Spanish Vocabulary and Expressions – My Daily Spanish https://mydailyspanish.com Learn Spanish the right way Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:52:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 https://mydailyspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-spanish-flag.png Spanish Vocabulary and Expressions – My Daily Spanish https://mydailyspanish.com 32 32 How to Express Annoyance and Indignation in Spanish https://mydailyspanish.com/expressing-annoyance-spanish/ https://mydailyspanish.com/expressing-annoyance-spanish/#respond Tue, 18 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=9682

¡Ay, caramba! You may have heard this phrase before, but do you know what it means? In this article, we’ll show you this and lots of other ways of expressing annoyance and indignation in Spanish.

NOTE: this article contains language that may offend, and extremely strong language in the final section. Please do not read that section if you are a minor.

Annoyance and Indignation in Spanish

Adjectives

There are lots of adjectives to describe something annoying or frustrating. Some work better with things, and some work better with people, as you can see in the examples below. Remember, some will need to agree in number and gender. We’ve identified the ones that change with gender. Add ‘-s’ to any of them to make them plural.

  • Irritante (thing)

Linked to the verb “irritar” (“to irritate”).

irritanteirritating
Su voz es irritante.His voice is irritating.
  • Fastidioso/a (thing)

Linked to the verb “fastidiar” (“to annoy,” “to bother”).

fastidioso/aannoying, tedious
Es un proceso fastidioso.It’s a tedious process.
  • Frustrante (thing)

Linked to the verb “frustrar” (“to frustrate”).

frustrantefrustrating
La situación es frustrante, pero hay que tener paciencia.The situation is frustrating, but one has to be patient.
  • Desalentador(a) (thing)

Linked to the verb “desalentar” (“to discourage”).

desalentador(a)discouraging, disheartening
Los resultados de la encuesta son muy desalentadores.The results of the survey are very disheartening.
  • Molesto/a (thing or person)

Linked to the verb “molestar” (“to annoy,” “to bother”).

molesto/aannoying, irritating
Mi novio fuma, pero yo creo que el olor del humo es molesto.My boyfriend smokes, but I think the smell of smoke is bothersome.
Mi hermano es una persona molesta. Por ejemplo, le gusta provocarme con comentarios políticas que sabe que me molestan.My brother is an annoying person. For example, he likes provoking me with political things that he knows bother me.
Anger

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  • Insufrible (person)

Linked to the verb “sufrir” (“to suffer”).

insufribleinsufferable, intolerable
Mi suegra es insufrible. Estoy seguro de que me odia.My mother-in-law is insufferable. I’m sure she hates me.
  • Inaguantable (person)

Linked to the verb “aguantar” (“to put up with,” “to tolerate”).

inaguantablea pain in the neck, insufferable
Ser profesor puede ser verdaderamente estresante. Algunos de mis estudiantes son inaguantables.Being a teacher can be truly stressful. Some of my students are insufferable.
  • Insoportable (person)

Linked to the verb “soportar” (“to bear,” “to put up with”).

insoportableunbearable
Cariño, yo creo que tu ex era insoportable. Mereces algo mejor.Darling, I think your ex was unbearable. You deserve better.
  • Pesado/a (person)

Set phrases

pesado/aboring, tiresome
Tuve una cita pero la mujer era muy pesada.I had a date but the woman was really tiresome.

Set phrases

Next, we’ll look at some set phrases which you can use when you’re annoyed or indignant about something.

Estar harto/a

Estar harto/aTo be sick of / fed up with
Estoy harta de mi trabajo.I’m fed up with my job.

Estar hasta las narices

Estar hasta las naricesTo be fed up (Literally: to be up to the noses.)
Estoy hasta las narices de mi jefe.I’m fed up with my boss.

Estar hasta los huevos/los cojones

Estar hasta los huevos/los cojonesTo be fed up (Literally: to be up to the balls.)
Estoy hasta los cojones de sus mentiras.I’m fed up with his lies.

Estar indignado/a

Estar indignado/aTo be indignant/outraged
Me acusaron de cosas que no hice. ¡Estoy indignado!They accused me of things I didn’t do. I’m outraged!

Estar ofendido/a

Estar ofendido/aTo be offended
Mi hermano y yo estamos muy ofendidos, porque nuestra propia madre no quiere cenar con nosotros.My brother and I are very offended, because our own mother doesn't want to have dinner with us.

No te concierne

No te concierne.It doesn't concern you.
—¿De qué habláis?
—¡Vete ya! Esto no te concierne.
“What are you talking about?”
“Get out of here! This doesn't concern you.”

¡No me estás escuchando!

¡No me estás escuchando!You're not listening to me!
—Lo siento pero no quiero jugar con tu perro, porque los perros me dan mucho miedo.
—¡Ven, no estés estúpida, no te hará daño!
—¡No me estás escuchando! Es que tengo una fobia severa.
"I'm sorry but I don't want to play with your dog, because I'm really afraid of dogs."
"Come on, don't be stupid, he won't hurt you!"
"You're not listening to me! I have a severe phobia."

¡Ya vale!

¡Ya vale!That's enough!
Chicos, dejad de luchar, ¡ya vale!Kids, stop fighting, that's enough now!

Me da igual

Although this phrase means that you don't care, it can be said in a sarcastic and indignant way, showing that actually you are upset.

Me da igual.I don't care. / It makes no difference to me.
—Hoy me enteré de que Julián tiene una novia nueva. Quieres ver una foto suya?
—No. La vida de Julián me da igual ya.
"Today I found out that Julián has a new girlfriend. Do you want to see a picture of her?"
"No. I don't care about Julián's life anymore."

No me lo puedo creer

No me lo puedo creer.I can’t believe it.
Alejandro y yo acabamos de divorciarnos y ¿me dices que ya tiene una novia nueva? No me lo puedo creer.Alejandro and I have only just got divorced and you’re telling me he has a new girlfriend already? I can’t believe it.

¡Para!

¡Para!Stop!
—Eres idiota, nadie te quiere.
—¡Para ya!
—Estoy de bromas.
—No da gracia. Hiere. Así que para.
—Lo siento.
“You’re an idiot, nobody loves you.”
“Stop already!”
“I’m kidding.”
“It’s not funny. It’s hurtful. So stop it.”
“I’m sorry.”

Deja de …

Deja de …Stop …-ing
Deja de masticar con la boca abierta.Stop chewing with your mouth open.

¡Por fin!

Por finAt last / finally
Ha llegado Fran, ¡por fin!Fran’s arrived, finally!

No es justo

No es justo.It’s not fair.
No es justo que le traten así.It’s not fair that they treat him like that.

No puedo …

No puedo con … I can’t deal with …
No puedo más. I can’t even.
No puedo con su actitud.I can’t deal with her attitude.
—Los médicos se equivocaron otra vez.
—Hombre, son tan incompetentes, no puedo más.
“The doctors got it wrong again.”
“Dude, they’re so incompetent, I can’t even deal with it.”

Me fastidia

Me fastidiaIt annoys me
Me fastidia que me ignores. Es irrespetuoso.It annoys me that you ignore me. It’s rude.

Me molesta

Me molestaIt annoys me / It bothers me
Me molestan los niños.Children annoy me.

Me da rabia

Me da rabia.It angers me.
Me da rabia verdaderamente que siga poniéndole los cuernos a su pareja.It truly angers me that he continues to cheat on his partner.

Estoy enfadado/a (Spain), enojado/a (Latin America)

Estoy enfadado/a.I’m angry. (Used in Spain)
Estoy enojado/a.I’m angry. (Used in Latin America)

Interjections: sounds

Let’s look at interjections. Quite often, these are sounds.

¡Ay!

¡Ay!Ah!
¡Ay! ¡Acaba de picarme una avispa!Ah! A wasp just stung me!
¡Ay, caramba!Oh, for crying out loud!

¡Pf!

¡Pf!Pff. (general sound of exasperation)

¡Uy!

¡Uy!Woah!
¡Uy! ¡El agua quema!Woah! The water’s scorching!

Interjections: curse words

Sometimes instead of a wordless sound, an angry phrase might creep out of your mouth. We’ll have a look at some of them here.

¡¿Qué?!

¡¿Que?!What?!
—No me gusta el chocolate.
—¡¿Qué?!
“I don’t like chocolate.”
“What?!”

¡¿Qué demonios?!

¡¿Qué demonios?!What on Earth?!
¡¿Qué demonios es esto?!What on Earth is this?!

¡Cállate!

Cállate.Shut up.
—No me quiere nada. Soy fea.
—Cállate. Eres una reina.
“Nobody loves me. I’m ugly.”
“Shut up. You’re a queen.”

¡Qué rollo!

¡Qué rollo!What a bore! / What a drag!
Tengo dos horas de matemáticas. ¡Qué rollo!I have two hours of math. What a drag!

¡Madre mía!

¡Madre mía!Oh my! / Bloody hell!
¡Madre mía, se me ha perdido el móvil!Oh my, I’ve lost my phone!

WARNING: This final section contains extremely offensive language. Please do not read on if you are a minor.

Censored

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Right, let’s get to the rude stuff.

Joder

JoderFuck
¡Joder! Se me olvidó la cartera.Fuck! I forgot my wallet.

You might hear children try to get away with cursing by using these versions:

¡Jo!Oh, man!
Jo, mira qué bonitas están las estrellas.Oh, man, look how pretty the stars look.
¡Jolín!Flip!
¡Jolínes!Flip!

Mierda

¡Mierda!Shit! / Crap!
¡Mierda! Está roto.Shit! It’s broken.
Vete a la mierda!Go fuck yourself! (Literally: go to the shit)

Hostia

¡Hostia!Christ!/Damn! (Literally refers to the Host)
¡Hostia, qué susto!Christ, you gave me a fright!

And now the PG version:

¡Ostras!Woah! (Literally: oysters)

Me cago en …

These are expressions of general annoyance and anger. Some of them are direct insults to a person, some of them aren’t. We’ve given you the literal translations, but when these phrases are said in Spanish, they’re more expressive rather than taken literally.

Me cago en la leche.I shit in the milk.
Me cago en tu puta madre.I shit on your fucking mother.
Me cago en tus muertos.I shit on your dead relatives.

Remember, Spanish speakers aren’t literally pooping on these things (luckily).

Coño

CoñoFuck! / Holy crap! (Literally: c*nt)

A really interesting thing about the word “coño” is that when it’s used in Spain, it’s nowhere near as strong as the c-bomb in English. It can be heard used around children, because the connotation is simply not as strong as it is in English.

¡¿Coño, qué dices?!What the fuck are you saying?
¡¿Coño, qué haces?!For Christ’s sake, what are you doing?
¿Qué coño es esto?What on Earth is this?

… and, breathe out!

Right, after all that annoyance and indignation, let’s take some time to breathe. These words can be useful but don’t go chasing confrontation!

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Mexican Slang https://mydailyspanish.com/mexican-slang/ https://mydailyspanish.com/mexican-slang/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=12310

Mexican Spanish is one of the most exciting forms of the language. Travel to Mexico, and you'll soon discover the abundance of Mexican slang used in daily conversation. Literal translations of Mexican slang may be confusing on paper, but understood correctly by the locals when used in the right context.

If you want to talk Spanish like a Mexican, here are some of the Mexican slang words and phrases you should know.

