The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Como agua para chocolate: • Parte 1 | Como agua para chocolate: Un dicho mexicano hecho novela • Parte 2 […]
Como agua para chocolate: Un dicho mexicano hecho novela
The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Como agua para chocolate: • Parte 1 | Como agua para chocolate: Un dicho mexicano hecho novela • Parte 2 […]
Avoid These 4 Mistakes in Spanish: Language Learning Videos
The following set of videos were created by the Fundación de Español Urgente (Fundéu) and represent some common basic Spanish mistakes. Inglaterra, Reino Unido y Gran Bretaña no son lo mismo (England, United Kingdom and Great Britain are not the same) Estar «al norte» de un lugar no es estar «en el norte» […]
4 Short Spanish Language Learning Videos About Confusing Words
Today I will continue sharing more Spanish language learning videos from the Fundación de Español Urgente (Fundéu). The first set of videos that I shared recently were about numbers and numerals in Spanish. Now I have selected four videos of confusing Spanish words that can be tricky to even native speakers. In Spanish there are […]
5 Quick Spanish Language Learning Videos About Numbers
Spanish can be confusing, even for native speakers. When you have mastered counting in Spanish you will need to pay attention to other basic Spanish expression for fractions, numerals, percents, etc. The Fundación de Español Urgente (Fundéu) is a non-profit organization whose “main objective is to promote the proper use of Spanish in the media.” […]
28 Spanglish Words: The Best of the Worst
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
Becoming something in the world of Spanish is not a simple task. In basic Spanish, there are 5 different verbs that mean “to become” and each one has its own distinct use. Here’s a brief look at them. 1. Ponerse (+ an adjective) Ponerse + an adjective refers to a physical or emotional change that […]
Learn Spanish by Country: For Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Speakers
Are you feeling confident in your beginner level Spanish skills? Ready to take the next step? Excellent! The next step for you is to learn Spanish slang that is specific to certain regions and countries. Did you know that Spanish changes significantly from one country to another? If not, you’re in for a surprise. Not […]
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 […]
7 Tips to Learn Easy Spanish with Your iPhone for Free
If you are in the process of learning Spanish and own an iPhone, try to use it in your favor. This handheld powerful mini-computer (a.k.a smart phone) can help you learn easy Spanish while on the go. Statistics indicate that “the average smartphone owner spends 128 minutes, or over 2 hours, looking at their phones […]
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 […]
Spanglish Music Playlist: 13 Popular English Spanish Songs
It is a fact that English is the language that most influences Spanish today. On the other hand, Spanish has more native speakers than English, so the blend among these two languages is inevitable… Spanglish! Spanish mixed with English in music has been around for decades. At least since Doris Day’s 1956 singing of Que […]
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, […]
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 […]
EL MAGO Spanish Language Game: Children Learn Animal Names in Spanish
Getting children started on learning Spanish at an early age can really give them the edge on becoming fluent. Here’s an easy-to-set-up, fun Spanish lesson to get your kids started! I call this game The Wizard or El Mago. EL MAGO Spanish Language Game: Children Turn Into Animals and Learn! All you will need for […]
Spanish Language and the Media: 27 Headlines With Spanish Slang
This is the second part of our series Slang in the News where we share Spanish slang examples from newspapers around Latin America. In this post of headlines from September, I identify 29 Spanish slang words from 27 newspaper front covers. Using slang in headlines makes them catchy and appealing to the masses. Writing a […]
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 […]
Hispanic Heritage Month: 10 Amazing Facts About Hispanics in the United States & Video
The Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year in the United States as a recognition of the contributions that the Hispanic Americans have made for the development of our Nation. What started in 1968 as a one-week celebration, nowadays is a full month from September 15th through October 15th. The selection of these specific dates […]
Spanish Words for Bathroom and Bathroom Components: INFOGRAPHIC
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
ESPANGLISH: The English and Spanish Dictionary Definition of Spanglish by the RAE
Last week the Royal Academy of Spanish Language (RAE, in Spanish) announced the incorporation of the word espanglish (or Spanglish) in the next edition of their dictionary that will be published in 2014. The definition that will accompany this term reads as follow: “A form of speech used by some Hispanic groups in the United […]
Real World Spanish: Basic Language Differences From What You Learn And Use
A Spanish textbook will certainly get you to a good level of communication, but there are a lot of shortcomings. In the real world Spanish vocabulary often changes from what is taught in class. Sometimes, the words you learn in class have a synonym that is used much more often and varies depending on the […]
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. […]