Spanish

Phrase

¿Mató tunco tu tata?

1. (colloquial, El Salvador) Name of a game adults play with little children

   ¿Ya has probado jugando ¿Mató tunco tu tata? con el niño? - Have you already tried playing ¿Mató tunco tu tata? with your kid?

   • ¿Mató tunco tu tata? / Nos quieren asustar acusando de derecha a todos los comentaristas... - Did your father kill a pig? / They want to scare us by accusing all commenters to be right-wingers... ("¿Mató tunco tu tata?", Juan Valiente, article published in the Diario de Hoy newspaper, San Salvador, 2011/Jul/19. Accessed 2013/Jul/4. The title was chosen in reference to something that scares.)

Usage notes

This game consists of:

i. telling somebody 'Did your father kill a pig?' (¿Mató tunco tu tata?)

ii. after the other person says no, telling them 'Were you afraid?' (¿Tuviste(s) miedo?)

iii. after the other person says no, surprising them by blowing air on their face. Their annoyance allegedly confirms they were afraid.