Mexican Slang

When to use Mexican slang

You may already be familiar with formal vs. informal word use when speaking Spanish. Consider Mexican slang as the most casual way to speak Spanish locally.

Many of the words and phrases are widespread and frequently used in conversation. It's best, however, to only use them when talking with peers and close friends.

Be sure to understand the appropriate context when speaking Mexican slang so that the other person understands and receives the phrase correctly. Phrases with double meanings are easily misunderstood if misused.

To truly consider yourself fluent in Mexican Spanish, start to use some slang in your conversations and surprise the locals!

Greetings

There are lots of Mexican slang phrases for greetings.

The most common way to greet someone is merely saying "Buenos," as opposed to the full "Buenos dias." Also, for "good night," you'll hear many of the locals shortening it to "buen noche," as opposed to saying the entire "buenas noches."

Mexicans shorten the phrases since they're so frequently used. These words are okay to use in any situation and when talking to anyone.

Some of the more informal ways to greet friends are with phrases including:

Que pedowhat's up (literal translation: “what fart”)
Que ondawhat's happening/what's going on (literal translation: “what wave”)

The literal meaning of the phrases does not make sense in any language; therefore, the context is essential when using them. 

They are popular for street talk and talking with close friends or family. Try to avoid using these phrases when talking to people more senior than you or strangers. While they will understand you, the expressions are very informal.

Mexican slang in conversation

If you're using Mexican slang to greet friends, chances are the conversation will be filled with a lot of other slang words and phrases. Someone who studies Spanish without visiting Mexico may seem like an expert until arriving – a lot of meaning gets lost in translation unless you understand the context and the local slang.

Exclamation phrases

Exclamatory phrases when using Mexican slang have multiple meanings and are useful in a variety of scenarios. Many of the words are also interchangeable with one another.

A popular word that has unlimited meanings is "órdale!"

You'll hear Mexicans using "órdale!" for nearly everything, both polite and impolite situations. Some of the meanings include:
"órdale!"amazing! / go ahead! / sure! / hurry up! / come on! / ok! / done!

In times of extreme emotion, whether good or bad, when words don't do it justice, color your vocabulary with "órdale!" and most likely, it will have an appropriate meaning!

In English, we say "cool," or "that's cool" often.  Mexicans have two phrases to say the same:

Que padrethat's cool (literal translation – what father)
Chidocool

You may hear people saying "padre" more than expected, but be aware that they aren't talking about their fathers. Mexicans use the words for father, and sometimes mother, for exclamatory phrases.

You can say "que padre" for "that's cool" when talking about something or an event. You can also use "esta padre" for "it's cool," or simply "padre" for "cool," in the right context. 

Some Mexicans use the phrase "poca madre" to interchange between "that's cool," or "that's bad."

One of the exclamatory slang words with a bit of history is "aguas," which doesn't mean "waters," as the literal translation suggests.

When you hear "Aguas!" in Mexico, someone is alerting you to "be careful," or "watch out."

The phrase derives from the old days in Mexico before proper drainage systems. After washing clothes or dishes, people tossed the dirty water out the window, hence the water reference in the slang.

When you're in shock or hear surprising news, one way to react is by saying, "no manches!"

The Spanish word manches translates into stain or blemish, but when used in the above context, the phrase has several meanings:

No manches!no way!/really?/Get out of here!

Mexican slang phrases

Understanding some of the popular phrases that Mexicans use for slang is tricky. Translating word for word will confuse anyone, but understanding the entire phrase within the context makes perfect sense.

A few examples are:

Eso que ni queno doubt about it/for sure
Ando bien pedoI'm drunk
El mal del puercoto be full and sleepy from eating
Esta cañónit's rough/difficult
Echar la huevato be lazy
Ni modocan't do anything about it

All of these examples showcase phrases that have slang meanings that vary significantly from their literal translations.

The phrase "eso que ni que" can be used when you agree with someone. The words translate literally to "that what nor what."

The phrase "el mal del puerco" translates into "the curse of the pig." In English, the best word for translation is “food coma,” or a combined feeling of being full and sleepy after overeating.

The word pedo is a common slang word, as you've seen in the phrase "que pedo" to say "what's up." The word alone means "fart," but you can use the phrase "ando bien pedo" to say that you're very drunk.

The phrase "esta cañón," is most understandable for Mexican slang. The literal translation is "this canyon," while the slang used to describe situations that are rough or difficult (gives a visualization of a canyon).

Learning Mexican slang is essential for traveling to Mexico and understanding the local Spanish. Slang is a part of their daily conversations, and learning some of it will help you understand when someone uses it with you.

See below for a complete list of Mexican slang words and phrases – we've even included a few bonus words!

SPANISHENGLISH
BuenosGood morning
Que padreThat’s cool
ChidoCool
Que pedoWhat’s up
Que ondaWhat’s going on
No manches!No way/really
Órale!Come on/hurry up/amazing/go ahead/ok
Aguas!Watch out / be careful
Estoy crudoI’m hungover
Esta CañonIt’s rough
Echar la huevaTo be lazy
Ando bien pedoI’m drunk
Eso que ni queNo doubt about it/for sure
El mal del puercoFull (from eating)
FrescaSnobby/materialistic
ChafaCheap / bad quality
PlataMoney
GüeyDude/friend
Mande?What?/Huh?
Ni modoCan’t do anything about it
ChelaBeer
Poca madreThat’s good / that’s bad

Which of these slang words have you heard in Mexico?

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A Quick Guide to Spanish Idiomatic Expressions https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-idioms-guide/ https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-idioms-guide/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=11250

Fluent Spanish speakers understand not only words and phrases, but are able to decipher the many Spanish colloquial expressions and idioms. Just as with English, many of the most common Spanish idioms vary widely from their literal translations.

We'll cover some of the most famous Spanish idioms, so you'll sound like a native speaker in no time!

Spanish Idioms

About modismos

Spanish idioms, or modismos, are informal phrases used to express a variety of thoughts and emotions. Sometimes, using literal descriptive words doesn't do the situation justice to truly express what you're feeling.

Spanish varies across the world – you'll find different modismos in every country. We'll touch on the most common that you'll find in Spain or understood by Spanish-speakers in general.

The most important thing about using these Spanish idioms is the context. They're best used in informal situations when talking casually with friends. Hearing them by themselves might be confusing at first, but with a bit of practice, you'll be able to use them as part of your everyday language!

Spanish idioms related to English

The good news for native English-speakers is that you'll recognize a few of the top Spanish idioms that have similar meanings across the languages. While the word choice might be a bit different, the overall meaning holds, and people use them in the same situations.

One of the most common Spanish idioms is “pan comida,” which translates literally to “eating bread,” but it used to say that something was easy. The related expression in English is saying that something was “a piece of cake.”

You can use pan comida in a variety of situations such as after taking an exam or winning a race. You'll often hear "el examen es pan comida," or "the exam is a piece of cake."

Another popular phrase with a similar expression in English is "tomar el pelo," which translates to "take someone's hair." People use the expression while messing with someone jokingly. The phrase is familiar in English as "pulling someone's leg."

You'll use the phrase in the same way in English as in "me estes tomando el pelo," or “you're pulling my leg.”

If you're planning to go shopping, a Spanish expression to keep handy is "costar un mojo de la cara," which means that something is very expensive. The literal translation is "to cost an eye out of the head," or, in related English, "to cost an arm and a leg."

Another Spanish expression related to body parts is "aprobar por los pelos," or to “pass by a hair.” The phrase is exactly the same as English when you achieve something with the bare minimum score, for example.

As you begin to make more Spanish-speaking friends, you'll often start to hear a lot of gossip and sharing secrets while hanging out or chatting on the phone. If you're anxious to listen to the latest updates, simply say, "Suelta la sopa!" or "spill the soup!" The phrase is similar to the English idiom "spill the beans."

When you finally hear what you've been expecting, it's common to say the phrase "ya salió el peine." The Spanish expression translates to "the comb comes out," or in English terms, "the truth comes out."


Spanish idioms related to animals

As important as animals are to our lives, they also show up in a lot of frequently used Spanish idioms. There are lots of modismos that seem to be talking about animals but actually relate to quite different things.

The Spanish word for cat, or gato, is commonly used in Spanish idioms. Some of the most popular include:

Aqui hay un gato encerrado – something seems strange

Buscarle la quinta pata al gato – looking for problems that don't exist

The first phrase, "aqui hay un gato encerrado," may also be rephrased as "huele a gato encerrado," in some countries. The phrase literally translates to "here's a locked up cat," or "smells like a locked up cat," respectively.

In English, the latter might be a bit more relatable, with most people being familiar with the phrase, "something smells fishy."

You use either of the phrases when you have a strange feeling about something.

The second phrase, "buscarle a quinta pata al gato" means that someone is trying to overcomplicate things. The literal translation is to “look for the fifth foot on the cat," which is an impossible task since it doesn't exist.

Another common Spanish expression related to animals is "pensando en la inmortalidad del cangrejo." The phrase translates as "thinking about the immortality of a crab." The idiomatic translation is to “zone out.”

The perfect setting where you might hear the phrase used is in a classroom or meeting. People say it when someone has clearly zoned out.

A related phrase common throughout Spain is to say "estar empanada," or "to be breaded." When used in the correct context, it also means to be zoned out.

Miscellaneous Spanish idioms

Not all Spanish idioms relate to English. You'll definitely need to hear the phrases used in the correct context because even the literal translations have no connection to what the person is actually trying to say.

One example is "caer gordo." Many people use the phrase to express that something (or someone) is annoying. The literal translation of the phrase is "to fall fat."

If someone annoys you, you can say, "me caes gordo."

Another example is "tirar la casa por la ventana." Many girls will be excited to hear the phrase when talking about their wedding or quinceañera. The phrase literally translates as "to throw the house out of the window" – in the right context it means to “go all out,” such as with spending money.

Let's be honest, we don't enjoy all of our conversations. For some conversations, we may tune the other person out or disregard everything they just said. In these situations, you can say, "le di el avión." The phrase means to ignore or disregard someone, but in a literal sense, it means "to give someone the airplane."

See below for a complete list plus a few bonus Spanish idioms you might hear and their meanings:

SPANISH expressionMEANING
Pan comidaIt’s easy
Costar un mojo de la caraIt’s expensive
Soltar la sopaTo tell a secret
Hace un tiempo de perrosBad weather
Ya salióel pieneThe truth comes out
Aprobar por los pelosTo barely pass
Dormir como un truncoTo sleep very well
Ponte las picasTo put energy into it / look alive
Darle el avión a alguienTo ignore or disregard someone
Caer gordoWhen something/someone annoys you
No saber ni papa de algoTo not have a clue about something
Tirar la casa por la ventanaTo go all out (spending)
Aqui hay un gato encerradoWhen something is fishy/strange
Buscarle la quita pata al gatoTo overcomplicate things / to be looking for problems
Pensando en la inmortalidad del cangrejoZone out / space out
Me pica el bagreTo be very hungry

Let us know in the comments which of these Spanish idioms you’ve heard before.

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A Quick Guide to Making Small Talk in Spanish https://mydailyspanish.com/small-talk-spanish/ https://mydailyspanish.com/small-talk-spanish/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=1680

Small talk can be light-hearted and easy or dreadfully awkward. No matter what, though, one thing is for certain--it’s unavoidable. And now, you’re learning Spanish. This means you’ll have to make small talk--in Spanish. Ready for some Spanish conversations? Cue the nerves! 

