[PW] Re: frijoles refritos

[John P. Dyson]

Quoting Simon Cauchi <simon.cauchi at xtra.co.nz>:

> On 1/07/2006, at 7:08 AM, John P. Dyson wrote:
>
>> Now the reason frijoles refritos are never refried beans is...
>
> Go on, John, tell us! You mustn't leave us hanging in suspense like
> this.


OK, Simon, but just this once.

Re- is, among other things, an intensifying prefix in Spanish, not just
a reiterative one. "¿Estás loco?" means "Are you nuts?," but "Ese tipo
está reloco" does not mean "That guy is re-nuts" but rather that he is
*really* nuts. So frijoles refritos, which are only fried once can 
hardly be said to be refried, they are just [cooked first and then] 
well-fried.

I must run now and have my shoes well-heeled...

John Dyson
Spanish and Portuguese
Indiana University