Post #1963209

2026-05-01 08:46 UTC

Great story. I love the switch to Italian in the middle and the point you made back with it. It’s simply chef’s kiss. I’m also amused by how much of the original I was able to make out accurately, although I don’t speak Portuguese or Italian. The only parts I missed were the specifics of the insults, but I accurately picked up that they were insults. Are either of those words for “muppet” used to refer to the Jim Henson style Muppets? Or are they general insults and the English term is an easy one to confer the sentiment? If I ever end up discussing Sesame Street with someone from Brazil or something, I’d like to get it right.

Replies (2)

@NightFantom@slrpnk.net 2026-05-01 09:40

I imagine you trying to talk to some Brazilian guy about muppets but actually calling them retards all along and the other guy being like ??? the whole convo

Open ##1964383
@lvxferre@mander.xyz 2026-05-01 13:07

“Muppet” as an insult is mostly a British thing; I wasn’t the one starting it, it’s something I picked up because it lets me criticise behaviour without being ableist. It did originate from the show, though. (Note it isn’t used this way in either Portuguese or Italian.) I used it there to translate the general sentiment. The actual insults are anta - literally “tapir” (as the animal); fool, idiot, someone who does dumb shit. paspalho - fool, vain, clown-like person. But it sounds stronger than just “you fool”. [IT] testa di cazzo - literally “dickhead”. However “cazzo” (dick) in Italian is a bit of a generic insult, much like “shit” in English, so I thought “shithead” sounded better.

Open ##1969904