How a word, phrase, or concept is used in the Spanish language.
5
votes
4answers
237 views
What is the difference between “ser cierto” and “ser verdad”?
The English "to be true" can be translated to Spanish as either ser cierto or ser verdad. What is the difference between the two? When would you use one instead of the other?
1
vote
1answer
68 views
A good free book to get started [closed]
I am a fluent English speaker and I wanted a good FREE PDF to get started with. Primarily, I wish to see if my interests in learning spanish will sustain before I buy an expensive book. I have picked ...
4
votes
2answers
77 views
Género de derecha/o e izquierda
¿Por qué las palabras derecha e izquierda (en oraciones como "doblar a la derecha") tienen el género femenino y no el masculino? Y ¿por qué derecho (en masculino) significa "recto," pero derecha (en ...
5
votes
3answers
145 views
Do mi and mío have different connotations?
I usually use the possessives mi and mío interchangeably.
For example:
Esta es la casa mía.
Esta es mi casa.
However, do the two have different connotations? (e.g. is one more formal ...
3
votes
4answers
92 views
Word usage : te pertenece [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is the indirect object pronoun required in sentences with an indirect object?
Y solo te pertenece a ti.
¿Podemos quitar el "te"? Si no, ¿por qué?
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Con qué, a qué, lo que
Las siquientes frases equivalen a "Do you still remember what you've committed at first? "
¿Todavía recuerdas con qué te comprometiste al principio?
¿Todavía recuerdas a qué te ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Gramática: reflexivo
Dice que
El reflexivo tiene un valor factitivo: No es el que hace directamente la acción, sino quien la ordena hacer.
· Nos hicimos una casa en el pueblo.
· Ayer me corté el pelo.
I do not ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Words for on purpose, accidentally, intentionally, unintentionally, etc
English has several words or phrases to express that something was done with or without the person meaning to do it:
purposefully (or on purpose)
accidentally (or on accident)
intentionally
...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Comprometerse a
Según la siguiente frase:
¿Todavía recuerdas a lo que te comprometiste al principio?
¿Por qué necesita "a" aquí?
¿Es correcto que sola uso "al principio"?
(Hay persona preguntó ["al ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
Difference between “oeste” and “occidente”
What is the difference between "oeste" and "occidente"?
Do they both mean the direction and the region?
4
votes
5answers
209 views
Uses of “se”: “se rompió” o “rompió”
He leído las siguientes oraciones.
Mi hermano menor se rompió la mayoría de vasos.
Mi hermano menor rompió la mayoría de vasos.
Dice que la segunda frase es correcta. ¿Pero por qué?
Su ...
5
votes
2answers
99 views
Difference between “igual” and “como”
I was listening to Carlos Varela's "Una Palabra" and noticed sometimes he uses "igual" for "like" and sometimes "como". I am knowing that "igual" is used more similarities, but what separates it from ...
3
votes
2answers
71 views
Is “performance” a common word in spanish IT terminology?
While reading a spanish-language article on some client-side topics,
I was surprised to read following passage:
La gente de Microsoft hizo un excelente artículo (con una gran demo incluida), donde ...
6
votes
2answers
79 views
Regional differences between escuchar and oír
In school I learned that escuchar was for the English "to listen to" and oír was "to hear." In Central America, however, I frequently heard escuchar being used for "to hear" (e.g. No te escucho ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Word usage: serme
I've come across the below sentence:
Este año he decidido serme fiel a mi misma y no mentirme
I checked the dictionary and couldn't find the word "serme". What does it mean?
0
votes
1answer
22 views
word usage: “inquietarse” and “inquieta”
Which of the following sentences is/are correct which refers to English speaking of "Are you still worried about the future"?
¿Todavía te inquietas por el futuro?
¿Todavía inquietas por el ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
word usage: “furtivamente” and “a escondidas”
Do "furtivamente" and "a escondidas" both mean "secretly"?