How do you go about doing this? How do you break the ice and take the first step to starting a conversation in Spanish?

It might seem a little overwhelming, but don’t fret. This article is dedicated to helping you do just that.

Spanish Conversations


1 . Conversation basics- How to make small talk interesting

There are a few, universal ingredients to “good” small-talk. These will be the same in Spanish and in English. Of course, you’ll need to take cultural elements into account as you dive into conversations. But, as a foundation, remember:

  • Be nice! No matter your level of Spanish, if you’re nice and pleasant, you will always make a good impression.
  • It’s okay to start with the obvious. The typical “small talk” conversation we’re all familiar with is the weather. It’s okay to break the ice with something like this. Little things everyone is comfortable talking about, and has some knowledge of.
  • Do some research. Sometimes, knowing a handful of fun, interesting facts is extremely useful in small-talk situations. They spice up the conversation, and everyone loves a little bit of trivia!
  • Show interest. Be genuinely interested in what the other person is saying to you. Ask open-ended questions and respond to their answers.
  • Don’t be a know-it-all. While it’s always fun to drop in little tidbits of information, make sure you do so in a way that doesn’t make you come off as a “know-it-all.” And, in addition, don’t pretend to be an expert on something you’re not.
  • Throw in the occasional (not-creepy) compliment. You want to make the person you’re talking to feel comfortable and confident. Little things like, “I really like your shoes” or “your home is lovely” make everyone feel good. Don’t take it too far, though. Showering someone non-stop with compliments might make you seem desperate or maybe even a little “stalkerish.”
  • Don’t drag it out. Know when the conversation is over--don’t force it! Learn how to make a polite exit when there are far too many lulls or when things start to get uncomfortable.
  • Don’t do all the talking. If you’re like me, you’re a nervous talker. Sometimes, for people like us, it’s hard to stop once we’ve gotten started. Learn to reign it in and give the other person their fair chance to participate in the chat.

2. Do’s and Dont’s in Spanish Conversations

While small-talk is a universal thing, topics considered appropriate for small-talk are not. In English, we don’t usually consider someone’s marital status to be fair game for casual conversation. But in Spain, it’s not uncommon that this question comes up. Politics may be a hot-topic in the US, but it’s one that almost everyone seems to talk about constantly. In Spain, this topic is avoided like the plague!

Here’s a quick guide to some of the basics do’s and don’ts when making small talk in Spanish:

Do

  • Stick to casual topics (the weather, likes, dislikes, movies, etc.)
  • Make eye contact--it shows you’re interested
  • Respond to what you’re hearing. In English, we’ll do things like nod or respond with facial expression. In Spanish, they expect a vocal response as a sign of interest in the conversation. Here are some of the responses you’ll hear a lot:

Ah, ¿sí?Oh, yeah?
ValeOkay
¿En serio?Really?
YaYeah
¡Vaya!Wow!
Madre míaMy goodness

  • Use body language. Spaniards are expressive people, both verbally and physically. Not only do they move their hands a lot when they’re speaking, they have certain gestures that represent very specific things. For some examples of these, check out the videos in this article on how to speak Spanish like a Spaniard by clicking HERE.

Don’t

  • Talk about politics. Trust me, it’s just better to avoid this topic until you’re extremely comfortable with someone, and even then it’s rarely brought up!
  • Talk about jobs/ employment. Due to the crisis, the topic of work has become somewhat taboo in Spain.
  • Be too distant--in the literal sense. Spaniards tend to stand very close to each other. As an American with a permanent “personal space bubble” around me, this was rather uncomfortable for me at first. Don’t worry, though, you get used to it.
  • Be offended if you get interrupted when talking. This goes along with a point we made earlier. In Spain, people are constantly talking over each other. It’s their way of actively participating in the conversation.
  • Talk about bullfighting, unless you’re prepared for the aftermath. This is a very polemic topic, and one that arouses a lot of passion in people (either for or against the sport)
  • Be too “braggy.” Putting too much emphasis on your personal achievements and success can be considered off-putting.

If you’re still not sure what is safe to talk about with a Spaniard (aside from the basics), here’s a list of topics that are always sure to please:

Pin this!

dos and donts in spanish conversations

3. Introductions and Greetings

Introducing yourself in Spanish isn’t overly complicated, but it does require a mini lesson of its own. For a quick summary on how to introduce yourself in Spanish, check out this article HERE.

4. Personal information

Giving and asking for personal information is an integral part of conversing with someone new. This doesn’t mean you have to ask about very personal things, but things that are unique about the individual you’re talking to. Below you’ll find some examples of questions you might ask or be asked and how to answer them.

Note: These are given using both the “tú” (informal) and “usted” (formal) options. Depending on who you’re speaking to and the situation you’re in, you may need to use one or the other. For example, in Spain, the “tú” form is used in most situations, whereas in certain Latin American countries the “usted” form is always used with strangers.

Spanish
English
¿Cómo te llamas? (Informal)
¿Cómo se llama? (formal)
What’s your name?
Me llamo.../ Mi nombre es...My name is...
¿Cómo estás? (informal)
¿Cómo está? (formal)
How are you?
Estoy bien, gracias.I’m fine, thank you.
¿Cuántos años tienes? (informal)
¿Cuántos años tiene? (formal)
How old are you?
Tengo X años. I am X years old.
¿De dónde eres?
¿De dónde es?
Where are you from?
Soy de España. I’m from Spain.
Soy de los Estados Unidos.I’m from the United States.
Soy de la República Dominicana.I’m from the Dominican Republic.
Soy de México. I’m from Mexico.
¿Dónde vives? (informal)
¿Dónde vive? (formal)
Where do you live?
Vivo en Madrid. I live in Madrid.
Vivo en Buenos Aires. I live in Buenos Aires.
¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? (informal)
¿Cuál es su número de teléfono? (formal)
What is your phone number?
Mi número de teléfono es...My phone number is...
¿Estás casado/a? (informal)
¿Está casado/a? (formal)
Are you married.
Sí, estoy casado/a. Yes, I’m married.
No, no estoy casado/a.No, I’m not married.
Estoy soltero/a. I’m single.
¿Tienes hermanos? (informal)
¿Tiene hermanos? (formal)
Do you have any siblings?
Sí, tengo dos hermanos y una hermana. Yes, I have two brothers and one sister.
Sí, tengo un hermano. Yes, I have one brother.
No, soy hijo/a única. No, I’m an only child.
No, no tengo hermanos. No, I don’t have siblings.
¿A qué te dedicas? (informal)
¿A qué se dedica? (formal)
What do you do for a living?
Soy médico/a. I’m a doctor.
Soy estudiante.I’m a student
Soy abogado/a.I’m a lawyer.
Soy dentista.*I’m a dentist.
Soy profesor/aI’m a teacher.

*Some professions, such as dentista, periodista, electricista (the ones that end in ista) will be the same in their masculine and feminine forms.

5. Common questions and answers

There are a whole slew of other questions you can ask or expect to be asked that don’t deal directly with your personal life. These are things like your hobbies or interests. For some of the most common questions and how to answer them, check out the table below.

Note: Again, questions will be given in both the formal and informal ways.

English
Spanish
¿Cuál es tu deporte preferido? (informal)
¿Cuál es su deporte preferido? (formal)
What is your favorite sport?
¿Te gustan los deportes? (informal)
¿Le gustan los deportes? (formal)
Do you like sports?
¿Practicas algún deporte? (informal)
¿Practica algún deporte? (formal)
Do you do any sports?
Me gusta jugar a...I like to play...
Me gusta ver...I like to watch...
Practico...I play...
Mi deporte preferido es...My favorite sport is...
¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos? (informal)
¿Cuáles son sus pasatiempos? (formal)
What are your pastimes?
¿Tienes un hobby? (informal)
¿Tiene un hobby? (formal)
Do you have a hobby?
Me gusta...I like...
Me gusta cocinar.I like to cook.
Me gusta leer. I like to read.
Me gusta salir con amigos. I like to go out with friends.
En mi tiempo libre...In my free time...
Voy al cine.I go to see movies.
Paso tiempo con mis amigos. I spend time with my friends.
¿Tienes una mascota? (informal)
¿Tiene una mascota? (formal)
Do you have a pet?
Sí, tengo un gato. Yes, I have a cat.
Sí, tengo un perro. Yes, I have a dog.
No, no tengo una mascota. No, I don’t have a pet.
¿Te gusta la música? (informal)
¿Le gusta la música? (formal)
Do you like music?
Sí, me gusta el jazz. Yes, I like jazz.
Sí, me gusta el rock. Yes, I like rock.
Sí, me gusta el hip-hop. Yes, I like hip-hop.
No, no me gusta la música. No, I don’t like music.
¿Tocas algún instrumento? (informal)
¿Toca algún instrumento? (formal)
Do you play an instrument?
Sí, toco el piano.Yes, I play the piano.
Sí, toco la guitarra. Yes, I play the guitar.
Sí, toco la batería. Yes, I play the drums.
No, no toco ningún instrumento. No, I don’t play an instrument.
¿Qué tipo de películas te gusta? (informal)
¿Qué tipo de películas le gusta? (formal)
What type of movies do you like?
Prefiero las películas románticas. I prefer romance movies.
Me gustan las películas de miedo/ terror.I like horror movies.
Me gustan las películas de risa/ comedia. I like funny/ comedy movies.

Conclusion

This has just been a quick guide to how to navigate the surprisingly complicated world of small-talk. What do you think? Do you have any experiences making small-talk in Spanish that you want to share? Lessons you learned? Mistakes or taboos to avoid? We’d love to hear your input!

You might also be interested in learning about some of the changes you might need to become fluent in Spanish.

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Street Slang from Spain https://mydailyspanish.com/street-slang-from-spain/ https://mydailyspanish.com/street-slang-from-spain/#respond Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=12879

So, you’ve got to grips with the basics of Spanish, and you’re ready to move it on to the next level. In this article, we go over some mild colloquialisms as well as some of the more vulgar slang words that you’ll hear on the streets of Spain.

WARNING: This article contains EXPLICIT language, including that of a sexual nature. Please don’t read on if you are a minor.
Spain street slang

Positives

  • Molar

To rock/to be awesome

¡Madrid mola!Madrid rocks!
  • Ser la leche

To be amazing (literally: to be the milk)

Nuestro nuevo profesor es la leche.Our new teacher is the best.
Ser la leche

via Pixabay

  • Ponerse las pilas

To get your act together/get hyped (literally: to put your batteries in)

Ponte las pilas. ¡Vamos a bailar!Get ready. We’re gonna dance!
  • De puta madre

Awesome (literally: of whore mother)

Be careful with this one. As you’ll see later, calling someone ‘puto/a’ or ‘hijo de puta’ is rude. But if you say someone is ‘de puta madre,’ you’re saying that they’re pretty awesome.

Esta comida es de puta madre.This food is awesome.
  • El crack

Star (To be a star, as in very talented)

¿Ya terminaste la tarea? ¡Eres un crack!You finished the task already? You’re a star!
  • Sip

Yep

—¿Estás seguro?
—Sip.
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.”
  • Guay/Chulo

Cool

Be careful, ’cos ‘chulo’ also means ‘pimp.’

Me encanta tu nuevo reloj. ¡Qué guay/chulo!I love your new watch. How cool!

