How to say "Cheap compost here" in Spanish?
May 4, 2010 4:27 PM Subscribe
Can you help me convey a gardening-related message to my Spanish-speaking downstairs neighbors?
Here's what I want to tell them but my halting Spanish isn't doing the trick: "You can pick up the good soil [compost] at the city's Yard Waste Center. It's $3 for a bag or garbage can, up to 35 gallons. You have to bring your own shovel and your own bags or bins, and then pay and fill them up yourself." Thanks for the help!
Here's what I want to tell them but my halting Spanish isn't doing the trick: "You can pick up the good soil [compost] at the city's Yard Waste Center. It's $3 for a bag or garbage can, up to 35 gallons. You have to bring your own shovel and your own bags or bins, and then pay and fill them up yourself." Thanks for the help!
Best answer: Puede obtener el compost (la buena tierra) en la "Yard Waste Center" de la ciudad. Cuesta tres dollares por una bolsa o bote de basura, hasta treinta-y-cinco galones. Es necesario llevar una pala y algunas bolsas o un bote de basura. Entonces, usted paga y llenarlo usted mismo.
I'm far from native but this should do the job.
posted by jonesor at 5:08 PM on May 4, 2010
I'm far from native but this should do the job.
posted by jonesor at 5:08 PM on May 4, 2010
Best answer: "La ciudad vende abono para tu jardin. Tienes que traer tu propia bolsa o bote, y una pala. Cuesta tres dolares hasta treinta y cinco galones."
posted by Gilbert at 5:08 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by Gilbert at 5:08 PM on May 4, 2010
Here's what Google translate gave me.... it is probably good enough to convey what you want to say:
"Usted puede recoger la mercancía [suelo] de compost en el patio del Centro de la ciudad de Residuos. Se trata de $ 3 para una bolsa o bote de basura, hasta 35 galones. Tienes que poner tu pala propia y sus propias bolsas o cajas, y luego pagar y llenarlos usted mismo.
posted by k8t at 5:09 PM on May 4, 2010
"Usted puede recoger la mercancía [suelo] de compost en el patio del Centro de la ciudad de Residuos. Se trata de $ 3 para una bolsa o bote de basura, hasta 35 galones. Tienes que poner tu pala propia y sus propias bolsas o cajas, y luego pagar y llenarlos usted mismo.
posted by k8t at 5:09 PM on May 4, 2010
Response by poster: Yeah, thanks, I tried English (which I assure you they have almost zero knowledge of), as well as Spanglish, sign language, pointing to the actual bins and compost in our shared backyard, etc. We've been neighbors for two years, so I think I have a pretty clear estimation of our communication issues.
p.s. I learned to distrust online translators long ago, and have the paragraph from Google, but would like to hear a fluent human take a shot. Thanks again in advance.
posted by mediareport at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2010
p.s. I learned to distrust online translators long ago, and have the paragraph from Google, but would like to hear a fluent human take a shot. Thanks again in advance.
posted by mediareport at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2010
Best answer: Gilbert's is almost spot on, but he last sentence is not very clear (or at least I didn't understand it until I read the original). It could be:
"La ciudad vende abono (composta) para tu jardín en el Yard Waste Center. Tienes que llevar tu propia bolsa o bote de hasta 35 galones y una pala. Hay que pagar $3 y lo llenas tú mismo"
posted by clearlydemon at 5:14 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
"La ciudad vende abono (composta) para tu jardín en el Yard Waste Center. Tienes que llevar tu propia bolsa o bote de hasta 35 galones y una pala. Hay que pagar $3 y lo llenas tú mismo"
posted by clearlydemon at 5:14 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
(My native language is Mexican Spanish)
posted by clearlydemon at 5:15 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by clearlydemon at 5:15 PM on May 4, 2010
Best answer: ah, well, you seem to have things under control here but here's what my sister translated(2 years in the Peace Corp in El Salvador) :
Se puede colectar tierra buena o compostaje a el centro de residuos de la cuidad. Le cuesta 3 dolares cada bosa o bote de basura hasta trienta-cinco galones. Usted tiene que traer sus propias palas y sus propias bolsas o cajas, y luego pague y las llena a ti mismo.
best of luck!
posted by phogirl at 7:28 PM on May 4, 2010
Se puede colectar tierra buena o compostaje a el centro de residuos de la cuidad. Le cuesta 3 dolares cada bosa o bote de basura hasta trienta-cinco galones. Usted tiene que traer sus propias palas y sus propias bolsas o cajas, y luego pague y las llena a ti mismo.
best of luck!
posted by phogirl at 7:28 PM on May 4, 2010
Yeah, you got me, clearlydemon. I can fix it, though. How about "cuesta tres dolares para treinta y sinco galones?"
posted by Gilbert at 8:35 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by Gilbert at 8:35 PM on May 4, 2010
Sí, that's better.
posted by clearlydemon at 8:42 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by clearlydemon at 8:42 PM on May 4, 2010
Response by poster: Thank y'all very much. I'll pass the info and a map to them tomorrow. (Nice to learn that the Google translation probably would have worked ok, too.)
posted by mediareport at 8:55 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by mediareport at 8:55 PM on May 4, 2010
« Older Is it harmful to leave my iPhone in the Sounddock... | Help with iPhone recording applications Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Sorry to sound snide, but you want to convey a rather basic and concrete message. Speak clearly, use gesture if they help, and stop underestimating them.
posted by domnit at 5:02 PM on May 4, 2010