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Cubans are world champion flirts and it's usually done with such style that one struggles not to become putty in their hands. Calling out piropos to passing women is a time-honoured Havana tradition. Piropos are nothing like the tacky remarks that northern women have to put up with. OK, they're macho, but it's hard to resist smiling at most of them and men know that the wittier the piropo, the more satisfactory the result is likely to be. Here are a few favourites heard recently in the streets of Old Havana:
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Niña, estás como la quincallita, chiquitica pero bien surtidita.
Girl, you're like thhe ironmonger's shhop.. Small, but well-stocked.
Hombre: ¿Tú te llamas Alicia?
Mujer: Yo no, ¿por qué?
Hombre: Porque una mujer como tú solo puede venir del País de las Maravillas.
Man: Is your name Alice?
Woman: Me? No, why?
Man: Because a woman like you could only have come from Wonderland.
Estás como los almendrones, de uso pero en buen estado.
You're like a classic car, used but in good condition.
Si cocinas como caminas, me comería hasta la raspita.
If you cook like you walk, I'll scrape the pot clean.
Si todos los ángeles son como tú, me moría ahora mismo.
If all the angels are like you, I'll die right now.
Quisiera ser un cigarro para quemarme en tus labios.
I'd like to be a cigarette, to burn up on your lips.
Podré no verte, podré no hablarte, pero lo que jamás podré, será olvidarte.
I could bear not seeing you, I could bear not speaking to you, but what I could never bear would be to forget you.
Si algún día quieres matarme, no lo hagas con un puñal, deja un momento de amarme y el golpe será mortal.
If one day you want to kill me, don't do it with a knife, just stop loving me for one moment and it will be a mortal blow.
Morir ya no me asusta, he visto el cielo en ti.
I'm not afraid to die. Now I've seen you, I've glimpsed heaven.
Napoleón con su espada conquistó una nación, y tú con tu mirada conquistaste mi corazón.
Napoleon conquered a nation with his sword and you have conquered my heart with one glance.
Si la belleza fuese segundo, tú serías 24 horas...
If beauty were a second, you'd be 24 hours...
Si la belleza fuera pecado tú estarías en el infierno.
If beauty were a sin you'd be in hell.
Si el sol pudiera mirarte, nunca sería de noche.
If the sun could see you, night would never come.
¿Existes, o yo te estoy inventando?
Do you exist, or am I inventing you?
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Las estrellas están enojadas con Dios porque no las hicieron tan hermosas como te hicieron a ti.
The stars are angry with God because he didn't make them as beautiful as you.
Bendito el escultor que hizo tus curvas.
Blessed be the sculptor that made your curves.
Tú con tantas curvas y yo sin frenos.
You with so many curves and me without brakes.
Mami, estás Bárbara por delante y Santa por atrás.
(Santa Barbara es muy querida en Cuba)
Mama, you're wicked in front and blessed behind.
A una muchacha vestida de rojo:
¡Cuidado con los toros!
To a girl dressed in red:
Careful of the bulls!
¿De qué juguetería te escapaste?, ¡muñeca!
Which toyshop did you escape from, you doll?
Por ti suspiro. Por ti me muero. Por ti en clase, me gano un cero.
I sigh for you. I die for you. Because of you I got nought out of ten in class.
Me gustaría ser caramelo, ¡qué ilusión tan loca!, para posarme en tus labios y derretirme en tu boca.
I'd like to be a sweet, what a wonderful dream, to touch your lips and melt in your mouth.
¡Y dice mi mamá que los monumentos no se mueven!
And my mother told me that monuments don't move!
¿Ya empezó la primavera?
porque eres la primera flor que veo
Has Spring begun?
Because you are the first flower I've seen.
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