All Questions
12
votes
4answers
756 views
I forgot how to say “I forgot”
Okay, so I didn't really forget how to say it... I just wanted a clever question title.
In my Spanish class I was taught that olvidarse is reflexive:
Me olvidé (de la cita).
Me olvidé (las ...
12
votes
6answers
276 views
No supo la respuesta
Why do people say things like:
Se lo pregunté, pero no supo la respuesta
Sabía seems more natural to me, and I've been told that either is fine, but I'm still a bit fuzzy on why somebody would ...
12
votes
4answers
508 views
¿Cuál es la etimología de “al fin y al cabo”?
La expresión fijada "al fin y al cabo" en Inglés sería algo como "at the end of the day, in the end, after all".
Pero quería saber, ¿se conoce la etimología? En la entrada "al fin y al cabo" en ...
12
votes
1answer
561 views
Approximant vs. fricative realization of /b/, /d/, /g/
According to the Wikipedia article on Spanish phonology, the phonemes /b/, /d/, and /g/ are realized as approximants or fricatives instead of plosives in all but certain contexts (after a pause, nasal ...
11
votes
5answers
5k views
How do you say a “shot” referring to alcohol?
What are some common ways of saying a shot of liquor? This can be referring to a small, usually 1 to 2 ounce drink taken all at once or can be a measure of liquor.
For example:
I ordered a round of ...
11
votes
4answers
237 views
Translation of “bug” to Spanish
What is the best way to translate "bug", as in a misfeature of a computer program or device?
Google translate offers a few options, none of which quite seem to fit, except the term itself:
bug ...
11
votes
3answers
661 views
How do you say “I'm gonna get you!”?
When I'm chasing my baby around the room, I frequently tell him, "I'm gonna get you!" and catch him and tickle him. Is there a similar expression in Spanish? I'd love to find something that can be ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Why isn't “good morning” “buenas mañanas”?
"Good afternoon" is "buenas tardes", and "Good night/evening" is "buenas noches".
Then why isn't "good morning" "buenas mañanas" instead of "buenos días"?
11
votes
3answers
243 views
Why is búho written with an acute accent?
Spanish
¿Hay alguna razón porque la que la palabra "búho" lleve acento agudo? ¿Hay alguna regla ortográfica que lo determine? Estoy acostumbrado a los acentos sobre la e, pero me sorprendió bastante ...
11
votes
2answers
257 views
Significance of adjective placement
In Spanish, adjectives typically come after the noun they modify. However, there are some cases when the adjective comes before the noun, and usually (always?) with a change in meaning. Example:
...
11
votes
3answers
348 views
What is the difference between “personas” and “gente”?
I was translating a sentence for school en Español and I came across the word "people." I looked it up on Google Translate and it gave me "personas" and also "gente." What is the difference between ...
11
votes
3answers
187 views
Quizás or quizá, which one is preferred?
RAE redirects the definition of quizás to quizá but I wonder if there's any implicit, secret rule that I am not aware of as to whether quizás is preferred over quizá.
I've seen both forms used ...
11
votes
3answers
111 views
Is there any subtle difference between the two forms of the imperfect subjuntive?
The imperfect subjuntive has two forms. For example:
Ojalá viniera.
Ojalá viniese.
I think both has the same meaning. However, is there any subtle difference?
11
votes
2answers
168 views
Origin of contigo and similar “contractions”
What's the history of the words contigo, conmigo, etc?
They're treated like contractions for con ti and con mi, respectively, but they actually make the word longer rather than shorter, as ...
11
votes
2answers
144 views
“Todo lo demás son tonterías”
Hoy me topé con un anuncio de una gran cadena de tiendas de aparatos electrodomésticos, cuyo lema (entre otros) es :
Todo lo demás son tonterías
¿Es gramaticalmente correcto en este caso tener ...
11
votes
3answers
167 views
“My kind of ___” in Spanish
Español
He estado buscando una manera de decir "My kind of _" en español. O una frase equivalente (que creo que es más adecuado y preferible). Como la manera que un americano (EE. UU.) diría: "this ...
