All Questions
7
votes
3answers
153 views
Translating “actually” (as in a change of mind)
There are many times I run into conversations like this:
Waitress: Would you like some water?
Me: No thanks.
She walks away for a second, then comes back
Me: Actually, could I get a ...
7
votes
1answer
111 views
¿Cuál es el origen del frase “media naranja”?
He oído la frase "media naranja" unas veces, y puedo entender el contexto, que significa una pareja o novia, por ejemplo. Pero quiero saber el origen de esa frase. A mi, ese frase me parece muy rara.
...
7
votes
7answers
425 views
¿Qué significa “salir del paso?”
Estoy leyendo esta página, y tiene la frase:
Es una solución para salir del paso. Da mejores resultados entre idiomas de origen indoeuropeo, como es de esperar. Pero si se necesita una traducción ...
7
votes
2answers
192 views
Why “a ti” and not just “ti”
I am very much a beginner when it comes to learning Spanish. I have turned my language settings for Facebook from English to Spanish so that I see the language regularly and I have noticed that the ...
7
votes
3answers
262 views
What is the difference between 'hallar' and 'encontrar'?
If I find something I lost, should I use 'hallar'?
For example, I found missing keys and said to my wife '¡Hallé las llaves!' she replied '¿Las encontraste?' Then a discussion about Hallar vs ...
7
votes
3answers
521 views
Usage of fea and rico
I'm learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone. The lesson I am currently on has two examples that I don't completely understand.
La leche está fea
El pan está rico
"Fea" seems to be translated ...
7
votes
2answers
192 views
Why is “Usted” grammatically a third person?
In English polite form of address is "You" which is second person singular and plural. In Russian it is "Вы" which is plural second person.
In Spanish (and probably French and Italian) polite address ...
7
votes
4answers
233 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!
...
7
votes
3answers
349 views
Spanish for “douche”?
Is there a Spanish equivalent for "douche", as in the insult?
I've search and found several results which, while being correct, either are too regional or lack the force of the English insult.
7
votes
1answer
280 views
Where does the alternate meaning for “mateo” come from?
When I was studying Spanish in college the teacher went around the room asking our names and how we had learned the language up to that point. When it came to be my turn I responded with, "Soy ...
7
votes
1answer
120 views
“Liking” a musician or other artist
The verb gustar, when used with people, conveys a romantic interest (e.g. Ella me gusta. -> I have a crush on her.). How then, can you convey that you like a musician's music or an artist's paintings, ...
7
votes
2answers
112 views
What's the function of “mismo” in this sentence?
What's the exact function of "mismo" in the following sentence?
For example:
Se llevo a cabo la ceremonia y el mismo presidente le entrego la medalla al soldado.
I'm a native speaker and I ...
7
votes
3answers
270 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
641 views
¿Por qué razón en España suelen pronunciar los extranjerismos de acuerdo a las reglas del español y no a las reglas del idioma original?
En México y América Central los extranjerismos más recientes suelen pronunciarse de acuerdo a las reglas del idioma original, o más comúnmente aproximaciones o deformaciones de estas acercando la ...
7
votes
4answers
297 views
Shorter/alternate version of refrigerator
English
Is there a shorter or more common word for refrigeradora in Mexico and the southern parts of the US? I find it a cumbersome and difficult word to say in Spanish.
Español
Hay otra manera ...
7
votes
3answers
535 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
130 views
“to feel ashamed for an unknown person” or a cringe-worthy experience
Since the upcoming of talk- and music-casting shows in Ger & US TV in the last two decades, Germans created the compound verb fremdschämen, e.g., when somebody is embarrassing in his actions or ...
7
votes
3answers
314 views
Idiomatic translation of “Dame tu luz”?
In the song Pequeño Amor by the Chiquitas, there is the following chorus:
Pequeño amor,
por siempre tú
pequeño amor,
dame tu luz
The song is a duet, and the above is sung by members of the ...
7
votes
2answers
121 views
Is there a difference in the pronuciation of a single vowel or multiple vowels in a row?
There are several phrases, most of which are easily distinguished by context, that have very similar, if not the exact same pronunciation. The distinction I'm curious about is a single vowel in a ...
7
votes
1answer
175 views
Is Portapapeles the correct translation for Clipboard?
In technical terms, what is the correct way to refer to a computer's Clipboard in Spanish? The automated translators say it's "Portapapeles"
7
votes
1answer
444 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?
7
votes
4answers
175 views
Translating “I hear (that)…”
How do you translate the phrase "I hear (that)..." as in:
I hear that you just got back from your vacation.
I hear that it rained all last week in Seattle.
I hear you got an A on your history final.
...
7
votes
3answers
97 views
'Se me van encoger' o 'se me van a encoger'
Me gustaría saber si alguien sabe cuál es la forma correcta de expresar algo que se encogerá:
'Se me van encoger' o 'Se me van a encoger'
7
votes
2answers
126 views
¿Cuál es el origen de la palabra 'antro'?
Hoy en dia, en México, se dice 'antro' a un club/discoteca o simplemente un bar. ¿De dónde viene la palabra? ¿Cuándo se empezó a usar?
7
votes
2answers
160 views
¿Qué significa “la tercera edad”?
Una amiga me dijo:
Estoy a cargo de mamá que es una señora de la tercera edad.
¿Qué significa "la tercera edad"?
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
When is it appropriate to say “buenos días”?
