Newest Questions
9,316 questions
0
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En un plis plas context
I have read previous posts about the origin of the expression," en un plis plas".
I also have checked the RAE and Spanish Dictionary ,and Word Reference for examples. They all confirm it ...
- 1,663
2
votes
1
answer
70
views
Why imperfect subjunctive?
Estoy estudiando el subjuntivo en este momento, y trato averiguar los siguientes:
¿por qué utilizaría el autór el subjuntivo de imperfecto en este pasaje, en vez de la condicional?
¿cuál sería el “...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
161
views
Subjuntivo en contextos volitivos
Tengo un problemilla con el uso de modo Subjuntivo en contextos volitivos.
Podeis echar un vistazo a las frases abajo y decir cuales creeis que son correctas y cual es vuestra logica al elegir entre ...
- 13
1
vote
1
answer
152
views
When to use G and J in Spanish? (¿Cuándo usar G y J en español?)
So I'm so far finding Spanish pronounciation/spelling pretty consistent so far, especially European Spanish. However, I have a problem with the letters G and J. Are there any rules, when to use soft G ...
- 129
2
votes
1
answer
90
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Colon and semi-colon sentence structure
I have not seen a semi-colon used in Spanish writing and I'm wondering whether it can be directly used under the rules of English grammar. Consider the following sentence for example.
The vaccine is ...
- 286
2
votes
1
answer
237
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Why is the [z] sound in Spanish so uncommon compared to other languages?
Sorry if this is not a Latin question but there weren't any questions in other forums where I could edit. So since Latin is the closest language to Romance languages, I'll ask here. In most other ...
- 129
0
votes
3
answers
428
views
Abbreviation for "ETA" in Spanish?
Is there an equivalent in spanish for ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)?
In English, if I want to ask someone when something will be finished, I can briefly ask:
ETA?
Is there an equivalent ...
- 233
0
votes
1
answer
51
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How would you translate this ? Y uncido que fue su carro
Esto es muy extraño para una principiante como yo.
Espanol de la Biblia:
"Y uncido que fue su carro"
...and yoked that was his chariot?
- 549
0
votes
1
answer
393
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What is the difference between "el rincón" and "la esquina"?
From the RAE definitions for el rincón and la esquina (in regards to corners), the former seems to refer specifically to an interior corner, whereas the latter seems to refer more to an exterior ...
- 235
2
votes
3
answers
118
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Ora más, ora menos
I read the phrase "ora más ,ora menos" in El Mundo.
https://www.elmundo.es/album/yodona/belleza/2023/12/19/6581631fe85ece266b8b4595.html
The sentence is like this:
. Inés de la Fressange, un ...
- 1,663
0
votes
1
answer
45
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Tanto- to mean so much so
I know tanto and tan and its other forms can be used to compare things/people and as an adverb. I also know about "tanto como" to mean as much as. I understand those rules.
My question is :...
- 1,663
3
votes
2
answers
348
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Question re "ese"
I have an editing question. I've read the answers to a question here from a few years ago on "ese" and understand it's slang that originated in Mexico City, used in Chicano dialect. My ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
87
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el jarrón vs la urna
Is "el jarrón" ever used to describe an urn in the sense of holding the ashes of the dead after cremation? Or is that meaning used more with "la urna"?
The RAE definition for el ...
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2
answers
68
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Quiero saber como se redacta una pregunta [closed]
Quiero preguntarle a alguien. Hola, mañana, habrá clases o la manera correcta es hola, .mañana habrá clases?
1
vote
2
answers
128
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¿Qué palabra se debe usar para "heces"?
En conversación diaria (ni formal ni vulgar), ¿que palabra se debe usar para referir a heces? Yo conozco las palabras "heces" (creo que esto es formal, tanto a feces en inglés), "caca,&...
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3
votes
2
answers
391
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¿Por qué se llama "camello" a la persona que vende drogas?
La segunda acepción de camello en el Diccionario de la Lengua es:
m. coloq. Persona que vende drogas tóxicas al por menor.
que no parece guardar ninguna relación con el resto de las acepciones de ...
user35584
1
vote
1
answer
76
views
¿Por qué "camello pardal = jirafa"?
En la entrada de camello del Diccionario de la Lengua aparece
camello pardal
m. desus. jirafa.
Por otro lado, en la entada pardal aparece:
adj. desus. Dicho de una persona: Aldeana; por vestir los ...
user35584
2
votes
2
answers
79
views
Why reflexive verbs in this sentence?