They are interchangeable?
For example:
1. entró furtivamente en la habitación.
2. entro a escondidas en la habitación.
The meanings ...
2
votes
2answers
58 views
Difference between “enterar por” and “enterar de”
Please read the following sentences:
Nos enteramos por las noticias que las flores valían más caras que los años anteriores.
Al comenzar este invierno me enteré de la noticia de que haría/iba a ...
5
votes
7answers
254 views
Uso de “concernidos”
Hoy he escuchado la siguiente frase:
"Estamos muy concernidos por..."
Es la primera vez que escucho el verbo concernir usado y conjugado de esta manera, siempre se usa como "me/nos concierne..."
...
2
votes
1answer
462 views
Describing the common cold or flu in Spanish
In English, when talking about common viruses people often get, there are generally two categories:
a cold is generally more mild and can come with runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, etc.
...
5
votes
3answers
150 views
Correct usage of debieras and deberías
Español
¿Cuándo es correcto usar deberías o debieras? (significado y uso).
English
When is it correct to use deberías or debieras? (meaning and uses)
9
votes
3answers
551 views
What is the preferred way of saying “I have to go”?
English
As far as I can tell there are two ways to say, "I have to go."
Tengo que ir.
Tengo ir.
Is the second way even right? And if so, which one is the preferred way to say, "I have ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
What's the difference between “vamos” and “vámonos”?
Español
Cuando estaba estudiando Español, aprendí que "let's go" es "vamos," pero cuando fui a México, lo único que oído estaba "vámonos." Pregunté a una persona bilingüe allá, pero ella no supe la ...
5
votes
3answers
175 views
feliz vs. alegre vs. dichoso
I recently heard dichoso used to mean feliz. Looking up dichoso in a dictionary shows it means "happy" (or "blessed"). What is the difference between dichoso, feliz, and alegre to mean "happy"? Are ...
4
votes
5answers
171 views
Distinguishing “quiz” and “test”
In American English, a "quiz" is like a "test" or "exam," but it is typically shorter (in length and duration) and less heavily weighted. In Spanish class I learned "test" was examen and "quiz" was ...
8
votes
5answers
271 views
Best way to translate 'uneducated', meaning lacking formal schooling
Generally the Spanish word maleducado more often means rude, rather than unschooled. In light of this, how would one describe someone who is polite and intelligent, but has never been formally ...
8
votes
1answer
226 views
What's the difference between “sólo”, “únicamente” and “solamente”?
According to the RAE:
solo o sólo.
adv. m. Únicamente, solamente.
In what situations is preferred to use one over the other?
Are they interchangeable?
Sólo es una pregunta ...
6
votes
2answers
137 views
What is the difference between requerir and exigir?
I believe that they both mean to "require." But do they refer to different "degrees" (urgencies) or types of requirments?
Can they be used interchangeably or is one more suitable in some contexts and ...
5
votes
3answers
90 views
“Earthquake”: When to use “temblor” and “terremoto”
When referring to an earthquake, are temblor and terremoto perfect synonyms? Are there any differences?
8
votes
3answers
129 views
Complemento vs. Suplemento
Is there any difference between the word "complemento" and "suplemento"? Do they really have the exact same meaning?. RAE (Real Academia Española) defines both as:
Cosa o accidente que se añade a ...
0
votes
2answers
145 views
¿Me pueden ayudar a deconstruir las siguientes oraciones? Can you help me deconstruct these sentences? [closed]
Un artículo publicado en The Four Hour Work Week blog by Tim Ferriss llamado How to Learn (But Not Master) any Language in 1 Hour sugiere que la deconstrucción de un idioma es una de las cosas más ...
9
votes
3answers
432 views
Cuándo usar “usar” o “utilizar”
Español
Ambos términos tienen un significado muy parecido. Según la RAE, el único uso de 'utilizar' es "Aprovecharse de algo" y el significado que me interesa de 'usar' es "Hacer servir una cosa para ...
