How best to render a tricky Spanish word or expression in English or one from some language in Spanish.
2
votes
3answers
1k views
accommodating (as in “Thanks for being so accommodating”)
If someone has been very kind in adjusting their schedule and making sacrifices to help you, in English you might say, "Thanks for being so accommodating!"
What is the most natural translation of ...
2
votes
2answers
243 views
Translation of “It will be a while before/until…”
When explaining that something won't happen soon, English uses expressions like:
It will be a while until ...
It will be a while before ...
It will be a long time until ...
It will ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Translation of “contra viento y marea”
What is the most idiomatic English translation of the Spanish phrase contra viento y marea?
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Difference between some verbs and pronomial forms of the verb with the same translation
SpanishDict translates some verbs and their pronomial forms (+de, +a, etc.) as the same thing. Off the top of my head:
Escapar - to escape
Escaparse de - to escape
Olvidar - to forget
...
2
votes
1answer
373 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
2answers
318 views
Most common translation of “Happy New Year!”
Is "Happy New Year!" more commonly translated as "¡Feliz Año Nuevo!" or "¡Próspero Año Nuevo!"? Are the two basically synonyms, or is there a difference between the two?
2
votes
1answer
284 views
Translating “I don't trust you” (said casually)
I have heard that confiar is a strong word, implying trust and confidence in someone or something. What then is the right way to translate more casual uses of the word "trust"?
For example, let's say ...
2
votes
3answers
103 views
Translating “aquaponics”
In English, aquaponics describes a system combining aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic relationship. I haven't been able to find this word in any Spanish-English dictionary, and the Wikipedia ...
2
votes
2answers
71 views
Rendering of “to fear”?
I once wrote an original poem in Spanish that includes the following:
The question relates to the second sentence, which of two translations regarding "scare me" is "better" or correct? Or can they ...
2
votes
1answer
83 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
110 views
Translation of “twang”
In English (at least American English), "twang" is an onomatopoeia describing the sound of a plucked or vibrating string. It also describes a characteristic of that sound (more common in, say, country ...
2
votes
1answer
185 views
Translation of cord, cable, string, line, thread, rope, etc
In English there are many words describing different kinds of long, skinny, flexible objects:
cord
line (as in fishing line, clothesline)
cable
strand
lace (as in shoe lace)
thread
rope
string
wire
...
2
votes
1answer
184 views
Translation of the idiom: “To wind (somebody) up”
My question is similar to that of jrdioko's "to wind up (doing something)"
However the expression I'm looking for is: "To wind (somebody) up"
I know this is an idiomatic expression so there may or ...
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
1answer
86 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
99 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?
...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
Translating “wait until” or “wait for”
How do you translate phrases involving wait until or wait for:
Wait until I call you before you leave for the restaurant.
Wait for me to come home before you buy the tickets.
You should ...
2
votes
1answer
247 views
Literal and metaphorical translation of “duende”
I have read that duende can mean both a mythical creature or, metaphorically, a kind of magical sensation to something. What exactly does duende refer to in both senses? How would both of these senses ...
2
votes
2answers
706 views
Equivalent of “To whom it may concern:”
When writing formal letters in English where there is no named recipient (for example, a job application sent to a Human Resources department, or a letter sent to an organization in general as opposed ...
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
...
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
55 views
What is the difference between “por si” and “por si acaso”?
I learned that "just in case" should be translated por si acaso, but I have also heard por si used by itself without the acaso. I believe I've even heard si acaso without the por. What is the ...
2
votes
2answers
173 views
Translating “to wind up (doing something)”
In informal English, we use the phrase "to wind up" to describe the final state of a situation, after all is said and done. For example:
How did you wind up moving to Kansas after growing up in ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Translation of “in a pickle” and related phrases
In English there are several idioms or phrases that describe being in the midst of a very difficult situation:
in a pickle
in a quandary
in a predicament
in between a rock and a hard place
How ...
2
votes
1answer
298 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
120 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
71 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?
2
votes
3answers
238 views
Difference between usage of “por favor” and “please”
I heard that Spanish puts much less value on "por favor" than English does on "please". If this is true, could someone elaborate? Are there any situations where in English 'please' is expected, but in ...
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
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
184 views
Translation of “to be fluent (in a language)”
The literal translation of "to speak a language fluently" would be hablar un idioma con fluidez, but I have heard that means that you speak the language fluidly and smoothly rather than that you have ...
2
votes
3answers
430 views
Are there any words in Spanish that are very difficult to translate to English? [closed]
There seem to be many words (especially technical ones) in English that don't directly translate to a single word in Spanish. What about in the other direction: are there any words in Spanish that 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Best English translation of “conmoción”
I was told the Spanish word conmoción refers to a strong feeling of shock or emotion shared by a group of people rather than an individual. It seems like English doesn't have a single word or phrase ...
2
votes
1answer
33 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.
...
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
1answer
560 views
Translating “a sí mismo, por sí mismo”
The phrase is:
un escritor hecho a sí mismo, por sí mismo
Searching around, both a sí mismo and por sí mismo were translated as "for himself, by himself".
I figure in this context it means:
...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Translating “paying one's (final) respects”
In English, if someone visits a grave or goes to a funeral of someone who has died, we can say he is going "to pay his respects" or "to pay his last respects." While it's hard to explain what this ...
2
votes
3answers
117 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 ...
1
vote
4answers
1k views
“It was great to see you”
What is the most natural translation of the English phrase "It was great to see you" (as in what you would say after seeing a friend you hadn't seen for a long time)?
1
vote
2answers
114 views
Translating “wise” (not referring to a person, e.g. “wise decision”)
As I understand it, wise is normally translated as sabio when referring to a person. What about when not referring to a person? For example:
I don't think that would be a very wise decision.
...
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
2answers
750 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
2answers
338 views
Translating “They don't call me … for nothing.”
In English, there is a phrase "They don't call me ... for nothing." (showing that some nickname someone has has been confirmed by something they just did or are about to do). Is there any equivalent ...
1
vote
1answer
99 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?
1
vote
1answer
314 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?
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vote
1answer
127 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?
1
vote
3answers
375 views
Singular and plural of pants, shorts, jeans, etc
In English, words like pants, shorts, and jeans appear to be in the plural but really refer to one item of clothing (I don't know what the technical term for it is). To be more specific, you can say ...
1
vote
2answers
126 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
70 views
Translating “peripheral” (computer device)
In English, "peripheral" or "peripheral device" refers to most devices that can be connected to a computer: keyboards, mice, digital cameras, external hard drives, webcams, etc.
Is there an ...
