Terms with the same or almost the same meaning in at least one of their senses.
12
votes
6answers
731 views
Is there a difference between “español” and “castellano”?
English
I always thought the two could be used interchangeably (meaning "the Spanish language"). But I recently got into an argument with someone where they insisted there was a difference (although ...
10
votes
1answer
133 views
Chorizo como sinónimo de ladrón
¿Por qué en España la palabra "chorizo" es coloquialmente usada para referirse a los ladrones?
10
votes
3answers
449 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
202 views
“Aún” vs. “todavía”, what's the difference?
Somebody just asked me to correct something, and I found that I changed one of their instances of todavía to aún. I didn't do this because todavía wouldn't have worked in the sentence, but rather ...
9
votes
4answers
252 views
How to decide between “ahora” and “ya” for the sense “now”?
I know that ya has additional meanings besides simply now, such as already.
But considering just the sense of ya which does mean now, when should I use it and when should I use ahora, which only has ...
9
votes
1answer
290 views
Words for “East” and “West” in Spanish?
The words I learned when beginning Spanish for east and west are este and oeste, which are basically cognates of their English equivalents.
But I've been told that there are other words to denote ...
8
votes
4answers
512 views
Waterfall: cascada vs. catarata
What is the difference between cascada and catarata as translations for the English "waterfall"? Are they synonyms, or is there a difference?
8
votes
2answers
338 views
Armpit: sobaco vs. axila
"Armpit" in English can be translated as either sobaco or axila in Spanish. Is each term used in different regions, or are they both used across the Spanish-speaking world? What is the difference, or ...
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 ...
8
votes
3answers
202 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
3answers
129 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
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 ...
7
votes
5answers
416 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, ...
6
votes
2answers
132 views
Alternativas a “irretrasable”
La vicepresidenta del Gobierno de España dijo recientemente "medidas irretrasables" que no existe en el español. Yo encuentro como sinónimos medidas inaplazables, medidas de imposible retraso. ¿Qué ...
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 ...
6
votes
5answers
959 views
What is the difference between allí and ahí (“there”)?
English
What is the difference between allí and ahí? Is there any difference in pronunciation between the two? Are there any contexts where one is correct and one is wrong, or are they completely ...
6
votes
2answers
222 views
What is the difference between different ways of expressing desire and intention?
I hear a lot of different ways to express the idea of wanting something or wanting to do something. What is the difference between them?
Yo quiero (algo o hacer algo o que pase algo)
Me gustaría ...
...
6
votes
1answer
203 views
Significados de Fama
Acabo de ver en Twitter a una persona utilizando la palabra Fama como sinónimo de Carnicería (donde uno compra la carne).
En Colombia está bien decir:
Voy a la fama a comprar churrasco.
Pero ...
5
votes
4answers
836 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
218 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?
5
votes
2answers
152 views
What is the difference between “Entrometido” and “Entremetido”?
The definition of entrometido in the rae just sends you to entremetido.
Is there a real difference between the two? And if there isn't then why are there two words with exactly the same meaning. ...
5
votes
1answer
108 views
Words for “size”
I know there are multiple words for size in Spanish, but I'm quite fuzzy on when to use them.
The two most common seem to be tamaño and talla, although in some contexts (like shoes), número seems ...
5
votes
2answers
117 views
How to choose between “carecer” and “faltar”?
I've always used "faltar" to mean "to lack, to be missing".
But in my reading I find that "carecer" seems to mean exactly the same.
When should I use the one or the other? Are there some ...
5
votes
3answers
176 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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
207 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
325 views
“Echar” vs “tirar” vs “lanzar” vs “arrojar” vs “disparar” (to throw)
The basic meaning of them all as I understand it is:
To throw
Disparar seems to pertain exclusively to shooting or throwing something for the sole purpose of harming (maybe to shoot is the best ...
5
votes
1answer
64 views
How are «parecer», «semejante», and «similar» used to express sameness?
What is the difference between different ways of expressing similarity? I see things like,
La niña parece a su hermana.
Compró dos vestidos semejantes.
Quiere una fiesta de cumpleaños similar a la ...
5
votes
2answers
158 views
Usage of “mueco” vs. “mellado” for “toothless”
The RAE does not have an entry for mueco or mueca, a term commonly used in Colombia to describe a toothless person. However, the expression hacer muecas is understood in the traditional sense as a ...
4
votes
2answers
478 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?
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Do “alborada”, “amanecer”, and “madrugada” refer to the same thing?
In English we have the two words "dawn" and "sunrise".
But in Spanish there are three words, "alborada", "amanecer", and "madrugada".
Do the three Spanish words refer to the same thing? Or is one ...
3
votes
3answers
450 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
421 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
2answers
147 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
375 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
148 views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre igual (adverbio) e igualmente?
Según la RAE, tanto igual como igualmente puede ser adverbio. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre los dos (con ese significado)? ¿Son sinónimos exactos, o se usan de maneras distintas?
2
votes
1answer
167 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
167 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
469 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
119 views
Synonyms for big (grande), as in volume?
I'm trying to find a proper synonym for "grande", as in the quality of three dimensional objects of occupying space, to use with a regular object, such as a "big dog". I'll explain my specific ...
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
134 views
“although” vs. “even though” vs. “though”
In English, there are three conjunctions that are very similar:
although
even though
though
Is aunque the only possible translation of these to Spanish, or are there similar synonyms in Spanish as ...
1
vote
3answers
32 views
Short form for “Indicaciones sobre la protección de datos”
As the title says, I need a short form for the phrase:
"Indicaciones sobre la protección de datos"
It shouldn't be longer than 3-4 words. Does anybody have an idea?
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Sinónimo de “una especie de” refiriéndose a un tipo o a una descripción no a la definición biológica
En un texto científico asumo que no es apropiado tratar de describir algo como:
X es una especie de resumen de los datos de entrada
No sé que sinónimo utilizar, quizá:
X puede ser visto como ...
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
104 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 ...