9
votes
4answers
250 views
How to decide between “ahora” and “ya” for the sense “now”?
I know that ya has additional meanings besides simply now, such as already.
But considering just the sense of ya which does mean now, when should I use it and when should I use ahora, which only has ...
8
votes
2answers
204 views
Acordar or recordar? What's the correct use? ¿Cuál es el uso correcto?
Español
Comunmente escucho gente decir "¿oye, te acuerdas de esa película?", así como también escucho "¿oye, recuerdas esa película?."
Siempre he creído que la acción de un recuerdo viene del verbo ...
14
votes
4answers
788 views
When to use “igual” and “lo mismo”?
English
I often get corrected when using either the word igual or mismo, and haven't really figured out when to use which yet.
What are the rules for when and how to use igual, and when and how to ...
8
votes
3answers
993 views
¿Qué significa en Argentina “al pedo”?
He escuchado y leído a argentinos decir "al pedo", por ejemplo, "estoy al pedo". Es evidente que NO se refiere a "estar pedo", que significa "estar borracho" en algunos sitios.
¿Qué significa "estar ...
6
votes
2answers
250 views
When is “al” not interchangeable with “a el”?
This is a clear case where "al" cannot be replaced with "a el":
Al mirarlo, sonrió.
Are there any other cases?
4
votes
1answer
153 views
Do fluent Spanish Speakers say the pronoun when speaking? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use the word 'yo' in a sentence where the verb conjugation already shows that I am the subject?
I was wondering if fluent Spanish Speakers say the ...
9
votes
3answers
267 views
“De donde fue” instead of “De donde estaba”
In Nicaragua, addresses are usually given as directions from a landmark, for example:
From the stadium, go 5 blocks south, then 3 blocks east
Sometimes the landmark is a place that used to be ...
8
votes
6answers
325 views
How big are the regional differences in the Spanish spoken in different countries?
As a non-native speaker, I have no more difficulty conversing with a Mexican than a Spaniard or Venezuelan or Colombian or vice versa. I realize there are regional variations and differences in ...
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 ...
8
votes
5answers
421 views
What is the diminutive of “pan” (meaning bread)?
Is it:
pansito
panesito
panito
panecino
panecillo (Although this one has most of the time another meaning...)
Why?
I know short question, but seemingly difficult for me. Is there a definitive ...
8
votes
2answers
165 views
What exactly are “mis rasgos”?
Today in conversation a girl told me:
tus rasgos, muy bonitos
I smiled, replied with some compliment, but I had no idea what did she found nice. And even later, after secretly looking this up ...
6
votes
2answers
156 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 ...
13
votes
4answers
261 views
Does using “tío” imply a negative opinion?
I've seen the word tío used to mean "guy" or "bloke", but can't recall (in my admittedly limited experience) having seen it used to imply a positive opinion of someone.
If I refer to someone as "Ese ...
3
votes
3answers
324 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?
5
votes
2answers
136 views
Matutino and Vespertino
I see matutino and vespertino, meaning morning and afternoon, used to describe parts of the daily schedule in schools and church. They sound very formal.
Are there more words like them to describe ...
6
votes
1answer
66 views
What's the function of “lo” in “lo que”?
Examples:
Lo que pasa es que el niño no fue a la escuela porque se fracturo el tobillo.
Lo que quiere es una computadora para hacer sus tareas.
Lo que dice es mentira.
Lo que no ...
15
votes
6answers
426 views
“vaso de agua” or “vaso con agua”? Which is correct?
English
What's the correct way to express that something "serves as a container for something else"?
Example:
¿Quieres un vaso de/con agua?
Should we use de or con? Are both correct? Why?
If ...
4
votes
1answer
141 views
Gusto variant of the verb gustar
When I thought I finally had it figured out... I was confronted with the following phrase which obviously must mean:
I liked the story of your friend.
Which for me logically translates to.
...
