no la tiene bien

English translation: if she doesn't have a decent house

10:39 Sep 16, 2006

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / Women/housing

Spanish term or phrase: no la tiene bien

como una mujer, si no tiene una casa, o no la tiene bien, se deprime.

Lisa Roberts KudoZ activity Questions: 517 (none open) (4 closed without grading) Answers: 126 France
Local time: 01:30

English translation:if she doesn't have a decent house

Explanation:
I think that it would make more sense to put it this way, in English, than to try to replicate the Spanish syntax with something like "if she doesn't have a house--or at least, doesn't have a decent/nice house".

The *la* refers back to *casa*.

Suerte.

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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-09-16 16:13:47 GMT)
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While Marian may very well be right in her reading, it seems more likely to me that a woman would be depressed if she had a house (or apartment--I think that *casa* is used here in the sense of *home*) that was somehow inherently inadequate (e.g., in a bad neighborhood, too small, too noisy, needing many repairs) than one that merely needed to be tidied up.

Selected response from:

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 19:30

Grading comment

Thanks, Robert - I agree. Thanks also to everyone for their input :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +5

if her house is not in order

Marian Greenfield

3 +3

if she doesn't have a decent house

Robert Forstag

or if things aren't going well for her.

muitoprazer (X)

or doesn't look after if properly

ormiston

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

3 mins confidence:

or if things aren't going well for her.

Explanation:
how a woman without a home,or if things aren't going well for,can get depressed.

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Note added at 9 mins (2006-09-16 10:48:54 GMT)
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yes,Robert,la refers to house and therefore if things aren't going well for her AT HOME would make the meaning of my answer clearer.

muitoprazer (X)
Local time: 00:30
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 14

Notes to answerer

Asker: Does this refer to problems at home in a physical sense - such as damp, for instance, or is it referring to problems on a more emotional level?

36 mins confidence:

or doesn't look after if properly

Explanation:
reading the Spanish from another angle I notice the important word 'o' (for) which sheds a totally different light on the lady's distress. Just putting my oar in - any comments ?

ormiston
Local time: 01:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

53 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

if her house is not in order

Explanation:
which could be literal or figurative...

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 19:30
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 68

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

si no tiene una casa, o no la tiene bien

if she doesn't have a decent house

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 19:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 152

Grading comment

Thanks, Robert - I agree. Thanks also to everyone for their input :)

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no la tiene bien

English translation: if she doesn't have a decent house

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English translation: if she doesn't have a decent house

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