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Spanish Social Media Vocabulary

Other Resources

You can also check out the following useful articles.

How to Describe Physical Appearance in Spanish

200 Most Common Spanish Verbs

Social Media Guide for Spain

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1. Spanish Greetings for Birthdays

2. Spanish Greetings for Wedding Anniversary

3. Bereavement/ Offering Sympathy

4. Spanish Christmas and New Year Greetings

5. General Congratulations in Spanish

6. Congratulations: New Baby

7. Congratulations: Academic-Related

8. Spanish Engagement and Wedding Greetings

9. Congratulations and well wishes (work-related)

10. Get Well Wishes

11. General Thanks

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Conclusion

I mean, how would you know that a Spaniard is flirting with you when they refer to it as throwing disks at you (te tira los tejos)?  And how are you to understand that a funny guy is also a horny person (es un cachondo)?

Learning about Spanish idioms will not only make you truly understand real Spanish as it is actually spoken by native speakers….it will also make you sound a little more natural.

Sounds like a great deal, huh? So today, we’ll take a look at 20 common Spanish idioms and discover what they mean.

1 . Dar en el clavo

Literal meaning: Hit on the nail

What it really means: To be assertive

Aggressive, assertive, unyielding….hard-hitting. This one’s pretty easy to understand.

Example: ¡Nuestro gobierno nunca parece dar en el clavo con sus decisiones! Our government never seems to hit on the nail with their decisions!

2. Dormirse en los laureles

Literal meaning: Fall asleep in the laurels

What it really means: To cease to make an effort after achieving success

This is quite similar to the English version “to rest on your laurels”.

Example: Nuestro equipo simplemente se ha dormido en los laureles. Our team has simply fallen asleep on the laurels.

3. Entre la espada y la pared

Literal meaning: Between the sword and the wall

What it really means: Having to choose between two equally bad things

Does this remind you of “a rock and a hard place”? It’s basically the same thing.

Example: Mi amigo me ha puesto entre la espada y la pared, ¡quiere que elija entre gatos o perros! My friend put me between the sword and the wall, he wants me to pick a favourite between cats or dogs!

4. Con la soga al cuello

Literal meaning: With the rope to the neck

What it really means: To be in a situation of a lot of pressure

A noose around your neck. That sure feels like a whole lot of pressure, doesn’t it?

Example: Cuando mi novia quiere salir de compras conmigo me siento como con la soga al cuello. Whenever my girlfriend wants to go out shopping I feel as if I have a rope tied to the neck.

5. Le falta un tornillo

Literal meaning: Missing a screw

What it really means: To be crazy

To put it nicely, someone with a screw loose is an eccentric person. Or a nutjob and a wacko, if one can be so blunt about it.

Example: Está comprobado que las personas que odian el chocolate sufren de una rara enfermedad: ¡les falta un tornillo. / It has been scientifically proven that those who hate chocolate suffer from a rare disease: they're missing a screw!

6. Dos pajaros de un tiro

Literal meaning: Two birds with one shot

What it really means: To get two things done at once

Similar to its English counterpart, when you hit two birds with one shot (or with one stone), you are accomplishing two things at once! (hey, good for you)

Example: Al quedarme dormido maté dos pájaros de un solo tiro: ahorre energía y mis empleados tienen tiempo extra para terminar sus obligaciones. By falling asleep I killed two birds with one stone: I saved some energy and my employees have extra time to finish their obligations.

7. La gallina de los huevos de oro

Literal meaning: The hen that lays the golden eggs

What it really means: A source of wealth

Example: ¡Algún día encontrare mi gallina de los huevos de oro!  Someday I will find my chicken with the golden eggs!

8. Meter la pata

Literal meaning: Put the foot in

What it really means: To screw up/ to mess up/ make a blunder

Example:  Cuando me preguntan si poseo alguna habilidad especial yo siempre hago alarde de mi talento para meter la pata. Whenever I'm asked if I have any special skill I always brag about my talent to screw up

9. Pasarse de la raya

Literal meaning: To cross the line

What it really means: To do something that can't be tolerated

I’m pretty sure you already know what crossing the line means, right? Same as with English, this one means that you have reached a point where you can no longer be tolerated.

Example: Nunca me paso de la raya, pero siempre busco estar encima de ella.  I never cross the line, but I always try to stay on top of it.

