How best to render a tricky Spanish word or expression in English or one from some language in Spanish.
-3
votes
0answers
35 views
Can someone please check this letter [closed]
Querido Señor/Señora,
He estado tratando de contactar con Ms A. Jimenez pero aún sin éxito. Ahora hay sólo un día a la izquierda para llenar el formulario de solicitud ERASMUS pero yo todavía ...
9
votes
2answers
121 views
How does one say “It's not nothing.”
In English, we can express the idea that something is not negative, such as:
A: What's in the box?
B: Oh, nothing.
A: It's not nothing!
In English, the double negative (not and nothing) ...
4
votes
6answers
189 views
How to translate “if any”?
I'm translating a text and have a doubt. It says:
Please add a copy of [some specific papers] (if any).
I could mix up the sentence and say: "Si existen [...], añade una copia, por favor."
But ...
4
votes
2answers
104 views
What is the meaning of “palabra” in this context?
I came across this sentence while reading, and the use of 'palabra' doesn't make sense to me:
Y no es que quiera irme; palabra.
Although it brings up connotations of the very slang usage of word ...
4
votes
2answers
113 views
To “have been told”
English
I am often unsure how to translate the phrase to have been told into Spanish. For example, "I have been told that...". I normally translate that phrase to "Se me ha dicho que...", but I am ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
List it or List this
Me gustaría saber cómo podría traducirse Lístalo. He pensando en List it y en List this pero no estoy seguro de cuál es la correcta (si acaso alguna lo es).
Gracias.
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Ending a formal letter / Terminar una carta formal
English
When writing a formal letter in English, I would normally end with something along the lines of
I look forward to hearing from you [soon|as soon as possible|at your earliest convenience].
...
2
votes
3answers
164 views
Is “Esas cestas son hechas de mano” correct?
I want to say "These baskets are made by hand". Is it correct to say:
Esas cestas son hechas de mano.
2
votes
3answers
113 views
Best Spanish translation for “Visit Google Maps for [address]”
What’s the best Spanish translation for “Visit Google Maps for [address]” or “Look up [address] on Google Maps”? (Of course, [address] is supposed to be replaced by any street address.)
If it helps, ...
2
votes
4answers
85 views
On the fly / sobre la marcha
Still with software science translations.. Now I'm coming to you with this expression that have always bothered me: "on the fly"
How the hood would you translate that elegantly to spanish?
It feels ...
3
votes
6answers
165 views
Proper way to express the time of a flight
I need to say "My flight is at 10". I can imagine several translations:
Mi vuelo esta a las 10.
Mi vuelo es a las 10.
Mi vuelo sale a las 10.
Yo vuelo a las 10.
Are any of these ...
5
votes
2answers
107 views
Colloquial translation of 'make it up' (to someone)
I've been trying to translate the english idea of 'making it up to someone'.
When you couldn't go to a birthday party or you broke a vase in your friends mums house and you say to them:
No, I'm ...
3
votes
4answers
154 views
Meaning of “andar de vago(a)”
I have heard this phrase, and several similar around the word "vago", but I don't really understand what it means.
The word "vago" seems to translate directly to "vague"... But what does this sort of ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Remind me to give it to you
Which, if either, of these are correct for "Remind me to give it to you".
Recuérdeme dártelo.
Recuérdeme que te lo dé.
1
vote
1answer
54 views
how to translate the software specific expression “how to” in Castellano?
There's something in software or websites that is called a "how-to" section, it is like a frequently asked questions (faq) section but with a content closer to be a tutorial of how to do something in ...
3
votes
3answers
60 views
How to translate “News Junkie” to Spanish?
Does anyone know what would be the right translation of the term "news junkie" to Spanish?
Or a term which better fits as most used translation for it?
6
votes
5answers
157 views
Equivalent phrase for the modern english 'Moot Point'?
