Determining the best possible word to express a concept among several choices.
6
votes
1answer
229 views
What's the plural of “suéter”?
What's the plural of "suéter"?
In Mexico, most of the times is called "sueters".
Is it "sueters" or "suéteres"?
5
votes
2answers
228 views
What is the correct way to say the days of a month?
People refer to the days of the month as following:
1 de enero = uno de enero o primero de enero.
2 de enero = dos de enero.
3 de enero = tres de enero.
...
Example:
Hoy es primero de enero.
...
5
votes
2answers
214 views
forever: por siempre vs. para siempre
I have seen "forever" translated as both por siempre and para siempre. What is the difference? Are there contexts where you must use one or the other?
2
votes
3answers
111 views
What is the preferred word to use to know if the partner is grasping what you are explaining?
Suppose that you are explaining something to someone. Which of these is more appropriate to use?
¿Me entiendes?
¿Me explico?
If you use "me explico" it could be interpreted as if you are ...
6
votes
3answers
1k 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?
3
votes
3answers
186 views
Translating “Help!” (interjection)
In English, if there is any kind of emergency or urgent assistance needed, we use the interjection, "Help!" In Spanish I've seen several:
¡Socorro!
¡Auxilio!
¡Ayuda! or ¡Ayúdame!
Which of these is ...
2
votes
1answer
606 views
Grammar of tengo and tienes
I am having trouble understanding how to use tienes/tengo and other related "have" words.
For example, in my current lesson in Rosetta Stone, the following examples are used:
Tengo anteojos de ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
355 views
Difference between “está” and “esta” or “esté” and “este”?
How do I know if I have to use the one with accent and not the one without accent? Could you provide examples?
4
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the difference between “De nada” and “No hay de qué”?
I am learning Spanish and ran across "De nada" and "No hay de qué". Both mean "You're welcome" . What's the difference?
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a trick to remembering 'llevar' and 'traer'?
After years of living in a Spanish-speaking country, and speaking mostly only Spanish all day, I still struggle with 'llevar' and 'traer'. The rules are clear and all, but it is just very difficult to ...
16
votes
3answers
412 views
Ser and estar for location
The edge-cases of ser and estar still seem to get me. My understanding is that when speaking of a location, I should use estar.
La biblioteca está aquí.
However, a student I am tutoring had a ...
8
votes
3answers
185 views
How does one chain noun adjuncts in Spanish?
A noun adjunct is a noun that modifies another noun. For example, the word "baby" in the phrase "baby food" is a noun adjunct. In this simple case, you can translate it into Spanish as "comida de ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Difference between “susto” and “aprensión”
Del susto y la aprensión, el rujido ha cesado.
What are the differences between "susto" and "aprensión"?
Both mean fear, no?
Or they have different degrees of fear?
4
votes
3answers
112 views
6
votes
1answer
210 views
Difference between “oreja” and “oído”
What is the difference between oreja and oído?
Both mean ear, no?
5
votes
3answers
173 views
feliz vs. alegre vs. dichoso
I recently heard dichoso used to mean feliz. Looking up dichoso in a dictionary shows it means "happy" (or "blessed"). What is the difference between dichoso, feliz, and alegre to mean "happy"? Are ...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
Difference between “un poco de” and “un poco”
What is the difference between the use of "un poco de" and "un poco"?
Why can't we say "Es un poco de moreno"(He has a little dark skin.) but "Es un poco moreno."??
Could you please provide some ...
2
votes
3answers
175 views
Translation of “ASAP”
What is the most common translation of ASAP (As Soon As Possible) in Spanish?
I have seen:
cuanto antes
cuanto antes posible
lo más pronto posible
cuanto antes, mejor
Are these all common and ...
0
votes
1answer
136 views
Translation of “have (someone) do (something)”
What is the most common way in Spanish to express "have (someone) do (something)"? For example, a boss might say to his secretary:
Have the marketing manager come see me ASAP!
2
votes
1answer
164 views
Words for “to encourage”: alentar, animar, fomentar
In English, "to encourage" seems to have at least two uses:
to suggest that someone should do something (e.g. "He encouraged me to find a new guitar teacher.")
to give confidence or hope to someone ...
2
votes
3answers
412 views
Translation of “real estate”
I have read that "real estate" can be translated as:
bienes raíces
bienes inmuebles
inmuebles
What is the difference between these terms, and which is the most generic translation of "real ...
3
votes
4answers
13k views
congratulations: felicidades vs. felicitaciones
English
I have heard both ¡Felicidades! and ¡Felicitaciones! as translations of the interjection, "Congratulations!"
What is the difference between the two, and when is each used?
Español
He ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
What is the difference between “por si” and “por si acaso”?
I learned that "just in case" should be translated por si acaso, but I have also heard por si used by itself without the acaso. I believe I've even heard si acaso without the por. What is the ...
2
votes
3answers
451 views
Translation of “I rest my case”
In English, the phrase "I rest my case" can be used in a conversation by one person whose point has just been proven by the other person. In a legal sense, it would mean that a lawyer has concluded ...