Negatives/Insults in Spanish

  • Aguafiestas

Party pooper (literally: party waterer)

No invites a Juan. Es aguafiestas.Don’t invite Juan. He’s a party pooper.
  • Cuatrojos

Four-eyes

¡Oye, cuatrojos!Oi, four-eyes!
  • Gilipollas

US: jerk

UK: dickhead/twat

No entiendo por qué sigues saliendo con ese gilipollas.I don’t understand why you’re still going out with that jerk.
  • Cabrón

Bastard

Me engañaste, Gregor. ¡Eres cabrón!You cheated on me, Gregor. You’re a bastard!
  • Zorra

Whore

Be careful if you use this one around a Chilean native, as they may take it to mean ‘c*nt.’

—Esa chica es una zorra.
—No la juzgues.
“That girl is a whore.”
“Don’t judge her.”
  • Puta

Whore

Tu hermana es puta.Your sister’s a whore.
  • Maricón/marica

Faggot

My observation from having lived in Spain is that political correctness still has a way to go. Because they use this kind of language more frequently than us, it means that it may not have quite as strong an offensive connotation as it does in English.

¿Por qué llevas una camisa rosa? ¡Maricón!Why are you wearing a pink shirt? Faggot!
  • Yonqui

Junkie

No te metas con él. Es un yonqui que necesita ayuda profesional.Don’t get involved with him. He’s a junkie who needs professional help.
  • Hijo/a de puta

Son of a bitch

You can use ‘hijo’ or ‘hija’ depending on whether you’re insulting a male or female.

Ben me robó el móvil. ¡Hijo de puta!Ben stole my cell. Son of a bitch!
  • Guiri

Foreigner/foreign tourist

En lugares como Magaluf e Ibiza, los guiris suelen faltar respeto para las normas culturales.In places like Magaluf and Ibiza, foreign tourists often lack respect for cultural norms.
  • Cagarse en…

To hell with … (literally: to shit on)

Me cago en la leche.To hell with it. (Literally: I shit in the milk.)
Me cago en tus muertos.Fuck off/I don’t respect or like you. (Literally: I shit on your dead relatives.)
—Tienes que estudiar para el examen.
—Me cago en el puto examen.
“You have to study for the exam.”
“To hell with the fucking exam.” (Literally: “I shit on the fucking exam.”)
  •  (Vete) a tomar por culo

Fuck off (literally: go and take it up the ass)

Another bit of homophobia entrenched in the Spanish language.

—Creo que eres mala persona.
—Vete a tomar por culo, hijo de puta.
“I think you’re a bad person.”
“Fuck off, you son of a bitch.”
Le eché un piropo y me mandó a tomar por culo.I catcalled her and she told me to piss off.
  • Que te den (por culo)/que te jodan

Screw you/fuck off/up yours (literally: may they give it to you [up the ass]/may they fuck you)

—Si no me mandas las fotos que te pido, revelo tu secreto.
—Que te jodan, cabrón.
“If you don’t send me the photos I ask for, I’ll reveal your secret.”
“Fuck off, bastard.”
  • Guarro/a

Dirty

This can mean dirty in the physical sense, e.g. when your car gets dirty, but also in the dirty-minded sense.

Qué hombre más guarro.What a filthy man.
  • Jodido

Fucked

Mi coche está jodido.My car is fucked.
  • Dar la paliza

To pester (literally: to give the beating)

Deja de darme la paliza, por favor.Stop pestering me, please.
  • Dar

To hit (literally: to give)

Luché con Lidia y me dio en las costillas.I fought with Lidia and she hit me in the ribs.
  • Ni puta idea

Not a bloody clue

—¿A qué hora empieza la peli?
—No tengo ni puta idea.
“What time does the movie start?”
“I don’t have a bloody clue.”
Not a bloody clue

Via Pixabay

  • Nop

Nope

—¿Quieres más alcohol?
—Nop.
“Do you want more alcohol?”
“Nope.”
  • Ni de coña

No fucking way

—Hermana, ¿me prestas tu nuevo coche?
—¡Ni de coña!
“Sis, can you lend me your new car?”
“No fucking way!”

Body parts, bodily functions, sex

  • Huevos/cojones

Balls

These can both be used in the literal sense, meaning testicles, or the more figurative sense, denoting bravery.

Me dio una patada en los huevos/cojones.She kicked me in the balls.
No tienes los huevos/cojones para invitarle una bebida.You don’t have the balls to offer to buy her a drink.
  • Polla

Dick/cock

This refers to the actual body part. If you wanted to call someone a dick as an insult, you’d go for one of the insults above, like ‘gilipollas,’ which you’ll notice does contain the word ‘polla’!

Mi novio fue a ver al médico porque tiene un problemilla con su polla.My boyfriend went to see the doctor because he has a little problem with his dick.
  • Tetas

Tits

—Enséñame las tetas, rubia.
—Vete a tomar por culo.
“Show me your tits, blondie.”
“Fuck off.”
  • Hacer pipí

To pee

This isn’t vulgar slang, this is kinda cute, and can be used with kids.

Cariño, ¿tienes que hacer pipí antes de que nos vayamos?Sweetie, do you need to have a wee wee before we go?
  • Hacer caca

To poop

Another cutesy way to talk about toilet business.

Mamá, tengo que hacer caca.Mommy, I have to poop.
  • Mear

To piss

Tengo que mear. I have to take a piss.
To piss

Via Pixabay

  • Mearse

To piss oneself

Deja de hacerme reír, ¡que me meo!Stop making me laugh, I’m gonna piss myself!
  • Cagar

To shit

Aquí los perros cagan donde sea, y los dueños no hacen nada.Here the dogs shit wherever, and the owners do nothing.
  • Follamigo/a

Fuck buddy

A cruder version of friends with benefits. The word ‘follamigo/a’ comes from mixing ‘follar’ (to fuck) with ‘amigo/a’ (friend).

—¿Te acuerdas de Carlos, mi follamigo?
—Sip.
—Creo que me estoy enamorando de él.
“Do you remember Carlos, my fuck buddy?”
“Yep.”
“I think I’m falling in love with him.”
  • Follar

To fuck

Fui a la casa de mi ex para recoger mi ropa pero acabamos follando.I went to my ex’s house to pick up my clothes but we ended up fucking.
  • Echar un polvo

To get laid

Estoy muy cachonda, tengo que echar un polvo ya.I’m so horny, I need to get laid already.
  • Ligar

To hook up/to flirt

Quiero ligar con alguien esta noche.I want to get with someone tonight.
  • Perrear

To grind (dance)

Mira como perrea ese tío.Look at that guy grinding.
  • Tableta de chocolate

Six pack (body)

Voy a entrenar duro en el gimnasio para tener tableta de chocolate para la playa.I’m going to train hard at the gym to get a six pack for the beach.
  • Ponerle los cuernos a alguien

To cheat on someone

Estoy triste porque mi novia me puso los cuernos.I’m feeling sad because my girlfriend cheated on me.

Going out

  • Echar un trago

To have a drink

¿Quieres echar un trago después de currar?Do you want to grab a drink after work?
  • La copa

Drink (alcoholic)

¿Quieres una copa?Do you want a drink?
  • Irse de juerga

To go out partying

Tengo que comprar una nueva falda, que mañana las chicas y yo nos vamos de juerga.I have to buy a new skirt cause tomorrow the girls and I are going out.
To go out partying

Via Pixabay

  • Irse de borrachera

To go out binge drinking

La familia entera se va de borrachera.The whole family is gonna get wasted.
  • La putivuelta

A quick browse of the club to see if there’s anyone you’re attracted to

Espera aquí. Voy a dar una putivuelta.Wait here. I’m gonna check out the talent.
  • Estar pedo

To be drunk/high

No puedo conducir ahora. Estoy pedo.I can’t drive now. I’m drunk.
  • Tapear

To go for tapas

—¿Qué quieres de comer?
—Tengo ganas de tapear.
“What do you want to eat?”
“I feel like getting tapas.”
  • Tranqui

Chilled

Short for ‘tranquilo/a’ (calm).

No voy a beber mucho hoy. Salimos de tranquis.I’m not gonna drink much today. We’re going out for a quiet one.
—Estoy nerviosa.
—¡Tranqui!
“I’m nervous.”
“Relax!”

Miscellaneous colloquialisms

  • Y …

And what about …?/and where is …?

[Al entrar en casa]: ¿Y Papá?[On entering the house]: Is Dad not here?
  • Oye

Listen/Hey

This can be used in Spain like a colloquial ‘excuse me.’

Oye, ¿qué coño haces?Hey, what the fuck are you doing?
  • Porfa/porfis

Pretty please

A cute version of ‘por favor.’

Mamá, ¿me compras este juguete, porfis?Mommy, will you buy me this toy, pretty please?
  • Tipo

Dude/Guy

Mira a ese tipo.Look at that guy.
  • Fulano/a

Some guy/girl/so-and-so

Vino un fulano buscándote.Some guy came looking for you.
  • Tío/tía

Guy/girl/buddy

‘Tío’ and ‘tía’ also mean uncle and aunt.

¿Qué tal, tío?How’s it going, buddy?
  • Colega

Friend/buddy

This is an alternate meaning to the standard translation of ‘colleague.’

Voy a la fiesta con mi colega.I’m going to the party with my buddy.
  • Chaval(a)

Kid

Los chavales del cole están acosando a mi hijo.The kids from the school are bullying my son.
  • Friqui/friki

Geek, nerd

Este es mi cómic favorito. ¡Soy bastante friki!This is my favorite comic. I’m quite a nerd!
  • Media naranja

Other half/soulmate

Literally, this means ‘half orange.’

No te preocupes, ya encontrarás tu media naranja.Don’t worry, you’ll find your soulmate.
Other half/soulmate

Pixabay

  • La poli

Cops

Short for ‘policía’ (‘police’).

¡Corre! ¡Viene la poli!Run! The cops are coming!
  • Flipar

To flip out, to go mental

Tengo algo gracioso que contarte. Vas a flipar.I have something funny to tell you. You’re gonna flip out.
  • Mazo

A lot

Use with a verb.

María me gusta mazo.I like María a lot.
  • Mogollón

Heaps

Mi padrastro compró un mogollón de cerveza.My stepdad bought a shitload of beer.

Fillers and Exclamations

You’ll hear lots of fillers, e.g. ‘ehhhh’ (pronounced like a nasal version of the vowel in ‘aaaanyway’) on the Spanish streets. 

There are also loads of swear words used as interjections and exclamations. A list of Spanish exclamations can be found on our blog.

Text talk

To finish off, don’t forget that language is adapting for the modern age. Click here to find out how to use text slang in Spanish!

¡Guay!

This article has hopefully given you some fun bits of slang to throw into your Spanish speaking, to make you sound more like a native. Just be careful where and when you use it (don’t go swearing around your boss!)

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Trabalenguas: Let’s Practice Some Spanish Tongue Twisters! https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-tongue-twisters/ https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-tongue-twisters/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=12145

In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most fun tongue twisters in the Spanish language. The word for ‘tongue twister’ in Spanish is ‘trabalenguas,’ which comes from the verb ‘trabar’ (‘to get tangled up’) and the noun ‘lengua’ (‘tongue’)!

