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 […]
Animal English Names in Spanish: 11 Weird Examples That Will Surprise You
You may think you know your zoo animals in Spanish because you’ve got words down like perro, oso and maybe even conejo (dog, bear and rabbit, respectively) but I would be willing to bet that if you took a trip to the zoo, you’d be lost. While a lot of the names are easy to […]
How to Speak Spanish: Argentina vs. Puerto Rico
I learned to speak Spanish in Missouri, meaning I learned it out of a book and (for the first 5 years) from women who had lived their entire lives in Missouri. You can imagine how awkwardly formal and not at all natural my Spanish was when I arrived at my university where I was then […]
Translating 16 Playground Spanish Words to English
A park is such a simple, childlike place. It is somewhere to relax, play, and have fun. Imagine heading to a park in a foreign country, enjoying the sites and, oh yeah, having no idea how to describe anything. Chances are you learned the word for park (parque) and nothing else related to it. Here […]
Is Dating a Spanish Speaker a Good Way to Learn Spanish?
Many people, especially those who hate textbooks and studying, are sure that finding a Spanish speaking significant other is the key to learning the language. As someone who learned my Spanish in school and then perfected it while living abroad, I can answer this question for you. It Depends Sorry, I’m sure you were hoping […]
Beauty Products Vocabulary: Translating Spanish to English Words
Finding beauty supplies in an unfamiliar place is bad enough, but have you ever considered how difficult it would be to explain what hair conditioner is with limited vocabulary? It would be a lot easier if you just memorize the words for a few key items you might need while shopping in a Spanish speaking […]
Spanglish Example Photo: FREE EXIT
This is a Spanglish sign posted in Puerto Rico. “SALIDA AUTOMATICA” has been translated to “FREE EXIT.” The correct translation would be “automatic exit”. I’d like to award some Spanglish bonus points for the use of “beeper” in the phrase “No ultilizar beeper para salir” (Do not use a beeper to exit). That is true […]
What is the Best English to Spanish Translation for EXCITED?
When learning a new language, words that are the same or similar in more than one language can be an excellent friends. Spanish is full of friends to English, such as teléfono (phone), carro (car) and even verbs, such as combinar (combine). There is also a long list of Spanish words that have become common […]
Language Learning: Spanish Words for LOVE
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 […]
76 Classic Cartoon Character Names in Spanish
Pitufina, Robotina, Mandibulín, Pablo Mármol and Tío Rico McPato… do you recognize any of those names? They were some of the cartoon characters I grew up with. Before VHS recorders, computers, 24-hour television programming and the Cartoon Network, I grew up watching animated programs after school and on Saturday mornings. What we call in Puerto […]
5 Reasons the Spanish Language is Easier than English
Why the Spanish language is easier than English When I was teaching Spanish and dealing with expats in Argentina trying to learn Spanish, I constantly heard about how difficult the Spanish language is to learn. I actually wholeheartedly disagree. I learned through textbooks, the hard way, and I still stand by my stance that Spanish […]
8 Examples of Spanish Language Words With One Letter Difference
When learning a new language, it can be frustrating when you believe you are saying things correctly yet for some reason cannot make yourself understood. Living in Argentina, I have heard foreign friends say “oh they are just pretending not to understand me because they know I am foreign” or something along those lines more […]
What is TUNA in Spanish (and TUNAS)
You might be surprised to learn that la tuna or las tunas in Spanish has at least 3 different meanings in English: the fish, more commonly known in Spanish as atún, a type of fruit and a specific type of musical group (video link below). There’s a difference between tuna and tunas in Spanish and […]
Interesting Articles About Language Learning in Children
Language Learning in Children Websites and blog posts from around the world that you need to check out. 1. An in-depth discussion of how and why babies learn languages. 2. Bilingualism Will Supercharge Your Baby’s Brain. 3. The Top 10 Things Parents of Bilingual Children Should Avoid 4. At Speaking Latino we have covered Puerto […]
Language Learning: Spanish Phrases and Usages of the Word PAPA
Yes, SEVEN meanings with just the four letters P-A-P-A. And if you mix in a couple other words with PAPA then there are even more. In a recent article Ignore These 5 Fundamentals to Become Fluent Faster I stated that beginning Spanish learners should ignore the El/La articles on nouns, as well as the accents […]
Spanish NFL Infographic: English Names in Spanish of The NFL Teams
Last weekend I was trapped in a Sunday Football get-together. All the Americans were hypnotized watching the game and between commercial breaks, I was able to chat with a friend from Mexico. She asked me if I have ever heard the names of the NFL teams in Spanish. I was completely puzzled, because for me […]
LOS COLORES DE MI TIERRA: Video and Song to Learn Colors in Spanish Plus 7 Other Words
Before YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, a famous house paint commercial from Puerto Rico became viral locally during the 1990’s. To promote their company, Harris Paints created a song with Caribbean rhythms and a patriotic lyric coupled with images of colorful splashes of paints. Frequency and a captive audience ensured this song stuck in the minds […]
Spanish Language Word GORDO: Insult, Compliment or None of the Above?
