Skip to main content
3 of 3
edited title
Lauren
  • 275
  • 1
  • 6
  • 11

Are there any examples of cross-language redundancy (e.g. "kielbasa sausage")?

I am amused by expressions that combine the same word in two different languages, for example:

  • Kielbasa sausage: kielbasa is Polish for sausage.
  • Chorizo sausage: chorizo is Spanish for sausage.
  • Queso cheese: queso is Spanish for cheese.
  • Carne asada steak: carne asada is Spanish for grilled meat, therefore you could just say grilled steak instead.

This phenomenon is not limited to English. In Spanish you often find not only redundancy but also contradiction:

  • bluyín: transliteration of blue jeans. A pair of blue jeans is called un bluyín.

  • bluyín azul: blue blue jeans .

  • bluyín negro: black blue jeans (black jeans).

  • bluyín blanco: white blue jeans (white jeans).

  • bistec: transliteration of beef steak.

  • bistec de res: beef beef steak.

  • bistec de cerdo: pork beef steak (pork chop).

  • and my favorite, bistec de pollo: chicken beef steak.

Do you have any other examples that include at least one English word?

Jaime Soto
  • 1.9k
  • 7
  • 21
  • 30