sloppy joe
/slobbi xoe/from spelling rules
The English phrase sloppy joe is used in Spanish to refer to a sandwich consisting of ground beef cooked in a tomato-based sauce served on a bun.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'sloppy' as a descriptor, using the Spanish word 'sucio' or 'descuidado' to describe a sandwich would sound like a critique of its hygiene rather than a description of its texture.
- The lack of a native Spanish term for sloppy joe is a linguistic example of a 'vacío léxico', where a language has no word for a specific cultural object from another society.
- If you ask for a 'sándwich de carne picada' in a Spanish-speaking restaurant, you will likely receive a standard ground beef sandwich rather than the specific saucy American dish.
Examples in context
- Quiero un sloppy joe para el almuerzo.I want a sloppy joe for lunch.
- El sloppy joe está muy rico.The sloppy joe is very delicious.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are looking at a restaurant menu.
- SofíaMira, aquí venden sloppy joe.Look, they sell sloppy joes here.
- JavierMe gusta mucho el sloppy joe.I really like the sloppy joe.
- SofíaPidamos uno para compartir, Javier.Let's order one to share, Javier.
- JavierMe parece una buena idea, Sofía.I think that's a good idea, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