11
votes
6answers
1k views
Can I learn to roll my R's?
Whenever I try to say words like perro or arroyo, I sound like I'm telling a pirate joke. I can identify the sound I'm supposed to make and I've been told how my tongue is supposed to move, but I ...
11
votes
4answers
295 views
Difference between “por” and “para”
Even after taking 4 years of college Spanish and living abroad, I still don't have a very firm control of when to use por or para. What are the basic rules on when to use either.
11
votes
1answer
142 views
Translation of the C++ “move constructor” language element
The C++ programming language has several types of constructors (functions invoked when an object is being created):
Default constructor: constructor por defecto.
Copy constructor: constructor de ...
11
votes
1answer
265 views
When is “Te quiero” used to mean “I love you?”"
I can come up with three phrases to express affection:
Te adoro.
Te amo.
Te quiero.
The first two are fairly clear in intention. However, I have heard "Te quiero", which literally translates as "I ...
10
votes
7answers
420 views
Use of “Veni”? Is it a real word?
I was teaching a high school Spanish class, and a student (who was raised in Texas, but has Mexican relatives) told me that he has heard "veni" instead of "viene". I'd like to know if this is ...
10
votes
3answers
265 views
Translation of “so close”
I was watching the Barcelona-Chelsea game just now, and Messi almost scored a goal in the last minute.
How do you say "he was so close"?
Messi estuve cerca de meter un gol.
Is this correct?
...
10
votes
3answers
732 views
When to use “que” and “de que”
Español
En ciertas oraciones no sé si es más correcto usar que o de que. ¿Cuáles son las reglas para utilizar que/de que?
Ejemplos:
Estoy seguro que me fue bien.
Estoy seguro de que me ...
10
votes
1answer
206 views
“Quick brown fox…” equivalent in Spanish?
In typing classes in English, it is common to learn to type the sentence:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Because it contains every letter of the alphabet at least once.
Is there ...
10
votes
4answers
499 views
When is uppercase used in English but lowercase in Spanish?
There are many cases where English uses capital letters (e.g. January) but Spanish uses lowercase (e.g. enero). Grammar or orthography books have long lists of all the cases where capital letters are ...
10
votes
2answers
384 views
Is it bad to address a young male as “señor”?
I was recently in Mallorca, at a restaurant I address the waiter as "señor".
He was probably in his early 30's, he said that I should not use señor, but another word (which I unfortunately don't ...
10
votes
5answers
542 views
How do you say “I got you!” in spanish
If I threw a snowball (or dodgeball) at someone and it hit them, how would I say "I got you!" in spanish?
10
votes
2answers
209 views
Why does saber mean both “to know” and “to taste”?
Español
Cuando aprendía español, estaba muy confundido cuando aprendí que saber significa "to know" y "to taste". Los dos verbos en inglés me parecen muy diferentes. ¿Cómo puede ser esto? ¿Cuál es la ...
10
votes
2answers
621 views
Bueno as hello or greeting?
In the US State I live in, I sometimes hear Spanish speakers greet one another by simply staying "Bueno". I didn't hear this when I was recently in Mexico, although I realize I may just have not ...
10
votes
6answers
368 views
What are the main differences between Spanish in Spain and Spanish in Latin America? [closed]
A good analogy is that the difference is like those in British and American English, but what are those differences exactly? Is Spanish in Latin America a branch from that in Spain?
10
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you differentiate between walnuts and pecans in Spanish?
It recently occurred to me that the Spanish nuez can be translated to English as both "walnut" and "pecan." Is the same word really used for both types of nuts? How would you specify which nut you're ...
10
votes
2answers
370 views
Usage of “oso” to express embarrassment
I have heard the idiom
¡Que oso!
...used to express embarrassment by a former acquaintance from Colombia but have never met another Spanish speaker who uses this expression.
My questions:
...
10
votes
5answers
507 views
How is the letter 's' (or the 's' sound) pronounced in Spain?