Although the origins of 'moot point', appear to have the opposite meaning,
I'm wondering does anybody have a short phrase in Spanish for the modern meaning:
something irrelevant or not valid for ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
Differences between “razón de,” “razón por la que,” and “razón para”
I think I've heard three ways of translating "the reason [something happened]" or "the reason [for something]":
la razón para
la razón de
la razón por la que
What is the difference between these ...
5
votes
8answers
828 views
How would you translate the word “badass” to Spanish?
I was thinking maybe of "cabrón" or "chingon" ; however I think those two sound too Mexican specific. Does anybody know a better and less region specific equivalent?
2
votes
2answers
129 views
How can you translate the word “whatsoever” to spanish?
I've been struggling to find an accurate expression that translates to Spanish the word "whatsoever".
4
votes
3answers
101 views
Cómo decir “college dropout”?
Aparentemente no hay una traducción exacta del frase inglés "college dropout" ... la mejor que podria encontrar es "estudiante que abandona la universidad antes de graduarse", cual me parece ...
2
votes
3answers
61 views
Translation of “audio signalling”
How do I translate "audio signalling of each detected particle"
I was trying:
Señalización de audio para cada particula detectada
or
Señalamiento con audio para cada particula detectada
...
3
votes
2answers
131 views
What is the abbreviation for World War II?
¿Cómo se acorta la frase "II Guerra Mundial"?
How do we shorten the phrase "World War II" in Spanish?
We could say "II Guerra Mundial" or "IIGM". Is that standard?
It came up since I was writing ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
How to translate “surface contamination”
I want to translate a phrase:
Evaluation of surface contamination by beta radionuclides.
I have
Evaluación de contaminación en superficies provocada por radio
nucleótidos beta
I do not ...
2
votes
3answers
127 views
How to say “later”
I know there are different ways to translate "later," depending on context.
más tarde
después
luego
entonces
en otra ocasión
And perhaps others?
How can I decide which translation of "later" to ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
“Decoded” Fashion ?
There is a computer programming event next week, "Decoded Fashion". I had write (in Spanish) that I was going to this event.
I found two translations on Google translate: descodificar descifrar.
...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Coming “down” or “up” (traveling from one place to another)
In English (at least US English), it is common to use "up" and "down" when giving directions. For example:
When are you coming down to visit us?
I went up to see him for the weekend.
The "up" and ...
1
vote
4answers
111 views
Spanish words for cake, pie, pastry, etc
English has several specific words for different types of sweet, baked products:
cake
pie
pastry
tart
torte
cobbler
Does Spanish have the same level of detail for describing these sweets? What ...
5
votes
2answers
132 views
Can Spanish distinguish between “lonely” and “alone”?
I learned that solo in Spanish means both "alone" (the simple fact of not having anyone else around) and "lonely" (feeling sad because of being alone). Is there any way of distinguishing between these ...
7
votes
1answer
94 views
How to write “if this happened, I would have done this”?
I'm quite new to subjuntive and the conditional tense.
If I want to write: If I had been rich, I would have bought a car.
Is this correct:
Si yo hubiera sido rico, compraría un coche.
Or should ...
4
votes
2answers
61 views
How to translate “quiver”? (mathematics)
In mathematics a quiver is a multidigraph. It is a directed graph that allows multiple arrows and loops. The non-mathematical Wikipedia article on the quiver, corresponds to the Spanish article on ...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Noun and adjective word order and meaning of “atomic power engineering sites” in Spanish
I am reading a product description and I want to translate it:
The dosimeter may be used at atomic power engineering sites, physics laboratories, health care organizations as an electronic ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
¿Cómo se dice “Christmas caroling” en español?
Creo que la palabra mejor para "Christmas carol" es villancicos, pero ¿hay una forma como verbo?
Por ejemplo, en inglés se puede decir:
We are going Christmas Caroling tonight at 8.
Pero en ...
10
votes
5answers
630 views
How do you say “I got you!” in spanish
If I threw a snowball (or dodgeball) at someone and it hit them, how would I say "I got you!" in spanish?
