All Questions
2
votes
1answer
245 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
470 views
“Vegetable”: verdura vs. vegetal
What is the difference between verduras and vegetales? In what situations can one be used as a translation for "vegetables" and the other cannot?
0
votes
1answer
175 views
Speakers' location in determining venir vs. ir
In English, we use the word "come" very loosely (at least in day-to-day spoken English):
Want to come over to my place later?
Can I come over to your house for New Years'?
Can you come meet me at ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Translating “I'm sorry for your loss”
What is the most natural way in Spanish to say "I'm sorry for your loss," as in what you would say to someone grieving over a departed relative or friend (or even the loss of a job)?
6
votes
1answer
169 views
Free online resources for beginner course
Along with this question, what are good, free online resources to learn Spanish?
Important areas such as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation should be covered.
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Different words for “beer”
In Mexico, besides "cerveza" we call beer the following:
cheve
chela
pisto (anything with alcohol)
bironga
helada
fría
These are used informally.
Are there any other words used to address beer in ...
3
votes
2answers
225 views
Why “camarada” means friend?
It is common in Mexico to use the word camarada as a way to call informally a friend. For example:
Tengo un camarada que es piloto.
Ayer fuimos a la fiesta un camarada y yo.
RAE defines camarada ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
When would one use the subjunctive form of a verb?
I'm trying to recall some high school spanish and having difficulties as its been several years.
Under what conditions would one use the subjunctive form of a verb? Why would you want to use it to ...
3
votes
3answers
442 views
Other spanish synonyms to “Banana”
I remember reading in high school that the word la banana is actually a different word in several different countries. Is this true? If so what are the other similar/equivalent Spanish words for la ...
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
425 views
Translating “for the rest of the day”
What is the best way to translate the phrase "for the rest of the day" into Spanish, as in the following examples:
I'm tired, I think I want to stay home for the rest of the day.
Do you think it ...
5
votes
2answers
468 views
When does sólo have an accent?
When does the word solo have an accent (tilde) on the first o (sólo)? When does it not?
2
votes
1answer
363 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
126 views
What do the Latin American language academies do?
The Real Academia Española is the main, official language academy of the Spanish language. But there are also country-specific language academies in most Spanish-speaking countries. What do these ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Jumping between pronunciations of “y” in Spanish songs
I've heard a few songs (off the top of my head, A Dios Le Pido) where they pronounce "y" both with a y-sound and an English j-sound at times. In some songs, the different pronunciations occur when ...
2
votes
1answer
538 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:
...
0
votes
1answer
111 views
caja vs. cajón vs. estuche
"Box" in English can be translated into Spanish as caja, cajón, or estuche. What exactly is the difference between these three words? What types of boxes are translated as each? Which would best ...
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Airport baggage vocabulary
On a recent trip to a Spanish-speaking country, I realized I don't know most of the terms involved in the process of retrieving luggage at a destination airport. I thought it would make sense to ...
5
votes
2answers
197 views
When to use “tratar de” and when to use “intentar” for “to try to”?
Spanish has three words that can translate to English to try.
Probar is easy to remember because it's used for sample or taste, like:
Have you ever tried tacos el pastor?
But I never know when ...
3
votes
3answers
293 views
“Septiembre” or “setiembre”?
Setiembre is only used in Peru, AFAIK, but I wonder if there are any other countries where setiembre, as opposed to septiembre, is also valid.
RAE links the definition of setiembre to the definition ...
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
2answers
121 views
Plurals of numbers
Is there an easy way to translate the plurals of numbers? Some seem pretty straight forward. For instance two sixes → dos seises. But what about when the number is already plural, or when ...
4
votes
2answers
288 views
Origin of “vos” pronoun
How did the vos personal pronoun come to be? Is it etymologically related to vosotros in any way? Did it develop before or after the other personal pronouns used today (tú, usted, vosotros, etc)? Was ...
3
votes
1answer
302 views
se pronoun in “no fault constructions”
One page I recently ran across discusses the concept of "no fault constructions" or verbs that use se in such a way to describe an action as taking place apart from the person who caused the action. ...
3
votes
2answers
366 views
What exactly are the “passive se” and “impersonal se”?
Many materials for learning Spanish, discuss the "impersonal se" (e.g. ¿Se puede tocar esto?) and "passive se" (e.g. Se habla español.).
What exactly are these forms grammatically? Is the se in both ...
2
votes
2answers
669 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
201 views
Translating “Thanks in advance”
In letters or emails, I often end by saying "Thanks in advance," thanking the recipient in advance for whatever I am requesting. Is there an equivalent phrase in Spanish that is used in the same way?
6
votes
3answers
458 views
What is the symbol “&” called in Spanish?
The symbol & is a representation of the Latin word et (see DPD, Appendix 4). Wikipedia claims that the symbol itself is called et; however, the DRAE's entry for et doesn't list the symbol as a ...
