Determining the best possible word to express a concept among several choices.
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Translation of “range” (as in age range)
Is there a simple translation of the English "range" as in the phrase "age range"? If not, how would "age range" best be translated?
0
votes
2answers
139 views
Translation of “a simple vista”
What is the most idiomatic English translation of the Spanish phrase a simple vista? Does it mean "at first glance," or does another expression fit better?
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Translation of “contra viento y marea”
What is the most idiomatic English translation of the Spanish phrase contra viento y marea?
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
262 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
7k views
¿Cómo se dice, “a caso” o “acaso”?
En español, cual de las dos siguiente es la forma correcta para hacer la pregunta:
¿A caso estuviste ahí?
o se debe de decir:
¿Acaso estuviste ahí?
4
votes
2answers
320 views
Translation of “to talk behind someone's back”
What is the typical Spanish translation of the English idiom "to talk behind someone's back" (as in saying something bad about another person to others instead of to them directly)?
1
vote
2answers
84 views
Translation of “to play favorites”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English idiom "to play favorites" (as in favoring individuals in a group instead of treating everyone equally)?
2
votes
2answers
361 views
Proper response to “con permiso”
When someone says con permiso, for example when squeezing through a crowd, what is the appropriate response? For example, in English we might say something like "sorry" or "go ahead."
2
votes
2answers
77 views
Why is “por” prefered to “para” in the example within?
From Shakira's Suerte:
Yo puedo escalar los Andes solo
Por ir a contar tus lunares
Why is por preferable to para in this case. If one translation of para is roughly "for the purpose of", ...
4
votes
1answer
236 views
Names of mythical beings/creatures
Another question I asked made me realize that English has many names for mythical beings. Many of these can refer to both a historical myth or superstition as well as a more modern definition (in ...
2
votes
3answers
80 views
video vs. grabación
What is the difference between video and grabación? In other words, what types of "videos" does each describe? Which of the two would best describe a video recorded using a home video recorder or ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
Translating “wait until” or “wait for”
How do you translate phrases involving wait until or wait for:
Wait until I call you before you leave for the restaurant.
Wait for me to come home before you buy the tickets.
You should ...
4
votes
2answers
475 views
“Vegetable”: verdura vs. vegetal
What is the difference between verduras and vegetales? In what situations can one be used as a translation for "vegetables" and the other cannot?
0
votes
1answer
177 views
Speakers' location in determining venir vs. ir
In English, we use the word "come" very loosely (at least in day-to-day spoken English):
Want to come over to my place later?
Can I come over to your house for New Years'?
Can you come meet me at ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Translating “I'm sorry for your loss”
What is the most natural way in Spanish to say "I'm sorry for your loss," as in what you would say to someone grieving over a departed relative or friend (or even the loss of a job)?
3
votes
3answers
448 views
Other spanish synonyms to “Banana”
I remember reading in high school that the word la banana is actually a different word in several different countries. Is this true? If so what are the other similar/equivalent Spanish words for la ...
0
votes
1answer
428 views
Translating “for the rest of the day”
What is the best way to translate the phrase "for the rest of the day" into Spanish, as in the following examples:
I'm tired, I think I want to stay home for the rest of the day.
Do you think it ...
5
votes
2answers
479 views
When does sólo have an accent?
When does the word solo have an accent (tilde) on the first o (sólo)? When does it not?
2
votes
1answer
373 views
reserva vs. reservación
What is the difference between reserva and reservación (as in a reservation that you would make at a restaurant)? Do the two words mean the same thing? Which is used in what parts of the ...
0
votes
1answer
112 views
caja vs. cajón vs. estuche
"Box" in English can be translated into Spanish as caja, cajón, or estuche. What exactly is the difference between these three words? What types of boxes are translated as each? Which would best ...
5
votes
2answers
206 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
318 views
Most common translation of “Happy New Year!”
Is "Happy New Year!" more commonly translated as "¡Feliz Año Nuevo!" or "¡Próspero Año Nuevo!"? Are the two basically synonyms, or is there a difference between the two?
3
votes
1answer
305 views
se pronoun in “no fault constructions”
One page I recently ran across discusses the concept of "no fault constructions" or verbs that use se in such a way to describe an action as taking place apart from the person who caused the action. ...
2
votes
2answers
704 views
Equivalent of “To whom it may concern:”
When writing formal letters in English where there is no named recipient (for example, a job application sent to a Human Resources department, or a letter sent to an organization in general as opposed ...
2
votes
3answers
206 views
Translating “Thanks in advance”
In letters or emails, I often end by saying "Thanks in advance," thanking the recipient in advance for whatever I am requesting. Is there an equivalent phrase in Spanish that is used in the same way?