10. Pedir peras al olmo

Literal meaning: Asking for pears from the elm

What it really means: Expect something that is impossible

This one is somewhat similar to the English counterpart “getting blood from a stone” or “trying to squeeze blood from a stone”. Either way, what you’re asking for is impossible.

Example: Pedirle a nuestro gobierno transparencia total es como pedirle peras al olmo. Asking our government for total transparency is like asking pears from an elm tree.

See also:

Spanish Idioms Quiz: How Many of This Do You Know?

Popular Spanish Proverbs

11. Poner el dedo en la llaga

Literal meaning: To put your finger on it

What it really means: To be straightforward about the source of a bad situation

Example: No le preguntes sobre su ruptura con su novio, eso sí es poner el dedo en la llaga. Don't ask her about her breakup with her boyfriend, now that's really putting the finger on the wound.

12. Salirse con la suya

Literal meaning: Get away with it

What it really means: To succeed at getting something through obnoxious methods

Example: Nuestra mascota siempre logra salirse con la suya. Our pet always manages to get away with it.

13. Ser pan comido

Literal meaning: to be eating bread

What it really means: to be easy

Example: Para mí, todas esas actividades son pan comido. To me all of those activities are eaten bread.

14. Ser un cero a la izquierda

Literal meaning: To be a zero to the left

What it really means: To not have any influence

Example: Tus comentarios negativos son un cero a la izquierda para nosotros. Your negative comments are just a zero to the left to us.

15. Tener agallas

Literal meaning: to have guts

What it really means: To be brave

Example: Tener las agallas para decir que no a una pizza gratis es una acción respetable... ¡y muy tonta! Having the guts to say no to a free pizza is a respectable action... and a very foolish one too!

16. A duras penas

Literal meaning: At tough hardship

What it really means: To barely achieve something

Example: Pude terminar todo mi trabajo pendiente a duras penas.  I was barely able to finish all of my pending work.

17. Costar un ojo de la cara

Literal meaning: To cost an eye of the face

What it really means: Something very expensive

In English, it would cost you an arm and a leg. The Spanish version, however, is an eye. Either way, it means that something would cost you a fortune.

Example: Salir con mi familia casi siempre me cuesta un ojo de la cara. Going out with my family almost always cost me an eye off my face.

18. Perder los estribos

Literal meaning: To lose the stirrup

What it really means: To get angry

When you “lose the stirrup”, you’ve basically lost your temper. It is also similar to the English idiom “to fly off the handle”.

Siempre pierdo los estribos cuando hablan mal de Derrick Rose.  I always lose it when people talk badly about Derrick Rose.

19. Echar leña al fuego

Literal meaning: To throw wood to the fire

What it really means: To raise the intensity of something

When something is already burning and you add more wood to it, you are making things escalate further. This is quite similar to the English version “to add fuel to the fire”.

Example:   Echar leña al fuego cuando otros discuten es malo, ¡debemos asegurarnos de echar suficiente gasolina primero! Throwing wood into the fire when others argue is bad, we should always make sure to put enough gasoline first!

20. De buena fe

Literal meaning: Of good faith

What it really means: To do something with good intentions

This one is self-explanatory. Doing something in good faith means you have clear intentions and aren’t up to something shady.

Example: Todo lo que hago por mis amigos es de buena fe. Everything I do for my friends is in good faith

Conclusion

Spanish idioms are fun and easy enough to learn. They also make conversations so much more colorful. Which idiomatic expression is your favorite so far? Share it with us in the comments!

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How to Describe Physical Appearance in Spanish

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Check out some more resources

Want similar lists of Spanish vocabulary? Check out the following: 

100 Common Spanish Adjectives

115 Spanish Words to Describe Character and Personality

A Quick and Simple Guide to Spanish Adjectives

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...these romantic lines will surely melt your heart.

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1 . Tardé una hora en conocerte y solo un día en enamorarme. Pero me llevará toda una vida lograr olvidarte.

Translation: It took me an hour to get to know you and just a day to fall in love. But it will take me a whole life to be able to forget you.

2 . Te quiero no solo por cómo eres, sino por cómo soy yo cuando estoy contigo.

Translation: I love you not only because of the way you are, but because of the way I am when I am with you.

3. Ámame cuando menos lo merezca, porque será cuando más lo necesite.
Translation: Love me when I least deserve it, because it will be when I need it the most.

4. No importa que nos separe la distancia, siempre habrá un mismo cielo que nos una.

Translation: It doesn't matter that we're separated by distance, there will always be the same sky to unite us.

