All Questions
6
votes
2answers
230 views
What is the difference between different ways of expressing desire and intention?
I hear a lot of different ways to express the idea of wanting something or wanting to do something. What is the difference between them?
Yo quiero (algo o hacer algo o que pase algo)
Me gustaría ...
...
9
votes
1answer
102 views
Usage of “llevar a trabajar” vs “llevar al trabajo”
I have found this example (which is counterintuitive, in my opinion) in "Uso de la gramática española. Elemental", Francisca Castro, Edelsa 2000:
Yo no llevo el coche a trabajar normalmente.
Why ...
4
votes
1answer
854 views
Does indirect speech in Spanish require changes in tense, mood, etc?
In German you have to use different moods, in English different tenses for verbs to mark indirect speech (speech where you are saying what was said or expressed):
He said that he had painted the ...
5
votes
1answer
96 views
What is apercibido?
Today I looked for the word desapercibido in the RAE and found the following:
desapercibido, da.
adj. No apercibido.
Now, I know what desapercibido means, but then I was curious about ...
7
votes
4answers
160 views
Is/Was there a Basic Spanish?
There is a whole Wikipedia written in Basic English. This leads to the question if something similar exists for Spanish. Maybe a type of controlled language for teaching aboriginals a simplified ...
6
votes
2answers
174 views
Is there a standard, most common, or most neutral Spanish term for “chat room”?
Just earlier I was about to mention to somebody in Spanish that I was in a Stack Exchange chat room and I realized I didn't know how to say it in Spanish.
There's a bunch of words for "room":
...
5
votes
2answers
320 views
“Iros” instead of “idos” (imperative of verb “ir”)
I have heard many times the use of the infinitive instead of the imperative in Spanish with the verb "ir". For example:
Si me queréis, irse* (Instead of: Si me queréis, váyanse) [Famous quote of ...
8
votes
5answers
438 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 ...
13
votes
1answer
314 views
Why are certain words ending in “a” masculine?
English:
I'm referring to words like "el tema" or "el lema". Most words ending in "a" are feminine.
This is actually the opposite of a similar question,
¿Por qué es la palabra ...
13
votes
3answers
152 views
Is the use of @ instead of 'a' or 'o' in order to refer to both masculine and femenine accepted?
I have seen several times the use of @ instead of 'a' or 'o' for refering masculine and femenine words at the same time. For example:
Hola a tod@s.
Is this an accepted use?
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
0answers
322 views
Suffixes used to transform an adjective into a noun [closed]
Spanish has, to my knowledge, more possible suffixes than for example English or German. Many adjectives can be transformed into nouns by adding -ness, -ism, -ity in English, or -keit, -heit, -ismus ...
4
votes
3answers
221 views
Etymological origin of “false friends” between Spanish and English
Is there an etymological origin that can be called the main one that has created the list of "false friends" between Spanish and English?
I'm constantly stumbling upon a new "false friend" when ...
11
votes
2answers
267 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:
...
8
votes
7answers
455 views
Are there any words that have opposite regional meanings?
Following in the footsteps of EL&U, are there any words that have opposite meanings in different Spanish-speaking regions?
We are looking for words that are the same, but have different meanings ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
List of most commonly used Spanish words
When learning vocabulary in a new language, it is useful to focus on very commonly used words first. Are there any resources online (or in print) that give a list of the most frequently occurring ...
6
votes
3answers
465 views
Determining gender of words ending in “e”
When learning Spanish, there are basic rules taught about word gender: words ending in o are usually masculine, words ending in a are usually feminine.
What about words ending in e? Are there any ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
“ir a «infinitive»” vs. future tense
There are two ways to indicate a future action, ir a «infinitive» and the future tense. How do I decide which to use when? Is one form more common when spoken or in writing? Is there a regional ...
12
votes
4answers
559 views
¿Cómo se pueden identificar palabras árabes en español?
Español
Yo sé que los musulmanes, cuando conquistaron España, impactaron en gran medida al idioma. Hay palabras en español que son prestadas (y ahora son una parte del idioma). ¿Hay un método con ...
7
votes
1answer
304 views
What is the correct order of object pronouns?
I know that there are (at least) three types of personal pronouns in Spanish (well, and English): direct, indirect, and reflexive. In cases where all three (or at least two) are present, what is the ...
14
votes
2answers
268 views
How do I know whether to attach a direct object pronoun to the infinitive?
I often struggle to decide what sounds right when I need to use direct object pronouns. Lessons on these pronouns have not been much help because they teach that when using a direct object pronoun it ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
How widespread was (or is) the phrase “La mamá de Tarzán”?
I came across the phrase "La mamá de Tarzán" when reading Los años con Laura Díaz by top Mexican author Carlos Fuentes.
The part of the book was set in the early part of the 20th century if I recall ...
5
votes
1answer
112 views
Was the word “bomb” only used as slang in Chile and only in the '80s?
In the hit novel Mala honda by Chilean author Alberto Fuguet I remember the word "bomb" being used a lot.
It's obviously a slang word. I think it was only used in dialogue. I got the impression it ...
8
votes
2answers
194 views
Usage of “adiós” in the Basque country
People in the Basque country commonly use local words, such as agur instead of adiós.
According to our former Spanish teacher, usage of adiós is unadvisable in the Basque country because of its ...
6
votes
1answer
166 views
What's the origin of the Panamanian word “biñuelo”? Is it merely a corruption of “buñuelo”?
I was in Panama about five years ago and there was a common deep fried street food called "biñuelo".
Of course there's a regular Spanish word "buñuelo" which means fritter.
So is "biñuelo" just the ...
10
votes
2answers
372 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:
...
5
votes
1answer
50 views
What does “barrocanrolera” mean?
