I can't find a picture of ferrets carrying tools to go with this post.

[randomness]

My favorite word in Castilian Spanish is ferretería. It means hardware in American, or ironmongery in British English. Because I think like a kid, I imagine ferrets carrying tools every time I see the word. That's pretty often, given how much I visit Home Depot and Lowe's.

(I know, it's all about ferrum. But I said I think like a kid, remember?)

Comments

[redbird]

Not just Castilian: I learned that one from signs in New York City (so most likely Puerto Rican or Dominican Spanish).

[randomness]

Oh, definitely. I was using Castilian in the first sense the Wikipedia disambiguation page uses it. There's an interesting page called "Names given to the Spanish language", which even includes a map showing which name is more used where.

But I'm pretty sure most of the speakers of that language in the United States recognize the word "ferretería".

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

... and now I am giggling girlishly.

[jab2.livejournal.com]

i used to live around the corner from the neighborhood ferreteria. never thought of it with the silly joy of language you bring to it - i wish i had! :)

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

I can not think about time without mentally saying, "It is 12 ocelots."

[ladybird97.livejournal.com]

How is it that I've never seen that? Is it different in Latin American Spanish? That word is AWESOME and I am very sad that I have never had the opportunity to think of carpenter ferrets before now :)

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

And because you love me, this led you to look up what Iron Monger is called in Spanish. I love you back!

[muffyjo]

The closest I could find was a sword wielding ferret

[gale-storm.livejournal.com]

Cool!!!

[skreeky]

I am now googling "ferret tool belt" just for the fun of contemplating what the Feds will make of it.