Tagged Questions
4
votes
2answers
122 views
Spanish words for “loop”
I was recently reading a review of a Spanish-English dictionary that picked "loop" as a good example of a word with many possible translations into Spanish. I looked around and found several ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Words for on purpose, accidentally, intentionally, unintentionally, etc
English has several words or phrases to express that something was done with or without the person meaning to do it:
purposefully (or on purpose)
accidentally (or on accident)
intentionally
...
1
vote
2answers
159 views
Translating “shrewd” (as in “a shrewd businessman”)
The English word "shrewd" (as in "a shrewd businessman") describes someone who is sharp, clever, crafty, or cunning. For example, a shrewd businessman might come up with a coupon offer that seems ...
4
votes
2answers
58 views
Sostenernos de una sombra
Spanish
Significado difícil: "sostenernos de una sombra". ¿Se refiere a una sustancia superior?
English
Difficult meаning: "sostenernos de una
sombra". Is it said about а superior substance?
...
3
votes
2answers
236 views
esperar: wait vs. hope vs. expect
The verb esperar (e.g. Estoy esperándolo.) can be used in at least three senses:
to wait for
to hope
to expect
In English, these all mean very different things:
I'm waiting for you to ...
2
votes
3answers
475 views
challenge: desafío vs. reto
The English word "challenge" can be translated to Spanish as desafío (desafiar) or reto (retar). Is there any difference between these words, or are they exact synonyms? If there is a difference, when ...
2
votes
1answer
292 views
Does pelón/pelona mean bald or hairy?
I have heard pelón (or the feminine pelona) used to both refer to someone who has no hair and someone who has a lot of hair. Is there any way of distinguishing whether pelón means bald or hairy, or is ...
3
votes
3answers
625 views
Translation of “awkward” (as in “an awkward situation”)
In English, the word "awkward" can be used to describe a situation that is uncomfortable and embarrassing (but neither word seems to fully describe what "awkward" describes). What is the best ...
1
vote
2answers
126 views
Spanish words for cap, cover, lid, etc
What Spanish words can be used to describe a cap, cover, lid, or top (in other words, something placed on top of something, usually to close an opening)? What is the difference between tapa and tapón? ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
What does “chepa” mean in Nicaraguan Spanish?
What does the word chepa mean when used to refer to a person in Nicaraguan Spanish? What are some examples of how it is used?
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Translation of “ni modo”
The phrase ni modo is used in many varieties of Spanish to mean many different things. What are its possible meanings? Which meaning is most common (i.e. which meaning would you assume if ni modo was ...
5
votes
1answer
222 views
A good word for “quest” in Spanish
The translation for Quest is "búsqueda" but it just does not work properly. In English we say "I'm on a quest for the holy grail" this is not quite the same as "I'm searching for the holy grail." So ...
2
votes
1answer
246 views
Literal and metaphorical translation of “duende”
I have read that duende can mean both a mythical creature or, metaphorically, a kind of magical sensation to something. What exactly does duende refer to in both senses? How would both of these senses ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Best English translation of “conmoción”
I was told the Spanish word conmoción refers to a strong feeling of shock or emotion shared by a group of people rather than an individual. It seems like English doesn't have a single word or phrase ...
2
votes
1answer
281 views
Translating “I don't trust you” (said casually)
I have heard that confiar is a strong word, implying trust and confidence in someone or something. What then is the right way to translate more casual uses of the word "trust"?
For example, let's say ...
6
votes
2answers
667 views
How can I say “colmo” properly in English?
There is an expression in Spanish to denote something that is absurd or unexpected. Usually it can be the maximum expression of expertise and talent.
I wondered about this mainly because in Spanish ...
3
votes
1answer
172 views
What does “tracatera” mean?
I've been collecting unusual Spanish words for years. I've been going through them to find any that are not in my dictionaries and found this one:
tracatera f
It's not in the DRAE, it's not in ...
5
votes
1answer
48 views
What does “barrocanrolera” mean?
In the novel Los años con Laura Diaz by top Mexican author Carlos Fuentes there is a word, "barrocanrolera", which is not in the DRAE, the Gran diccionario Larousse, Wiktionary, or Google Translate.
...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
“Dale pues” in Nicaraguan Spanish
In Nicaragua, the phrase "dale pues" is very frequently used. What does the phrase mean, and in what contexts can it be used?