7
votes
4answers
221 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
284 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
137 views
Packing material vocabulary
In English, there are quite a few words to describe materials used to pad and insulate packages that are being shipped from one place to another:
packing peanuts or foam peanuts are individual ...
3
votes
2answers
417 views
What is the difference between “enfrente” and “frente”?
I was writing today and while editing I stumbled with this problem. Both words can be used but then again I didn't know the difference between them.
When should I use one over the other and ...
4
votes
5answers
671 views
Expressing past belief (creí vs. creía vs. pensé vs. pensaba)
When expressing in Spanish something that you believed or thought in the past, there are four options:
Creí que ...
Creía que ...
Pensé que ...
Pensaba que ...
I learned that creía que was the ...
0
votes
2answers
422 views
Translating “Me la paso pensándote”
In Wisin y Yandel's "Estoy Enamorado," the chorus contains the following line:
Me la paso pensándote, nunca voy a soltarte
What does "Me la paso pensándote" mean? Is "me" a reflexive or indirect ...
6
votes
2answers
794 views
What does the “lo” in “pasarlo bien” refer to?
The phrase pasarlo bien means something like "to have a good time" in sentences like, "Lo pasamos muy bien anoche." What does the "lo" in this phrase refer to? Does it replace an actual noun, or is it ...
3
votes
1answer
722 views
“pensando en ti” vs. “pensando de ti” vs. “pensándote”
When using the verb pensar to describe thinking about a person, there are at least three options:
Estoy pensando en ti.
Estoy pensando de ti.
Estoy pensándote.
What are the differences between ...
0
votes
2answers
103 views
Words for “grave”: tumba vs. sepultura
English has several words for burial places, many of which have specific, distinct meanings:
grave
tomb
vault
crypt
mausoleum
sepulcher
As far as I know, Spanish has at least two words for ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Translating “paying one's (final) respects”
In English, if someone visits a grave or goes to a funeral of someone who has died, we can say he is going "to pay his respects" or "to pay his last respects." While it's hard to explain what this ...
5
votes
2answers
270 views
Different words for “stop”
In English, we have a fairly generic verb "to stop" that can be used in many different contexts. For example:
Stop talking to me!
The driver saw the red light and stopped his car.
You really need to ...
6
votes
1answer
498 views
Choosing between 'sobre' and 'acerca de'
Is there a significant difference between "sobre" and "acerca de", when the intent is to describe the topic of something?
Where is "acerca de" a better choice than "sobre", and vice-versa?
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Indicative vs. subjunctive in “no importa qué dice el destino”
If I'm hearing it correctly, there's a line in Carlos Baute's "Colgando En Tus Manos" that says:
No importa qué dice el destino.
I thought that sentence should be expressed:
No importa qué ...
4
votes
1answer
115 views
Translating “break” (during work)
In the US, it is common for workers to take a half-hour or hour lunch break in the middle of the day, plus two ten or fifteen minute breaks in the morning and afternoon. Spanish has many words that ...
4
votes
2answers
549 views
Translating “How long does it take to get from <here> to <there>?”
What is the most natural and common way to ask how much time it takes to get from one location to another? For example:
How long does it take to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City?
How long does it ...
7
votes
1answer
347 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
155 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
221 views
Difference between 'trabajar para' and 'trabajar por'
I know the difference between por and para, but I'm confused by these particular usages. I've seen both of them in various places. 'Trabajar para' seems to mean to work for, whereas 'trabajar por' ...
5
votes
5answers
205 views
Computer science, software engineer/developer, and programmer
When visiting Spanish-speaking countries, I've been told various ways to translate these terms:
Computer Science (as in a university degree program)
Software Engineer
Software Developer
Programmer
...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Are there any differences between “de nada” and “por nada”?
Most of the time in all the Spanish speaking countries I've been in I've heard de nada as the reply to gracias or the equivalent of English you're welcome etc.
But after a while I became conscious ...
13
votes
4answers
758 views
I forgot how to say “I forgot”
Okay, so I didn't really forget how to say it... I just wanted a clever question title.
In my Spanish class I was taught that olvidarse is reflexive:
Me olvidé (de la cita).
Me olvidé (las ...
6
votes
2answers
219 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
712 views
Translating “young man” and “young woman”
In English, we use the phrases "young man" and "young woman" to refer to a person (usually an adolescent) who is older than a "boy" or "girl" but younger than an "adult." It generally indicates ...
4
votes
2answers
81 views
Usage of “millar” vs “millón”
First the context. There are two similar words that cannot be confused:
Millar → Conjunto de mil unidades. → Set of one thousand elements.
Millón ...
