Search the reverse Spanish dictionary online with DIRAE. Plus a Spanish dialect map with a list of words from each country.

The language of the fashion world is full of foreign words that are frequently used in the media. That is why Fundéu (Fundación de Español Urgente) has created this document that collects and explains fashion terms. It also includes linguistic recommendations and Spanish alternatives to avoid the excessive use of foreign terms. The document includes […]

The World Cup is about to end. This past month I had a great time watching many of the matches here in Miami and also in Spain, where we spent half of the World Cup. Listening to the commentators in Spanish was so much fun; the phrases they used, the energy they had, and how […]

Jared and I went to the Sonoma County Fair where they had a whole block of stands featuring Mexican food. One of the stands was selling corn on the cob and immediately the sign captured my attention. The bilingual sign read “Roasted Corn on the cob: Elotes Asados.” As a native Spanish-speaker I had never […]

Cuando llega el mes de octubre is a Halloween song in Spanish taught to all kids in Puerto Rico. This song doesn’t talk about monsters or ghosts, it’s about a jack-o’-lantern. Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean where the traditional orange pumpkin doesn’t grow and, consequently, pumpkin carving is nonexistent. The song Cuando […]

Snow cones are a favorite treat for kids. This shaved ice treat is made in many countries around the world. Some shave the ice with a machine, and some still do it by hand. Also, there is a variety of flavors. There are even different methods to eat one. You can eat it or you […]

Yes, bacon is another of those words that can have more than one equivalent in Spanish. The word in Spanish included in the Royal Spanish Academy Dictionary is tocino. But according to the Diccionario de Americanismos the word tocineta is used in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia […]

Pronouncing the longest word in Spanish or in any other language can be a challenge. Each word, is like a short tongue twister! I chose 10 of the longest words to give it a try and see which ones are the hardest to say. The first set of long words includes the ones that are […]

This infograhic is based on the original article Pronouncing 10 of the Longest Words in Spanish. Remember that you can share this infograhic with a Like, a Tweet or a Pin! Infographic: Pronouncing 10 of the Longest Words in Spanish

Let’s pretend that you are going to be transferred for work to a Spanish-speaking country. You might already know Spanish, so there will be no “language barrier” that will affect your transition to your new company. That was exactly what I thought when I moved from Chile to Argentina in 2001. When I arrived at […]

Drinking straw is another example that illustrates the diversity of the Spanish language. It’s amazing how a simple object is identified in different ways in Spanish speaking countries. We’ve put together this infographic “11 Spanish Language Words for DRINKING STRAW” to help anyone learning Spanish as well as native speakers to understand the vocabulary variations. […]

One of the funniest types of Spanish language idioms are the ones that uses similes or comparisons. The Wikipedia definition of a simile is “a figure of speech that directly compares two things through some connective, usually like, as, than, or a verb such as resembles.” The use of a nun or monja as a […]

In Colombia, I ran across this can of what should be corn cooked in sort way. It’s just hard to tell from the picture. It turns our that mazamorra is a common Spanish language word in Latin America and is basically a maize-based dish with a thick consistency, probably something close to creamed-corn. The preparation […]

Spanish is the second language in the world in number of native speakers, the second language of international communication (more than 500 million people speak it), and the third most used language on the Internet. To celebrate this vast wealth of Spanish culture, the Instituto Cervantes organizes for the fifth time El Día E, a […]

If you have been taking Spanish classes or lessons for a while and are wondering how are you doing, check this out. Our friends from don Quijote Spanish Courses have put together these online Spanish language practice tests for you to measure your improvement. The practice tests are quick and consist of a short paragraph […]

Diana and I are so excited. We received the great news that the Speaking Latino Blog and my Twitter handle @JaredRomey have been nominated in the Top Language Lovers 2013 competition! In not just one, but in two categories! Woo hoo! What is the Top Language Lovers 2013 competition? “The Top 100 Language Lovers is […]

Sign language varies geographically and therefore there is no universal sign language. This means that mute people around the world learn different sign languages to communicate. In the case of the sign language in Spanish, it also varies by country which is the exact same thing that happens with spoken and written Spanish. Each country […]

Origin of the Spanish Sign Language Alphabet According to a document published by Cultura Sorda.eu, author Alejandro Oviedo indicates that “in most of the countries whose official languages are written with the Latin alphabet, deaf communities use the same manual alphabet. Although there are some differences between them, most manual settings used to represent the […]

There is a big party going on! A celebration of 500 million people and 22 countries that speak Spanish! April 23rd is the International Spanish Language Day or Día Mundial del Idioma Español, a celebration that has been going on since 1926. This date marks the death of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of El […]

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» […]

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 […]

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.” […]

Check out these free Spanish language resources and more Check out these interesting websites and blog posts from around the world that will help you go beyond your basic Spanish learning: 1. Academia Puertorriqueña de la Lengua recently published the 6th edition of their quarterly journal Dilo. This issue is fully dedicated to the coexistence of […]

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 […]

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 […]

Latinos love to kid around as much as any other culture and they have plenty of words to express it. Here is a list of 25 basic Spanish words you may need. Broma 1. Broma: joke (noun) 2. Bromear: to joke, to kid 3. Estar de broma: to be joking, to be joking around 4. […]

Learning A New Language: Learn Spanish Links and More Check out these interesting websites and blog posts from around the world that will help you learn Spanish: 1. Improve Spanish Watching Novelas with Closed Captions 2. A quick look on how the meaning of 13 Spanish words have changed (article in Spanish). 3. An independent […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]