta mañá chovía a cántaros e esquecín o paraugas.”
(“This morning it was raining cats and dogs, and I forgot my umbrella.”)
12. “Estar no sétimo ceo”
Literal Translation: “To be in the seventh heaven”
Meaning: To be extremely happy
This idiom is used to describe someone who is very happy, similar to the English phrase “to be on cloud nine.”
Example: “Cando lle dixeron que gañara o premio, estaba no sétimo ceo.”
(“When they told him he had won the prize, he was on cloud nine.”)
13. “Ver o ceo aberto”
Literal Translation: “To see the open sky”
Meaning: To experience a moment of great relief
This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone feels immense relief, similar to the English phrase “to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Example: “Despois de semanas de traballo duro, ver o ceo aberto foi incrible.”
(“After weeks of hard work, it was incredible to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”)
Idioms Related to Daily Life
14. “Pórse coma un tomate”
Literal Translation: “To turn like a tomato”
Meaning: To blush or turn red
This idiom is used to describe someone who is blushing, similar to the English phrase “to turn red as a beetroot.”
Example: “Cando lle fixeron o cumplido, púxose coma un tomate.”
(“When they complimented him, he turned red as a beetroot.”)
15. “Falar polos cóbados”
Literal Translation: “To talk by the elbows”
Meaning: To talk a lot or to be very talkative
This expression is used to describe someone who talks excessively, similar to the English idiom “to talk one’s ear off.”
Example: “Ela fala polos cóbados, é difícil seguirlle o ritmo.”
(“She talks one’s ear off, it’s hard to keep up with her.”)
16. “Estar entre lusco e fusco”
Literal Translation: “To be between twilight and dusk”
Meaning: To be in a state of uncertainty or ambiguity
This idiom is used to describe a situation that is unclear or uncertain, similar to the English phrase “to be in a gray area.”
Example: “O futuro do proxecto está entre lusco e fusco, aínda non hai nada decidido.”
(“The future of the project is in a gray area, nothing has been decided yet.”)
Conclusion
Understanding and using idiomatic expressions is a key aspect of mastering any language. In Galician, these idioms offer a glimpse into the region’s unique cultural and historical context. By familiarizing yourself with these expressions, you not only improve your language skills but also deepen your appreciation of Galician culture. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, incorporating idiomatic expressions into your vocabulary will make your communication more natural and nuanced. So, the next time you’re practicing Galician, try using some of these idioms and see how they enrich your conversations.
