All Questions
3
votes
1answer
17 views
How is the second person singular formed with rioplatense “vos”?
English
I learned my Spanish in Spain, some years ago. Now I am visiting Uruguay and Argentina and coming across the usage of the pronoun vos, and its corresponding different formation of the second ...
5
votes
2answers
82 views
Convention for group-recited, gender-specific, self-referencing pronouns
What convention (or conventions) exist for words that are recited by a group of people, but refer to oneself using gender-specific pronouns? The most common context is probably group worship in a ...
2
votes
2answers
82 views
Identifying Male and Female words
Are there any tips to quickly identify words in Spanish as 'male' or 'female'?
I am a new learner and have trouble with this.
Thanks for all your help!
11
votes
3answers
337 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
67 views
¿Qué significa «En 2.° plano»?
Yo he restablecido mi iPhone hoy, y estoy restaurando la configuración.
En el panel de configuración de Safari, hay una opción «Abrir enlaces» que tiene dos valores posibles:
En página nueva
En 2.° ...
5
votes
2answers
174 views
¿Qué significa la expresión “a lo que te truje chencha”?
¿Cuál es el significado de la expresión "a lo que te truje chencha"?
0
votes
2answers
43 views
Is it possible to use definite articles before proper nouns? If so, when?
I'm doing a Spanish project where we write a script for a commercial. First, we wrote it in English and now we have to translate to Spanish. So far, it's been okay, but I'm just not sure if I should ...
3
votes
6answers
146 views
Why do you use “al” before a verb?
I understand that al is a combination of a + el when used before a noun, however in what situations would you use it in front of a verb, for instance
'Al llegar al tercer semaforo...'
4
votes
2answers
140 views
¿Cuáles son las distinciones más importantes del castellano amazónico del Perú?
Se dice aquí que hay cinco variaciones del español hablado en el Perú, y que el español amazónico parece predominar en un área geográficamente más extensa que los otros dialectos. Supongo que hay ...
3
votes
4answers
13k views
congratulations: felicidades vs. felicitaciones
English
I have heard both ¡Felicidades! and ¡Felicitaciones! as translations of the interjection, "Congratulations!"
What is the difference between the two, and when is each used?
Español
He ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
¿Cuál es la palabra correcta, “membresía” o “membrecía”?
Cual es la forma correcta de escribir la siguiente palabra: MEMBRESÍA o MEMBRECÍA, según las normas de la Real Academia de la Lengua Española para el año actual (2013). Por favor incluir referencias ...
5
votes
3answers
393 views
What is “ya va” in Venezuelan Spanish?
I heard the expression "llava" / "ya va" (?) being used in Venezuelan Spanish. It seems to have the meaning of "wait a moment", but my Mexican friend don't understand it.
Does anyone who know what ...
1
vote
2answers
85 views
Could General Pablo Morrillo have been misunderstood as saying “Spain does not need wise people.”?
According to wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Morillo
"When Morillo ordered the execution of the Colombian scientist Francisco José de Caldas (known as El Sabio Caldas, "Wise Caldas") ...
4
votes
8answers
586 views
How would you translate the word “badass” to Spanish?
I was thinking maybe of "cabrón" or "chingon" ; however I think those two sound too Mexican specific. Does anybody know a better and less region specific equivalent?
0
votes
0answers
25 views
When do you use 'para' and when do you use 'por'? [duplicate]
How do you know when to use 'para' and when do you use 'por'?
0
votes
3answers
126 views
¿De dónde proviene la palabra 'meacamas'?
¿Cuales son el origen y significado de la primera parte de esa palabra, es decir, lo del 'me'?
Si la primera parte es una forma abreviada de meter, o la de otro verbo semejante, en ese caso no está ...
3
votes
6answers
163 views
Proper way to express the time of a flight
I need to say "My flight is at 10". I can imagine several translations:
Mi vuelo esta a las 10.
Mi vuelo es a las 10.
Mi vuelo sale a las 10.
Yo vuelo a las 10.
Are any of these ...
