Breakdown of Me quedé en ese motelucho como si no tuviera dinero.
no
no, not
tener
to have
en
in / on / at
ese
that (masculine)
el dinero
the money
quedarse
to stay / to end up / become
como
as / like (such as, similar to)
si
if
el motel
the motel
Questions & Answers about Me quedé en ese motelucho como si no tuviera dinero.
What exactly does the suffix -ucho add to the word motel to make it motelucho?
The suffix -ucho (or -ucha) is pejorative, meaning it adds a negative, contemptuous, or derogatory tone to the noun. While a regular motel is just a place to stay, a motelucho translates to a cheap, run-down, or dingy motel.
Why is tuviera in the imperfect subjunctive instead of the present subjunctive (tenga)?
The phrase como si (as if) introduces a hypothetical situation that isn't real, since the speaker actually did have money. In Spanish, como si is always followed by a past subjunctive like the imperfect subjunctive tuviera. You can never use the present subjunctive or the indicative after como si.
Could I just say Quedé en ese motelucho without the Me?
Is a motel in Latin America the same as a motel in English-speaking countries?
Often, no, which makes motelucho even more descriptive! In much of Latin America, a motel typically refers to a pay-by-the-hour establishment for romantic encounters, whereas a regular roadside stop for travelers is just called a hotel. Therefore, a motelucho paints a picture of a particularly seedy or trashy place.
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