<p>Anybody who lived around Boston a few decades ago might recall newspaper colunmist George Frazier’s writings on the mysterious concept of “duende.” He made long lists of which people and places had it, and which did not. Familiarity with duende might help people articulate their feelings about “fit.”</p>
<p>Here’s an explanation:
"George Frazier was fond of duende. The literal translation has something to do with ghosts or goblins but it’s more. It’s used to describe that quality that’s indescribable about a person or a place. Frazier once wrote, “…style was Joe DiMaggio’s drifting back after a fly ball, but duende was DiMaggio’s barring Peter Lawford from Marilyn Monroe’s funeral.” So the next time a young girl walks by in really tight shorts - - No, wait. I meant to say, the next time you’re trying to describe something with soul and that “x” factor that’s so hard to define – you now have the perfect word. Duende.</p>
<p>And then there’s cursi. I don’t think Frazier knew about cursi ‘cause if he did – he’d as sure as hell have used it. Cursi means bad taste but includes, “one who has pretensions of refinement and elegance without possessing them.” Man, that says a whole lot for only five letters. Put that on your vanity tags or your Lands’ End bag. When I discovered the word cursi…my mind did the equivalent of looking around to make sure no one saw my fly was down. “Am I cursi?” I thought. Why not. I like to think I have better taste than most. But what if I’m wrong? What if I’m…cursi?"</p>
<p>The quote above is from this article:
[The</a> Trad: Duende vs Cursi](<a href=“http://thetrad.blogspot.com/2009/06/duende-vs-cursi.html]The”>The Trad: Duende vs Cursi)</p>