Determining the best possible word to express a concept among several choices.
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
144 views
Translation of “settling in”
In English, "to settle in" describes what someone does after moving in to a new place or returning from a long vacation:
I just got back, I'm still settling in.
We moved last week! It will be ...
3
votes
2answers
833 views
Translation of “bowl”
I have heard many different translations for bowl (the dish) in different Spanish-speaking countries. What words are normally used to translate "bowl"? Which is most universally understood? What ...
3
votes
2answers
111 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? ...
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
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Translation of “let me know”
I use the phrase "let me know" all the time in English. For example:
Just let me know when you're free.
Could you let me know whether you can come tomorrow?
If you have any questions, just let me ...
3
votes
4answers
282 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 ...
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.
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Most accurate translation of “possum”
What is the most universal Spanish word to describe a possum? What regional variations exist? Does the translation refer specifically to the same animal as the English word, or does it cover a larger ...
3
votes
3answers
444 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Responding to an apology (no problem, don't worry about it, etc.)
What are the common ways of responding to an apology? In English, if someone says "Sorry I didn't/couldn't do (whatever)" (or simply bumps into you accidentally and says "sorry") we'd say things like:
...
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?
3
votes
2answers
158 views
¿Cuál es la palabra correcta, “membresía” o “membrecía”?
Cual es la forma correcta de escribir la siguiente palabra: MEMBRESÍA o MEMBRECÍA, según las normas de la Real Academia de la Lengua Española para el año actual (2013). Por favor incluir referencias ...
3
votes
2answers
115 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
240 views
Translation of “be nice” (said to children)
In English, if children are misbehaving, someone might correct them by saying, "Be nice!" How is this normally said in Spanish?
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Differences between “preocupado” and “molesto?”
They can both mean troubled or worried, based on my reading of Google Translate. But are there subtle differences in usage or context between them?
3
votes
2answers
147 views
Difference between vegetales and verduras? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Vegetable”: verdura vs. vegetal
My understanding is that they can both refer to "vegetables." But verduras also translates into "greens." So what's the ...
3
votes
2answers
181 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
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 ...
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 ...
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
...
3
votes
1answer
356 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?
3
votes
1answer
131 views
shy: tímido vs. reservado vs. vergonzoso vs. penoso
In many parts of the Spanish-speaking world, describing a person who is "shy" can be done with at least four different words:
tímido
reservado
vergonzoso
penoso
What is the difference between ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Is there a name for the inner part of the elbow?
Is there a name in Spanish for the inner part of the elbow (on the opposite side of the part we call "elbow")? If not, how would it best be described?
3
votes
1answer
302 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. ...
3
votes
1answer
691 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
261 views
Translation of “personal statement”
What phrase in Spanish is used to describe a "personal statement" (i.e. a short essay composed for a college application, for example)?
3
votes
2answers
411 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
90 views
judging something as poor (objectively) , bad (emotionally)
In GLU we had a question on difference between schlimm-schlecht (bad-poor). My rule of thumb was:
use bad if something feels bad, affects you emotionally in a negative sense
use poor to judge ...
3
votes
2answers
61 views
Names of Wedding Reception and Ceremony in Mexico
How do Mexican's refer to the wedding ceremony and the celebration following the wedding? I am attending a Mexican wedding and would like to refer to these events properly.
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Counterpart of “gutter language”
In German we use Gossensprache, in English gutter language seems to be the most common synonym, but my dictionaries don't show me a spanish word for the language/jargon (often vulgar) spoken by ...
2
votes
3answers
316 views
Latinoamérica, Hispanoamérica, or Sudamérica?
Latinoamérica, Hispanoamérica, Sudamérica or other?
For someone living in Venezuela or Chile, for example, what term would I be most likely to hear to describe countries south of the US?
The terms ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views
Greetings for presents and cards
What phrases and greetings can you use for christmas presents / cards? Are there "general purpose" phrases which can be used for presents which are used the whole year, like an iPod?
For example:
...
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 ...
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
607 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
502 views
Translation of “What goes around comes around”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English idiom, What goes around comes around?
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)?
2
votes
3answers
201 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?
2
votes
3answers
968 views
Ways to express “to get ready” or “to get dressed”
What verbs in Spanish are used to express the concept of "getting ready" or "getting dressed" (for example, before leaving the house to go out to dinner)? I've seen alistarse, arreglarse, prepararse, ...
2
votes
3answers
101 views
Translation of “CD” and “DVD”
What are the possibilities for translating "CD" (Compact Disc) and "DVD" (Digital Video/Versatile Disc) into Spanish?
2
votes
2answers
359 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
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
3answers
477 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
3answers
202 views
Translation of “raw milk”
How do I refer to raw (unpastuerized) milk in Spanish?
Leche cruda is the obvious translation, but I have learned that cruda and raw have some different uses and subtleties about them.
And I know ...
2
votes
3answers
193 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
1answer
161 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?
