Determining the best possible word to express a concept among several choices.
8
votes
2answers
165 views
Differences between “aun”, “hasta”, and “incluso” to indicate extremes?
When referring to an extreme example for comparison, English seems to have just one word, even:
Even an idiot could do it.
But Spanish seems to have three:
aun
hasta
incluso
I had always ...
8
votes
3answers
325 views
Why is Usted sometimes abbreviated as Vd. instead of Ud.? Is there any difference in usage between the two?
I've noticed that the word Usted can be abbreviated at least 2 ways, the most common of which being Ud. and Vd. to my knowledge. I see how Ud. makes perfect sense, but why is a V used instead of a U ...
8
votes
3answers
686 views
Translating “looking forward to”
In English, we often used the phrase looking forward to when we are excited about something in the future:
I'm looking forward to seeing you next week!
I'm really looking forward to finals ...
8
votes
2answers
222 views
Best translation of “just wanted to”
In English, I often use "just wanted to" to soften the force of a question or statement:
I just wanted to ask if it was okay with you.
I just wanted to make sure you were coming to the meeting ...
8
votes
3answers
237 views
Are there any subtle differences between “de nuevo” and “otra vez”?
There are two very common ways in Spanish to say the equivalent of "again":
de nuevo
otra vez
But I use them pretty randomly because I've never been able to pick up on any differences in how ...
8
votes
5answers
439 views
What is the diminutive of “pan” (meaning bread)?
Is it:
pansito
panesito
panito
panecino
panecillo (Although this one has most of the time another meaning...)
Why?
I know short question, but seemingly difficult for me. Is there a definitive ...
8
votes
5answers
280 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 ...
8
votes
4answers
560 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
528 views
How to translate 'to become?' (hacerse, ponerse, convertirse en, etc.)
I've heard several different words used for 'to become' in Spanish. Obviously sometimes there are specific verbs to use, like 'enfadarse' means to become angry, but often you need to use a verb that ...
8
votes
2answers
125 views
How can I tell someone what I'm reading about?
I was reading a book, and someone asked me, "¿Qué estás leyendo?"
I answered, "Estoy leyendo sobre ..."
The person looked at me funny, but seemed to understand what I said.
Looking back, it makes ...
8
votes
1answer
376 views
Difference between “hay”, “ay” and “ahí”
These are commonly misused when writing, and can be very confusing for someone that is learning Spanish. These three words have a very different meaning and they are used in a very different context.
...
8
votes
1answer
123 views
¿Hay diferentes palabras para el hermano de una esposa, y el esposo de una hermana?
Sé que la traduccion de la frase “brother-in-law“ es “cuñado“. ¿“Cuñado" se refiere al hermano de una esposa, el esposo de una hermana, o los dos?
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 ...
8
votes
7answers
521 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
242 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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
149 views
¿Quienes son más afectados por el ustedeo?
He encontrado que varias veces, mi empleo del español en conversación es afectado por el llamado "ustedeo". Afecta mis relaciones con gente que acabo de conocer, porque muchas personas piensan que ...
7
votes
6answers
177 views
What is the difference between “herramientas” and “útiles?”
My understanding is that they both mean "tools." But could they be references to different types of tools?
¿Cuál es la differencia entre "herramientas" y "útiles?"
Mi entendimiento es que ambos ...
7
votes
5answers
443 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, ...
7
votes
3answers
156 views
Translation of “contact info”
What is the best way to say contact info in Spanish (as in a list of phone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses, etc. of a person or business)?
7
votes
3answers
283 views
What is the difference between 'hallar' and 'encontrar'?
If I find something I lost, should I use 'hallar'?
For example, I found missing keys and said to my wife '¡Hallé las llaves!' she replied '¿Las encontraste?' Then a discussion about Hallar vs ...
7
votes
3answers
557 views
Usage of fea and rico
I'm learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone. The lesson I am currently on has two examples that I don't completely understand.
La leche está fea
El pan está rico
"Fea" seems to be translated ...
7
votes
4answers
238 views
Why should we use estar over ser for being old or fat?
I can understand why we would use estar for temporary states. But there are conditions that people have that are not temporary, such as being old (or for some people, being fat).
¡qué gordo está!
...
7
votes
1answer
123 views
“Liking” a musician or other artist
The verb gustar, when used with people, conveys a romantic interest (e.g. Ella me gusta. -> I have a crush on her.). How then, can you convey that you like a musician's music or an artist's paintings, ...