In this sentence:
A él le parecía una cosa incomprensible, como si a un italiano no le gustase la pizza o no comiese pasta.
It seemed incomprehensible to him, like an Italian who doesn't like
pizza ...
- 535
0
votes
1
answer
145
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Tengo + que + infinitive vs tengo infinitive
What is the difference between tengo que and an infinitive (tengo que limpiar “I have to clean”) and just tengo limpiar…(I have + to clean)?
They both translate to the same English sentence.
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1
answer
2k
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¿A qué nombres se le dice Luli o Lule?
Siempre creía que Lule o Luli era un diminutivo para aquellas que se llamaban Lourdes, pero hace poco vi en internet que se usa también para las que se llaman Lucía. Hay algún otro nombre para los que ...
- 3,288
2
votes
2
answers
94
views
Why "desfallecer" does not mean "to resucitate"?
Des is a prefix that indicates a negative (the contrary of). This is evident in so many Spanish words. Trivial examples: desobedecer, destapar, desordenar, descolgar.
For some reason, desfallecer does ...
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3
votes
1
answer
48
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Where should I put question marks when a sentence is split in a bulleted list?
Although it is not strictly grammatically correct, in English it is common to have bulleted lists of questions with the same noun phrase omitted from the list and put before it.
An example is as ...
- 31
3
votes
3
answers
77
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Arremangarse-in context
I believe "arremangarse" is to roll up one's sleeves both figuratively and literally. I want to use it figuratively. My Spanish friend told me that it is still better used in a figurative ...
- 1,663
1
vote
2
answers
56
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imperfect subjunctive with two parts to second clause?
I believe I have a reasonable knowledge of the Imperfect Subjunctive ,however, some doubts still arise:
For example,consider the following:
1)It may be that Peter came home early and saw the burglar.
...
- 1,663
2
votes
2
answers
150
views
Slang between languages
How do you translate "I got you!" into Spanish (as in "I got you covered", or "I got your back" kind of way).
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1
vote
0
answers
65
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¿Es común el uso de "birlar" con el significado de "matar"?
En el DLE aparece birlar con varias acepciones, entre las que me llama la atención la tercera:
3. tr. coloq. Matar o derribar a alguien de un golpe o un disparo.
No conocía esta acepción y me ha ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
107
views
Yo soy un simple soldado - corrido and why the adjective-noun order is like in english?
My Spanish is bad I remember briefly watching some youtube video where a mexican was singing a corrido in Spain and said something like "yo soy un simple soldado".
Why is the adjective in ...
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4
votes
1
answer
412
views
¿Qué quiere decir "baracalofi"?
En la novela "La lucha inútil" (Ramon Ayerra, 1984) he encontrado esta frase (negrita mía):
"Y curiosamente, en este vacile tan frecuente de topar los hechos desde perspectiva ...
- 71
-1
votes
1
answer
98
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Is there equivalent for "I'm starving to death" in Spanish?
In English the sentence "I'm starving to death" in the meaning of "I'm very hungry" (rather than of a real pathological condition). Is there an equivalent in Spanish?
2
votes
1
answer
184
views
"Se dice" versus "dicen que"
Entiendo las dos frases.
¿se utilice " se dice" más en una redacción que "dicen que" ?
Creo que es correcto y la última es más informal. ¿Verdad?
- 1,663
2
votes
0
answers
61
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Why te is used when the object and subject aren't same [duplicate]
I am new to spanish and iam learning it on duolingo and now I'm stucked I have a questions
question In the sentences "pensamos que te va a gustar" Why te is used when the object and subject ...
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1
vote
2
answers
145
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Ni te cuento - phrase with other pronouns
The phrase "ni te cuento" means, "don't talk to me about that" or "I can't begin to tell you" in an exclamatory sense.
I wonder can you use it with other pronouns: like, &...
- 1,663
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1
answer
35
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splitting a proverb/refrain
In English, we regularly split proverbs or refrains, at least in Ireland. What I mean by this is:
Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.
Or
A bird in the hand, it is often said is worth two in ...
- 1,663
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votes
4
answers
108
views
What is the difference between "Qué bonito muchacho" and "Qué tan bonito muchacho"?
¡Qué + adjective! x ¡Qué tan + adjective! as an intensifier in an expression of admiration?
