How best to render a tricky Spanish word or expression in English or one from some language in Spanish.
2
votes
1answer
91 views
justicia: justice and righteousness?
In the Spanish Bible, I believe the English "justice" and "righteousness" are both translated as justicia. Is justicia the only word that can translate both of these terms? Is there any way to know ...
1
vote
1answer
102 views
plan: plano vs. plan
The English "plan" can be translated into Spanish as plan or plano. What is the difference between plan and plano, and when would each one be used?
2
votes
1answer
214 views
Software environments (development, testing, staging, production)
In software engineering, there are often multiple "environments" the codebase exists in:
development
testing or qa
staging
production
What is the Spanish term used for "environment," and how are ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
Translation of “Great!”
In English, the interjection "Great!" can be used to respond to almost any statement. In Spanish, I've heard a few similar interjections:
¡Qué bien!
¡Qué bueno!
¡Está bien!
¡Está bueno!
I've ...
3
votes
1answer
251 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
139 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
899 views
Words for boat, ship, and other seafaring vessels
In English, we have many words to describe the different types of vessels that travel on water:
boat
ship
yacht
dinghy
canoe
kayak
raft
watercraft
vessel
sailboat
barge
catamaran
lifeboat/liferaft
...
2
votes
1answer
320 views
Does pelón/pelona mean bald or hairy?
I have heard pelón (or the feminine pelona) used to both refer to someone who has no hair and someone who has a lot of hair. Is there any way of distinguishing whether pelón means bald or hairy, or is ...
1
vote
1answer
325 views
Translation of “too good to be true”
In English, we say something is "too good to be true" to express that apparently amazing deals or benefits generally aren't real. Is there an equivalent phrase in Spanish?
3
votes
2answers
142 views
Translation of “I have a feeling…”
What's the best way to translate "I have a feeling..."
This is not feeling as in feeling happy/sad etc, but instead more of an instinct/idea/guess.
Eg.
I have a feeling that someone here knows ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Translating “to open up” and “closed” (revealing feelings to another)
In English, "to open (oneself) up to someone" describes someone who shares their feelings and emotions with another person as opposed to someone who is "closed" and keeps their feelings to themselves?
...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
Translating “kind words” (as in “Thank you for your kind words.”)
In English if someone complements you or expresses their gratitude for something you've done, you can respond with something like, "Thank you for your kind words."
What Spanish phrase would best ...
3
votes
1answer
276 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)?
8
votes
4answers
545 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
361 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Translation of “garden shears”
Garden shears (pruning shears) are specialized scissors used in gardening. Loppers are a bigger, two-handed version used to cut larger branches. Are there specific terms in Spanish to refer to these ...
1
vote
2answers
138 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
1answer
514 views
Translation of “llevar a cabo”
What does the Spanish phrase llevar a cabo mean in English? What are the most common translations of the phrase into English?
1
vote
1answer
131 views
Efficient: eficiente vs. eficaz
The English "efficient" can be translated as either eficiente or eficaz in Spanish. What is the difference between these two translations? In what situations can each be used?
4
votes
1answer
433 views
Translation of “to catch up” (sharing recent happenings with someone you haven't seen lately)
In English, "to catch up (with each other)" can be used to describe two people that haven't seen each other in a while that are sharing recent events in their lives with each other. For example:
"I ...
0
votes
1answer
903 views
Translation of “What have you been up to lately?”
In English, when meeting someone you haven't seen for a while, you might ask, "What have you been up to lately?"
What is the equivalent question in Spanish?
1
vote
2answers
808 views
Translation of “Are you ok?” or “Are you alright?”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English phrase "Are you ok?" or "Are you alright?" (said out of concern for someone who has just gotten hurt, for example after tripping and falling or ...
1
vote
1answer
587 views
Translation of “What's wrong?”
What is the most natural translation of the English phrase, "What's wrong?" (i.e. what you would ask a person who appears sad or hurt or withdrawn)? ¿Qué te pasó? would be one option, but that seems ...
2
votes
2answers
843 views
Ways to say “you're welcome”
The "textbook" way to say "you're welcome" in Spanish is de nada. English has many ways to express this:
You're welcome.
No problem.
Don't worry about it.
My pleasure.
What other ways are there in ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
7up in Spanish speaking countries
When I first went to Argentina a long time ago I spent 5 minutes trying to ask the person at the bar in a club for a glass of "Siete up" until they eventually understood that I wanted a glass of ...
6
votes
2answers
713 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 ...
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?
3
votes
2answers
964 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Vocabulary related to the nose
What are the most common ways of saying:
to blow one's nose
to pick one's nose
stuffy nose
runny nose
nasal congestion
3
votes
4answers
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 ...
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)?
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.)?
3
votes
3answers
679 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
555 views
Translation of “What goes around comes around”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English idiom, What goes around comes around?
1
vote
1answer
529 views
How should “have been” be translated?
I often use the phrase "have been" (or "has been") in English in sentences like:
It has been raining a lot recently.
I have been thinking about the exam all week.
It's been a long time since I've ...
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?
0
votes
2answers
121 views
What is the best way to refer to those of Spanish descent or language?
In English there are several ways to refer to people who speak Spanish or are from a Spanish-speaking country: Hispanic, Latin, Latino, Chicano, Spanish-speaking, etc.
What equivalent terms exist in ...
5
votes
1answer
503 views
Is there a translation for 'Piloncillo'?
The dictionary says brown sugar but azúcar moreno is brown sugar. Besides piloncillo is solid and not a powder. I'm having a hard time explaining to Americans what piloncillo is.
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
129 views
Spanish words for cap, cover, lid, etc
What Spanish words can be used to describe a cap, cover, lid, or top (in other words, something placed on top of something, usually to close an opening)? What is the difference between tapa and tapón? ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
What does “chepa” mean in Nicaraguan Spanish?
What does the word chepa mean when used to refer to a person in Nicaraguan Spanish? What are some examples of how it is used?
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Translation of “baking” [closed]
Is there a common Spanish word for the English "baking" (as in using the oven to make cookies, bread, cakes, etc.)? If not, what is the best way to describe the activity (when it's not known exactly ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Translation of “range” (as in age range)
Is there a simple translation of the English "range" as in the phrase "age range"? If not, how would "age range" best be translated?
0
votes
2answers
153 views
Translation of “a simple vista”
What is the most idiomatic English translation of the Spanish phrase a simple vista? Does it mean "at first glance," or does another expression fit better?
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Translation of “contra viento y marea”
What is the most idiomatic English translation of the Spanish phrase contra viento y marea?
3
votes
2answers
4k 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
452 views
Names of children's games
There are many children's games that are played throughout many parts of the world. Do the following games exist in Spanish-speaking countries, and, if so, what are they called? (I found many of these ...
4
votes
2answers
335 views
Translation of “to talk behind someone's back”
What is the typical Spanish translation of the English idiom "to talk behind someone's back" (as in saying something bad about another person to others instead of to them directly)?
3
votes
1answer
261 views
Board game vocabulary
What are the typical translations in Spanish for the following terms related to board games?
board game
board
(playing) pieces
deck of cards
to roll the dice
to move forward
to move backwards
to ...
1
vote
2answers
86 views
Translation of “to play favorites”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English idiom "to play favorites" (as in favoring individuals in a group instead of treating everyone equally)?
