Story in Spanish, level C2
A torta in Mexico
Clara grew up in Madrid and is visiting Latin America for the first time.
Watch the video, 51 secondsClara, madrileña de pura cepa, llevaba dos días en México cuando su vecina, doña Lupe, le preguntó con dulzura:
Clara, born and bred in Madrid, had been in Mexico for two days when her neighbour Doña Lupe asked gently:
—Mija, ¿te doy una torta?
"Sweetie, shall I give you a torta?"
Clara se quedó de piedra: en Madrid, una torta te la ganas por pasarte de listo.
Clara froze. In Madrid, you might earn a torta by getting cheeky.
Hizo examen de conciencia a toda prisa.
She searched her conscience in a hurry.
Entonces doña Lupe sacó de la bolsa un bolillo relleno de frijoles, aguacate y queso.
Then Doña Lupe took out a roll filled with beans, avocado and cheese.
—Ay, doña Lupe… si aquí las tortas son así, deme dos.
"Oh, Doña Lupe... if tortas are like that here, give me two."
Torta can mean a slap in Spain or a filled roll in Mexico.
Si aquí las tortas son así, deme dos.
If tortas are like that here, give me two.
Another example
Tortilla: an omelette in Spain; a corn or wheat flatbread in Mexico.
Which Spanish word changes meaning abroad? Comment below.