It looks like "buenos días" is most commonly translated as "good morning," although apparently it can mean "good day" as well (like a literal translation would suggest).
Is it appropriate to greet ...
7
votes
1answer
274 views
¿Cómo empezar una carta de manera formal/oficial?
Tengo que escribir una carta formal y quiero escribir de la misma manera y con el mismo respeto que en inglés (dear sir, dear madam), son dos personas que no son parientes pero quiero ser cortés con ...
7
votes
3answers
174 views
¿Cómo pedir la opinión de alguien?
¿Cómo se pide la opinión de alguien sobre un tema o actividad?
Por ejemplo, en ingles se dice:
What do you think about __________?
7
votes
1answer
125 views
¿Cuál es la forma correcta de mencionar un año?(de o del)
Institucionalmente utilizo de para referirme a un año. Ejemplo:
26 de Enero de 2012
Sin embargo, intuitivamente, estoy impulsado a utilizar del en otros contextos. Ejemplo:
26 de Enero del ...
7
votes
2answers
257 views
What is the most common way to answer the phone?
What is the most universally-used greeting when answering the phone (i.e. way to say, "Hello?")? Are there any circumstances where the greeting would be different (for example, when answering a phone ...
7
votes
2answers
97 views
Grammar of “¡A comer!”
I was recently staying with a Mexican family, and during lunch, the children (ages 8 and 5) were being rather unruly. The grandmother would command them: ¡A comer!
I have never heard a command in ...
7
votes
1answer
464 views
¿Qué significa “cdta” en una receta?
En esta receta, se dice:
1 cdta. de polvo de hornear
1 cdta. de esencia de vainilla
Google traduce "1 cdta" como "tsp" (teaspoon) y también como "tbsp" (tablespoon). ¿Cuál es la correcta? ¿Y ...
7
votes
2answers
158 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
210 views
“Ser” and “Estar”: Spanish vs. Portuguese
The English verb to be typically translates to either ser or estar in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Is there any instance in which the ser /estar distinction is different between Spanish and ...
7
votes
3answers
568 views
“Maje” (or “mae”) in Nicaraguan Spanish
What does the word "maje" (pronounced "mae") mean in Nicaraguan Spanish? Could the word be considered offensive, and, if so, in what contexts is it appropriate to use?
7
votes
4answers
220 views
¿Cómo se dice regionalmente “coquetear”?
Español
(Pregunta: ¿cómo se dice "to flirt" regionalmente?)
Sé que la forma correcta de decirlo es "coquetear". Sin embargo, en México usamos la palabra "ligar". He oído que en Chile usan la palabra ...
7
votes
1answer
174 views
What's the origin of words ended in letter “j”?
What's the origin/etymology of these words? The only one that I know and it is common is reloj.
Are there any others recognized by the RAE?
7
votes
1answer
196 views
When is “mitad” appropriate?
Another thing I'm often corrected on is my apparent overuse of the word medio. What are the proper uses of the words mitad (and la mitad) and medio (and el medio)?
7
votes
3answers
637 views
Age range of niño, chico, muchacho, joven, etc
Spanish has several words for referring to children:
niño/niña
chico/chica
muchacho/muchacha
joven
Some dialects add others like chavo or chavalo.
What are the approximate age ranges these words ...
7
votes
2answers
245 views
Was “rr” ever considered officially a letter of the Spanish alphabet?
Everybody agrees that the Spanish digraphs "ch" and "ll" used to be officially separate "letters" up to the time the RAE changed the rules of Spanish alphabetization in 1994.
But when it comes to the ...
7
votes
2answers
214 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
168 views
Forma correcta de escribir una pregunta de la que sospechas la respuesta
Spanish
En una pregunta donde inquirimos sobre algo de lo que sospechamos saber la respuesta, cual sería la forma correcta de colocar el signo de interrogación final:
Necesitaré un número de ...
7
votes
3answers
185 views
What is Spanish for “John Doe” in Puerto Rico?
What is Puerto Rican Spanish for "John Doe" or "Jane Doe" ? Is it still Fulano de Tal ?
7
votes
1answer
90 views
“Soy yo el que vine…” or “soy yo el que vino…”?
What is often heard is
"Soy yo el que vine ayer a ... "
(I am the one who came yesterday to...) but I think that
"Soy yo el que vino ayer a ... "
is the correct sentence because the ...
7
votes
1answer
122 views
Is “mas sin embargo” a pleonasm?
I've seen and heard "mas sin embargo". My questions are:
Is it correct to use "mas sin embargo"?
Is it a pleonasm?
Example:
Mario tiene que hacer mucha tarea, mas sin embargo está jugando.
...
7
votes
3answers
257 views
Choosing between “Mirar” and “Ver”
What is the real difference between "Ver" and "Mirar". They are quite close in meaning but what are the differences between them? What are the rules to know whether we should choose one or the other?
7
votes
1answer
189 views
How to Explain the use of vosotros to refer to an individual in the movie, “El Laberinto del Fauno” (Pan's Labyrinth)?
The movie "El Laberinto del Fauno" by Guillermo del Toro was set in Spain, with actors well-known in Spanish film, but was created by a Mexican crew (del Toro is Mexican).
In the movie, a Faun often ...
7
votes
1answer
261 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
370 views
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre honor y honra?
Hace poco me di cuenta de que existen dos palabras en español que equivalen a la palabra "honor" en inglés: honor y honra. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre estas dos palabras? ¿Cuál es más común?