2
votes
1answer
183 views
Translation of cord, cable, string, line, thread, rope, etc
In English there are many words describing different kinds of long, skinny, flexible objects:
cord
line (as in fishing line, clothesline)
cable
strand
lace (as in shoe lace)
thread
rope
string
wire
...
0
votes
1answer
143 views
Translation of “to wind (a rope, hose, string, cord, etc.)”
The other questions about "wind" got me thinking about it's normal verb use. To "wind" something is to wrap it in circles, either around an object or simply making a coil. For this use, it looks like ...
2
votes
2answers
170 views
Translating “to wind up (doing something)”
In informal English, we use the phrase "to wind up" to describe the final state of a situation, after all is said and done. For example:
How did you wind up moving to Kansas after growing up in ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
“Reclamo” vs. “Reclamación”
Whenever I go to a restaurant I see a Libro de Reclamaciones which I believe it's something like a Book of Complaints. I thought the direct translation of complaint was in fact reclamo or queja. In ...
1
vote
2answers
462 views
wallet: cartera vs. billetera
The English word "wallet" (as in something you carry in your pocket to hold money, credit cards, etc.) can be translated into Spanish as cartera or billetera. Are the words synonyms that can be used ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
holy: santo vs. sagrado
What is the difference between santo and sagrado in translating the English religious word "holy." How are the two words used in religious contexts in Spanish-speaking countries?
5
votes
1answer
81 views
Uses of “SE” : se discutió
Can you see the difference between no. 6 and no. 7?
Are there any differences in meaning?
Could you please answer the questions below?
6, En el coloquio se discutió un tema interesante.
6a, ...
7
votes
3answers
509 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
88 views
Translation of “desarrollo integral”
What is the best English translation for the Spanish phrase desarrollo integral (as applied to a person or country)? "Complete development" doesn't sound right, and I can't find the phrase in my ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Translation of “en cierta medida”
What is the best translation of en cierta medida to English? It seems like there are several phrases in English that would work, but I'm not sure which best reflects the sense of the Spanish phrase.
3
votes
5answers
116 views
Translation of 'verbose'
I'm a software developer and I've seen thousands of times the word "verbose" in different tutorials, frameworks, etc. I wonder, which would be the correct translation of the word "verbose" in ...
4
votes
3answers
312 views
Translation of “Take ___ for granted”
I have heard this phrase a lot of times before in forms like:
Take (anything) for granted.
Don't take (anything) for granted.
I'm not sure about how to translate it:
Dar (algo) por ...
7
votes
1answer
123 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
811 views
to drink: beber vs. tomar
I have heard beber and tomar used interchangeably as translations for the English "to drink." Is there any difference between the two, or are they exact synonyms when describing drinking a liquid? Are ...
1
vote
2answers
95 views
waste: desperdiciar vs. malgastar
I learned that "waste" in English can be translated as desperdiciar or malgastar in Spanish. What is the difference between these two words? Are there any cases where one is correct and the other is ...
1
vote
3answers
164 views
Break: romper vs. quebrar vs. quebrantar vs. partir
Off the top of my head, I can think of four Spanish translations for the English verb "to break":
romper
quebrar
quebrantar
partir
In what cases can each be used, and what are the differences ...
0
votes
1answer
115 views
Translation of “What was your name again?”
In English, if someone has already met someone else but later forgets their name, they might ask them something like, "I'm sorry, what was your name again?" (which is less forceful than a blunt "What ...
1
vote
2answers
337 views
Translating “They don't call me … for nothing.”
In English, there is a phrase "They don't call me ... for nothing." (showing that some nickname someone has has been confirmed by something they just did or are about to do). Is there any equivalent ...
6
votes
2answers
457 views
How can we say “I'm sorry” apart from “lo siento”?
So far the only way I know to say "I'm sorry" is "lo siento." However, this gets repetitive rather quickly, and sometimes I'm looking for a stronger form of an apology. What other ways are there to ...
6
votes
3answers
172 views
What's the difference between “estar ansioso de” and “estar ansioso por”?
I know that both 'estar ansioso de' and 'estar ansioso por' mean to be excited for something or looking forward to it, but how do I decide which one to use? Do the two have slightly different ...
1
vote
1answer
648 views
Translation of “take your time”
In English, when making a polite request, it's common to say "take your time" (to tell the other person there's no need to rush). What is the most natural translation of this into Spanish? Is this ...
5
votes
2answers
349 views
Translation of “how often” questions
What is the most idiomatic translation of "how often" into Spanish in questions like:
How often do the buses stop here?
How often does it rain in November?
How often do you get headaches?
How often ...
1
vote
2answers
187 views
Words for mountain/hill [closed]
English describes landforms that rise above the surrounding land as "mountains" or "hills." What words in Spanish describe a mountain or a hill? What are the differences between them (i.e. what size ...
3
votes
2answers
180 views
What is the difference between parece and pareciera?
What is the difference between parece que and pareciera que? How are both normally translated? What tenses can be used after pareciera que, and in general how is pareciera used?
3
votes
2answers
169 views
Translation of “thank goodness” or “whew!”
In English, if a bad situation seems imminent but is finally avoided, we might reply with an interjection like "Thank goodness!" or "Whew!". I know "Thank goodness!" has several possible translations ...
