Cranford — Page 2

English → Spanish CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

"A man," as one of them observed to me once, "is _so_ in the way in the house!"

«Un hombre», como me observó una de ellas en cierta ocasión, «¡estorba _tanto_ en la casa!»

Although the ladies of Cranford know all each other's proceedings, they are exceedingly indifferent to each other's opinions.

Aunque las damas de Cranford conocen todos los asuntos de las demás, son extraordinariamente indiferentes a las opiniones ajenas.

Indeed, as each has her own individuality, not to say eccentricity, pretty strongly developed, nothing is so easy as verbal retaliation; but, somehow, good-will reigns among them to a considerable degree.

En efecto, como cada una tiene su propia individualidad, por no decir excentricidad, bastante desarrollada, nada resulta tan fácil como la represalia verbal; pero, de algún modo, la buena voluntad reina entre ellas en considerable medida.

The Cranford ladies have only an occasional little quarrel, spirited out in a few peppery words and angry jerks of the head; just enough to prevent the even tenor of their lives from becoming too flat.

Las damas de Cranford solo tienen alguna que otra pequeña riña, expresada en unas pocas palabras picantes y airados movimientos de cabeza; justo lo suficiente para evitar que el ritmo uniforme de sus vidas se vuelva demasiado monótono.

Their dress is very independent of fashion; as they observe, "What does it signify how we dress here at Cranford, where everybody knows us?"

Su vestimenta es muy independiente de la moda; como ellas mismas señalan: «¿Qué importa cómo nos vistamos aquí en Cranford, donde todo el mundo nos conoce?»

And if they go from home, their reason is equally cogent, "What does it signify how we dress here, where nobody knows us?"

Y si salen de casa, su argumento es igualmente convincente: «¿Qué importa cómo nos vistamos aquí, donde nadie nos conoce?»

The materials of their clothes are, in general, good and plain, and most of them are nearly as scrupulous as Miss Tyler, of cleanly memory; but I will answer for it, the last gigot, the last tight and scanty petticoat in wear in England, was seen in Cranford—and seen without a smile.

Los tejidos de sus ropas son, en general, buenos y sencillos, y la mayoría de ellas son casi tan escrupulosas como la señorita Tyler, de pulcra memoria; pero les aseguro que el último gigot, la última enagua ceñida y escasa que se llevó en Inglaterra, fue visto en Cranford, y visto sin una sonrisa.

[Picture: A magnificent family red silk umbrella]

[Ilustración: Un magnífico paraguas familiar de seda roja]

I can testify to a magnificent family red silk umbrella, under which a gentle little spinster, left alone of many brothers and sisters, used to patter to church on rainy days.

Puedo dar fe de un magnífico paraguas familiar de seda roja, bajo el cual una dulce solterona, que había quedado sola de entre muchos hermanos y hermanas, solía ir con pasitos rápidos a la iglesia los días de lluvia.

