Spanglish has really invaded the Spanish language in basically every Spanish speaking country. While some cross-over is only natural, sometimes the words that pop up in the Spanish vocabulary are just down-right comical. Here’s my personal collection of some of the worst Spanglish words in use. Technology Spanglish Words In the case of gaming […]
4 Spanish Language Words to Express Different Levels of Abuse
While I hope you will never have to talk about serious abuse in Spanish, it’s important to know the difference between the words that refer to abuse, harassment, and basic annoyance. If you’re not careful, you could either over-exaggerate a tame situation or poorly explain a very serious situation. Here are 4 Spanish words you […]
2 Examples of English to Spanish False Friend Words
The definition of false friends according to Wikipedia is “a pairs of words or phrases in two languages or dialects that look or sound similar, but differ significantly in meaning.” Here I will show you two examples of false friend Spanish words that can confuse English speakers: asistir and atender, and sensible and sensato. English […]
Just Kidding! 25 Joke Related Spanish Words You Should Know
Broma or chiste is how to say joke in Spanish – these two words are often used interchangeably when talking about jokes or joking around and the laughing emoji means the same thing in every language. Latinos love to kid around and laugh as much as any other people and they have plenty of words […]
Learn Spanish: The 5 Ways to Say TO BECOME in Spanish
Saying ‘to become’ in Spanish can seem a bit daunting, as there isn’t just one single verb to cover all instances. In this guide, we will explore the key Spanish verbs that translate to ‘to become,’ providing you with clear explanations and usage examples to help you master this important aspect of the language. Let’s […]
List of Spanish Slang Expressions Used in Cuba: 10 Common Words and Phrases Infographic
Cuban Spanish is not commonly heard outside Cuba. Sure there are tons of Cubans and Cuban descendants living in the US, Puerto Rico and other countries, but after 30-50 years outside of Cuba, their Spanish should have differences with the Spanish currently used in Cuba. Here is a list of common Spanish slang words still […]
Hanging Out in a Spanish Speaking Country? 3 Spanish Language Expressions to Go Out On The Town
When you tell someone you are going out with friends, on a date, or have an appointment in English, there are a few different ways to convey each sentiment. Spanish is no different. Here are some basics Spanish words and phrases that will help you sound more natural. Going out / leaving the house When […]
Learn Spanish: 4 Meanings of SAVE in Spanish
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. 1. Save in Spanish: 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 […]
10 Interesting Facts About Cuba: History
Cuban history is riddled with wars, rebellions, revolutions, and governmental disputes. Here are 10 interesting facts about Cuba’s history. 10 Interesting Facts About Cuba: History 1. The US attempted to invade Cuba several times. In 1848, they decided to give up and offered Spain $100 million dollars for Cuba, but the offer was rejected. 2. […]
Learn Spanish: 4 Meanings of PLAY in Spanish
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 […]
10 Interesting Facts About Cuba: Politics
Cuba is best known for its politics. Whether that is a good or bad thing is certainly up for debate. Cuba is an Independent Socialist Republic with only one political party, the Cuban Communist Party. Here’s some interesting facts about Cuba’s politics. 1. Fidel Castro was the longest serving head of government, serving from 1976 […]
13 Random Fun Facts About Cuba: Infographic
Cuba is usually known for its complicated and controversial politics, but this country has plenty of other interesting, fun facts that have nothing to do with the Castro family or a tumultuous political past. Let’s discover the most interesting Cuba fun facts! 1. Home to The Cuban Bee Hummingbird The Cuban bee hummingbird is the […]
English to Spanish Conversion of 14 Movie Titles That Went Wrong
When it comes to translations, there is always room for error. I won’t even begin to talk about some of the terrible dubbing or subtitling I have seen – but let’s look at some titles. You’d think the people in charge of these things would be a little more focused on conveying the right message, […]
10 Vulgar Spanish Slang Words Used in the Wrong Place
There are many Spanish slang words that are completely okay in one place, and a total disaster in another. These are some prime examples of when you might be using the right word, in the wrong place. 10 Vulgar Spanish Slang Words Used in the Wrong Place 1. Pichar In Puerto Rico, pichar simply means […]
MEZCAL and TEQUILA: What’s the Difference?
