Determining the best possible word to express a concept among several choices.
4
votes
2answers
134 views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre “por lo tanto” y “por tanto”?
Según la RAE:
por lo ~.
loc. adv. Por consiguiente, por lo que antes se ha dicho, por el motivo o las razones de que acaba de hablarse. U. t. c. loc. conjunt.
por tanto.
loc. adv. Por lo que, ...
8
votes
7answers
519 views
¿Qué palabra se usa para describir cuando un pago cubre hasta cierta fecha?
Soy el autor de una aplicación de computadora para administrar Casas de Empeños en Puerto Rico. Cuando un cliente debe tres meses de intereses, podría perder la prenda, pero si solo paga dos meses de ...
9
votes
3answers
227 views
How to say “My old teacher”
If you say "Mi profesor viejo," your indicating your teacher old age-wise. I was wondering how you indicate that your talking about a past teacher.
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a difference between “claro” and “por supuesto”?
Both "claro" (or "claro que sí") and "por supuesto" appear to be used to say 'of course' in one way or another.
Are there any differences in how they are used? Is one formal and the other informal? ...
7
votes
5answers
442 views
Difference Between “Computadora” and “Ordenador”
Español
Ví un cartel fuera de una tienda que decía: "Computadoras y ordenadores" en un cuadro "cubano" fuera de New York City,
En un principio, creo que ambas palabras significan "computer". Pero, ...
5
votes
3answers
156 views
Correct usage of debieras and deberías
Español
¿Cuándo es correcto usar deberías o debieras? (significado y uso).
English
When is it correct to use deberías or debieras? (meaning and uses)
7
votes
3answers
127 views
Translating “should” expressing future desirability
Español
Quiero expresar:
You should come study with us tomorrow.
No con un sentido de probabilidad ("you are likely to") o de obligación ("...or else you won't pass the exam"), sino de deseo ...
6
votes
3answers
378 views
What is the most universal way to say “keep the change”?
Español
He escuchado unas pocas opiniones distintas para decir "quédate con el cambio" (es decir, lo que le dices a alguien a quien acabas de pagar cuando cuando quieres que se quede la diferencia ...
11
votes
3answers
168 views
“My kind of ___” in Spanish
Español
He estado buscando una manera de decir "My kind of _" en español. O una frase equivalente (que creo que es más adecuado y preferible). Como la manera que un americano (EE. UU.) diría: "this ...
8
votes
2answers
223 views
Acordar or recordar? What's the correct use? ¿Cuál es el uso correcto?
Español
Comunmente escucho gente decir "¿oye, te acuerdas de esa película?", así como también escucho "¿oye, recuerdas esa película?."
Siempre he creído que la acción de un recuerdo viene del verbo ...
10
votes
3answers
529 views
Cuándo usar “usar” o “utilizar”
Español
Ambos términos tienen un significado muy parecido. Según la RAE, el único uso de 'utilizar' es "Aprovecharse de algo" y el significado que me interesa de 'usar' es "Hacer servir una cosa para ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a difference between cilantro and culantro in Spanish?
I've seen the American English "cilantro" (British English "coriander") translated into Spanish as both cilantro and culantro. What is the difference? Are they synonyms used interchangeably, or is the ...
4
votes
4answers
323 views
Translating “Slow down!” (in informal contexts)
English
WordReference translates "slow down" as disminuir la velocidad or desacelerar. But those sound pretty precise or technical to me. How would you translate "Slow down!" in other, more informal ...
8
votes
3answers
132 views
Complemento vs. Suplemento
Is there any difference between the word "complemento" and "suplemento"? Do they really have the exact same meaning?. RAE (Real Academia Española) defines both as:
Cosa o accidente que se añade a ...
4
votes
5answers
172 views
Distinguishing “quiz” and “test”
In American English, a "quiz" is like a "test" or "exam," but it is typically shorter (in length and duration) and less heavily weighted. In Spanish class I learned "test" was examen and "quiz" was ...
