2006-06-09 13:34:08 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
The spanish terms for mister and the american term for mister aren't really equivalent. When he says mister, he actually means the spanish equivalent Don. The term mister is a formal greeting to be use with your last name only. It is a neutral, at arms length term. The term Don is used to denote respect and can be used with either first or last name. Using it with a first name implies familiarity. He'd use it if he knows you or is your neighbor or something. Using it with a last name is unfamiliar....something you would use with a stranger or an authority figure like a cop or something.
When he calls you Mr followed by your first name, what he is doing is translating (poorly) Don plus your first name. The two aren't the same but he doesn't know that.
2006-06-09 13:43:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's just a respectful way of addressing someone who is not a person of really high status or much older..? They do this in the south too. Your teachers name is Mrs last name and your moms friends are mrs first name.
2006-06-09 13:39:04 · answer #2 · answered by scorp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many cultures use the first name as the primary name, and when translating into english will use it in conjunction with with the title Mr., or even Dr.
2006-06-09 13:40:18 · answer #3 · answered by -s u r k h- 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means they are showing you respect, as in Mr. Phil. OR Mr. Smith...same thing. OR...they may be making fun of you. It depends on how much accent is used. IF it is very heavy, they are making fun of you because you don' t know how to speak Spanish and they know how to speak English. They are Bi and you are not. (Bilingual...don't get me wrong).
2006-06-09 13:39:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Hispanic person is trying to be polite ?
2006-06-09 14:13:58 · answer #5 · answered by BONE° 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means he/she is showing you respect. This is common in a lot of southern states. When I worked in Florida, everyone called me Miss Sherry. It's respectful to use a title when talking to someone. Most of us have forgotten that courtesy.
2006-06-09 13:39:30 · answer #6 · answered by smileydean7 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the south its respect if your just an acquaintance (a nice way to be personal and still a little formal at the same time) or maybe they hope you are gay and what to hit on you
2006-06-09 13:42:06 · answer #7 · answered by cdl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a sign of respect; lots of kids & black people do that here in the south. My black neighbor always calls me Miss Flo, although I don't encourage it.
2006-06-09 13:39:02 · answer #8 · answered by Taffy Saltwater 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a hispanic.
2006-06-09 13:40:13 · answer #9 · answered by civilrevenge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
j_brown- reported!
i guess it means that you're a male and he/she knows your first name
2006-06-09 13:40:34 · answer #10 · answered by ♥michele♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