All Questions
27
votes
3answers
524 views
Origin and usage of “¿” and “¡”
English
I was wondering what the reason is that the inverted exclamation mark ¡ and the inverted question mark ¿ were introduced into the Spanish language and not into most other languages.
Any ...
17
votes
10answers
959 views
How to pronounce the consonants “y” and “ll”?
I have heard y/ll pronounced in two different ways:
[j] (like 'y' in "yellow")
[ʒ] (like 's' in "measure")
Do native speakers use both interchangeably? Or is it pronounced [j] in some regions and ...
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:
...
6
votes
1answer
263 views
Rules applied to the separation of syllables
As a native speaker it's natural for me to know how a word is separated in its constituent syllables. But I want to know if there are any established rules to know how a word is separated into its ...
12
votes
6answers
2k 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
321 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.
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the difference between allí and ahí (“there”)?
English
What is the difference between allí and ahí? Is there any difference in pronunciation between the two? Are there any contexts where one is correct and one is wrong, or are they completely ...
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?
13
votes
5answers
276 views
When should I use the word 'yo' in a sentence where the verb conjugation already shows that I am the subject?
Early on while I was learning Spanish, my teachers would always make us use the pronoun 'yo' even if it was redundant:
Yo pienso que...
Yo quiero...
Yo hablo...
etc.
However, a more ...
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"?
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
3answers
2k views
Difference between “mas” and “más”
What's the difference between mas and más?
What rules should I follow to know which one to use?
Could you provide examples showing their uses?
4
votes
5answers
210 views
Uses of “se”: “se rompió” o “rompió”
He leído las siguientes oraciones.
Mi hermano menor se rompió la mayoría de vasos.
Mi hermano menor rompió la mayoría de vasos.
Dice que la segunda frase es correcta. ¿Pero por qué?
Su ...
4
votes
4answers
487 views
When is the indirect object pronoun required in sentences with an indirect object?
Spanish
¿Cuándo son necesarios en una frase los pronombres indirectos y cuándo son opcionales? Creo que aprendí en el colegio que se requieren siempre (por ejemplo, "le dije a ella que..." es ...
4
votes
1answer
857 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 ...
13
votes
4answers
264 views
Does using “tío” imply a negative opinion?
I've seen the word tío used to mean "guy" or "bloke", but can't recall (in my admittedly limited experience) having seen it used to imply a positive opinion of someone.
If I refer to someone as "Ese ...
10
votes
5answers
532 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Are there any differences between “de nada” and “por nada”?
Most of the time in all the Spanish speaking countries I've been in I've heard de nada as the reply to gracias or the equivalent of English you're welcome etc.
But after a while I became conscious ...
4
votes
3answers
217 views
“s” final en tiempo pretérito indefinido: -aste(s), -iste(s)
Español
La segunda persona singular del pretérito indefinido generalmente termina en "-aste" o "-iste". En muchos lugares, la gente agrega una "s" final a estas palabras (por ejemplo, hablastes en ...
4
votes
2answers
504 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?
2
votes
2answers
178 views
Translating “to wind up (doing something)”
In informal English, we use the phrase "to wind up" to describe the final state of a situation, after all is said and done. For example:
How did you wind up moving to Kansas after growing up in ...
2
votes
1answer
259 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
166 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 ...
1
vote
4answers
135 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
68 views
Spanish After Mango Languages [closed]
I am currently learning Spanish through Mango Languages for Libraries. When it is complete, it looks like I will be somewhat conversational and will understand the basics of conjugation for common ...
17
votes
5answers
287 views
What does “lo” in “(no) lo es” refer to?
English:
In this sentence, for example:
El dinero no lo es todo en la vida.
What does this "lo" refer to?
Can it be omitted ("El dinero no es todo")?
Español:
En esta frase, por ejemplo:
...
20
votes
2answers
743 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 ...
18
votes
4answers
303 views
Question words: “qué” versus “cuál”
English
Often "qué" is translated to English as "what" and "cuál" is translated as "which." However, I know that this is not always the case. Here are some examples. (Please correct me if I am ...
22
votes
10answers
2k views
How should I ask someone to repeat something they've said?
When I learned Spanish in school, I was taught to never say ¿Qué? when I needed someone to repeat something they just said. Rather I was taught to say ¿Cómo? Later, my wife taught me to say ¿Mande? ...
14
votes
4answers
891 views
When to use “igual” and “lo mismo”?
English
I often get corrected when using either the word igual or mismo, and haven't really figured out when to use which yet.
What are the rules for when and how to use igual, and when and how to ...
11
votes
1answer
273 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 ...
9
votes
7answers
694 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
381 views
¿Cómo se dice “cheers” en español?
¿Qué dicen los españoles cuando juntos levantan la copa de vino solemnemente? ¿Cómo se dice "cheers" en español?
8
votes
2answers
324 views
What's the difference between “debe de” y “debe”?
Is there any difference? What's their usage? When should one be used instead of the other one?
Examples:
El niño debe de hacer su tarea.
El niño debe hacer su tarea.
7
votes
2answers
195 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
180 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.
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a trick to remembering 'llevar' and 'traer'?
After years of living in a Spanish-speaking country, and speaking mostly only Spanish all day, I still struggle with 'llevar' and 'traer'. The rules are clear and all, but it is just very difficult to ...
21
votes
9answers
422 views
Any difference between aquí and acá
I've been taught that aquí and acá are completely interchangable.
From personal observation, acá seems to be used more often than aquí in the context of "I live down this road." Example:
Vivo ...
13
votes
4answers
792 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
770 views
Is there a difference between “español” and “castellano”?
English
I always thought the two could be used interchangeably (meaning "the Spanish language"). But I recently got into an argument with someone where they insisted there was a difference (although ...
9
votes
2answers
190 views
What is the history of the “personal a”?
What is the historical origin of the "personal a" in Spanish?
Examples of the personal a:
George sees Mary. -> Jorge ve a María.
I see the waitress. -> Veo a la mesera.
But with the exact ...
8
votes
3answers
238 views
¿Qué significa 'va' en “Nos vemos después, ¿va?”
Hoy, por chat, una amiga (de México) dijo:
Nos vemos depués, ¿va?
Entiendo "Nos vemos después", pero qué significa "va" en este contexto?
8
votes
3answers
212 views
Two nouns in a row, or, is it OK to omit “de”?
Two or more nouns are sometimes used consecutively, with the second modifying the first.
For instance, I recently received a mail whose subject was "Honorarios migración." This is, I suppose, ...
8
votes
1answer
111 views
Is it acceptable to leave out the inverted punctuation marks?
Is it acceptable to leave out inverted question marks and exclamation points (¿ ¡) from questions and exclamatory sentences?
I ask this because some computers and other devices I use won't let me add ...
8
votes
1answer
389 views
What are the accentuation rules in Spanish?
Many native Spanish speakers have trouble determining when accent marks (tildes) should be used and where. What are the rules for accent placement in Spanish? How do you determine whether the vowel on ...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
528 views
How to translate 'to become?' (hacerse, ponerse, convertirse en, etc.)
I've heard several different words used for 'to become' in Spanish. Obviously sometimes there are specific verbs to use, like 'enfadarse' means to become angry, but often you need to use a verb that ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
What's the meaning of the expression “nada que ver”?
What's the meaning of the expression "nada que ver"?
In which countries is used?
Here are some examples:
Lo que dices no tiene nada que ver con lo que estamos discutiendo.
Conversation between ...
7
votes
2answers
286 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 ...
