Learn Spanish (Latin America): Ese hombre es tacaño y no entiende un chiste. - That man is stingy and doesn't understand a joke.

Ese hombre es tacaño y no entiende un chiste.

That man is stingy and doesn't understand a joke.

Breakdown of Ese hombre es tacaño y no entiende un chiste.

Questions & Answers about Ese hombre es tacaño y no entiende un chiste.

How would I add 'anyway' to this sentence using our current lesson's vocabulary?

You can use either de todos modos or de todas formas. To say 'That man is stingy and doesn't understand a joke anyway,' you would say, Ese hombre es tacaño y no entiende un chiste de todos modos. Both phrases work perfectly here to mean 'anyway' or 'in any case.'

What is the difference between un chiste and una broma?

Un chiste is a spoken joke, like a funny story with a punchline. Una broma is usually a practical joke, a prank, or teasing (like saying 'I am just joking'). Since this sentence is about not getting a punchline, un chiste is the correct word.

Why do we use es instead of está for being stingy?

We use ser (conjugated here as es) because being stingy (tacaño) is being described as a core personality trait or fundamental characteristic of the man, rather than a temporary mood or passing state.

Could I say aquel hombre instead of ese hombre?

Yes, but it changes the context of distance. Ese hombre means 'that man' (often closer to the person you are talking to, or just a guy you are bringing up in conversation). Aquel hombre means 'that man far over there,' implying he is physically distant from both you and the listener.