3
votes
2answers
110 views
El uso de “comerse”
Qué diferencias hay entre las oraciones siguientes :
Así que empezaron a comerse las paredes de la casa.
Así que empezaron a comer las paredes de la casa.
5
votes
3answers
76 views
Indicative and subjunctive after time constructions
I have a few questions regarding the use of some verbs after time constructions like "tan pronto como" or "en cuanto."
If I am saying....
Los domingos por la mañana vemos televisión. Tan pronto ...
3
votes
5answers
134 views
A lo de mi abuela / Donde mi abuela
Quiero decir: "Voy a la casa de mi abuela".
En Argentina siempre he escuchado: "voy a lo de mi abuela".
En Chile, parece que utilizan: "Voy donde mi abuela".
Qué suelen decir en los otros paises? ...
3
votes
4answers
130 views
“El hijo del sol es yo” or “El hijo del sol soy yo”?
How to speak the sentence:
The son of the sun is me.
in Spanish? I thought about:
El hijo del sol es yo.
at first, but Google Translation translates the sentence into
El hijo del sol soy yo.
I ...
1
vote
2answers
128 views
me/te/nos hace falta / passive form
So after reading this question I came up with a really bad doubt.
In the past I was using quite often "(no) se hace falta" to say for instance, that "it is (not) necessary to", but I've by then been ...
4
votes
5answers
207 views
¿Cuál es la palabra más generalmente aceptada para decir “calzado deportivo”?
Desde hace mucho tiempo he tenido esta duda, pero recientemente en esta pregunta nuevos zapatos por/para España? me surgió nuevamente.
Yo siempre creí que la palabra "zapatilla" era la más ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
¿Qué significa la abreviatura “VoBo”?
¿Cuál es el significado de la abreviatura "VoBo"? ¿en qué casos se puede utilizar?
6
votes
4answers
7k views
Where did “pico de gallo” get its name?
Does pico de gallo (the type of salsa) literally translate as "rooster's beak"? If so, where did it get that name, and how does that describe the salsa?
2
votes
3answers
96 views
Best Spanish translation for “Visit Google Maps for [address]”
What’s the best Spanish translation for “Visit Google Maps for [address]” or “Look up [address] on Google Maps”? (Of course, [address] is supposed to be replaced by any street address.)
If it helps, ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
¿Qué significa la expresión “echar toda la carne al asador”?
¿Qué significa la expresión "echar toda la carne al asador"? Esta frase la he escuchado en México.
2
votes
4answers
73 views
On the fly / sobre la marcha
Still with software science translations.. Now I'm coming to you with this expression that have always bothered me: "on the fly"
How the hood would you translate that elegantly to spanish?
It feels ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
¿Qué significa “sacalepuntas” en México?
He oido esta expresión en México. Por ejemplo:
Jorge anda muy sacalepuntas.
¿Cuál es su signficado? ¿Por qué?
3
votes
3answers
57 views
How to translate “News Junkie” to Spanish?
Does anyone know what would be the right translation of the term "news junkie" to Spanish?
Or a term which better fits as most used translation for it?
3
votes
3answers
99 views
When are 'me', 'te', 'os' and 'vos' used?
Yo necesito un poco de ayuda.
I have just begun learning Spanish, our professor was explaining about 'me' & 'te'.
I am totally confused about when you use 'me', 'te', 'os' and 'vos'. Is there ...
2
votes
3answers
72 views
Differences in usage between “dejar” and “permitir”?
My understanding is that dejar means "to let" and permitir means "to permit."
Either of them can carry the meaning of "to allow," which is to say that they can be used interchangeably as follows:
...
4
votes
4answers
189 views
¿Existe la palabra “modularizar” en español?
En ciencias computacionales es común utilizar el término "modularizar", para denotar algo que se divide en módulos (herencia del inglés "modularize").
Sin embargo, mi procesador de textos (Word) no ...
5
votes
2answers
91 views
“¿Me lo puedo probar?” vs “¿Lo puedo probar?”
¿Qué diferencia hay entre las oraciones siguientes?
¿Me lo puedo probar?
¿Lo puedo probar?