Tongue Twisters
Tongue Twisters Cow

Image Via

In this article, we’ve given you tongue twisters that you can use to practice particular sounds.

Before you delve into tongue twisters, why don't you check your Spanish level first?

What is a tongue twister?

Tongue twisters are phrases that are supposed to be really tricky to pronounce. They often use one or two sounds repeatedly throughout the phrase. For example, ‘she sells seashells by the seashore.’

How can tongue twisters help your Spanish?

When learning a language, you’re often confronted by sounds that don’t exist in your native language, for example the rolled ‘r’ in Spanish, which we don’t use in English. Using tongue twisters is a great way to get your tongue around those sounds, and learn some new vocab in the process!

As you practice, think of your mouth as forming muscle memory. You may well have to bend your mouth and tongue into shapes that you didn’t think were possible, but just because you weren’t born in a Spanish-speaking country doesn’t mean you can’t make Spanish sounds.

Imagine if a Spanish couple gets pregnant and moves to Canada. When the baby starts to talk, it doesn’t flat out say, “sorry, I don’t speak Spanish, eh.” As long as Spanish is spoken in the home, the kid picks up the Spanish language and Spanish sounds from the parents.

Okay, so you’re not a Spanish baby in Canada, but that doesn’t take away your ability to listen and mimic. Start by pronouncing each sound and syllable as slowly and clearly as you can, and then start reciting whole tongue twisters. You’re aiming for speed, clarity, and fluidity!

Spanish Tongue Twister: A Sound

Pancha plancha con cuatro planchas. ¿Con cuántas planchas plancha Pancha?Pancha irons with four irons. With how many irons does Pancha iron?

Spanish Tongue Twister: E Sound

Esteban es escalador. Escala y escala. Esteban, el escalador: de tanto escalar, en una cima quedó. Esteban is a mountaineer. He climbs and he climbs. Esteban, the mountaineer: from so much climbing, he ended up on a peak.

Spanish Tongue Twister: I Sound

Pablito clavó un clavito en la calva de un calvito. En la calva de un calvito, un clavito clavó Pablito.Pablito hammered a little nail into the bald patch of a little bald man. Into the bald patch of a little bald man, a little nail did hammer Pablito.

Spanish Tongue Twister: O Sound

Un dragón tragón tragó carbón y el carbón que tragó el dragón tragón le hizo salir barrigón.A greedy dragon swallowed coal and the coal that the greedy dragon swallowed gave him a pot belly.

Spanish Tongue Twisters: U Sound

Una bruja tiene una brújula en una burbuja. Y con la aguja embrujada te embruja.A witch has a compass in a bubble. And with the enchanted needle she puts a spell on you.

Spanish Tongue Twisters: B/V Sounds

Both ‘b’ and ‘v’ are pronounced the same as each other. 

Hard sound: They sound almost like an English ‘b’ when:

  • At the start of an utterance.
  • After ‘m’ or ‘n.’

Soft sound: They sound almost like an English ‘v’ in all other cases.

In this tongue twister, all the ‘b’s and ‘v’s are pronounced the same, except the first ‘B,’ which is hard.

Beatriz tuvo un tubo, y el tubo que tuvo se le rompió. Para recuperar el tubo que tuvo, tuvo que comprar un tubo, igual al tubo que tuvo.Beatriz had a tube, and the tube that she had: it broke. To fix the tube that she had, she had to buy a tube the same as the tube she had.

Spanish Tongue Twisters: Ca/Co/Cu/Qu (‘k’ sound)

Cuando cuentas cuentos, cuenta cuántos cuentos cuentas. Porque si no cuentas cuántos cuentos cuentas, nunca sabrás cuántos cuentos cuentas.When you tell stories, count how many stories you tell. Because if you don’t count how many stories you tell, you’ll never know how many stories you tell.
¿Cómo quieres que te quiera si quien que quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera?How do you want me to love you if the one I want to love me doesn’t love me the way I want them to?

Spanish Tongue Twisters: Ce/Ci/Z/S (‘th’ or ‘s’ sound)

How these letters are pronounced will depend on where you come from:

  • In most parts of Spain, ‘s’ is pronounced like the ‘s’ in ‘see,’ but the consonants in ‘ce’ and ‘ci,’ and ‘z’ are usually pronounced like the ‘th’ in ‘birth.’
  • In most parts of Latin America, all of the above are pronounced like the ‘s’ in ‘see.’
La sucesión sucesiva de sucesos sucede sucesivamente con la sucesión del tiempo.The successive succession of events occurs successively with the succession of time.
Si Sansón no sazona su salsa con sal, le sale sosa; le sale sosa su salsa a Sansón, si la sazona sin sal.If Sansón doesn’t season his sauce with salt, it turns out bland; Sansón’s sauce turns out bland if he seasons it without salt.
Un zapatero zambo zapateaba zapateados de zapata, zapateados de zapata zapateaba un zapatero zambo.A knock-kneed shoemaker tap-danced tap dances, tap dances did tap-dance a knock-kneed shoemaker.

Spanish Tongue Twister: Ch Sound

Me han dicho que has dicho un dicho, un dicho que he dicho yo. Ese dicho que te han dicho que yo he dicho, no lo he dicho; y si yo lo hubiera dicho, estaría muy bien dicho por haberlo dicho yo.They said to me that you’ve said a saying, a saying that I said. That saying that they said to you that I said, I didn’t say it; and if I had said it, it would be very well said for having been said by me.

Spanish Tongue Twisters: Ge/Gi/J (throaty ‘h’ sound)

(Bear in mind that the ‘g’ in ‘ga,’ ‘go,’ and ‘gu’ is simply pronounced as a harder ‘g,’ almost like the ‘g’ in ‘gobsmacked.’)

De generación en generación, las generaciones se degeneran con mayor degeneración.From generation to generation, the generations degenerate with more degeneration.
Juan junta juncos junto a la zanja.Juan gathers reeds by the ditch.

Spanish Tongue Twister: M Sound

Mi mamá me mima mucho.My mom spoils me a lot.

Spanish Tongue Twister: Ñ (‘ny’ sound)

Ñoño Yáñez come ñame en las mañanas con el niño.Boring Yáñez eats yam in the mornings with the boy.

Spanish Tongue Twister: P Sound

Pepe Pecas pica papas con un pico, con un pico pica papas Pepe Pecas.Pepe Freckles chops taters with a pick, with a pick Pepe Freckles chops taters.

Spanish Tongue Twisters: R/Rr Sound

Can you roll your ‘r’s? You may not know this, but there are two types of ‘r’ sound in Spanish. Check out their posh names:

‘Voiced alveolar trill’: this is what we usually think of as that rolled ‘r.’ Use it for:

  • Words beginning with ‘r,’ e.g. ‘realmente.’
  • When there’s a double ‘r’ (‘rr’), e.g. ‘hierro.’
  • When there’s an ‘r’ directly after ‘l,’ ‘n,’ or ‘s,’ e.g. ‘alrededor,’ ‘honrado,’ ‘desregular.’

‘Voiced alveolar tap’: this isn’t a full-on roll, more of a quick tap of the tongue. It sounds a bit like the ‘dd’ sound when you say ‘ladder’ in most US accents. Use it for:

  • Single ‘r’ except in the situations we mentioned above.
Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre barril. Rápido corren los carros cargados de azúcar del ferrocarril.‘R’ with ‘r’ ‘cigar,’ ‘r’ with ‘r’ ‘barrel.’ Quickly do the sugar-laden carriages run off the railroad.
Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal. Un tigre, dos tigres, tres tigres tragaban en un trigal. ¿Qué tigre tragaba más? Todos tragaban igual.Three sad tigers ate wheat in a wheat field. One tiger, two tigers, three tigers ate in a wheat field. Which tiger ate most? They all ate the same amount.

Spanish Tongue Twister: Y/Ll

As we mentioned earlier, different letters are pronounced in different ways depending on where a speaker is from. But it’s also influenced by the age of a speaker, because of the way languages change over time! 

For example, a young woman from Madrid would probably pronounce ‘y’ and ‘ll’ exactly the same, whereas her grandmother would say them slightly differently, because that’s how she learned it when she was growing up.
Hoy ya es ayer y ayer ya es hoy. Ya llegó el día, y hoy es hoy.Today is already yesterday and yesterday is already today. The day has already arrived, and today is today.

Top tip: when ‘y’ stands alone meaning ‘and,’ it’s pronounced like ‘ee.’

Great job getting through those!

Trabalenguas are a fantastic learning tool, so please have fun with them, and use the comments section to let us know how you got on!

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How to Express Surprise, Indifference, and Disbelief https://mydailyspanish.com/surprise-indifference/ https://mydailyspanish.com/surprise-indifference/#respond Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=11475

Today’s blog post is about how to express three different states in Spanish: surprise, indifference, and disbelief. We’ll be looking at them one by one!

Surprise, Indifference, and Disbelief in Spanish

How to Express Surprise in Spanish

There are several ways to express surprise in Spanish. One is to make use of the tone of your voice when speaking, and using exclamation points when writing.

As well as this, we’ve compiled a list of set phrases for you to use!

  • ¡Vaya!
¡Vaya! Wow!/Woah!
¡Vaya! Qué guapo estás.Wow, you look so handsome!
  • ¡Ay!
¡Ay!Ah!
¡Ay, caramba!Oh, boy!/Oh, for goodness’ sake!
¡Ay, se me cayó el móvil!Ah, I dropped my phone!
  • ¡Madre mía!
¡Madre mía!Oh, my!
Madre mía. ¿Has visto la lluvia?Oh, my. Have you seen the rain?
  • ¡No me digas!
¡No me digas!No way!/Shut up!
—Gary se olvidó de ir a su propia boda.
—¡No me digas!
“Gary forgot to go to his own wedding.”
“Shut up!”
  • Me sorprende que …
Me sorprende que … + subjunctiveIt surprises me that …
Me sorprende que tu novio tenga tatuajes.It surprises me that your boyfriend has tattoos.
Me sorprende que tú estés tan bien informado en cuanto a la política.I’m surprised you’re so well-informed in terms of politics.
  • No sabía que …
No sabía que …I didn’t know that …
¡No sabía que vendrías hoy!I didn’t know you were coming today!
No sabíamos que podíamos votar.We didn’t know that we could vote.

How to Express Indifference in Spanish

Indifference is when we just don't care. We’re not interested. We’re in a state of “meh.”

  • Vale
Vale.Okay./Fine.
—Quiero que sepas que no te perdono.
—Vale.
"I want you to know that I don't forgive you."
"Okay."
  • Está bien
Está bien.Okay./Good.
—Voy a llegar tarde.
—Está bien.
“I’m going to arrive late.”
“Okay./Fine.”
  • Me da igual
Me da igual.It makes no difference to me.
—¿Qué quieres hacer para celebrar tu cumpleaños?
—Me da igual.
"What do you want to do to celebrate your birthday?"
"It makes no difference to me./It doesn't matter to me./I don't care."
  • Me da lo mismo
Me da lo mismo.It makes no difference to me.
—Juan no viene a tu fiesta. ¿Estás triste?
—No. Me da lo mismo.
“Juan isn’t coming to your party. Are you sad?”
“No. It makes no difference to me./I don’t care.”
  • No me interesa …
No me interesa …… doesn’t interest me.
No me interesa.It doesn’t interest me.
No me interesan los debates políticos.Political debates don’t interest me.
—¿Por qué no sales con Jesús?
—Pues porque no me interesa.
“Why don’t you go out with Jesús?”
“He just doesn’t interest me.”
  • No me importa …
No me importa ...… doesn’t matter to me.
No me importa.I don’t mind.
No me importa lo de Don y Mel.That stuff with Don and Mel doesn’t matter to me.
—¿A dónde quieres ir?
—No me importa.
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t mind.”
  • Me importa ...