Vocabulary

Un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
hombre: An adult male person; a man.
como: Used to make comparisons; meaning 'like' or 'as'.
me: First-person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
observó: Past tense of observar; watched or noticed something carefully.
una: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
de: Preposition indicating origin, possession, or belonging.
ellas: Third-person plural feminine pronoun meaning 'they' or 'them'.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'.
cierta: Feminine adjective meaning 'a certain' or 'particular'.
ocasión: A specific time or opportunity; an occasion.
estorba: Third-person present of estorbar; to hinder, bother, or get in the way.
tanto: Adverb or adjective meaning 'so much' or 'as much'.
la: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
casa: A building where people live; a house or home.
Aunque: Conjunction meaning 'although', 'even though', or 'even if'.
las: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
damas: Plural of dama; women of social standing or ladies.
conocen: Third-person plural of conocer; to know people or places.
todos: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
los: Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
asuntos: Plural of asunto; matters, affairs, or issues.
demás: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'the rest' or 'the others'.
son: Third-person plural of ser; meaning 'they are'.
extraordinariamente: Adverb meaning 'extraordinarily' or 'remarkably'.
indiferentes: Adjective meaning indifferent or unconcerned about something.
a: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'towards'.
opiniones: Plural of opinión; personal views or judgments held.
ajenas: Adjective meaning belonging to others; others' or foreign.
En: Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'.
efecto: Noun meaning effect; en efecto means 'indeed' or 'in fact'.
cada: Adjective meaning 'each' or 'every' individual one.
tiene: Third-person singular of tener; meaning 'has' or 'holds'.
su: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'its', or 'their'.
propia: Feminine adjective meaning 'own' or 'one's very own'.
individualidad: The quality of being unique or distinctly individual.
por: Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', 'through', or 'because of'.
no: Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not'.
decir: Infinitive verb meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'.
excentricidad: Noun meaning eccentricity; unusual or unconventional behavior.
bastante: Adverb or adjective meaning 'quite', 'enough', or 'fairly'.
desarrollada: Adjective meaning developed, grown, or well-established.
nada: Pronoun or adverb meaning 'nothing' or 'not at all'.
resulta: Third-person of resultar; to turn out or result in something.
tan: Adverb meaning 'so' or 'as' in comparisons or emphasis.
fácil: Adjective meaning easy, simple, or not difficult.
represalia: Noun meaning retaliation or reprisal against someone.
verbal: Adjective relating to spoken words rather than actions.
pero: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast.
algún: Indefinite adjective meaning 'some' or 'any' before nouns.
modo: Noun meaning way, manner, or mode of doing something.
buena: Feminine adjective meaning 'good' in quality or character.
voluntad: Noun meaning will, willingness, or goodwill toward others.
reina: Verb or noun; here verb meaning 'reigns' or 'prevails'.
entre: Preposition meaning 'between', 'among', or 'amongst'.
considerable: Adjective meaning considerable, significant, or fairly large.
medida: Noun meaning measure or degree; en cierta medida means 'to some extent'.
Las: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
solo: Adverb or adjective meaning 'only', 'just', or 'alone'.
alguna: Feminine indefinite adjective meaning 'some' or 'any'.
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
otra: Feminine adjective meaning 'another' or 'other'.
pequeña: Feminine adjective meaning 'small', 'little', or 'minor'.
riña: Noun meaning quarrel, squabble, or minor argument between people.
expresada: Past participle of expresar; expressed or communicated verbally.
unas: Feminine plural indefinite article meaning 'some' or 'a few'.
pocas: Feminine adjective meaning 'few' or 'a small number of'.
palabras: Plural of palabra; words used in speech or writing.
picantes: Adjective meaning sharp, biting, or cutting in tone.
y: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
airados: Adjective meaning angry, irate, or furious in manner.
movimientos: Plural of movimiento; physical movements or gestures of the body.
cabeza: Noun meaning 'head', the upper part of the body.
justo: Adverb meaning 'just' or 'exactly'; also 'fair' as adjective.
lo: Neuter pronoun or masculine object pronoun meaning 'it' or 'him'.
suficiente: Adjective meaning sufficient, enough, or adequate.
para: Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'towards'.
evitar: Infinitive verb meaning to avoid or prevent something.
el: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
ritmo: Noun meaning rhythm, pace, or regular pattern of activity.
uniforme: Adjective meaning uniform, consistent, or unchanging throughout.
sus: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'its', or 'their'.
vidas: Plural of vida; lives or the course of one's existence.
se: Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or pronominal verbs.