4
votes
4answers
248 views
¿Existe la palabra “modularizar” en español?
En ciencias computacionales es común utilizar el término "modularizar", para denotar algo que se divide en módulos (herencia del inglés "modularize").
Sin embargo, mi procesador de textos (Word) no ...
4
votes
1answer
118 views
Spanish words for couple, few, handful, several, etc
In English, there are various words to express a small quality of something:
a couple (two of something)
a few (a small number, maybe around 3-5)
a handful (another vague expression for a small ...
7
votes
1answer
381 views
¿Cómo empezar una carta de manera formal/oficial?
Tengo que escribir una carta formal y quiero escribir de la misma manera y con el mismo respeto que en inglés (dear sir, dear madam), son dos personas que no son parientes pero quiero ser cortés con ...
7
votes
2answers
165 views
¿Qué significa “la tercera edad”?
Una amiga me dijo:
Estoy a cargo de mamá que es una señora de la tercera edad.
¿Qué significa "la tercera edad"?
2
votes
1answer
57 views
How to express the concept “for each disctinct grouping of column value combinations” in spanish
ENGLISH
I am translating a line of text
"for each disctinct grouping of column value combinations"
I came with
"para cada grupo distinto de combinaciones de valores por columna"
but I ...
2
votes
2answers
63 views
How to translate Extensibility mechanisms
I have a title in english
SQL extensibility mechanisms
Which would be a good spanish translation?
Cual sería la mejor traducción para ese titulo?
5
votes
1answer
68 views
Translate something that is in a fashion way
English
I have a line of text thats describes something that can be done in a fashion way, How would you translate it to Spanish?
This allow the user to extend scalar data type system in an
...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
Scientific concept into spanish issue
I have the definition of a mathematical model in english and I have translated it, but I do not think is correct, I can not figure it out how to translate a littel part of it...
can you please ...
4
votes
2answers
150 views
¿Es correcto decir “esto no tiene sentido”?
Es muy común la frase en inglés "this does not make any sense" para indicar que algo es ilógico o incoherente.
La pregunta es, es correcto decir "esto no tiene sentido" para indicar lo mismo, o es un ...
10
votes
2answers
115 views
¿Hay una mejor traducción para up-vote y down-vote que voto positivo y voto negativo?
En StackOverflow y la red StackExchange, existe el concepto de upvote y downvote, que todos usamos diariamente para calificar las preguntas y respuestas que encontramos en los sitios de la red.
No ...
6
votes
3answers
332 views
“Unsanded Grout” in Spanish
I read about unsanded grout in a DIY blog and want to buy it. But I don't know how to translate that to spanish. What is it called in Spanish or Castellano?
6
votes
2answers
208 views
“a propósito” vs “de paso” to say “by the way”
How do you say "by the way" in Spanish, as in:
By the way, what's your name?
By the way, where do you live now?
By the way, I met Javier the other day ...
Google Translate shows a ...
4
votes
3answers
141 views
Better translation of the word 'estafa" in reference to a female
I heard a women described as "una estafa" in Spanish (from Spain) and my translation is roughly "a fraud". So, beyond being a fraud, does the speaker mean anything else in regards to her ...
6
votes
2answers
528 views
Translation of “checking in” and “following up” (on/with someone)
In English, there are two related phrases that I haven't found an idiomatic Spanish translation for: "to check in (on someone)" and "to follow up (with someone)."
Some examples of what I mean:
I ...
4
votes
5answers
327 views
Translation of “guilt trip”
How can I translate the concept of a "guilt trip" into Spanish? The Free Dictionary provides this definition:
guilt trip
n. Informal
A usually prolonged feeling of guilt or culpability.
...
5
votes
3answers
172 views
Coffee with legs / The cafe with legs
So there's an infamous coffee shop in Santiago which goes by the name Café con piernas.
Everywhere I've seen, including the Wikipedia article linked above, it's translated as "coffee with legs".
...
