Novia

[Charlie640]

I think this has been discussed here before but a search did not bring up much.

I get the distinct feeling that the word Novia has a much stonger conotation than our version of the word "girlfriend". Was curious
about how a COL views the Novio/Novia relationship and responsibilities versus the girlfriend/boyfriend deal in the USA.

THe fact that "vestido de novia" means wedding dress sort of tells me
they take it a bit more seriously than we do.

[Cubafro]

wasup charlie??
The word novio/a litteraly means fiancee but everybody use it as girlfriend/boyfriend..And yes in latin america its taken more seriously even though I have to admit that most of the time they use it just like that as up here when people use the '' I love you'' IMHO

CUBA

Hi Charlie!

Your perception is correct! There is a difference between the american "girlfriend" vs " the colombian "novia" When a colombiana says you're her boyfriend it means there's a serious relationship, it means she sees potential in you to become her partner, husband ( maybe not today or tomorrow or in 2 yrs but she's there to share her day to day only with you) . If you ask many colombianas most haven't had as many boyfriends as americans have had girlfriends. On the same note when an american says the word dating, a colombiana may have trouble understanding it. We don't have the notion of dating as you do. We go out on dates with men that drag our attention but I don't think that means 2 or 3 men at the same period of time and we don't sleep with them. If we want to have fun then we go out with out friends who we know are not going to try to get into our bed. If you tell a colombiana, " I used to date X person " in her head she rarely would think you actually slept with them. She will see it as you went out a couple of times but nothing intimate happened. We are by nature emotional and we only go to bed with someone who we feel and see high potential of what we want not just for fun.

There are lots of woman out there here who would actually sleep with an american after 2 or 3 dates having understood probably half of what they tried to say because of the language barrier and who can only imagine who they are" How unreal and stupid that is, is really beyond my understanding and I call that "chase of and oportunity" rather than love.

We use very often the words Te quiero. We use it with everyone, friends, family etc but if we say Te amo, thats's different and there's a world of difference between those 2 words. We use Te amo when we really feel love for someone, when we want to keep them in our lives ect. I know in english there's only I love you, we have two so don't be fooled by Te quiero.

Angie

[Charlie640]

WOW !! Thank You!
Another CLASSIC post by Angie !!

[Cap'n Jib]

“(maybe not today or tomorrow or in 2 yrs but she's there to share her day today only with you)” – Angie

And that is why I enjoy the ‘nuances’ of Spanish. There is SO much more than meets the eye, the ear, the lips…….there I go again!

Wonder if that is why Spanish is referred to as a Romance Language? H-m-m-m!

[HonkyTonk]

Charlie, I never gave that one a 2nd thought. When I was engaged to a Bogotana in '99, I referred to her as my prometida. Cuba then led me to my Webster's Dictionary where "fiancee" was listed as prometida 1st, novia 2nd. Hmmm...

Jib, it sure is a romantic language! Spanish has so many endearing terms like ...ito/a, and so many ways to show someone how much you care about them. It's also done with fewer words than English. English doesn't even have a word for amiga. We need to say female friend

I'd sure rather learn Spanish as a 2nd language than English.

[Benjio]

Originally Posted by Angie

Hi Charlie!

Your perception is correct! There is a difference between the american "girlfriend" vs " the colombian "novia" When a colombiana says you're her boyfriend it means there's a serious relationship, it means she sees potential in you to become her partner, husband ( maybe not today or tomorrow or in 2 yrs but she's there to share her day to day only with you) . If you ask many colombianas most haven't had as many boyfriends as americans have had girlfriends. On the same note when an american says the word dating, a colombiana may have trouble understanding it. We don't have the notion of dating as you do. We go out on dates with men that drag our attention but I don't think that means 2 or 3 men at the same period of time and we don't sleep with them. If we want to have fun then we go out with out friends who we know are not going to try to get into our bed. If you tell a colombiana, " I used to date X person " in her head she rarely would think you actually slept with them. She will see it as you went out a couple of times but nothing intimate happened. We are by nature emotional and we only go to bed with someone who we feel and see high potential of what we want not just for fun.

There are lots of woman out there here who would actually sleep with an american after 2 or 3 dates having understood probably half of what they tried to say because of the language barrier and who can only imagine who they are" How unreal and stupid that is, is really beyond my understanding and I call that "chase of and oportunity" rather than love.

We use very often the words Te quiero. We use it with everyone, friends, family etc but if we say Te amo, thats's different and there's a world of difference between those 2 words. We use Te amo when we really feel love for someone, when we want to keep them in our lives ect. I know in english there's only I love you, we have two so don't be fooled by Te quiero.

Angie

Angie your last comments about the difference between "te quiero" and "te amo" were dead on! I was actually getting a little worried that my girlfriend would NEVER use "te amo" with me, but she started saying it a lot a few weeks ago. I now understand that Colombianas take that saying very seriously and don't just throw it around with any guy they go out with. If any gringo is serious about a Colombiana and she's not consistently using the phrase "te amo" in reference to how she feels about him, I would suggest he slow down and have a long talk with his novia.

[KPunch2]

It all depends on the vernacular. When a Latin person refers to someone as a novio/novia that usually means that they have an exclusive relationship with that person. The opposite is true of amigo/amiga, which usually refers to a non-exclusive relationship or casual encounters. Someone's comprometido means that they are engaged and will marry that person. When someone says that they have a marido/mujer usually means that they are living with someone, as opposed to esposo/esposa which means that they were married in a legal binding marriage.

Latin people use 'yo te quiero' as a term of endearment for everything, but when someone says 'yo te amo', then that is the real McCoy.

Comprede?!

I call every latin girl I meet novia, momasita, or amor. That way I don't have to remember any names.

[James]

Hey Angie,
I really did like what you said I injoy what I read I know Amercia Women are differnt that Colombia women you really hit it of Angie!!!!!!!!!!!!


I really like that want you said and keep on wriitng to Gringo talk and I do injoy your writing
very much!!!