The most common ending for dimunutives is ito/ita. However, in certain countries, you will also see ico/ica when the last letter of the affected word is a ‘t.’ Other endings include: illo/illa, ín/ina, ete/eta. The use of diminutives in Spanish often indicates that something is small. For example, gato is cat, so gatito is a […]
Dating Latinos It’s Different: SHOPPING
This is the third post in my series about dating Latinos and how it differs from dating North Americans. To catch up, you can also read the complete articles here: Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Machismo Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Public Displays of Affection Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Shopping [this post] Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Dancing […]
Present Perfect Subjunctive Spanish Class Activities
1. Lesson Plan – Present Perfect Subjunctive, Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns – Volunteer Activities [MEMBERS] – In this lesson, students learn volunteering vocabulary and use an email to discover the Present Perfect Subjunctive conjugation. Then, they learn about this form with an educational video. They will also learn about demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. The lesson ends with […]
Language Learning: Spanish for 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 […]
Learn Spanish: When to Use the Spanish Preterite and Imperfect Tenses
One of the many confusing hurdles about the Spanish language is that it has certain rules that are often not clear when described to native English speakers since no equivalent exists. A good example of this would be the two different forms of the past tense, the preterite and the imperfect. While it is unfortunate […]
3 Words for TO GROW in Spanish
The words cultivar, crecer, and madurar all mean to grow in Spanish but are used in different contexts. Let’s take a look. • Cultivar is used for plants. For example, “En mi jardín, cultivo tomates, albahaca y cebollas” translates to “In my garden, I grow tomatoes, basil, and onions.” • Crecer, on the other hand, […]
English to Spanish Translations of 50 European Countries
I’ve never understood why the whole world doesn’t just call each country by the same word the natives use, but the fact of the matter is that every language has a different name for every country. This can be very frustrating when you are trying to talk about politics, sports, geography, etc. with country names […]
6 Classic Board Games With Their English Names in Spanish
The other day, I spent some time in a department store in Cozumel, Mexico. While wandering through the shelves, I stopped by the toy section where they had a great selection of board games… in Spanish! But don’t worry if you encounter a situation where you need to buy a game in a Spanish-speaking country, […]
Dating Latinos It’s Different: PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (PDA)
This is the second post in my series about dating Latinos and how it differs from dating North Americans. To catch up, you can also read the complete articles here: Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Machismo Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Public Displays of Affection [this post] Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Shopping Dating Latinos… It’s Different: Dancing […]
Learn Spanish Quiz: Avon’s Basic Spanish Lesson on Accent Rules
After five years working for Avon, I’m definitely hooked on their products. So the other day I went to their store in Miami to stock up with some of my favorites. At the entrance there was this sign with their return and exchange policies. Guessing what’s wrong with this sign is easy. If you don’t […]
Tener Que + Infinitive Spanish Class Activities
1. Lesson Plan – Tener que + Infinitive – Parts of the House and Household Chores Vocabulary [MEMBERS] – This lesson uses the video images of a popular song performed by Rubén Blades and Diego Torres to review the rooms of the house. They also review the household chores vocabulary by listing the ones that they saw […]
Easy Way to Speak Spanish from Your Writing Skills
Generally, Spanish students write better than they speak. This is due to a variety of reasons. The simplest explanation would be that writing involves a lot less confidence and real-time interaction. You have more time to look over your words, grammar and sentence structure without the pressure of someone looking you right in your face. […]
Humorous Example of TU and USTED: A Fun Spanish Lesson
The TU and USTED Joke in Spanish Un señor decide averiguar qué es lo que hace un empleado suyo que sale a la calle a las 11:00 a.m. y regresa a la 1 p.m. cada día. Contrata a un detective y a la semana éste le dice: “Cada día a la misma hora coge su […]
Spanish Language Translation and Interpretation Etiquette
There are several levels of translation and interpretation as well as different rules and norms. There is everything from the formal certifications that involve taking tests in order to receive legally recognized certification to helping a Spanish speaker in the grocery store, but they all require certain etiquette. Legal and Medical Translation Legal and medical […]
Car Vocabulary: Translating Spanish to English Words and Phrases
Hopefully, you’ll never need to drive while abroad. Personally, I hate driving in my own country. However, I’ve found that even without renting/owning a car in another country, I’ve ended up in conversations that involved car vocabulary that, at the time, was just a bit over my head. Here are some useful car vocabulary words. […]