1
vote
1
answer
46
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Vespertino-vocabulary use
I have been reading an article in "El Pais" by Adrián Cordellat.
Anyway, the sentence is
[...] cuando se tiene inercia del sueño, ya sea por ser vespertino o por ir algo privado de sueño, “...
- 1,663
1
vote
1
answer
68
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Need example sentence with poníamos (poner)
Can someone give me a sample sentence with this form of poner: poníamos?
Por ejemplo...
[Inglés]
We were putting the tools in the wrong box
[Español]
Nosotros estábamos poniendo las herramientas en ...
- 549
0
votes
1
answer
73
views
Google translate changes Preterite into Imperfect?
I've noticed something strange, but it could be me as well?
Por ejemplo
Quisiste abrir la puerta.
You wanted to open the door.
Google translate will switch "Quisiste abrir la puerta." to &...
- 549
2
votes
1
answer
91
views
Does anyone have the old grammar book "A Spanish Grammar" by Coester? check the index please for hacer
Me encantan los libros antiguos.
[En Inglés]
If you have this old grammar book, can you please check the index for the word "hacer", which it refers to page 104 for the infinitive. However, ...
- 549
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votes
0
answers
32
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How does Spanish handle people that identify as binary as far as with noun + verb agreement? [duplicate]
As gender has become a more varied identification than just male and female for people, how is it dealt with in a language so entrenched in gender?
would a binary person be - ellos and use the plural ...
2
votes
1
answer
61
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Nombre de una palabra que comparte escritura y significado en dos lenguas
Me gustaría saber, si es posible, el nombre con el cual nos podemos referir a las palabras que se escriben igual y tienen el mismo significado en dos lenguas.
Por ejemplo, "mano" (palabra ...
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6
votes
1
answer
600
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Pronunciation of -mente Adverbs
The general rule for Spanish pronunciation is that, barring an accent, words that end with vowels have stresses placed on the second-to-last syllable. However, with adverbs, there seem to be ...
2
votes
1
answer
178
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Why is "que" used at the beginning of this sentence and what does the sentence mean as a result?
Why is "que" used at the beginning of the sentence below and what does the sentence mean as a result?
Que la tecnología no haya sido la adecuada, que los profesores no hayan sido los ...
- 1,497
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votes
0
answers
51
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desquitar vs desquitarse
Is there a difference between desquitar and desquitarse?
SpanishDict gives a distinction between desquitar and desquitarse, with the former seeming more positive/neutral and the later with a negative ...
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3
votes
1
answer
88
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Llora que llora
From the children’s book “Antes de ser libres” by Julia Álvarez, there’s this sentence:
Pobre tía Mari estaba llora que llora.
I understand that the poor aunt is crying and crying. But I don’t think ...
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2
votes
3
answers
172
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Éramos v. Fuéramos
The question is in the title; I'd love to know the difference between the two. More specifically, I'm confused about the usage. I've been told that both can mean "were," but then when would ...
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0
votes
0
answers
69
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Juan doesn't tell me vs Juan doesn't tell it to me
En Ingles
(1) Juan doesn't tell me it. Juan no lo me dijo?
(2) Juan doesn't tell it to me. Juan no me lo dijo?
Both are correct in English (although #1 might not be "grammatically correct"?)...
- 549
0
votes
2
answers
67
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preterite or imperfect estar?
Una cosa ha cambiado desde que estuvimos en el bosque. Es correcto?
En Ingles...
Im making a list of sample scentences using several of the key verbs, and in all the tenses and moods. The Spanishdict....
- 549
1
vote
1
answer
79
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Usage of Estar and Ser
I'm learning Spanish with bussu and I came across this 2 sentences :
1- El miércoles está en mitad de la semana
2- El viernes es el día antes del fin de semana
Why in sentence 1 we used estar but in ...
- 13
4
votes
2
answers
190
views
Pleonasmo bilingüe
Encuentro entre gracioso e interesante esto de los pleonasmos.
Me pregunto si con tanto anglicismo existe algún pleonasmo bilingüe.
Las respuestas de ChatGPT no son muy convincentes: "Salsa sauce&...
- 5,679
5
votes
1
answer
337
views
Subject Pronouns With Infinitives
Is it proper to use a subject pronoun with an infinitive as used below?
El perro hizo que su padre se bajara del sillón para poder sentarse él.
I saw this exact sentence on a social media post, but ...