I've heard varying things regarding the pronunciation of the 's' sound in Spain. However, no one was willing/able to explain this to me.
How is the 's' sound pronounced in Spain compared to its ...
10
votes
3answers
870 views
Translating “be right back” (or “brb”)
In informal spoken English, if we need to interrupt a conversation or meeting to take care of something else and then return, we might use expressions such as:
I'll be right back.
I'll be ...
10
votes
3answers
221 views
adjectives for “same thing” vs. “same kind of thing”
In German,
das gleiche refers to
We both read the same (das gleiche) book (everyone has its own, but they look exactly the same)
while das selbe refers to
We both read the same book ...
10
votes
1answer
130 views
¿Cuándo usar “excusa” o “pretexto”?
Aparentemente, "excusa" y "pretexto" significan lo mismo.
¿Cuándo usar uno o el otro? Por ejemplo, comparando estas 2 frases:
Buscó una excusa para no venir.
Buscó un pretexto para no venir.
...
10
votes
6answers
254 views
Help me pronounce single “r”
I've recently started studying Spanish (Latin American) with Rosetta Stone. I think I'm doing trilled r's right but I'm not sure if I'm doing single r's right. Are they supposed to have a single ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
“True” meaning of “por cierto”
I have always thought of the expression of "por cierto" as meaning "certainly" or "surely." It certainly "looks" that way (for certainly). And even Google Translate gives it that meaning, as well as ...
10
votes
2answers
134 views
Traer and llevar - what is the reference point?
I always have problems concerning traer and llevar. I think I understand the general meaning:
Llevar means "to take", such as when an object is being taken (generally by you) to a place other than ...
10
votes
1answer
132 views
Chorizo como sinónimo de ladrón
¿Por qué en España la palabra "chorizo" es coloquialmente usada para referirse a los ladrones?
10
votes
1answer
210 views
Plural form of compound words
The plural form of compound words in Spanish is not an easy matter. If the compound word already has its final element in plural form, then the plural form is the same as the singular one: for ...
10
votes
1answer
126 views
How can I know if a word or phrase should be avoided due to regional variations?
Say that I want to write some blog posts or news articles in Spanish. Are there any useful resources (e.g. books, websites or guidelines) that one could use in order to write “neutral” Spanish, that ...
10
votes
3answers
177 views
Is there a Spanish equivalent for “OP”?
The English abbreviation OP for the term Original Poster is widely used over the internet. Do the abbreviation and/or the term have widely used equivalents in Spanish?
9
votes
7answers
652 views
What is the most idiomatic translation of “no way!”
The phrase "no way" is similar to this question about the expression "you wish!" but is perhaps more of an expression of disbelief or rejection of what the other speaker says. It also can be friendly ...
9
votes
4answers
589 views
How to translate the idiomatic expressions “I wish!” and “You wish!”
What's the best way to say "I wish!" as in...
A: I hear you're a good dancer.
B: Ha! I wish!
Or...
A: Will you help me move this piano?
B: Ha! You wish!
What is the best way to ...
9
votes
3answers
545 views
Spanish abbreviation for the United States of America
What is (or are?) the suggested abbreviation(s) for the United States of America in Spanish? I've seen:
E.E.U.U.
EE.UU.
EEUU
EUA
USA
(And only the last two actually makes any sense to me!)
9
votes
2answers
335 views
When is it written with and without accent: porqué/porque/por qué?
Can anybody explain to me when each of this variations of "porque" should be used?
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a difference between “claro” and “por supuesto”?
Both "claro" (or "claro que sí") and "por supuesto" appear to be used to say 'of course' in one way or another.
Are there any differences in how they are used? Is one formal and the other informal? ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
What does the slang “cerote” mean?
I know this is a slang expression from Central American people. I don't remember the context but it was something like:
Eres un cerote! (from a pretty angry girl)
I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean ...
9
votes
3answers
223 views
How to say “My old teacher”
If you say "Mi profesor viejo," your indicating your teacher old age-wise. I was wondering how you indicate that your talking about a past teacher.
