Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Tumbao - not relating to dance or music

English translation:

I\'m cool

Added to glossary by davidgreen
Oct 5, 2014 12:42
9 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term

Tumbao - not relating to dance or music

Spanish to English Social Sciences Government / Politics
asking this for a friend finishing a book on Colombia. Thanks in advance for any help!

“El mejor lugar donde podía surgir, crecer el modelo cartesiano androcentrico, es Antioquia, yo no sé si hay otro lugar en el mundo [así]”
“Es la cultura del tumbao. Tumbao es que yo soy importante”

And here's some context:

De manera interesante, Patricia argumenta que la cultura de Antioquia ha provisto la base perfecta para el surgimiento de un sistema androcentrico. Se argumenta que la gente tiende a buscar su bienestar a costa de otros y usualmente con una actitud claramente machista. Es más, se explicó que la gente local siente mayor satisfacción si el éxito personal viene acompañado de la miseria ajena.

Discussion

Phoenix III Oct 6, 2014:
@ David My pleasure, anytime!
davidgreen (asker) Oct 6, 2014:
note from my friend Many thanks to all of you for responding so quickly - these are all fantastic suggestions - I've written an explanation in a footnote and kept the original Spanish in the text - it clearly is too complicated for a one word translation! Particular thanks to Phoenix III for that really thorough explanation of all the cultural factors involved.
Muriel Vasconcellos Oct 5, 2014:
@ Phoenix That's what I thought. Glad to hear that it's still true.
Phoenix III Oct 5, 2014:
@ Muriel This is a bad generalization of the most hospitable, entrepreneurial, happy, hard working and visionary people I know. Unfortunately, a small segment of society is like that: walks with the "tumbao" of a gangster showing off and saying "I'm cool".
Muriel Vasconcellos Oct 5, 2014:
Not the Antioquia I remember from 40 years ago.
Muriel Vasconcellos Oct 5, 2014:
Add the Spanish after it This is one case where I think it's best to add the Spanish between commas following the translation: "whateveryoudecide, or _tumbao_,' -- tumbao in italics.
bigedsenior Oct 5, 2014:
It seems to be a combination of egocentrism mixed with schadenfreude.

Proposed translations

+1
1 hr
Selected

I'm cool

I'm from Colombia and I understand the different cultures (yes, plural) and lingo there. Tumbao (tumbe/tumbado) is a slang expression that means deceive/rob/scam and I just say robbed. It also refers to a way of walking, with a certain sway for women and a "you know I'm cool" for men. Last but not least, it is said of a person that conquers or "gets", wins the heart of another (it applies equally to both sexes). In your text, it says "Tumbao es que yo soy importante" there, it refers to the way he/she walks. "Move over, I'm cool" sort of. However, below it describes the person that is lawless and makes no secret of his/her way of life and glorifies in it and so this reflects in his way of walking.
Bottom line, I'd say we go back to the way of walking that reflects his/her underworld way of life. And so, I go back to the "I'm cool" because it sums it all up. It's a way of life in a world of "it's you or me", a world that allows no other.
Note from asker:
Many thanks to all of you for responding so quickly - these are all fantastic suggestions - I've written an explanation in a footnote and kept the original Spanish in the text - it clearly is too complicated for a one word translation! Particular thanks to Phoenix III for that really thorough explanation of all the cultural factors involved.
Peer comment(s):

agree Carol Gullidge : or even "swagger" if this refers to a way of walking
25 mins
Thanks so much! I couldn't think of swagger but you're right. :0)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks to all of you for responding so quickly - these are all fantastic suggestions - I've written an explanation in a footnote and kept the original Spanish in the text - it clearly is too complicated for a one word translation! Particular thanks to Phoenix III for that really thorough explanation of all the cultural factors involved. "
7 mins

scamming

En Colombia, un tumbador es un ladrón, estafador.
Something went wrong...
15 mins

I'm alright Jack

What first came to my mind was the Gaelic 'Mé féin' and then the British equivalent of it 'I'm alright Jack', but 'I'm not sure if this is may be a bit 'light' for your context. It basically describes someone who only cares about themselves, as long as they themselves are comfortable they couldn't care less about others. But I'm not sure that it means you would take pleasure in achieving success by stomping on others along the way.

I'm alright Jack mentality exists - News Guardian
www.newsguardian.co.uk/.../i-m-alright-jack-mentality-exist...
5 Jul 2012 - I am disappointed both in the culture in which we live and in many of those who have created that culture. The 'I'm alright Jack' mentality still ...
DunedainRanger's public profile | Identity | The Guardian
https://profile.theguardian.com/user/id/4044723

9 Sep 2014 - The UK has a culture of self abuse, I'm alright jack anything for a quick buck and zero understanding of the concept of the common weal.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : The dictionary says 'alright' is now acceptable, but I still cringe.
8 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

oneupmanship

This is what immediately came to mind
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

1 hr
Reference:

tumbao - Urban Dictionary entry

tumbao
An Afro-Puerto Rican word (or African Carribean--came from an African language at any rate), which means "an indescribable African sexiness or swing."
Coño, esa chica es tumbao...

or Calle 13 "La Jirafa"

Planta tus pies como dos raices
Con ese tumbao puede que me hechice
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search