← The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People — Page 7

English → Spanish FIRST ACT SCENE Level 7/10

For Heaven's sake give me back my cigarette case. [Follows Algernon round the room.]

Por el amor de Dios, devuélveme mi pitillera. [Sigue a Algernon por toda la habitación.]

Yes. But why does your aunt call you her uncle? 'From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.' There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can't quite make out. Besides, your name isn't Jack at all; it is Ernest.

Sí. Pero ¿por qué tu tía te llama su tío? «De la pequeña Cecily, con todo su cariño para su querido tío Jack.» No tengo ninguna objeción, lo admito, a que una tía sea una tía pequeña, pero que una tía, sea cual sea su tamaño, llame tío a su propio sobrino, no llego a entenderlo del todo. Además, tu nombre no es Jack en absoluto; es Ernest.

It isn't Ernest; it's Jack.

No es Ernest; es Jack.

You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn't Ernest. It's on your cards. Here is one of them. [Taking it from case.] 'Mr. Ernest Worthing, B. 4, The Albany.' I'll keep this as a proof that your name is Ernest if ever you attempt to deny it to me, or to Gwendolen, or to any one else. [Puts the card in his pocket.]

Siempre me has dicho que era Ernest. Te he presentado a todo el mundo como Ernest. Respondes al nombre de Ernest. Tienes el aspecto de que tu nombre fuera Ernest. Eres la persona de aspecto más serio que he visto en mi vida. Es completamente absurdo que digas que tu nombre no es Ernest. Está en tus tarjetas. Aquí hay una de ellas. [Sacándola del estuche.] «Mr. Ernest Worthing, B. 4, The Albany.» Guardaré esto como prueba de que tu nombre es Ernest si alguna vez intentas negármelo a mí, o a Gwendolen, o a cualquier otra persona. [Mete la tarjeta en su bolsillo.]

Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country, and the cigarette case was given to me in the country.

Bueno, mi nombre es Ernest en la ciudad y Jack en el campo, y la pitillera me la regalaron en el campo.

Vocabulary

Por
Preposition meaning 'for,' 'by,' or 'through'
el
Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns
amor
Love; strong affection for someone or something
de
Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about'
Dios
God; the supreme divine being
devuélveme
Give back to me; return something to me
mi
Possessive adjective meaning 'my'
pitillera
Cigarette case; small container for holding cigarettes
Sigue
Follows or continues; third person singular of seguir
a
Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or personal 'a'
por
Preposition meaning 'for,' 'through,' or 'by'
toda
All, entire; feminine form of 'todo'
la
Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns
habitación
Room; a space within a building
Yes; affirmative response to a question
Pero
But; conjunction introducing a contrasting idea
qué
What; interrogative pronoun asking for information
tu
Your; informal possessive adjective second person singular
tía
Aunt; a parent's sister or uncle's wife
te
You; second person singular direct or indirect pronoun
llama
Calls; third person singular present of llamar
su
His, her, its, your; third person possessive adjective
tío
Uncle; a parent's brother or aunt's husband
De
Preposition meaning 'from,' 'of,' or 'about'
pequeña
Small, little; also used to mean 'as a child'
con
With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner
todo
All, every, everything; universal adjective or pronoun
cariño
Affection, fondness; warm feeling toward someone
para
For; preposition indicating purpose, recipient, or destination
querido
Dear, beloved; affectionate term used in writing
No
No; negation word used to deny or refuse
tengo
I have; first person singular present of tener
ninguna
None, no, not any; feminine negative adjective
objeción
Objection; expression of disagreement or opposition
lo
It, him; neuter or masculine direct object pronoun
admito
I admit; first person singular present of admitir
que
That, which; conjunction or relative pronoun
una
One, a; feminine indefinite article or numeral
sea
Be; third person singular present subjunctive of ser
pero
But; conjunction introducing contrast or exception
cual
Which, who; relative pronoun referring to a noun
tamaño
Size; the dimensions or extent of something
llame
Call; third person singular present subjunctive of llamar
propio
Own, proper; belonging specifically to oneself
sobrino
Nephew; the son of one's sibling
no
No, not; basic negation word in Spanish
llego
I arrive; also used in 'llego a' meaning I manage
entenderlo
To understand it; infinitive with attached object pronoun
del
Contraction of 'de' and 'el' meaning 'of the'
Además
Furthermore, besides, also; additive adverb
nombre
Name; a word used to identify a person or thing
es
Is; third person singular present of ser
en
In, on, at; preposition indicating location or time
absoluto
Absolute, total; used in 'en absoluto' meaning not at all
Siempre
Always; at all times, on every occasion
me
Me; first person singular reflexive or object pronoun
has
Have; second person singular present of haber
dicho
Said, told; past participle of decir
era
Was, were; imperfect tense third person singular of ser
Te
You; second person singular indirect or direct object pronoun
he
I have; first person singular present of haber
presentado
Introduced, presented; past participle of presentar
mundo
World; the earth or a particular social sphere
como
As, like; conjunction or preposition of comparison
Respondes
You answer or respond; second person singular present of responder
al
Contraction of 'a' and 'el' meaning 'to the'
Tienes
You have; second person singular present of tener
aspecto
Appearance, look; the way someone or something looks
fuera
Outside, away; also imperfect subjunctive of ser/ir
Eres
You are; second person singular present of ser
persona
Person; an individual human being
más
More, most; comparative or superlative adverb
serio
Serious; showing deep thought or earnestness
visto
Seen; past participle of ver
vida
Life; the existence of a living being
Es
Is; third person singular present tense of ser
completamente
Completely, entirely; in a total or absolute manner
absurdo
Absurd, ridiculous; contrary to reason or common sense
digas
Say, tell; second person singular present subjunctive of decir
Está
Is; third person singular present of estar
tus
Your; informal plural possessive adjective second person
tarjetas
Cards; small pieces of card with printed information
Aquí
Here; in this place or location
hay
There is, there are; impersonal form of haber
ellas
They, them; third person plural feminine pronoun
Sacándola
Taking it out; gerund of sacar with object pronoun
estuche
Case, box; a small container for holding objects
Guardaré
I will keep, save; first person future of guardar
esto
This; neuter demonstrative pronoun referring to something nearby
prueba
Proof, evidence; something that confirms a fact
si
If; conjunction introducing a conditional clause
alguna
Some, any; feminine indefinite adjective or pronoun
vez
Time, instance; used in expressions like 'alguna vez'
intentas
You try, attempt; second person singular present of intentar
negármelo
To deny it to me; infinitive with two object pronouns
Me; first person singular prepositional pronoun
o
Or; disjunctive conjunction presenting alternatives
cualquier
Any, whatever; indefinite adjective before a noun
otra
Other, another; feminine adjective indicating a different one
Mete
Put in, insert; second person singular imperative of meter
tarjeta
Card; a small flat piece of stiff material
bolsillo
Pocket; a small bag sewn into clothing
Bueno
Good, well; also used as interjection meaning 'okay'
ciudad
City; a large and important urban settlement
y
And; conjunction connecting words or clauses
campo
Country, countryside, field; rural area outside the city
regalaron
They gave as a gift; third person plural preterite of regalar
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