How best to render a tricky Spanish word or expression in English or one from some language in Spanish.
4
votes
4answers
76 views
Translation needed for “school board”
Is there a Spanish word for school board? If so, what would the translation be?
4
votes
1answer
233 views
Why does “mostrar a” mean “to show” and not “to show to”?
Tengo una biblia bilingüe. En el 14 capítulo de Juan, cuenta así una conversación entre Jesús y uno de su discípulos:
--Señor-- dijo Felipe--, muéstranos al Padre y con eso nos basta.
...
4
votes
1answer
159 views
Any rhyme or reason to the names of playing cards?
Playing cards A-10 are named expectedingly, As, followed by dos through diez. But the Jack, Queen and King are called (at least in my experience):
Jota
Qüina
Rey
I can understand calling a card ...
4
votes
2answers
95 views
Why “fiestas de árboles” and not “árboles de fiestas”?
I encountered the expression "fiestas de árboles" in a song by a Chilean singer whose lyrics are:
Tus ojos son fiestas de árboles, son mi ventana.
Son estrellas que guían mi caravana.
Google ...
4
votes
2answers
162 views
Translation of “Under Pressure” — Queen song title
Today I heard Under Pressure by Queen on the radio. After the song, the DJ announced the song as Alta Presión. That sounds more to me like "High Pressure" than "Under Pressure." I would have ...
4
votes
2answers
108 views
What would be a good translation of “becario”?
Let me explain myself, the official definition is "scholarship holder", but in some places it is a position in a company, sometimes is a pro bono position but most of the times is an entry level job.
4
votes
3answers
233 views
Translating “I'm bad with [remembering] something”
In English, you can say:
I'm horrible with names.
I'm bad with faces.
I'm really bad with directions.
What is the most natural way in Spanish of expressing that you are bad at remembering ...
4
votes
2answers
60 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 ...
4
votes
5answers
296 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.
...
4
votes
2answers
59 views
Sostenernos de una sombra
Spanish
Significado difícil: "sostenernos de una sombra". ¿Se refiere a una sustancia superior?
English
Difficult meаning: "sostenernos de una
sombra". Is it said about а superior substance?
...
4
votes
2answers
134 views
Is there an idiomatic equivalent in Spanish for “to have other fish to fry”
Is there an idiomatic equivalent in Spanish for “to have other fish to fry”?
have other fish to fry: "To have more important things to do"
In the two romance languages I am familiar with, this ...
4
votes
1answer
499 views
What's the best way to say “perífrasis verbal” in English?
"Perífrasis verbal" seems to be used pretty consistently at least in some references to refer to grammatical constructions like ir a.
But I'm not sure if it's a set grammatical or linguistic term, ...
4
votes
1answer
70 views
How to refer to a specific decade in Spanish? eg. the 1960's
In English, when you want to refer to a specific decade you simply pluralize the year:
the nineteen-sixties (written 1960's) OR the nineteen-tens (written 1910's)
Granted, referring to the first ...
4
votes
1answer
95 views
“Mariscal de campo” for “quarterback”
The American football position of quarterback is sometimes translated to Spanish as mariscal de campo (literally field marshal) It does not seem like this is the official translation since RAE limits ...
3
votes
6answers
163 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
636 views
Translation of “awkward” (as in “an awkward situation”)
In English, the word "awkward" can be used to describe a situation that is uncomfortable and embarrassing (but neither word seems to fully describe what "awkward" describes). What is the best ...
3
votes
4answers
703 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 ...
3
votes
5answers
131 views
Translation of 'I was the one who did it'
What's the correct way to translate 'I was the one who did it'? By a literal translation it would be:
Yo fui el que lo hizo.
However, I know in Spanish the verb is often made to agree with the ...
3
votes
3answers
191 views
Translating “Help!” (interjection)
In English, if there is any kind of emergency or urgent assistance needed, we use the interjection, "Help!" In Spanish I've seen several:
¡Socorro!
¡Auxilio!
¡Ayuda! or ¡Ayúdame!
Which of these is ...
3
votes
3answers
185 views
Various translations of “ticket”
The English word ticket (that is, a slip of paper used to grant access to something) can be translated several different ways in Spanish:
boleto
pasaje
billete
ticket
entrada
resguardo
What are ...
3
votes
3answers
326 views
Connotations of “mortal” (slang)
What does the Spanish word mortal mean when used as slang? Does it have a positive or negative connotation towards the thing being described?
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
848 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
4answers
126 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
61 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.
3
votes
2answers
343 views
¿Cómo se dice, “How's it going”?
En inglés, se puede utilizar la expresión, "How's it going?" como una manera de preguntar cómo está alguien.
La frase es informal y tiene un significado similar al "¿Cómo estás?"
Sin embargo, cuando ...
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
3answers
125 views
How translate “MD5 checksum”?
En una aplicación estan las las siguientes listas:
Size:
Modified:
Contents:
Points to:
MD5 checksum:
Yo trascribí las tres primeras pero las dos últimas no sé a que pueden hacer referencia.
...
3
votes
2answers
75 views
Can someone help deconstruct the sentence “Hicieron usted su tarea para hoy?”
A possible translation of the sentence "Hicieron usted su tarea para hoy?" could be:
Did you do your homework (for) today?
That said, hicieron is the preterit of hacer for third person plural, ...
3
votes
5answers
117 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
5answers
187 views
Is there a colloquial Spanish equivalent for “to get it” in the sense of grasping a concept?
I was just writing in our chat room that I didn't "get" what one of the other questions was trying to ask.
But I was writing in the chat room in Spanish and realized I didn't know how to say "get" in ...
3
votes
1answer
361 views
How to Translate “Sabor A Mi” into English
"Sabor a Mi" is the title of a song in Spanish.
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/los_panchos/sabor_a_mi.html
Usually, sabor is a noun. But in this context, it seems to be used more like a verb. ...
3
votes
2answers
126 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
116 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
286 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
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
335 views
bastante: enough or too much?
I have seen bastante translated as enough, plenty, or even too much. What range of meanings does bastante have? How can you determine whether it means just enough or too much?
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
72 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 ...
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
171 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
244 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
2answers
93 views
Are nonsensical lyrics common in Spanish lyrics?
Based on the answer given to my other question, I'd like to know if it's common to have completely nonsensical lyrics in Spanish music. I know English music has some ridiculous lyrics, but generally ...
3
votes
3answers
57 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?
3
votes
3answers
116 views
Translation of “church planting” vocabulary
In Protestant circles, the process of starting a new church is often referred to as "planting." I haven't found a translation for this in dictionaries I've looked in, and haven't really heard a ...