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Los valores de SE
Encontré unas preguntas cuando estuve haciendo los ejercicios sobre los valores de SE. ¿Podrían ayudarme?
1, SE le trató muy bien. (Creí que es Verbo Pronominal por tratarse, pero la correcta es, ...
1
vote
4answers
124 views
nuevos zapatos por/para España?
I am learning Spanish and want to post a picture of my new running shoes that I will be using in the Madrid marathon. Which is correct?
nuevos zapatos por España
or
nuevos zapatos para ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
En esta oración ¿cuáles son las funciones sintácticas?
No tienes derecho a afearles que hayan incumplido todas sus promesas electorales
Identifico "tienes" como el núcleo del predicado (el verbo principal de la oración principal) y "derecho" como ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
'Controlar' en lenguaje formal
En el Metro de Madrid, así como en otros lugares en España, aconsejan al usuario por megafonía que "Controle sus pertenencias en todo momento, por su seguridad."
Me da la impresión de que Controlar, ...
6
votes
1answer
107 views
Etimología de la frase popular “Hoy Canta Gardel”
En Chile, es muy frecuente oír el dicho popular "Hoy canta Gardel", aludiendo al singular artista argentino Carlos Gardel. Particularmente se utiliza como forma de mencionar el día de pago o bien ...
5
votes
2answers
84 views
¿Es válido decir “eso pasó ahorita”?
En Medellín (Colombia) se dice mucho "eso pasó ahorita", pero parecería ser que "ahora" o "ahorita" es más de futuro.
Ejemplo:
Ellos vienen ahora.
o
Ellos llegaron ahorita.
No suena bien.
...
5
votes
2answers
92 views
Colloquial translation of 'make it up' (to someone)
I've been trying to translate the english idea of 'making it up to someone'.
When you couldn't go to a birthday party or you broke a vase in your friends mums house and you say to them:
No, I'm ...
4
votes
5answers
100 views
Linguistic Use of Spanish Characters Keyboard Layout
After looking at the Spanish Keyboard thatcomes in Windows I have come to notice that are 5 Dead Keys on the Spanish Keyboard layout.
Name Example
´ ACUTE ACCENT más
¨ ...
3
votes
4answers
124 views
Meaning of “andar de vago(a)”
I have heard this phrase, and several similar around the word "vago", but I don't really understand what it means.
The word "vago" seems to translate directly to "vague"... But what does this sort of ...
2
votes
4answers
73 views
Stir the pot, in American Spanish
What is the correct way to express this idiomatic expression? -- Stir the pot --
My goal is to say something like "she stirs the pot even more by inviting this person to her house."
I would imagine ...
2
votes
3answers
110 views
Translation of “twang”
In English (at least American English), "twang" is an onomatopoeia describing the sound of a plucked or vibrating string. It also describes a characteristic of that sound (more common in, say, country ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Remind me to give it to you
Which, if either, of these are correct for "Remind me to give it to you".
Recuérdeme dártelo.
Recuérdeme que te lo dé.
1
vote
1answer
33 views
When using object pronouns, should I say “la van a ver a” or “la van a ver”?
If I have a question:
¿Quiénes van a ver a Luisa el domingo?
I can answer it someway like this, using object pronoun (I do not know if this is the right way to say that in English):
Los alumnos van ...
5
votes
1answer
97 views
Does “Prima” have a double-meaning (in Mexico)?
I recently saw this billboard in Léon, Guanajuato, México:
[Sorry for the awkward placement of the light pole in the photo; I was driving when I snapped it.]
The sign is an advertisement for ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Can I say “contestar las preguntas” instead of “contestar a las preguntas”?
In my spanish text book there is a sentence:
¿Tenéis que contestar a las preguntas de la profesora?
Since "contestar" can be followed directly by objects, why should we use a preposition "a" before ...
12
votes
1answer
258 views
How to avoid the lexical redundancy in the literal Spanish translation of “to ask a question”?
In English we have different words for the verb to ask and the noun question.
But in Spanish to ask is preguntar and question is pregunta.
This always causes me to stumble when speaking Spanish and ...