5
votes
2answers
95 views
Difference between “suave” and “blando”
When would you use one over the other? I see Google Translate says both equate to "soft" in English.
2
votes
3answers
2k views
accommodating (as in “Thanks for being so accommodating”)
If someone has been very kind in adjusting their schedule and making sacrifices to help you, in English you might say, "Thanks for being so accommodating!"
What is the most natural translation of ...
9
votes
1answer
466 views
How should I discuss my wife's due date?
How do I tell people when my wife's due date is? I usually say something like "el bebé se debe nacer el cuatro de junio" but I don't know if that's the correct way to say it.
6
votes
3answers
318 views
Translation of “by the way”
In Spanish class I learned that the right way to say "by the way" in Spanish was a propósito, but I've recently seen it translated por cierto. How exactly are these two Spanish phrases used, and are ...
8
votes
3answers
450 views
“You look good” versus “You smell good”
It is my understanding that "you look good" translates as, "te ves bien" and that you see well (as in, your vision is good) can be said as "tu ves bien."
However, saying you smell good and your ...
7
votes
3answers
176 views
¿Cómo pedir la opinión de alguien?
¿Cómo se pide la opinión de alguien sobre un tema o actividad?
Por ejemplo, en ingles se dice:
What do you think about __________?
5
votes
3answers
2k views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre “formación” y “capacitación”?
Estoy escribiendo con mi amiga de Argentina, y ella me habló de su nuevo trabajo. Ella dijo que tenía que tomar un curso de capacitación, pero veo la palabra "formación" en lugar a veces.
¿Cuál es ...
5
votes
3answers
146 views
Do mi and mío have different connotations?
I usually use the possessives mi and mío interchangeably.
For example:
Esta es la casa mía.
Esta es mi casa.
However, do the two have different connotations? (e.g. is one more formal ...
6
votes
4answers
153 views
Ironic constructions in Spanish
English
As part of my masters in linguistics, I am taking a course on the subject of irony. We were given examples of sentences that are most likely ironic, as the English sentence "he is not ...
5
votes
3answers
91 views
“Earthquake”: When to use “temblor” and “terremoto”
When referring to an earthquake, are temblor and terremoto perfect synonyms? Are there any differences?
8
votes
2answers
225 views
What is the spanish translation for “Account” when referring to a user account on a website?
The English > Spanish translation of account on Google Translate comes up with various forms of the word cuenta.
However, the Spanish > English translation of cuenta returns words relating to ...
11
votes
3answers
400 views
What is the difference between “personas” and “gente”?
I was translating a sentence for school en Español and I came across the word "people." I looked it up on Google Translate and it gave me "personas" and also "gente." What is the difference between ...
8
votes
5answers
240 views
Is “tobogán” an acceptable word for “slide” throughout the Spanish speaking world?
English
I'm trying to learn words to talk to my baby at the playground in Spanish. WordReference.com gives the following as part of its definition for "slide."
slide 2 sustantivo 1. (in ...
4
votes
2answers
230 views
Describing stress in Spanish
In Spanish class, I remember learning that "stress" (as in what someone who is coming up on a deadline feels) isn't commonly spoken of in Spanish-speaking countries for cultural reasons, but it can be ...
5
votes
1answer
144 views
What would be a good way of expressing “Es un placer haber sido de utilidad.”?
English
How can I translate the phrase "Es un placer haber sido de utilidad."? What ways sound most natural?
Thanks.
Español
Cómo puedo traducir la frase "Es un placer haber sido de utilidad."? ...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
Translation for the adjective “haunting” (as in “a haunting melody”)
What is the best Spanish translation for the English adjective "haunting" (as in "a haunting melody")? WordReference gives three options: evocador, inquietante and inolvidable. Do any of these really ...
4
votes
1answer
412 views
Translation: “To wish” expressing regret
How would you translate sentences like:
'I wish I had remembered that earlier.'
'I wish I had made the most of it while I still could.'
There are a few ways to say I wish in Spanish, but I ...
