KudoZ: term help for translators

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

Spanish term

yugoslavia

United States

1993 questions

Matola; abriola el vientre de contado;

Non-PRO Spanish to English Other Poetry & Literature Literature.

I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. Is okay to translate it as killing her; and opening her belly or womb?

This is from the story about The hen that laid the golden eggs of Aesop and Félix María de Samaniego

Here is the full paragraph:

Aún con tanta ganancia, mal contento,
quiso el rico avariento
descubrir de una vez la mina de oro,
y hallar en menos tiempo más tesoro.
Matola; abriola el vientre de contado;
pero después de haberla registrado....

Proposed translations (English)

4 +1

So he killed her, and cut her open,

Paul Mielke

Discussion

yugoslavia (asker) Oct 6, 2021: Thanks for your help Domini, Hernan and Toni I appreciate it. Yugoslavia
Domini Lucas Oct 5, 2021: @Hernan Thank you. That's very kind of you. Except that the rest has to be translated to match, which could be quite a job!!!🤣🤣🤣
Hernan Casasbuenas Oct 5, 2021: I like Domini Lucas post "He slew her and slit her open straightway"
Domini Lucas Oct 5, 2021: slit and perhaps slit her open might help with the olde worlde ness @neilmac @paulmielke? It's not exactly olde worlde, but feels more poetic than cut. I'm pondering and sitting on fences, not aiming to introduce an alternative at this point. I'm thinking of slay as well, but if feels a little too antiquated in terms of the whole based on other KudoZ entries. "He slew her and slit her open/tum post-haste/straightway... Still pondering accuracty and register, but wanted to put it out there for consideration.
Domini Lucas Oct 5, 2021: @Hernan @Toni Might post-haste work then? It's a bit more literary than immediately, but it's not an exact synonym. Or straightway
Toni Castano Oct 5, 2021: @Hernán I agree with your explanation, I thought it would be a (new) typo, but no, not this time. "De contado" does exist and with the meaning explained by the RAE.
Hernan Casasbuenas Oct 5, 2021: Killed her, and open her belly immediately Matóla : killed her de contado: Según la RAE: de contado 1. loc. adv. Al instante, inmediatamente, luego, al punto.