How best to render a tricky Spanish word or expression in English or one from some language in Spanish.
7
votes
1answer
399 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
3answers
176 views
¿Cómo pedir la opinión de alguien?
¿Cómo se pide la opinión de alguien sobre un tema o actividad?
Por ejemplo, en ingles se dice:
What do you think about __________?
7
votes
1answer
518 views
¿Qué significa “cdta” en una receta?
En esta receta, se dice:
1 cdta. de polvo de hornear
1 cdta. de esencia de vainilla
Google traduce "1 cdta" como "tsp" (teaspoon) y también como "tbsp" (tablespoon). ¿Cuál es la correcta? ¿Y ...
7
votes
2answers
161 views
Is “remover” a good translation for “to remove”?
In the Internet I've often come across to internationalized websites where they have things like:
Remove file / Remover archivo
I always thought this translation may be done by someone who is ...
7
votes
1answer
216 views
“Ser” and “Estar”: Spanish vs. Portuguese
The English verb to be typically translates to either ser or estar in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Is there any instance in which the ser /estar distinction is different between Spanish and ...
7
votes
1answer
400 views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre honor y honra?
Hace poco me di cuenta de que existen dos palabras en español que equivalen a la palabra "honor" en inglés: honor y honra. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre estas dos palabras? ¿Cuál es más común?
7
votes
1answer
95 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
422 views
Condescendiente / Condescendant
Oh surprise, Condescendant has a very different meaning in English compared to Spanish.
Condescendant:
Assuming a tone of superiority or a patronizing attitude
Condescendiente:
adj. Que ...
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
265 views
What Spanish term (or terms) work best to describe a glass jar as used for coffee, jam, etc?
A bit earlier in the chat room I mentioned that I needed to buy a new jar of coffee, but that I didn't know how to express that in Spanish.
I want to know a good Spanish word for "jar" in the sense ...
6
votes
2answers
164 views
¿Cómo se dice la expresión “screen name”?
La traducción literal de "screen name" – un nombre de usuario para un servicio en línea – es "nombre de pantalla".
¿Se utiliza eso comúnmente? ¿O se utiliza otra frase en su lugar?
6
votes
4answers
160 views
What is the role of the “le” in the sentence “Miguel le dio a su novia un anillo.”?
The sentence "Miguel le dio a su novia un anillo." translates into
Miguel gave a ring to his girlfriend.
I would think that there would be no need for the "le", since the direct object (his ...
6
votes
4answers
153 views
Ironic constructions in Spanish
English
As part of my masters in linguistics, I am taking a course on the subject of irony. We were given examples of sentences that are most likely ironic, as the English sentence "he is not ...
6
votes
3answers
267 views
Translation of “bloody” etc. for frustration (colloquialisms)
A random question,
In English I use words like 'bloody', 'damn', 'darn', 'blimmin', 'bleedin', 'freaking', to express frustration without using harsh swear words. (Ok maybe 'freaking' is just a spin ...
6
votes
1answer
92 views
Polite terms for excrement
There are many vulgar terms for excrement, but what are the non-vulgar, polite ones (used in medical settings, or with children, or among adults in polite conversation)?
6
votes
4answers
8k views
Where did “pico de gallo” get its name?
Does pico de gallo (the type of salsa) literally translate as "rooster's beak"? If so, where did it get that name, and how does that describe the salsa?
6
votes
3answers
379 views
What is the most universal way to say “keep the change”?
Español
He escuchado unas pocas opiniones distintas para decir "quédate con el cambio" (es decir, lo que le dices a alguien a quien acabas de pagar cuando cuando quieres que se quede la diferencia ...
6
votes
3answers
319 views
Translation of “by the way”
In Spanish class I learned that the right way to say "by the way" in Spanish was a propósito, but I've recently seen it translated por cierto. How exactly are these two Spanish phrases used, and are ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
211 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
889 views
How do I say “You're making me hungry?”
A friend was describing some food she's making. I wanted to say "You're making me hungry" or "That makes me hungry." What's the proper way to say this?
My first thought was to say something like:
...
6
votes
5answers
168 views
What would be a good way to express “You can't get something out of nothing”?
There is a common statement—well, I least I've read quite a few times—that goes like this:
You can't get something out of nothing.
I would like to know if this sentence has a common translation ...
6
votes
3answers
340 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
1answer
139 views
¿Existe un equivalente en español para “foo”, “bar”, “baz”?
En programación es usual encontrar los términos foobar, foo, bar, baz y qux como variables metasintácticas (placeholders, en inglés) que sirven para referirse a variables, funciones o a comandos cuyo ...
