What does Usted rhyme with?

According to my kindergartner, it rhymes with "you're dead."

A lesser known fact about me is that I was a Spanish minor in college. I figure that almost guarantees that my Spanish will be a bit better than my kiddos' Spanish, at least through their elementary years. (I hope!)

So, when Ann came home this afternoon sharing what she'd learned in Spanish class, I was happy to help her remember what the words meant.

"Hola Maestra," she said.

"Hello, Teacher," I translated. Ann then told me her teacher says, "Hola clase." (Pretty sure you don't need a translation on that one.)

The part that made me chuckle was when she kept repeating, "Usted, usted, usted."

I told her that is the formal usage of "you." She looked at me like I was crazy. I assured her that it was indeed what it meant. Tony backed me up.

Very seriously, she looked at me and said that it meant, "You're dead." I had to suppress a laugh! Apparently she's caught on that several words sound similar in Spanish and in English. Therefore, she is acting as her own translator.

Which I suppose should have me wondering why she'd want to be running around saying, "You're dead!"

Hmmm, those kiddos of mine sure keep me laughing and thinking!