In the novel Los años con Laura Diaz by top Mexican author Carlos Fuentes there is a word, "barrocanrolera", which is not in the DRAE, the Gran diccionario Larousse, Wiktionary, or Google Translate.
...
4
votes
1answer
132 views
Do “alborada”, “amanecer”, and “madrugada” refer to the same thing?
In English we have the two words "dawn" and "sunrise".
But in Spanish there are three words, "alborada", "amanecer", and "madrugada".
Do the three Spanish words refer to the same thing? Or is one ...
9
votes
4answers
265 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
How to interpret “dar a” or “dar a conocer”?
I only know "dar" in its literal sense of "to give".
And I know "conocer" in its literal sense of "to know" or "to get to know".
But in reading Cien años de soledad I came to this passage:
... y ...
8
votes
2answers
450 views
How to translate “make it count”
This evening a friend saw a poster in English that said something like:
If you have only one chance at opportunity, make it count.
She asked me what it meant. She knew enough English to make out ...
5
votes
2answers
121 views
How to choose between “carecer” and “faltar”?
I've always used "faltar" to mean "to lack, to be missing".
But in my reading I find that "carecer" seems to mean exactly the same.
When should I use the one or the other? Are there some ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Forma correcta de “nisiquiera”
Al escribir siempre he tenido la duda de cuál es la manera apropiada del término o frase.
¿Es "ni si quiera", "ni siquiera" o todo junto "nisiquiera"?.
When writing I've always worred about which ...
2
votes
3answers
198 views
American style TV shows in Spanish [closed]
Are there American style TV shows that could be used to practice listening Spanish. By American style I mean
Each episode around 30 minutes in length
Although it helps to watch them in sequence, ...
13
votes
3answers
365 views
Proper placement of inverted question mark
What is the proper placement of the inverted question mark in sentences that are not completely questions? A common example:
Hello, how are you?
(¿)Hola, (¿)cómo estás?
Or:
That's ...
1
vote
2answers
177 views
Words and phrases with non-evident prejudice
Hace poco aprendí que el origen de la palabra algarabía es la pronunciación de árabe en la lengua árabe. Otro ejemplo notable es la palabra morisqueta.
¿Existen otras palabras o frases de común uso ...
7
votes
1answer
293 views
Usage of the compound preposition “para con”
Wikipedia mentions that para con is rarely used, but I hear it often enough to warrant this question.
On the other hand, the Wikipedia article references the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas with ...
8
votes
2answers
125 views
How can I tell someone what I'm reading about?
I was reading a book, and someone asked me, "¿Qué estás leyendo?"
I answered, "Estoy leyendo sobre ..."
The person looked at me funny, but seemed to understand what I said.
Looking back, it makes ...
2
votes
2answers
72 views
Infinitive instead of past participle in Maná's “El Verdadero Amor Perdona”
In Maná's song "El Verdadero Amor Perdona" one of the verses contains the lines:
Cómo pude haberte yo herido / engañarte y ofendido
I'd think it should be "Como pude haberte yo herido / engañado ...
4
votes
3answers
112 views
Single or multiple word names of numbers
Should numbers above 15 be spelled as a single word (diecisiete, veintidos, etc.) or multiple words (diez y siete, veinte y dos, etc). Does the Real Academia Española have a official opinion on the ...
5
votes
4answers
293 views
Names of letters “b” and “v”
The letters b and v have several possible names in Spanish. Is there an official, language academy-sponsored name for these letters? If not, what are the most common and standard names?
6
votes
1answer
169 views
Etymology of “usted”
What is the etymology of the pronoun "usted"? What formal pronouns existed before, and when did the current "usted" come into existence?
7
votes
2answers
202 views
When should I use the pure passive voice in Spanish? ( fue/fueron [past participle] )
I know Spanish often avoids the passive voice by using the active instead or 'se' to change the subject of the sentence, but when do Spanish speakers use the 'pure' passive with `fue/fueron ...
7
votes
2answers
232 views
What is the future subjunctive and how was it used?
I've heard that there used to be another tense in Spanish called the "future-subjunctive"
¡A donde fueres, haz lo que vieres!
I've heard the above means in a literal sense, "to where you will ...
20
votes
2answers
742 views
Why is the “X” in México and Texas pronunced as the letter “J”?
English
Even as a native speaker I don't know the reason of this. Another example would be Xavier.
Español
Aunque el español es mi primera lengua, no sé por qué razón sucede esto. Otro ejemplo ...
5
votes
2answers
147 views
Proper spelling of “beisbol”
I had the privilege of attending the 2011 Panamerican Games last month, and went to the brand new baseball stadium in Lagos de Moreno. The stadium said in big letters:
Estadio de Beisbol
My ...
5
votes
2answers
255 views
How should we translate “everything but the kitchen sink” or “the whole enchilada”?
There is an idiom that is popular (and old) in English that states "everything but the kitchen sink". This is a phrase that means "everything that could be conceived".
Som examples:
"I realized ...
7
votes
4answers
238 views
Why should we use estar over ser for being old or fat?
I can understand why we would use estar for temporary states. But there are conditions that people have that are not temporary, such as being old (or for some people, being fat).
¡qué gordo está!
...
5
votes
1answer
138 views
Is there an equivalent, in Spanish, for the interrobang?
In English, we have the interrobang -- ‽ (often represented by ?! or !?) -- which can express incredulity and surprise in-text. Does Spanish have an equivalent punctuation mark? If so, would it, like ...
7
votes
3answers
299 views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre «también» y «tampoco»?
Yo sé que se debe usar también cuando una persona se pone en acuerdo con una otra (en inglés, "You like movies? Me too!" será, "¿Te gustan las películas? ¡A mi también!") pero no se las reglas de usar ...