3
votes
2answers
115 views
Translation of “slacks” (dress pants)
What is the typical way in Spanish to refer to "slacks" (or dress pants that you'd wear with a suit or other formal clothing)? Is there a universal way to distinguish them from less formal pants? ...
6
votes
5answers
168 views
What would be a good way to express “You can't get something out of nothing”?
There is a common statement—well, I least I've read quite a few times—that goes like this:
You can't get something out of nothing.
I would like to know if this sentence has a common translation ...
6
votes
1answer
89 views
What is the preferred used word for “subscripción”?
What is the preferred used word for "subscripción",
"subscripción" or "suscripción"?
Why are there two ways to write the same word?
Are there any other words like this one where the "b" can be
...
8
votes
5answers
278 views
Best way to translate 'uneducated', meaning lacking formal schooling
Generally the Spanish word maleducado more often means rude, rather than unschooled. In light of this, how would one describe someone who is polite and intelligent, but has never been formally ...
6
votes
3answers
166 views
Translation of “Field” (as in, on a form)
The online automated translators tend to use campo (ie. a field, like a soccer field) for this, but I'm not sure if this appropriate.
What is the proper translation here to refer to a field on a ...
8
votes
1answer
239 views
What's the difference between “sólo”, “únicamente” and “solamente”?
According to the RAE:
solo o sólo.
adv. m. Únicamente, solamente.
In what situations is preferred to use one over the other?
Are they interchangeable?
Sólo es una pregunta ...
6
votes
2answers
140 views
What is the difference between requerir and exigir?
I believe that they both mean to "require." But do they refer to different "degrees" (urgencies) or types of requirments?
Can they be used interchangeably or is one more suitable in some contexts and ...
11
votes
3answers
188 views
Quizás or quizá, which one is preferred?
RAE redirects the definition of quizás to quizá but I wonder if there's any implicit, secret rule that I am not aware of as to whether quizás is preferred over quizá.
I've seen both forms used ...
2
votes
3answers
205 views
Translation of “first time doing something”
What is the most natural way in Spanish to talk about someone's first time doing something? For example:
This is my first time eating sushi.
That was the first time she's ever gone camping.
Was that ...
2
votes
2answers
154 views
What is the difference between “por medio de” and “a través de”?
It seems like a través de and por medio de can often be used to mean the same thing. What is the difference between them, and in what contexts can you only use one or the other?
2
votes
1answer
171 views
Different words for “servant”
According to Wiktionary, the English "servant" has two meanings:
One who serves another, providing help in some manner.
(e.g. She is quite the humble servant, the poor in this city owe much to her ...
8
votes
4answers
557 views
What's the difference between rezar and orar? Are there any other ways to say 'to pray'?
My teacher told me that different religions tend to use different words for "to pray", usually choosing between rezar and orar. Which words are preferred by what religions & in which areas? Are ...
4
votes
1answer
147 views
Gusto variant of the verb gustar
When I thought I finally had it figured out... I was confronted with the following phrase which obviously must mean:
I liked the story of your friend.
Which for me logically translates to.
...
3
votes
2answers
87 views
Translation of “How difficult was that”
How would I ask someone "How difficult was that?"
¿Qué tan difícil era?
¿Cuán difícil era?
¿Cuánto dificultad tenía eso?
Other?
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Translation of “I would be more than happy to (do something).”
What would be some natural ways to express being "more than happy" to do something in Spanish?
For example:
I am more than happy to help you with your homework whenever you need it.
I would ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
What is the difference between “de corto plazo” and “a corto plazo”?
What is the difference between de corto plazo and a corto plazo (or de largo plazo and a largo plazo), meaning short-term and long-term? In what contexts can each be used?
4
votes
2answers
576 views
Translating “If (request), that would be great.”
In English, I often use the formula, "If (request), that would be great."
For example:
If you could go to the supermarket after work, that would be great.
If it's possible for you to finish ...
3
votes
2answers
123 views
In referring to a website's appearance, how would I say Skin or Theme?
What the title says, pretty much. This is for a website with a formal tone.