Chances are, when you think of Mexican liquor, you think of tequila, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, tequila is not the only liquor made is Mexico – there is also what is considered tequila’s brother- mezcal. Mezcal is made from the maguey plant, which is a form of agave. The reason mezcal is […]
Learning Spanish, Culture and Language: 26 SANTERÍA Vocabulary Words
Santería is a religion that merges beliefs from Roman Catholic Christianity and Yoruba. It is practiced mostly in West Africa and the Caribbean. Many Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Cubans practice Santería. Like any religion, it has unique rituals, ceremonies, and, of course, vocabulary. Here’s a quick guide to some of the words you might encounter […]
2 Ways Náhuatl Helped Shape Nicaragua Spanish
Although the term náhuatl is often associated with Mexican Spanish, it is very influential in Nicaragua as well. Náhuatl is not one language, but a collection of dialects and languages of the Nahua people. These people migrated from Mexico as far south as Nicaragua, and their influence is still seen in Nicaragua today in the […]
5 Ways to Lose the Gringo Accent in Spanish
You can study Spanish for years and still maintain that pesky gringo accent. Even if your grammar is perfect, if your accent is off, you’re going to have problems. The best-case scenario is that the gringo accent will be distracting, while the worst case is that it will be so off that native speakers will […]
Should You Learn French and Spanish?
Many people come to a point in their education when they question if they should learn French and Spanish. While I am obviously a bit biased, I truly believe that in most cases, you should learn Spanish since it makes more sense. Here are some of my arguments as to why. 1. The Spanish pronunciation […]
Is There a Correct Spanish Language?
With so many different Spanish speaking countries, how can one determine what “correct” Spanish is? A while back, I wrote an article called The Dialect Divide: Argentina vs. Puerto Rico, which addresses some of the differences in the Spanish I speak and the Spanish my Puerto Rican boyfriend speaks. This is a deeper look at […]
5 Ways to Start an Argument with an Argentine
Every country has its soft spots, and Argentina is no exception. Here are a few ways to easily provoke an Argentine into a heated argument. 1. Say Pelé is better than Maradona Edson Arantes do Nascimiento a.k.a. Pelé and Diego Maradona are both world-renowned soccer legends. The difference is, Pelé is Brazilian and Maradona […]
4 Grammar Hints to Speak Spanish Like a Spaniard
Every Spanish-speaking country has its own unique way of speaking the Spanish language. Here are some tips on how to speak Spanish like a Spaniard. 1. Use the vosotros form If you studied Spanish in school, you have probably at least heard of the vosotros form. However, most teachers brush over it and never really […]
PURA VIDA: The Most Important Costa Rica Spanish Expression
Although “pura” means “pure” and “vida” means “life,” the phrase “pura vida” can be translated in many ways such as “full of life,” “this is real living,” “this is the life,” “awesome” or even a greeting or goodbye. It’s a simple phrase that is used constantly in the country of Costa Rica. If you know […]
4 Tips on How to Speak Spanish Fluently
I learned my Spanish in a university in St. Louis, Missouri. My professors were from Mexico, Spain, and Argentina – I had my choice of accents. For whatever reason, before I even had a class with the Argentine professor, I adopted el canto, or the sing-song rhythm that Italians and Argentinians often use while speaking. […]
Did You Know These 7 Spanish Language Words for 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 […]
MICHELADA: The Mexican Bloody Mary
If you’ve ever gone drinking with Mexicans, you’ve probably at least heard the term michelada. What exactly is it? A michelada is a traditional Mexican drink comparable to the Bloody Mary. The recipe changes a bit from region to region and due to person tastes, but the basic ingredients are: beer, tomato juice, lime and […]
Learn Spanish: 4 Meanings of HOT in Spanish
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. […]
3 Ways Latinos Are Better Than Americans: The Spanish Language Culture
3 Ways Latinos Are Better Than Americans I have interacted with Latinos from a lot of different countries, both in their home countries and outside of them. Working as an interpreter and living in a city with a large Mexican population has allowed me to make some interesting observations about Latinos in America (living in […]
Learning Spanish Lesson: The Difference Between GRATIS and LIBRE
Gratis and libre both translate to “free,” but they have specific meanings. Non-native speakers often mix them up and end up conveying the wrong message. 1. Free means gratis or no charge For example, when I was in university, the Dean of Students wanted to provide a free lunch on Cinco de Mayo for students. […]
Spanish Language: Learn Spanish Grammar With 4 Ways to Use the Preposition CON in Spanish
This post is part of the series Warming up for El Día E: Posts to Improve Your Spanish. El Día E is a world-wide celebration of the Spanish Language that will take place on June 23th, 2012. Posts in this series to celebrate El Día E: 1. Join the Celebration of El Día E 2. […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.