7
votes
2answers
130 views
“to feel ashamed for an unknown person” or a cringe-worthy experience
Since the upcoming of talk- and music-casting shows in Ger & US TV in the last two decades, Germans created the compound verb fremdschämen, e.g., when somebody is embarrassing in his actions or ...
7
votes
4answers
178 views
Translating “I hear (that)…”
How do you translate the phrase "I hear (that)..." as in:
I hear that you just got back from your vacation.
I hear that it rained all last week in Seattle.
I hear you got an A on your history final.
...
7
votes
4answers
229 views
What is the difference between “a partir de” y “desde”?
Which one is correct?
A partir de ahora, voy a hablar en español.
or
Desde ahora, voy a hablar en español.
In meaning I think both are close to "from." Are there any specific instances ...
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 __________?
7
votes
1answer
137 views
¿Cuál es la forma correcta de mencionar un año?(de o del)
Institucionalmente utilizo de para referirme a un año. Ejemplo:
26 de Enero de 2012
Sin embargo, intuitivamente, estoy impulsado a utilizar del en otros contextos. Ejemplo:
26 de Enero del ...
7
votes
3answers
244 views
When to use “tratar de” and when to use “intentar” for “to try to”?
Spanish has three words that can translate to English to try.
Probar is easy to remember because it's used for sample or taste, like:
Have you ever tried tacos el pastor?
But I never know when ...
7
votes
1answer
202 views
When is “mitad” appropriate?
Another thing I'm often corrected on is my apparent overuse of the word medio. What are the proper uses of the words mitad (and la mitad) and medio (and el medio)?
7
votes
3answers
689 views
Age range of niño, chico, muchacho, joven, etc
Spanish has several words for referring to children:
niño/niña
chico/chica
muchacho/muchacha
joven
Some dialects add others like chavo or chavalo.
What are the approximate age ranges these words ...
7
votes
3answers
268 views
Choosing between “Mirar” and “Ver”
What is the real difference between "Ver" and "Mirar". They are quite close in meaning but what are the differences between them? What are the rules to know whether we should choose one or the other?
7
votes
1answer
400 views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre honor y honra?
Hace poco me di cuenta de que existen dos palabras en español que equivalen a la palabra "honor" en inglés: honor y honra. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre estas dos palabras? ¿Cuál es más común?
7
votes
1answer
369 views
Difference between “tener que …” and “necesitar …”?
If I have to say something like I gotta leave in Spanish, I'd use a phrase like:
Tengo que irme
But I realize that I could also say:
Necesito irme
What is the difference? You would ...
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
7answers
2k views
How might you say a child is “cute” in Spanish?
Suppose you see a mother with a laughing little 2-year-old. In English, we might exclaim, "how cute!"
I've had trouble saying this in Spanish. The word "cute" means something like "beautiful", but it ...
6
votes
6answers
274 views
Is there a Spanish equivalent for the French word “voilà”?
A rough English translation for the French word "voilà" might be "there it is." One of my former Spanish teachers (an American, not a native speaker), would use the word "eso" in this context, in ...
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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Difference between “mas” and “más”
What's the difference between mas and más?
What rules should I follow to know which one to use?
Could you provide examples showing their uses?
6
votes
3answers
633 views
Words for strong or weak rain (sprinkling, drizzling, pouring)
This question on English.StackExchange made me wonder about words for rain in Spanish. In English, a light rain can be a drizzle, sprinkle, or mist and a heavy rain can be a deluge, downpour, or ...
6
votes
5answers
424 views
Definition of escuela and colegio
Spanish has two generic words for school: escuela and colegio. I have heard different explanations for what phases of schooling each word refers to. For example, I've been told that colegio refers ...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
92 views
Polite terms for excrement
There are many vulgar terms for excrement, but what are the non-vulgar, polite ones (used in medical settings, or with children, or among adults in polite conversation)?
6
votes
4answers
8k views
Where did “pico de gallo” get its name?
Does pico de gallo (the type of salsa) literally translate as "rooster's beak"? If so, where did it get that name, and how does that describe the salsa?
6
votes
2answers
230 views
Origin and use of “echar de menos”
I've always found peculiar that the phrase echar de menos is synonymous of the verb extrañar. For example:
Te echaré de menos.
is equivalent to:
Te extrañaré.
Based on TV, its use is most ...
6
votes
3answers
379 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 ...