The following all mean “I could care less” (or, outside the US, “I couldn’t care less”), but have some interesting literal meanings! Check them out.

Me importa un pepino.It matters a cucumber to me.
Me importa un comino.It matters a cumin plant to me.
Me importa un bledo.It matters a jot to me.
Explicit: Me importa un carajo.I don’t give a sh*t.
  • No tengo ni la más remota idea
No tengo ni la más remota idea.I have absolutely no idea.
—¿Dónde está mi mochila?
—No tengo ni la más remota idea.
“Where is my rucksack?”
“I don’t have the faintest clue.”
  • No estoy ni a favor de ni en contra de … 
No estoy ni a favor de ni en contra de … I’m neither for nor against …
No estoy ni a favor de ni en contra de la monarquía. Me da igual.I’m neither for nor against the monarchy. It doesn’t make a difference to me.
  • No me meto en …
No me meto en …I don’t get involved in …
No me meto en cosas políticas.I don’t get involved with political things.

How to Express Disbelief in Spanish

Some of the ways of expressing disbelief overlap with expressing surprise. Remember your exclamation points, and the power of tone of voice!

  • ¡No me digas!
  • No te creo
No te creo.I don’t believe you.
—He dejado de fumar.
—No te creo.
“I’ve quit smoking.”
“I don’t believe you.”
  • No me lo puedo creer
¡No me lo puedo creer!I can’t believe it!
—Fran ganó la carrera.
—¡No me lo puedo creer!
“Fran won the race.”
“I don’t believe it!”
  • Dudo
Lo dudo.I doubt it.
Dudo que … + subjunctiveI doubt that …
—Dudo que Graham llegue a tiempo.
—Yo también lo dudo.
“I doubt Graham will arrive on time.”
“I doubt it, too.”
  • Me cuesta creer que …
Me cuesta creer que … + subjunctiveI find it hard to believe that …
Me cuesta creer que tu partido pueda ganar más votos que el mío.I find it hard to believe that your party can win more votes than mine.
  • No es verdad que …
No es verdad que … + subjunctiveIt's not true that ...
No es verdad que la vida sea fácil.It's not true that life is easy.
  • No puede ser (que …)
No puede ser.It can't be./It can't be possible.
No puede ser que … + subjunctive.It can't be true that ...
—Señora, su perro ha muerto. Lo siento.
—¡No puede ser! No puede ser que haya muerto tan joven.
"Ma'am, your dog is dead. I'm sorry."
"It can't be true! He can't have died so young."
  • No es posible (que …)
No es posible.It's not possible.
No es posible que … + subjunctiveIt's not possible that ...
—Quiero devolver esta chaqueta pero no tengo el recibo.
—Perdone, pero sin el recibo, no es posible.
"I want to return this jacket but I don't have the receipt."
"Sorry, but without the receipt, it's not possible."
No es posible que estornudes con los ojos abiertos.It's not possible for you to sneeze with your eyes open.
  • Mentira
Una mentiraA lie
—No fui yo quien rompió el ordenador.
—Eso es una mentira.
"It wasn't me who broke the computer."
"That's a lie!"
—Ya te di el dinero.
—¡Mentira!
"I already gave you the money."
"Lies!"
  • Mentiroso/a
Mentiroso/aLiar/Deceitful
Yo creo que Howie es un narcisista mentiroso.I think Howie is a deceitful narcissist.
Carlitos: Mamá, ¡Pepe me pegó!
Pepe: ¡Mentiroso!
Carlitos: “Mommy, Pepe hit me!”
Pepe: “Liar!”
  • Tontería/sandez
Una tontería/una sandezA nonsense
No digas tonterías.Don’t talk rubbish.
No digas sandeces.Don’t talk rubbish.
  • Es una ilusión creer que …
Es una ilusión creer que … + subjunctiveIt’s a delusion to believe that …
Es una ilusión creer que podamos terminar el proyecto a tiempo.It’s a delusion to believe that we can finish the project on time.

There you have it!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article on ways to express surprise for when you’re hit with something you weren’t expecting; indifference, for when you kind of just don’t care; and disbelief, for when something doesn’t sound plausible.

Have fun practicing with these!

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Essential COVID-19 Spanish Vocabulary to Help You in the Pandemic https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-covid-vocabulary/ https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-covid-vocabulary/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:00:46 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=11675

Wherever in the world you’re reading this from, we’ve had a collectively unusual experience over the past several months. So today we’re having a break from grammar and looking at some vocabulary that should be useful in these weird COVID times.

Covid-19 Spanish Vocabulary

Spanish words being used during a pandemic

It’s not often we’re faced with pandemics like the one we’re going through right now. Here’s some vocab that might come in handy!

covid

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la pandemiapandemic (noun)
pandémico/apandemic (adjective)
la epidemiaepidemic
el broteoutbreak
detener la propagación de gérmenesto stop/reduce the spread of germs
la infeccióninfection
los infectadospeople infected
contagioso/acontagious
infeccioso/ainfectious
el/la portador/acarrier
vulnerablevulnerable
de (alto) riesgohigh-risk
protegerto protect
el virusvirus
el coronaviruscoronavirus
el/la* COVID-19COVID-19
la evidenciaevidence
las pruebas
los análisis
tests
hacer un test
hacer una prueba
to test
la curacure
la investigaciónresearch
los ensayos clínicosclinical trials
el tratamientotreatment
la vacunavaccine
el/la científico/ascientist
la enfermedadillness
las muertesdeaths/fatalities
el distanciamiento socialsocial distancing
la reunión socialsocial gathering
la cuarentenaquarantine/lockdown
los espacios cerradosenclosed spaces
2 metros2 meters/6 feet
mantener una distanciato maintain a distance
la mascarillamask
el cubrebocas (used in Mexico)face covering
la higienehygiene/cleanliness
la inmunidadimmunity
la inmunidad de grupoherd immunity
la casahousehold
la burbujabubble

*You might see “COVID-19” used as masculine sometimes and feminine sometimes. The gender in this case is a little complicated, as it’s influenced by the fact that it’s a new and medical term borrowed from English, which itself comes from a bunch of other words smooshed together (“CO” from “corona,” “VI” from “virus,” “D” from “disease,” and “19” from “2019”)!

Some example dialogue and sentences:

Maria: Ha habido un brote de COVID-19. Se trata de una pandemia. 

(There has been an outbreak of COVID-19. It is a pandemic.)

Carmen: Todo eso me pone ansioso. 

(All of this is making me anxious.)

Maria: Los científicos van investigando el virus y haciendo ensayos clínicos.

(The scientists are researching the virus and doing clinical trials.)

Carmen: Espero que logren crear una vacuna o encontrar una cura pronto.

(“I hope they manage to create a vaccine or find a cure soon.”)

Maria: Yo también. Pero no te olvides que tampoco es cosa mala estar un poco ansioso. 

(Me too. But don’t forget that it’s okay to be a little anxious.)

Carmen: En algunos países, es obligatorio llevar una mascarilla en ciertos lugares públicos. En otros países, se enfocan en el distanciamiento social. 

(In some countries, it’s obligatory to wear a face mask in certain public places. In other countries, they’re focusing on social distancing.)

Spanish Medical Terms Related to COVID-19

Let’s get scientific!

la saludhealth
la salud físicaphysical health
la salud mentalmental health
padecer deto suffer from
médico/a
medicinal
clínico/a
medical
el síntomasymptom
presentar síntomas
mostrar síntomas
to display symptoms
la toscough
la fiebrefever
la pérdida deloss of
el sentido del gustosense of taste
el sentido del olfatosense of smell
respirarto breathe
Me cuesta respirar.I’m struggling to breathe.
los pulmoneslungs
la pulmonía
la neumonía
pneumonia
condición de salud subyacenteunderlying health conditions
vulnerablevulnerable
el respirador
el ventilador mecánico
ventilator
intubarto intubate
la muestra
el frotis
swab
la gargantathroat
la nariznose
la muestra de salivasaliva sample
la vacunavaccine
los anticuerposantibodies
la drogadrug
el medicamentomedication

Sample dialogue:

Ana: ¿Quieres ir al parque?

(Do you want to go to the park?)

Jaime: Prefiero no ir a lugares con mucha gente. Padezco de muchas enfermedades, así que soy vulnerable.

“I’d rather not go to places with lots of people. I suffer from lots of illnesses, so I’m vulnerable.”

Ana: El COVID-19 no es serio. Mi hermana lo pilló y casi no tuvo síntomas.

(COVID-19 isn’t serious. My sister caught it and hardly had symptoms.)

Jaime: Sí que puede ser serio. Depende de la persona. Mi padre lo contrajo y lo intubaron. Tuvo que respirar con un ventilador mecánico durante unos días.

(Yes, it can be serious. It depends on the person. My father caught it and was intubated. He had to breathe via a ventilator for days.)

Making sense of the news

It’s pretty difficult to look at/listen to the news nowadays without seeing/hearing something about COVID-19. It can feel overwhelming at times, and even more so if you’re watching/reading/listening to the news in a different language!

We’re giving you a list of some Spanish terms you might come across in the news. Hopefully this makes it at least a little bit less daunting.

newspaper

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la suma de infectadostotal number infected
la tasa de infeccióninfection rate
número R (número reproductivo)R number (reproduction number)
la tasa de mortalidaddeath rate
el aislamiento preventivoshielding/preventive isolation
la cuarentenaquarantine/lockdown
tomar medidasto take measures
las nuevas reglas new rules
la precauciónprecaution
Fase 0, 1, 2, etc.Phase 1, 2, etc. (System of easing lockdown in Spain)
las políticas gubernamentalesgovernmental policies
secretaría de salud/ministro de saludhealth secretary/health minister
el gobiernogovernment
el/la asesor/a científico/ascientific adviser
la OMS (La Organización Mundial de la Salud)WHO (World Health Organization)
el SNS (Servicio Nacional de Salud)NHS (National Health Service—health system in the UK)
la tendencia mundialglobal trend
la conferencia de prensa
la rueda de prensa
press conference
la sesión informativa diariadaily briefing
el asesoramiento científicoscientific advice

Some example sentences you’ll likely find in the news:

  • Las reglas varían según el país. Los gobiernos diferentes están tomando medidas diferentes para detener la propagación del COVID. The rules vary depending on the country. Different governments are taking different measures to slow the spread of COVID.
  • La tendencia mundial está prometedora. Sin embargo, la OMS sigue avisando que se tome las precauciones necesarias. The global trend looks promising. However, the WHO is still recommending that the necessary precautions are taken.
  • La sesión informativa diaria está guiada por el asesoramiento científico. The daily briefing is guided by scientific advice.

Spanish Phrases for requesting assistance in COVID-related emergencies

Some people experience only mild symptoms with COVID, but for others, it can be more serious. Here’s how to get help in an emergency.

