Teressa Weaver Apr 19, 2011:

I don't know about its popularity. I'm not a native Spanish speaker. There are probably a lot of people on proZ that would know, however.

Zittle (asker) Apr 19, 2011:

Teressa, I like that idea! Is it true that "madre de Dios" is rather old-fashioned, especially among US Spanish-speakers? Or does it fit into something a middle-aged-to-a-bit-older Mexican-American woman would say in 2011?

Teressa Weaver Apr 19, 2011:

Could it possible be a mis-heard "Madre de Dios"? I know a young man who thought "mito" was how one said "son" because that's what he heard when his father said "mi hijito"

Zittle (asker) Apr 19, 2011:

D. dropped her work duffle near the door, unclipped the holster from her belt, and laid the Baby Eagle, along with her watch, on a console table in the hall. She glanced at the mail that lay there and considered opening it, but just then Engracia Lopez appeared in the hallway.
“Shhhh!” she said, a finger to her lips. “He’s asleep. Madre los míos, whatever you do, don’t wake him.”

[She's talking about a guy she's paid to take care of who's a drunk and a mess who is temporarily asleep.]

franglish Apr 19, 2011:

@Zittle Possibly Dios mío, or Madre mía, but leave out the "Ay". Would be easier to decide if I/we knew what comes before.

Zittle (asker) Apr 19, 2011:

Yes, only the interjection is in Spanish. The idea is that this is a fluent English-speaker who peppers her sentences with Spanish. So I take it "madre los mios" makes no sense. I do want to keep this in Spanish: maybe "Ay, Dios mío"?

franglish Apr 19, 2011:

@asker, is only the interjection in Spanish? Whatever, maybe "for heaven's sake" would do.