Obama stumbles over Spanish holiday greeting
May 5th, 2009 - 2:20 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, May 5 (ANI): US President Barack Obama, it seems, still needs to work on improving his Spanish, as he used the wrong word at the opening of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at the White House. As he welcomed guests to observe the Mexican holiday, the US president called the event “Cinco de Cuatro” prompting giggles from the crowd before he corrected himself.
“Welcome to Cinco de Cuatro - Cinco de Mayo at the White House,” said Mr Obama, in what appeared to be an attempt to note they were celebrating on the fourth of May instead of the fifth.Cinco de cuatro means “five of four” in Spanish.
“We are a day early, but we always like to get a head start here at the Obama White House,” The Telegraph quoted Obama, as saying.
During the presidential campaign, Obama acknowledged his Spanish skills were not great.
“My accent’s always been good. It’s just that I only know 15 words,” he said.
The holiday, which marks Mexican troops’ defeat of French soldiers on May 5, 1862. (ANI)
Tags: accent, barack obama, cinco de mayo, cinco de mayo celebrations, crowd, french soldiers, head start, holiday greeting, mexican holiday, mexican troops, presidential campaign, spanish holiday, spanish skills, telegraph, white house