Safety

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el/la médico/adoctor
la citaappointment
el/la enfermero/anurse
el/la policíapolice officer
la ambulanciaambulance
¡Socorro!
¡Ayuda!
¡Ayúdenme!
SOS!
Help!
Llama al hospital, por favor.Call the hospital, please.
112 (in Spain and much of Europe)
911 (in much of Latin America)
911/999
urgencias
la sala de urgencias
ER/A&E
la emergencia
la urgencia
la crisis
emergency
Es urgente.It’s urgent.
la UCI (Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos)ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
el hospitalhospital
¿Dónde está el hospital?Where is the hospital?

* If you’re already on the phone to your doctor’s office, then it’s obvious that the “cita” you want is a medical appointment. But “cita” can also mean “date,” so in some situations (e.g. telling your friend you had a “cita por teléfono”), you’ll need to make clear whether you’re talking about a medical telephone appointment or a modern romantic date!

Here’s a short dialogue as an example:

Ana: Necesito una cita con el médico.

(I need an appointment with the doctor.)

Hospital worker: Si tiene síntomas, no venga al consultorio

(If you have symptoms, don’t come to the clinic.)

How to Report a COVID-19  incident in Spanish

If you have or suspect a case of COVID, you may have to let someone know, whether it’s to seek medical help, update your family, or just cancel your coffee plans!

telephone-icons

Image Via

Ha pasado … .… has happened.
¿Desde cuándo tiene síntomas?How long has s/he had symptoms?
¿Cuáles síntomas tiene?What symptoms does s/he have?
dar positivo para COVIDto test positive for COVID
No puedo venir al trabajo.I can’t come to work.
Papá, no deberías visitarme este fin de semana. Tengo una tos.Dad, you shouldn’t visit me this weekend. I have a cough.
Perdona, ¡tengo que cancelar nuestra cita!Sorry, I have to cancel our date!
el autoaislamientoself-isolation
Mis abuelos van aislándose.My grandparents are shielding.

Spanish phrases for calling the hospital to inquire

If you need to call the hospital to ask after someone, here are some phrases that could be useful.

flat

Image Via

el hospitalhospital
la recepciónreception
el/la recepcionistareceptionist
el número de teléfonophone number
llamarto call
preguntar por alguiento ask after someone
el/la pacientepatient
ser ingresado/ato be admitted
la salaward
las horas de visitavisiting hours
el/la visitantevisitor

Example dialogue:

Jaime: Buenos días, llamo para preguntar por mi abuelo. Fue ingresado anoche con síntomas del COVID pero no sé en cuál sala estará. Las horas de visita, ¿cuáles son?

(Good afternoon, I’m calling to ask after my granddad. He was admitted last night with COVID symptoms but I don’t know which ward he’d be in. What are the visiting hours?)

Hospital worker: Todavía no se puede visitar a los pacientes de COVID. Es demasiado peligroso. Puedo darle el número de teléfono de la sala de COVID para que hable con los médicos.

(You can’t visit COVID patients yet. It’s too dangerous. I can give you the phone number for the COVID ward so you can speak to the doctors.)

Spanish Phrases related to COVID-19 Quarantine

ppe

Image Via

el EPP (equipo de protección personal)PPE (personal protective equipment)
la mascarillamask
la máscara quirúrgica surgical mask
los guantesgloves
gafas de proteccióngoggles
el delantal desechabledisposable apron
Al entrar en la zona de cuarentena, es imprescindible llevar el EPP.On entering the quarantine zone, it’s essential to be wearing PPE.
PROHIBIDO EL PASO
NO PASAR
NO ENTRAR
NO ENTRY
entrarto enter
¿Puedo entrar?May I come in?
salirto leave
una persona a la vezone person at a time
limpiarto clean
esterilizarto sterilize
desinfectarto disinfect
descontaminarto decontaminate
Al salir de la zona, hay que desinfectar todo.On leaving the zone, everything must be disinfected.
lavarse los manosto wash one’s hands
el aguawater
el jabónsoap
el gel desinfectantehand gel
no tocar nadato not touch anything
no tocarse la carato not touch one’s face
tener cuidadoto be careful

Here’s an example conversation:

Miguel: Papá, quiero ver a Abuela. (Daddy, I want to see Grandma.)

 (Daddy, I want to see Grandma.)

Father: Hijo, eres demasiado joven para entrar en la zona de cuarentena conmigo, pero aun así hay que tener cuidado por el hospital. Lávate los manos frecuentemente con agua y jabón, e intenta no tocarte la cara. Trae una botella de gel desinfectante en tu mochila.

(Son, you’re too young to go into the quarantine zone with me, but even so, you have to be careful around the hospital. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and try not to touch your face. Take a bottle of hand gel in your backpack.)

Stay safe!

We hope this article has given you some of the tools you might need when communicating about COVID in Spanish. ¡Hasta la proxima! Until next time, let’s take care of each other and ourselves!

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Spanish Idiomatic Verbal Phrases: Expressions with dar, estar, hacer, tener https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-diomatic-verbal-phrases/ https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-diomatic-verbal-phrases/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=10917

It's all well and good knowing how to conjugate verbs, but where's the fun if you can't use them in idiomatic expressions?! We've compiled a list of idiomatic verbal phrases that use three of Spanish's most common verbs: 'dar,' 'estar,' and 'hacer.' 

It can be pretty amusing to see how idioms literally translate, so we've provided you with a more literal translation next to each one, before telling you how to use it properly.

Idiomatic Verbal Phrases

'Dar' - 'to give'

Here's how to conjugate 'dar' in the present tense:

doydamos
dasdais
dadan
Dar Give Flowers

Image Via

Here are some cool phrases that use it!

  • Dar a conocer - to give to know
Dar a conocerTo make known
Paco dio a conocer sus intenciones.Paco made his intentions known.
  • Dar a luz - to give to light
Dar a luzTo give birth
Rachel dio a luz un par de gemelos.Rachel gave birth to a set of twins.
  • Dar calabazas - to give pumpkins
Dar calabazasTo brush someone off
Pedí el número de Nancy pero me dio calabazas.I asked for Nancy's number but she brushed me off.
  • Dar con la puerta en las narices  - to give with the door on the noses
Dar con la puerta en las naricesTo slam the door in somebody's face
Fui a la casa de mi madre pero me dio con la puerta en las narices.I went to my mother's house but she shut the door in my face.
  • Dar gato por liebre - to give a cat for a hare
Dar gato por liebreTo swindle
Los vendedores me dieron gato por liebre.The salespeople swindled me.
  • Dar la cara - to give face
Dar la caraTo face the music
Has cometido un error. Ahora toca dar la cara.You've made a mistake. Now it's time to face the music.
  • Dar lugar  - to give place
Dar lugarTo take place
El evento da lugar en el mismo pueblo cada año.The event takes place in the same town each year.
  • Dar por + adjective - to give for + adjective
Dar por ...To take for ...
Doy por sentado que mis amigos me quieren.I take for granted/I assume my friends love me.
  • Darle vueltas a algo - to give turns to something
Darle vueltas a algoTo mull something over
Pasé mucho tiempo dándole vueltas a la relación.I spent a lot of time mulling the relationship over.
  • Dar gusto - to give taste
Dar gustoTo please
El verano me da gusto.Summer pleases me.
  • Dar igual/Dar lo mismo - to give the same
Dar igual/dar lo mismoTo not matter
—¿Cuándo quieres salir?
—Me da igual/me da lo mismo.
"When do you want to go out?"
"I don't mind/care."
  • Darse cuenta de - to give account to oneself of
Darse cuenta deTo realize
¿Cuándo vas a darte cuenta de que mereces mejor que ella?When are you going to realize that you deserve better than her?
  • Darse por vencido - to give oneself for defeated
Darse por vencidoTo give up
No puedo resolver el acertijo. ¡Me doy por vencido!I can't solve the riddle. I give up!
  • Qué más da - what more does it give?
Qué más daWhat difference does it make?/What does it matter?
¿Qué más da quién lo hizo? What does it matter who did it?
  • ¡Dale! - give it!

This one is heard in lots of famous reggaetón songs.

¡Dale!Hit it!/Let's go!/Do it!
¡Dale, canta!Hit it, sing!
  • Dale - give it

In some countries, such as Colombia and Argentina, 'dale' is used as a stand-in for 'vale.' (Interestingly, some Mexicans use 'sale.' We're all about the rhymes!)

DaleOkay
—¿Me puedes ayudar?
—Dale.
"Can you help me?"
"Okay, go for it."

'Estar' - 'to be'

'Estar' is one of two verbs meaning 'to be' (the other one is 'ser'). Here's how to conjugate 'estar' in the present tense.

estoyestamos
estásestáis
estáestán

And here are some idiomatic phrases!

  • Estar - to be
EstarTo be here
Abre. Estoy.Open up. I'm here. (On the phone)
  • Estar a dos velas - to be at two candles
Estar a dos velasTo be broke/penniless
Mi esposo me dejó y ahora estoy a dos velas.My husband left me and now I'm penniless.
Dos Velas Two Candles

Image Via

  • Estar al caer - to be at falling
Estar al caerTo be about to happen/arrive
La segunda temporada está al caer.The second season is about to come out/drop.
  • Estar al corriente - to be at the current
Estar al corrienteTo be up to date/in the loop
Estoy al corriente de los eventos de anoche.I'm up to date on the events of last night.
  • Estar como agua para chocolate - to be like water for chocolate (used in Mexico and some other Latin American countries)
Estar como agua para chocolateTo be furious/to be at boiling point
Daniel le engañó a su novia. Ella está como agua para chocolate.Daniel cheated on his girlfriend. She's absolutely furious.
  • Estar como pez en el agua - to be like fish in water
Estar como pez en el aguaTo be in one's element
Cuando estoy en la cocina, estoy como pez en el agua.When I'm in the kitchen, I'm in my element.
  • Estar en la luna/Estar en las nubes - To be on the moon/To be in the clouds
Estar en la luna/Estar en las nubesTo have one's head in the clouds
No creo que Gertrude me haya escuchado. La chica siempre está en la luna.I don't think Gertrude listened to me. The girl has always got her head in the clouds.
  • Estar fuera de sí - to be outside of oneself
Estar fuera de síTo be beside oneself (with emotion)
John acaba de saber que su padre ha fallecido. Está fuera de sí.John just found out that his father has passed away. He's beside himself.
  • Estar hasta las narices de ... - to be up to the noses of ...
Estar hasta las narices de ...To be fed up of ...
Estoy hasta las narices de tus mentiras.I'm fed up of your lies.

There are loads of fun variations of this one. They all refer to being sick and tired of something! Take your pick from these:

  • Estar hasta el moño - to be up to the bun (hairstyle)
  • Estar hasta el gorro - to be up to the hat
  • Estar hasta la coronilla - to be up to the crown (of the head)
  • Estar hasta los cojones - to be up to the balls

Okay, I've had it up to here with the 'up to' phrases. Back to our main list:

  • Estar hecho polvo - to be made dust
Estar hecho polvoTo be exhausted
Corrí un maratón esta mañana. ¡Estoy hecho polvo!I ran a marathon this morning. I'm exhausted!
  • Estar hecho una fiera - to be made a beast
Estar hecho una fieraTo be furious
Dos estudiantes se burlaron del profesor delante de la clase entera. Está hecho una fiera.Two students mocked the teacher in front of the entire class. He's absolutely furious.
  • Estar hecho una sopa - to be made a soup
Estar hecho una sopaTo be soaking wet
La tormenta está terrible. ¡Estoy hecho una sopa!The storm is terrible. I'm soaked!
  • Estar sin blanca - to be without a blanca (Spanish coin from the olden days)
Estar sin blancaTo be broke
No puedo ir a la fiesta. Estoy sin blanca este mes.I can't go to the party. I'm flat broke this month.

