Rita Reviews

living my best possible southern life

He’s Not Calling You a Cow!

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He's Not Calling You a Cow 

I will never forget the first time Edgar ever called my mother “Jefa” which is pronounced “Hefa.” You read that correctly it looks and sounds almost like heifer and my mother gave him a look that could kill. It took me a moment but then I immediately said “He;s not calling you a cow.”

I had to explain that Jefa is the female version of Jefe which in Spanish means boss. He calls his mother that as well. For him it was like saying Ma to my mother but for her she was ready to kill him. Now the kids actually call her that as well and I think it so funny. Anytime we are in front of people who don’t already know I have to explain is not a cow.

It has become a bit of a joke in our family now. My younger brother will ask me how the cow is and I always start laughing. As soon as I do Ma immediately says ” Telling him to stop calling me that!” It is funny because a simple word that in one language can be a word of respect in another sounds like an insult.

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  1. What a great story! I can imagine your mother’s reaction to thinking she was being called a heifer. It’s nice to see you sharing some good memories of your ex. I take it as a sign of health.

  3. thanks for sharing the story. I have heard people be called that before but it still made me smile. 🙂

  5. Jaja! Oh, that’s classic! I could only imagine the face your mother had. Wow, that’s a great story. Me and my family are latino and my husband is “gringo” so we have this kind of stuff happen all the time. Isn’t it all just hilarious…after it all gets explained! Of course. Jaja

  6. This provided me with an early morning giggle!! Thanks!! I would have thought this as well though!

  7. How funny, I didn’t know the Spanish word for boss is so close in sound to the English name for a female cow. I bet this is a fun running joke in your family and is always good for a laugh.