Search to find your favourite palabra

12 April 2006

MADRID — Amor, azahar (orange blossom), libertad and madre are some of Spanish-speakers’ favourite words, a new survey has found.

So far, 4,200 words have been proposed by 17,200 people across the world for a survey to find the favourite word in Spanish.

The survey, organised by the School of Writers, will release its results on 23 April, International Book Day.

Politicians, writers, journalists and the general public have taken part in the debate to find the most popular word.

Personalities from José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to the leader of the opposition Mariano Rajoy and writer Arturo Pérez Reverte are among a number of well-known figures who have taken part.

Entries have come from Latin America and the United States as well as Spain.

Among the favourites are libélula (dragonfly), fe (faith), abracadabra, and ultramarinos (overseas or groceries).

Zapatero chose generosidad (generosity) because it is “the word  that makes us human”.

The writer Fernando Marías chose amante (lover).

Rajoy, head of the Popular Party, chose palabra (word).

Other more provocative suggestions included pendón (wild character or military standard), chosen by the writer Francisco Rico.

Still more controversial was the word coño (the c-word), chosen by writer and journalist Raúl del Pozo, who said it “was where everything came from”.

The historian Fernando García de Cortázar chose azahar (orange blossom), while the poet Luis García Montero picked despertador (alarm clock).

If you want to take part, go to: www.escueladeescritores.es

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news