What's the Spanish Word?

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14 Spanish Words for POPCORN

Popcorn or popping corn is an all time favorite to munch at the movies. You can have it salty or sweet or you can even string it as a Christmas decoration or packaging material. But as simple as it sounds, when it comes to a Spanish translation it is not easy. Here is a list [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: SAVE

While in English we use the word “to save” to refer to many different things, there are 4 basic Spanish words to cover the different meanings. Salvar Salvar means to rescue, to recover or to save from extinction. For example: El hombre salvó al niño que estaba ahogando. The man saved the boy who was [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: PLAY

There are several basic Spanish words that translate “play” and each of them has their own specific use. This quick post will give you a general understanding of the different meanings of “play” in Spanish. 1. To play means tocar Tocar can also mean “to touch” but in this particular case, tocar is used when [...]
Speaking Latino What’s The Word: BATHROOM

One of the first things you learn in a foreign language is how to ask where the bathroom is. I’m sure many people who speak only minimal Spanish can spit out the word baño while they frantically dance about, showing their urgency. While baño will generally get you what you want, it’s certainly not the [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: SUITCASE

Suitcase is definitely a word you’re going to need when traveling. Whether it be to purchase a new one, ask where to pick up your bags, or answer questions at the airport, you need to know how to say “suitcase.” Of course, there are Spanish differences and more than just one word for it. Here [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: HOT

The word caliente means “hot” while the word calor means “heat.” It seems like saying “estoy caliente” would be the proper way to express that you are hot, as in, the temperature is high. Unfortunately these Spanish differences for non-native speakers are a common and embarrassing mistake. The word hot also have other possible translations. [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: EARRING

Women simply love jewelry and my mom is one of them. Genuine or costume, the bling-bling always amazes her. If you want to flatter a Spanish-speaking lady with a pair of earrings, you will need to take some notes on how to many words there are in Spanish for this word. Spanish synonyms for [...]
Speaking Latino What’s The Word: RIGHT

There are several words/phrases that translate to RIGHT in Spanish: derecho, derecha, correcto, and tener razón. Of course, not all of them can be used interchangeably – that would just be too easy. Here are the Spanish differences for the word right. 1. El derecho, used as a noun, means a legal right, or a [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: TACO

When you hear the Spanish word taco the first thing that comes through your mind is a delicious tortilla with a spicy beef or chicken filling. Mmm yummy! Try to Google images of taco and you will see that 99.9% of the results are this traditional Mexican dish. But this word has a humongous variety [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: DRINKING STRAW

On a recent stroll through Puerto Limón, Costa Rica this street vendor’s marketing efforts caught my attention. For two reasons. The first reason is given away by this post title. For the second, take a stab to see if you know why. I’ll give you the answer at the end of this post. For any [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: TRASH CAN

As with most What’s the Word posts, it never ceases to amaze me how many Spanish differences exist for a word. This one is straight-forward for the most part, with one word dominating throughout Spanish countries. For that reason, all you need to do is to learn one word, but you may hear some of [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: MONEY

Well, it is that time of the year again: we are into tax season! On April 17th all United States residents are supposed to turn in their tax forms. The same drill will happen in Puerto Rico for our local income tax or what we call planillas and often la dolorosa (that translatie to “the [...]
Spanish Words for LOVE: 3 Ways to Say Love in Spanish

In English, you can use the word love in a couple of ways. You can love persons, things, actions or foods. But when it comes to translate love in Spanish, there are particular words you can use. Here are the Spanish words for love. I love you The English I love you has two different [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: CONDOM in Spanish

With all the sexy Latins out there -male and female-, you are likely to find yourself in a situation where you need some, ahem, protection. You do not want to be at the make or break moment with your could-be Latin lover and falter when it comes to the glove department. Spanish synonyms for condom [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: TUNA

Most Spanish-speakers and learners would recognize the word atún as the translation of the fish tuna, from English. Which is how I also said the word in Spanish. But then I arrived to Puerto Rico and began hearing in Spanish tuna. I had never heard this translation anywhere else, and still believe only Puerto Rico [...]
Speaking Latino What’s The Word: SANTA CLAUS

The legendary figure of Santa Claus is well recognized all over the world. The story around this character was inspired by the Christian Bishop Saint Nicholas from the 4th century that lived in Lycia (Turkey today). Legends said that he was recognized for his generosity as a secret gift-giver, putting coins in the shoes or [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

Sex, love and everything in between can be tricky to describe in any language and Spanish is no exception. Each country seems to have its own slang for that gray area that in English is referred to as “friends with benefits” or, if you are feeling crass, fuck-buddies. Here are a few Spanish synonyms from [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: TURKEY

Tomorrow we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, one of my favorites holidays. The special thing about Thanksgiving is the true meaning of being grateful for what you have. This is not a holiday about Christians or any religion; you can be thankful to God, life, destiny or whatever you want. Even though this holiday is not [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the word: STRAIGHT AHEAD

Straight ahead, go straight, forward. They all mean keep going in the same direction you are currently facing. What about recto, directo, de frente, p’alante, t’o tieso and derecho? Any guess as to their meaning? These are some Spanish synonyms for… You got it: Straight ahead. Good guess. Was it the title of the post [...]
Speaking Latino What’s the Word: STAMP

STAMP. As with most What’s the Word? posts this simple word becomes complex when translated into Spanish. Spanish differences give us two possible words. Spanish Synonyms for Stamp I remember learning estampilla in my early studies for STAMP. Only when I began to travel did I learn that another option exists. The other option I [...]