The word “gordo” is translated as “fat” so you would think there wouldn’t be much room for discussion about this word. But hey, this is Spanish and simple words are often a lot more versatile then they seem. Gordo in Spanish doesn’t always have to refer to weight. In some Latin American countries, people will […]
3 Learning Aids That Helps Kids Speak Spanish… And Adults Too!
I have taught Spanish to children as young as 3 and to adults well past retirement. I certainly use different materials and approaches based on their ages, but when it comes to beginners, there are a few things I believe work for all age groups. So, adults too should use materials for children to learn […]
How to Speak Spanish: When Accent Stresses and Spanish Pronunciation Do Matter
In Jared’s article Become Fluent Faster By Ignoring These 5 Spanish Fundamentals, he recommends that you forget about perfecting your Spanish pronunciation and ignore written accents altogether when you are trying to learn Spanish quickly. While in some ways I agree with this, I can also argue quite the opposite in some cases. When it […]
15 Spanish Words and Phrases to Understand Three Kings Day
For Latin America, Christmas Holidays does not end on December 25th with the celebration of the birth of Baby Jesus and Santa Claus bringing gifts to children. In fact, this is just the beginning because twelve days after Christmas, we celebrate El Día de Reyes on January 6th. This day is also known as the […]
A Basic Spanish Lesson on Conjugating Verbs Like GUSTAR
The verb GUSTAR and other verbs like GUSTAR confuse many Spanish students because these sort of verbs do not really exist in English. The literal translation of GUSTAR is “to please” which is unfortunate for anyone who has to teach high school Spanish as you will have to tell them the way to say “I […]
Quick Mnemonics to Nail the Top 10 Spanish Verbs Instantly
Here are creative mnemonics to help you remember 10 of the most important Spanish verbs from the author of Always Spanish.
Gritty Spanish Listening and Reading Comprehension Audio Program Review
This is the review of the Gritty Spanish audio program to improve listening and reading comprehension. Download a free eBook.
italki Review and Tutorial: Learn Spanish Online With italki
Honest Product Review: italki I truly believe that italki is one of the best tools to learn Spanish (or any language) available on the internet. Not only does it offer you lots of free functions, it makes hiring a professional teacher simple and effective. Not into spending money to learn Spanish? Here’s why that is a […]
10 Things to Keep in Mind When Selecting an italki Teacher
These are tips to select an italki teacher I learned from taking one-on-one, online italki classes to improve my language skills.
9 Non-Boring Spanish Summer Reading Books for Spanish Teachers
A list of Spanish summer reading books for Spanish teachers and language lovers. Entertaining books about Spanish language curiosities and Spanish words.
31 Awesome Spanish Alphabet Books
An organized list of Spanish alphabet books for kids. Check out the essential selection, the books about Spanish speaking countries and historical characters.
Advanced Spanish-English Phrases: Spanish Idioms and Advanced Vocabulary Chart
A Spanish-English phrases reference chart for intermediate to advanced Spanish students. The chart is divided into 7 useful sections.
Search the Reverse Spanish Dictionary Online and Spanish Dialects Map
Search the reverse Spanish dictionary online with DIRAE. Plus a Spanish dialect map with a list of words from each country.