6
votes
2answers
133 views
Traduccion para “as far as I can tell” / Translation for “as far as I can tell”
Español
Como hispanoparlante nativo y, yo considero, con un alto nivel en el manejo del Inglés, varias veces tengo dificultad para traducir expresiones de uso común y me acaba de pasar cuando quise ...
6
votes
2answers
477 views
Why does “bomba” mean so many different things?
The word bomba can translate to English as any of the following, depending on the region:
bomb
pump
spray
major piece of news
bubble
fire truck
fire station
gas station
plus a few more...
That ...
6
votes
2answers
720 views
How can I say “colmo” properly in English?
There is an expression in Spanish to denote something that is absurd or unexpected. Usually it can be the maximum expression of expertise and talent.
I wondered about this mainly because in Spanish ...
6
votes
2answers
174 views
Is there a standard, most common, or most neutral Spanish term for “chat room”?
Just earlier I was about to mention to somebody in Spanish that I was in a Stack Exchange chat room and I realized I didn't know how to say it in Spanish.
There's a bunch of words for "room":
...
6
votes
2answers
151 views
Translation: “so” to begin a sentence
So in English I often start sentences with the word 'so'. Often I do this when beginning an explanation, but there are heaps of other uses too, like when telling a story or when expecting an answer ...
6
votes
3answers
636 views
Regional usage and literal meaning of “¡No manches!”
The phrase ¡No manches! is quite common here in Mexico, and it's easy to tell from context when it ought to be used (similar to "No way!" in English), but what does it literally mean? And where is ...
6
votes
2answers
100 views
Analog to “sustainability”
I asked a question on english synonyms of "sustainability" alrady on ELU. In Spanish, dictionaries and ngrams give out several options:
Comparing with the english ngrams chart I conclude la ...
6
votes
2answers
714 views
Is there a translation for “cougar”?
I mean cougar as in a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man. I know the term asaltacunas, but this applies to both men and women, so I would like to know if there is a ...
6
votes
4answers
125 views
Is there a translation for “He thumbed his nose at them”?
In English if you "thumb your nose at someone" you are ignoring their authority..
Is there an expression in Spanish that conveys that same sort of disrespect?
Edit: adding example.
Many ...
6
votes
2answers
543 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
221 views
What does “La hora de los loros” mean?
"La hora de los loros" is an idiom in Spanish. I've seen it writing and heard it in conversation.
How would you say the equivalent in English? Not literally, but figuratively. Is there an ...
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".
...
5
votes
4answers
931 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
563 views
Translation of “cheesy”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English word "cheesy" (something inauthentic, trying too hard to be funny, cheap, shabby, etc.)?
5
votes
6answers
204 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
71 views
To remark that / faire remarquer: “advertir”?
What about that word now? "Advertir"
I always wondered how to translate "faire remarquer" from french or "to remark that" (sthg, to sb) from english, in spanish.
Would "Advertir" do the job?
5
votes
8answers
843 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?
5
votes
4answers
154 views
How to say “the payment cleared”?
I want to tell a friend that his credit card payment for an airline ticket went through (or was approved). How do I say that?
(In case your wondering why he doesn't call and ask himself, it's a ...
5
votes
3answers
215 views
Translations of 'anyway'
I spoke with a friend that I haven't spoken to in a long time. He started with a question about a test he is having. After I answered the question, I wanted to ask him:
"How have you been anyway?"
...
5
votes
3answers
172 views
How would you properly say this sentence in Spanish?
"I could not decide what to wear for Halloween last year."
I was told "No podía decidir qué ponerse para Halloween el año pasado..." but I think this sentence can be contracted down some. Help?
5
votes
1answer
144 views
What would be a good way of expressing “Es un placer haber sido de utilidad.”?
English
How can I translate the phrase "Es un placer haber sido de utilidad."? What ways sound most natural?
Thanks.
Español
Cómo puedo traducir la frase "Es un placer haber sido de utilidad."? ...
5
votes
2answers
232 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
147 views
Counterpart of “John Doe, Joe Public”?
In English these names are used as a substitute for the average guy. Or as a specimen when filling out a passport form.
What names/expressions are used in Spanish for this purpose?
5
votes
2answers
76 views
Translation of “How far back?” in the context of time
How would I say "How far back do they want me to go?" The context of the question is that I was filling out an application where they wanted my work history. I was attempting to ask the person ...
5
votes
1answer
114 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
3answers
128 views
Blob in computer vision
I would like to find a good translation for the term "blob" as used regularly in computer vision, when describing a rough outline of the tracking element as a result of a segmentation algorithm.
I ...