2
votes
2answers
276 views
Spanish names for preterite and imperfect tenses
In school, I learned that the Spanish past tenses were called preterite and imperfect in English, and preterito and imperfecto in Spanish. However, in talking to native speakers I've run across other ...
7
votes
4answers
221 views
What is the difference between “a partir de” y “desde”?
Which one is correct?
A partir de ahora, voy a hablar en español.
or
Desde ahora, voy a hablar en español.
In meaning I think both are close to "from." Are there any specific instances ...
1
vote
3answers
78 views
Ordinary, regular, run-of-the-mill, average, etc
In English, there are a lot of ways to express that someone or something is standard and not particularly special or extraordinary. For example:
Ordinary people like you and me can sometimes ...
2
votes
3answers
99 views
Translating “preferences” and “settings”
What is the standard way in Spanish to translate "preferences" (a menu option in computer programs where you can adjust program settings)?
What is the standard way to translate "settings" (an ...
2
votes
1answer
281 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
136 views
Packing material vocabulary
In English, there are quite a few words to describe materials used to pad and insulate packages that are being shipped from one place to another:
packing peanuts or foam peanuts are individual ...
3
votes
2answers
409 views
What is the difference between “enfrente” and “frente”?
I was writing today and while editing I stumbled with this problem. Both words can be used but then again I didn't know the difference between them.
When should I use one over the other and ...
5
votes
3answers
232 views
What's the function of the letter h?
What's the function of the letter h in Spanish? Even though it's not pronounced there must be a reason of its existence.
Update:
What I mean is the case when the letter h it's not accompanied by the ...
4
votes
5answers
656 views
Expressing past belief (creí vs. creía vs. pensé vs. pensaba)
When expressing in Spanish something that you believed or thought in the past, there are four options:
Creí que ...
Creía que ...
Pensé que ...
Pensaba que ...
I learned that creía que was the ...
0
votes
2answers
413 views
Translating “Me la paso pensándote”
In Wisin y Yandel's "Estoy Enamorado," the chorus contains the following line:
Me la paso pensándote, nunca voy a soltarte
What does "Me la paso pensándote" mean? Is "me" a reflexive or indirect ...
6
votes
2answers
789 views
What does the “lo” in “pasarlo bien” refer to?
The phrase pasarlo bien means something like "to have a good time" in sentences like, "Lo pasamos muy bien anoche." What does the "lo" in this phrase refer to? Does it replace an actual noun, or is it ...
3
votes
1answer
678 views
“pensando en ti” vs. “pensando de ti” vs. “pensándote”
When using the verb pensar to describe thinking about a person, there are at least three options:
Estoy pensando en ti.
Estoy pensando de ti.
Estoy pensándote.
What are the differences between ...
0
votes
2answers
102 views
Words for “grave”: tumba vs. sepultura
English has several words for burial places, many of which have specific, distinct meanings:
grave
tomb
vault
crypt
mausoleum
sepulcher
As far as I know, Spanish has at least two words for ...
2
votes
1answer
58 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
268 views
Different words for “stop”
In English, we have a fairly generic verb "to stop" that can be used in many different contexts. For example:
Stop talking to me!
The driver saw the red light and stopped his car.
You really need to ...
7
votes
1answer
434 views
“Te va (a) encantar” - is “a” necessary?
Is the "a" necessary when using "ir a" to convey future meaning?
Google gives 17m results for "te va a encantar" but also 1.5m for "te va encantar". Does this rule vary according to formality?
6
votes
1answer
487 views
Choosing between 'sobre' and 'acerca de'
Is there a significant difference between "sobre" and "acerca de", when the intent is to describe the topic of something?
Where is "acerca de" a better choice than "sobre", and vice-versa?
2
votes
3answers
102 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Indicative vs. subjunctive in “no importa qué dice el destino”
If I'm hearing it correctly, there's a line in Carlos Baute's "Colgando En Tus Manos" that says:
No importa qué dice el destino.
I thought that sentence should be expressed:
No importa qué ...
6
votes
4answers
335 views
When is “ello” used?
A long time ago in Spanish class, we were taught that "it" was literally ello but is rarely translated that way. I was thinking about the word recently, and realized I don't know if I've ever (at ...
6
votes
2answers
132 views
Why is 'estoy' used when saying “I'm related to”
I understand
I'm related to David, he's my grandad.
translates as
Estoy relacionado con David, él es mi abuelo.
Why is estoy used and not soy?
It seems to me that the relationship is ...
7
votes
3answers
522 views
How can I distinguish between “girlfriend,” “fiancée” and “bride”, which are all “novia”?
I am a native Portuguese speaker, where noiva means "bride" or "fiancée." So I was very confused when someone asked me if a girl was my novia, since she didn't have an engagement ring (thank goodness ...
