Spanish Word of the Day: supervivencia

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Sam Wilson

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Jul 8, 2020, 9:07:02 AM7/8/20
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LiCR,

la supervivencia - survival


 supervivencia
FEMININE NOUN
1.  survival - the act or fact of surviving, especially under adverse circumstances.
2.  [mesada de supervivencia] survival allowance - pension for a widow(er)

  • Y, sin embargo, algunos luchamos por la supervivencia de los demás.
    And yet some of us fight for the survival of others.

  • supervivencia de los más aptos
    survival of the fittest

  • Las posibilidades de supervivencia durante 5 años eran de uno por cada 100.
    The chances of survival for 5 years were one in 100.

  • La supervivencia del planeta depende depende sobre el elección siguiente.
    The survival of the planet depends on the next choice (or election.)

  •  María pidió los dos mesadas de supervivencia que su esposo disfrutaba.
    Maria requested the two survival allowances that her husband enjoyed.

--
Sam

Gene French

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Jul 8, 2020, 9:57:57 AM7/8/20
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Good morning sam...

Thank you for your efforts!!!

Sam Wilson

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Jul 8, 2020, 10:37:17 AM7/8/20
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Gene,

How many ways can I say, "You're welcome?"

¡Con gusto, amigo! - with pleasure, friend!
¡Con mucho gusto! - with great pleasure!
De nada  - it was nothing.
No hay de qué... - say nothing of it...
No hay porque... - there's no reason (short form of the next.)
No hay porque agradecer - there's no reason to be thankful.
A la orden - to order (used in business.)
Para servirle... - to serve you (also used in business.)
Para eso estamos... - that's what we are here for... (used in business.)
¡Todo bien!  - it's all good!
Un placer ayudarle - a pleasure to help you.
No se preocupe - don't worry about it.
No hay problema - no problem.
Pura vida... - it's cool.

--
Sam



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Joe Harrison

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Jul 8, 2020, 8:53:11 PM7/8/20
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Sam
--Let's bring the verb form into play:  supervivir.   Or, the variation this family uses:  sobrevivencia/sobrevivir.  I think both of these variations are acceptable, not sure which is more common in CR.  For example:

Sobrevivimos este crisis:  We are going to survive this crisis.      No puedo sobrevivir sin ti.  I can't survive without you.

Sobrevivencia de los más aptos  survival of the fittest
 
joe

Sam Wilson

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Jul 8, 2020, 11:12:12 PM7/8/20
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Hi Joe,

Quite the conundrum...  Of course mi diccionario con pelo largo has no idea.  jajaja.

--Let's bring the verb form into play:  supervivir.   Or, the variation this family uses:  sobrevivencia/sobrevivir.  I think both of these variations are acceptable, not sure which is more common in CR.  For example:

Sobrevivimos este crisis:  We are going to survive this crisis.      No puedo sobrevivir sin ti.  I can't survive without you.

Sobrevivencia de los más aptos  survival of the fittest

So, being the technical nut I am, I must resort to (wait for it!) ...  the ¡Diccionario panhispánico de dudas!  I kid you not.  This is as real as Real because it is in fact, Real with reason!  Quite the resource, indeed, although it makes my head bleed.

Real Academia Española
Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

Up front I must admit that the verbs are by far the hardest for me (and anyone who says otherwise is a bald-faced liar!) but the gist of the two, seems to me to be that sobrevivir is the more common verb to use and supervivencia is the more common noun to use.  Although a lot depends upon how Spainish (yes, like Spain) you want to be...  I think the nuns in Spain would spank you with a ruler if you said "Sobrevivencia" but the nuns in Costa Rica would be much more pura vida about it.  jajaja.

"What's the difference between the two?" is a common question on Spanish language forums.  

Fundéu - sobrevivir, pero supervivencia

Castellano Actual - Duda resuelta: superviviente o sobreviviente
 
Even in Cuba on the Medical Forum...

infoMED /  El idioma y la medicina
¿Supervivencia o sobrevivencia?

My hunch tells me the subtleness involved is way beyond my pay grade, but I'm pretty sure that all supervivientes are sobrevivientes, but not all sobrevivientes are supervivientes.

I think until I get my double PhD in Castellano, my rule of thumb must be:  sobrevivir (v) y supervivencia (n) ! 

Of course I can easily be swayed by anyone who actually knows!  jajaja.

Otra vez, mi amigo ... me has obligado a beber, ¡mil gracias!

--
Sam

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Joe Harrison

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Jul 9, 2020, 3:54:55 PM7/9/20
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Sam:  I almost wish I hadn't asked.  But de verdad, I'm glad I did because I got an education and a half in the process!!!!!  Like you, I have an authentic long haired dictionary, and this morning that dictionary had a companion, so I queried las dos:  They agree that sobrevivir (verb) and la supervivencia (noun) are the way to go in Costa Rica.  I'd say that they "actually know".  Not that they are linguistic authorities, but they sure as heck speak the lingo better than any gringo, and when 2 hermosas muchachas agree, well, who am I to argue?  It's beyond my paygrade, too.

More fascinating to me, perhaps metaphysically, was your allusion to the Spanish nuns spanking me with their ruler.  Now, just how might they do this, but more profoundly, who is their ruler?  Would it be His Royal Majesty King Felipe VI, El Rey de España?  I tend to think not, more likely it would be His Holiness el Papa Francisco?  That's quite plausible, but maybe they would go all the way to the top, to Our Lord and Savior hisself!!!!!  I shudder to contemplate how any of these spankings might be administered, and it's better to change the subject.

With or without your double PhD, or your diccionario con pelo largo you can collect a drink or two here in friendly San Ramon any time Sam...thanks for the explicación, no longer a conundrum, just one of those little curiosities that makes Spanish so interesting (and elusive).....joe



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