vuelva: Subjunctive of volver; to become or turn into something.
demasiado: Adverb or adjective meaning 'too much' or 'excessively'.
monótono: Adjective meaning monotonous, tediously repetitive, or dull.
Su: Possessive adjective meaning 'their', 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
vestimenta: Noun meaning clothing, attire, or garments worn by someone.
es: Third-person singular of ser; meaning 'is'.
muy: Adverb meaning 'very' or 'quite', intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
independiente: Adjective meaning independent, not relying on others.
moda: Noun meaning fashion, trend, or popular style of dress.
mismas: Feminine plural of mismo; themselves or the very same ones.
señalan: Third-person plural of señalar; to point out or indicate.
Qué: Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what' or 'how' in questions.
importa: Third-person of importar; to matter or be of importance.
cómo: Interrogative adverb meaning 'how' in questions or exclamations.
nos: First-person plural object pronoun meaning 'us' or 'ourselves'.
vistamos: First-person plural subjunctive of vestir; for us to dress.
aquí: Adverb meaning 'here', indicating a nearby place.
donde: Relative adverb meaning 'where', referring to a place.
todo: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'every', or 'everything'.
mundo: Noun meaning world; todo el mundo means 'everybody'.
conoce: Third-person singular of conocer; to know or be familiar with.
Y: Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or ideas.
si: Conjunction meaning 'if', introducing a conditional clause.
salen: Third-person plural of salir; to go out or leave a place.
argumento: Noun meaning argument, reasoning, or case made for something.
igualmente: Adverb meaning equally, likewise, or in the same way.
convincente: Adjective meaning convincing or persuasive in argument.
nadie: Indefinite pronoun meaning 'nobody' or 'no one'.
Los: Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
tejidos: Plural of tejido; fabrics or woven materials used for clothing.
ropas: Plural of ropa; clothes or garments worn by a person.
general: Adjective meaning general or overall; en general means 'in general'.
buenos: Masculine plural adjective meaning 'good' in quality.
sencillos: Adjective meaning simple, plain, or uncomplicated in style.
mayoría: Noun meaning majority or the greater part of a group.
casi: Adverb meaning 'almost', 'nearly', or 'hardly'.
escrupulosas: Adjective meaning scrupulous, meticulous, or careful about neatness.
señorita: Honorific title for an unmarried woman; Miss.
pulcra: Adjective meaning neat, tidy, or immaculately clean in appearance.
memoria: Noun meaning memory or remembrance of past events.
les: Third-person plural indirect object pronoun meaning 'to them'.
aseguro: First-person of asegurar; I assure or I guarantee to you.
último: Adjective meaning last or most recent in a sequence.
última: Feminine adjective meaning last or final in a sequence.
enagua: Noun meaning underskirt or petticoat worn beneath a dress.
ceñida: Adjective meaning tight-fitting, close, or form-fitting clothing.
escasa: Adjective meaning scarce, insufficient, or very short in length.
llevó: Third-person past of llevar; carried, brought, or wore something.
Inglaterra: Proper noun; the Spanish name for England.
fue: Third-person past of ser or ir; meaning 'was' or 'went'.
visto: Past participle of ver; seen or observed by someone.
sin: Preposition meaning 'without', indicating the absence of something.
sonrisa: Noun meaning smile, a facial expression showing happiness.
Ilustración: Noun meaning illustration or image accompanying a text.
magnífico: Adjective meaning magnificent, splendid, or very impressive.
paraguas: Noun meaning umbrella, a device used to shelter from rain.
familiar: Adjective meaning familiar, well-known, or belonging to family.
seda: Noun meaning silk, a luxurious natural fabric from silkworms.
roja: Feminine adjective meaning red in color.
Puedo: First-person singular of poder; meaning 'I can' or 'I am able'.
dar: Infinitive meaning to give; dar fe means 'to attest' or 'vouch'.
fe: Noun meaning faith or testimony; dar fe means 'to vouch for'.
un: Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
bajo: Preposition meaning 'under'; also adjective meaning 'low'.
cual: Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who' in a clause.
dulce: Adjective meaning sweet, gentle, or mild in character.
solterona: Noun meaning spinster or an older unmarried woman.
había: Imperfect of haber; meaning 'had' as an auxiliary verb.
quedado: Past participle of quedar; remained, stayed, or been left.
sola: Feminine adjective meaning alone, by oneself, or solitary.
muchos: Adjective meaning many or a large number of people or things.
hermanos: Plural of hermano; brothers or siblings in a family.
hermanas: Plural of hermana; sisters in a family.
solía: Imperfect of soler; used to do something habitually in the past.
ir: Infinitive meaning 'to go', indicating movement to a place.
con: Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or means.
pasitos: Diminutive plural of paso; small, quick, or dainty steps.
rápidos: Adjective meaning fast, quick, or swift in movement.
iglesia: Noun meaning church, a building for Christian worship.
días: Plural of día; days of the week or calendar days.
lluvia: Noun meaning rain, water falling from clouds in drops.

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