'Hacer' - 'to do'/'to make'

'Hacer' has to be one of the most common verbs in Spanish, and has heaps of uses. Here's its present tense conjugation.

hagohacemos
haceshacéis
hacehacen

And here's a load of neat ways to use it idiomatically.

  • Hace + period of time - does + period of time
Hace + period of time - does + period of timePeriod of time + ago
Hace un mes que me mudé.A month ago I moved here.
Vi a Keziah hace poco.I saw Keziah a short while ago.
  • Hacer (buenas) migas - to make (good) crumbs
Hacer (buenas) migasTo hit it off
Graham hizo buenas migas con Trevor.Graham hit it off with Trevor.
  • Hacer caso - to make fact
Hacer caso de + thingTo pay attention to + thing
Hacer caso a + personTo pay attention to/obey + person
Siempre hago caso de las noticias.I always pay attention to the news.
¡Hazme caso!Obey me!/Do as you're told!
  • Hacer de tripas corazón - to make heart from innards
Hacer de tripas corazónTo bite the bullet
No quiero ir pero haré de tripas corazón.I don't want to go, but I'll bite the bullet.
  • Hacer frente a - to make front to
Hacer frente aTo face up to
Tengo que hacer frente a mi fobia.I have to confront my phobia.
  • Hacer la vista gorda - to make the fat view
Hacer la vista gordaTo turn a blind eye
La verdad es que muchos hacemos la vista gorda cuando vemos a las personas sin hogar.The truth is that many of us turn a blind eye when we see homeless people.
  • Hacer su agosto* (en julio) - to make one's August (in July)
Hacer su agostoTo make a killing/To make a fortune
Ana decidió vender paraguas en Inglaterra. Está haciendo su agosto.Ana decided to sell umbrellas in England. She's making a killing.

*Top tip: in Spanish, you don't have to use capital letters for days of the week or months of the year!

  • Hacerse el sueco - to make like the Swede
Hacerse el suecoTo play dumb
Sé que fuiste tú quien me robó el teléfono. No te hagas el sueco.I know it was you who stole my phone. Don't play dumb.
  • Hacerse el tonto - to make like the idiot
Hacerse el tontoTo play dumb
Cuando la policía le interrogó, se hizo el tonto.When the police interrogated him, he played dumb.
  • Trato hecho - deal done
Trato hechoIt's a deal
—Si me das uno de esos chocolates, te doy un pedazo de pastel.
—¡Trato hecho!
"If you give me one of those chocolates, I'll give you a piece of cake."
"It's a deal!"
  • A lo hecho, pecho - to what's done, chest
A lo hecho, pechoYou've made your bed, now lie in it/You do the crime, you do the time/What’s done is done/No use crying over spilt milk; face up to it
—He borrado todos los datos por accidente. No quiero hacer frente a mi jefe.
—A lo hecho, pecho.
"I've accidentally deleted all the data. I don't want to face my boss."
"What’s done is done; face him!"
  • De hecho - of fact
De hechoIn fact
Me encanta la comida española. De hecho, trabajo en un bar de tapas.I love Spanish food. In fact, I work in a tapas bar.

Estás al corriente...

Great job, you're now up to date on idioms using three of Spanish's most common verbs: dar, estar, and hacer. Practice them often to start sounding like a native!

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Expressing Likes and Dislikes in Spanish https://mydailyspanish.com/likes-dislikes-spanish/ https://mydailyspanish.com/likes-dislikes-spanish/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://mydailyspanish.com/?p=10359

Maybe you like learning languages, swimming, or going to parties. Or maybe you dislike studying, physical activity, and social events—whatever it is you like or dislike, this article aims to teach you how to express that in Spanish!

Spanish Likes and Dislikes

What is it that you like/dislike?

Remember, when you’re saying what you like and dislike, you can refer to various things. You can talk about a noun:

No me gusta la música pop.I don’t like pop music.

You can talk about an action (a verb):

No me gusta nadar.I don’t like swimming,

You can talk about an idea or concept. This might require the subjunctive!

No me gusta que me mientas tanto.I don’t like that you lie to me so much.

Saying that you like something

Let’s start with your ‘gustos’ (likes)! There are several phrases that you can use to say that you like something. Most of them are constructions with verbs. 

Like

Image

A lot of these constructions can confuse students a bit, because they’re not as simple as ‘I like X.’ Instead, they take the form of ‘X pleases/amuses/fascinates me.’  

When we learn basic sentences in Spanish, we often use a simple subject-verb(-object) word order, like in these examples:

Yo hablo.I speak.
Pedro escribe cartas.Pedro writes letters.

When we throw in some indirect object pronouns, things get a little more sophisticated.

Yo te hablo.I speak to you.
Pedro me escribe cartas.Pedro writes letters to me.

(If we want to, we can add a part that emphasizes who the ‘recipient’ of the action is, for example, ‘Yo te hablo a ti.’ If you want to know more about direct and indirect object pronouns, we’ve got you covered!)

‘Gustar,’ which means ‘to please’ is just a verb like any other; don’t be intimidated by it! The reason students get confused is that it gets mistranslated as ‘to like.’ Technically, ‘gustar’ does not mean ‘to like.’ It means ‘to please.’ If X pleases Pedro, then Pedro likes X. 

Let’s use the verb gustar to begin with, to see what happens when we use verbs with indirect object pronouns. You can have a lot of fun switching up the word order here!

*Some of the sentences are grammatically unnatural (so we recommend you don’t use them), but they help with explanation, so bear with us!

GustarTo please
La música gusta.*Music pleases.
La música gusta a Pedro.*Music pleases Pedro.
La música le gusta a Pedro.Music pleases Pedro.
A Pedro le gusta la música.To Pedro, music is pleasing.
La música le gusta.Music pleases him/her (i.e. he/she likes music.)
Le gusta la música.Music pleases him/her (i.e. he/she likes music.)
La música me gusta.Music pleases me. (i.e. I like music.)
Me gusta la música.Music pleases me. (i.e. I like music.)

You can see that it’s very unnatural to say things like, ‘To Pedro, music is pleasing.’ And that’s why we translate it as ‘Pedro likes music.’ So if you’re ever confused about word order, remember that ‘to like’ is a figurative English translation, but that ‘gustar’ actually means ‘to please.’

GustarTo please
Me gusta la música.I like music. (Music pleases me.)
Encantar (me encanta)To make happy (I love)
Bailar me encanta.I love dancing. (Dancing makes me really happy.)
DivertirTo amuse
Me divierten los dibujos animados.Cartoons amuse me.
FascinarTo fascinate
Me fascina la ciencia.Science fascinates me.
Hacer reírTo make laugh
Mi hermana me hace reír cada día.My sister makes me laugh every day.
Hacer sonreírTo make smile
Me haces sonreír.You make me smile.
InteresarTo interest
Me interesa mucho el tema.The topic really interests me.
AmarTo love
Te amo.I love you.
¡X mola! (Madrid slang)X rocks!
¡Lo máximo! (Colombian slang)Awesome!

Saying why you like it!

Once you’ve said that you like something, it makes sense to justify your opinion with a reason. 

First off, you’ll need some ways to say ‘because.’

Porque esBecause it’s
Ya que esBecause/seeing as it’s
Puesto que esBecause/seeing as it’s

Here’s a list of positive adjectives to describe a thing that you like.

Positive adjectives

AgradablePleasant
AmableFriendly
BuenoGood
DeliciosoDelicious
DivertidoFun
EstupendoStupendous
ExcelenteExcellent
FabulosoFabulous
FácilEasy
FantásticoFantastic
FascinanteFascinating
FenomenalPhenomenal
InteligenteIntelligent
InteresanteInteresting
MagníficoMagnificent
MaravillosoMarvellous
PreciosoBeautiful
SimpáticoNice
ÚtilUseful

Saying what you dislike

Dislike Thumbs Down

Image

None of us can pretend to like everything. It’s just as important to be able to express what you don’t like. So, let’s look at how to describe your ‘disgustos’/‘aversiones’/‘antipatías’ (dislikes)!

Negative verb constructions

No me gusta cocinar.I don’t like cooking.
Las matemáticas no me gustan.I don’t like mathematics.
No me gusta X para nada.I don’t like X at all.
Odio X.I hate X.
AburrirTo bore
Me aburren sus mentiras.His lies bore me.
CansarTo tire
Tus mentiras me cansan.Your lies tire me.
FastidiarTo annoy
Me fastidia su voz.Her voice annoys me.
IrritarTo irritate
Me irrita aquella película.That movie irritates me.
MolestarTo annoy
Daniela me molesta.Daniela annoys me.
No me va X.X doesn’t suit me.
Detesto X.I detest X.
Aborrezco X.I abhor X.

And here are some negative adjectives to explain why you dislike something!

AburridoBoring
AsquerosoDisgusting
ComplicadoComplicated
DifícilDifficult
HorribleHorrible
MaloBad
MolestoAnnoying
RepugnanteRevolting

If these are too strong for you, then you could use the word ‘demasiado’ with a more neutral adjective. It means ‘too.’ For example,

No me gusta X porque para mí es demasiado …I don’t like X because for me it’s too …
largolong
científicosciencey
rosapink
dulcesweet
calientehot

Sitting on the fence

Sitting on the Fence

Image

Sometimes you don’t necessarily like or dislike something. Here are some phrases to use for those in-between situations:

ValeIt’s okay.
Me da igual.It’s the same to me.
Está bien.It’s okay.
La verdad es que prefiero … The truth is that I prefer …

Quiz

For each example, choose the best translation from the options given.

1. Me gusta bailar porque es divertido.

     a.  I love to dance because it’s fun.

     b.  I like to dance because it’s fun.

     c.  I like to dance because it’s boring.

Click to reveal the correct answer:

  b. I like to dance because it’s fun.

2. Detesto la música rap.

     a.  I love rap music.

     b.  I hate rap music.

     c.  I’m indifferent to rap music.

Click to reveal the correct answer:

  b. I hate rap music.

3. Mi gato me hace sonreír.

     a.  My cat makes me smile.

     b.  My cat makes me happy.

     c.  My cat is smiley.

Click to reveal the correct answer:

  a. My cat makes me smile.

4. Me aburren los documentales.

     a.  Documentaries excite me.

     b.  Documentaries upset me.

     c.  Documentaries bore me.

Click to reveal the correct answer:

  c. Documentaries bore me.

5. ¿Mis gustos culinarios? Me encantan los mariscos y aprecio el vino tinto.

     a.  My culinary likes? I love seafood and I appreciate red wine.

     b.  My culinary dislikes? I love seafood and I appreciate red wine.

     c.  My culinary likes? I like seafood and don’t mind wine.

Click to reveal the correct answer:

  a. My culinary likes? I love seafood and I appreciate red wine.

We like it when you learn!

Hopefully in this article you’ve learned a few different ways of expressing your likes and dislikes in Spanish. Practice a little every day to help solidify what you’ve learned!

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