Beauty Salon Vocabulary: Translating Spanish to English Words
Getting your haircut can be a scary experience anytime, but if you add in language barriers, it can be downright terrifying. If you find yourself in a Spanish speaking country in dire need of a trim, here are some helpful basic Spanish phrases that just might save you from a disastrous haircut. Beauty Salon Vocabulary […]
5 Tips to Maintain What You Learned in Your Spanish Course
While I do a lot of preaching against not speaking only textbook Spanish, I do think it’s really important. I spent 9 years studying in school, which set me up quite nicely for communicating on a daily basis. However, the lack of reading assignments and paper deadlines can be a little detrimental to that textbook […]
Spanish Language Study Tips: 4 Tricks to Read in Spanish without Going Crazy
If you are learning Spanish, I’m sure you have been given the advice to read in Spanish. I know I have told you to do it. Reading news, stories, magazines, and books in Spanish is an excellent way to keep your Spanish sharp and/or learn new words. Of course, it can also be incredibly frustrating […]
Gym and Exercise Vocabulary: Translating Spanish to English Words
Workout vocabulary is yet another thing we take for granted in our own language. We grow up taking gym class in school so we know the basics like push-ups, squats, jump, etc. There may be a few machines in a gym you don’t know the names of, but overall, it would be pretty strange for […]
3 Spanish Language Study Tips: How to Write in Spanish
Taking the step into creative writing in a foreign language is difficult. I have been writing poetry for most of my life, but it took me 6 years of studying Spanish before I could write in Spanish a halfway decent poem. If you love to write in English, chances are you will want to learn […]
Pet Vocabulary: Translating Spanish to English Words
Pets, or mascotas, are a big part of any animal-lover’s life and thus tend to make their way into conversation quite often. Talking about your pet and buying the proper supplies when in a Spanish speaking country is an extra obstacle pet-lovers face. At the same time, it offers a fun opportunity to meet new […]
What is the Best English to Spanish Translation for EMBARRASSING?
What is the Best English to Spanish Translation for embarrassing? Check this out. You may know a little about false friends, words that look and/or sound like a word in English but actually mean something totally different. Embarazada is one of those words. Novice speakers often make mistakes when speaking and then quickly try to […]
Translating 75 Fruit and Vegetable Spanish Words to English
In the United States, produce is readily available in supermarkets. Generally, there are signs with the names of each type of produce and you can just walk up and grab whatever fruit or vegetable you want. In many Latin American countries, on the other hand, produce is found in produce stands where you will need […]
Spanglish Words From The Back of a Cake Box
I recently wrote an article about baking in Spanish. I was pretty confident that I have covered the most important stuff. However, the other day I saw a cake mix box with Spanish instructions and a couple of Spanglish words surprised me. Look at the picture in the right: Never in my life have I […]
Translating 54 Sport Spanish Words to English
While you may imagine that all Spanish speakers only care about fútbol (soccer), you will find the occasional need to discuss other sports. Here’s some Spanish sports words that will be useful. Translating 54 Sport Spanish Words to English 1. Fútbol / Balompié – Soccer 2. Hockey / Hockey sobre césped / Hockey sobre hierba […]
Dating Latinos It’s Different: MACHISMO
This is the first post in my series about dating Latinos and how it differs from dating North Americans. I have never been big on dating. In some ways, I was lucky and often ended up with guy friends, thus skipping over the awkward dating phase. However, when my long-term relationship ended right before I […]
12 Spanish Language Words for TRASH CAN
It never ceases to amaze me how many Spanish differences exist for a word and the Spanish word for trash can is no exception. The most common words for trash can are cesto or papelera. You can also say recipiente or contenedor de basura. Here are more Spanish synonyms for trash can. Spanish for TRASH […]
Friday the 13th or Martes 13: Your Bad Luck Day Depends On the Language
Today is Tuesday March 13th, 2012 and it is a common day to most English speakers. But if you live in a Spanish speaking country today is Martes 13, día de la mala suerte or the equivalent to Friday the 13th. It is curious that this “bad luck day” superstition changes depending on the country. […]
Spanglish: The Spanish Language Pollution or Language Evolution?
I used to think Spanglish was just a silly pseudo-language I spoke amongst my fellow Spanish students. Now that Spanish and English are constantly mixing, Spanglish has really become a sort of dialect. If you speak Spanish as a second language and learned it formally, you might actually have trouble with the mixture. The Easy […]
Baking Vocabulary: Translating Spanish to English Words
My mother is a baker, so I grew up making all kinds of delicious baked goods. When it comes to my specialties, like cookies, I hardly even glance at recipes, I either know them by heart or I just wing it. However, I realize not everyone was lucky enough to grow up working alongside my […]