5. Amar es encontrar en la felicidad de otro la propia felicidad.
Translation: Loving is finding in someone else's happiness our own.

6. La mejor foto que tengo, es aquella en la cual sonrío por ti.
Translation: The best photograph I have, is the one in which I'm smiling because of you.

7. Amar no es mirarse el uno al otro, es mirar juntos en la misma dirección.
Translation: Love it's not to look at each other, it's to look together towards the same direction.

8. Cuando era niño soñaba con conquistar el mundo, ahora me doy cuenta que tú eres mí mundo y me has conquistado.
Translation: When I was a kid I dreamed of conquering the world, now I realize that you're my world and you have conquered me.

9. Esta vida es mía, pero este corazón es suyo. Esta sonrisa es mía, pero la razón eres tú.
Translation: This life is mine, but this heart is yours. This smile is mine, but the reason is you.

 10. Prefiero un minuto contigo a una eternidad sin ti.
Translation:  I prefer a minute with you than an eternity without you.

Ahh, LOVE.
Some may say it’s cheesy, but that’s love for you. Which quote is your favorite? Share in the comments.

See also:

The Sweetest Spanish Terms of Endearment to Call Your Loved Ones

20 citas de grandes escritores sobre el amor

Take note that these are not common words spoken in everyday Spanish, but nonetheless, they are interesting and lovely words that would be a great addition to your vocabulary.

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Learn some of the 30 MOST USED SPANISH WORDS by watching the video below.

1 . Impío (m) / Impía (f) 

Meaning: Impious: means not respectful or reverent, especially towards religious authority or belief.

2. Dadivoso (m) / dadivosa (f) 

Meaning: Generous. This fancy Spanish word can just as easily be replaced by much more common, less beautiful-sounding synonyms like generoso or abundante.

3. Orate 

Meaning: Madman: A really uncommon word that refers to a crazy person.

4. Dédalo 

Meaning: Maze, labyrinth. This isn’t something you would hear everyday, but it’s a beautiful word that comes from “Daedalus”, the maker of the Labyrinth in Greek mythology.

5. Execrable

Meaning: Appalling, atrocious. Some people would just be contented with saying antipático or desagradable to describe something unpleasant, but for something so reprehensible, this word says it best.

6. Etéreo (m) / Etérea (f) 

Meaning: Ethereal. This word is just as wonderful as its English counterpart and evokes an imagery of something as intangible and delicate as it sounds.  

7. Petricor

That delightful smell of rain touching the ground… Can you smell it in your imagination?  That’s petricor.

8. Efímero (m) / Efímera (f)

Ephemeral. Another beautiful word in both English and Spanish, this refers to something fleeting or short-lived.

9. Perenne 

Means: Perennial. This word rarely appears in everyday speech and is often replaced with the more common “permanente.” But it’s a more poetic way to say something is everlasting.

10. Inefable

Ineffable. Something that cannot be expressed or described, something unutterable or that simply cannot be spoken because of its sacredness. It’s inefable.

11. Inmarcesible

Means: Unfathomable, everlasting, undying, unfading. This word is also used to describe a flower that doesn’t wither.

12. Serendipia 

Means: Serendipity.  That amazing happenstance when you come across something totally unexpected. Just like its English version, it’s a lovely word.

13. Ademán 

Means: Gesture. You can just as easily say “gesto” to describe the gestures and actions people make when they talk. But if you’re feeling fancy, ademán is the word for you.

14. Ataraxia 

Ataraxia. A state of serene calmness; a mood of total quietness and peace.

15. Inconmensurable 

Means: Immeasurable. It’s unfathomable, boundless, incalculable. In Spanish, you say, inconmensurable.

16. Ornitorrinco

Means: Platypus. Don’t you just love how the word "Ornitorrinco" rolls off in your tongue? This word is already long and playful, but it seems to suit perfectly the animal it names: a mammal that lives underwater and also has a duck beak.

17. Pavonearse

Means: Strutting around like a peacock. There is no exact word for this in English, but when someone struts around like they own the place, it’s called pavonearse.

18. Muérgano (m) / Muérgana (f)

This may be a beautiful word, but this uncommon adjective refers to someone mean-spirited; an ill-willed person with bad intentions.

19. Dilapidar 

This verb means "to squander".  There are much more familiar terms that mean the same such as "malgastar," but dilapidar is a more fancy way to say to waste or throw away money.

20. Vergüenza Ajena

Meaning: to feel embarrassed for someone. There is no exact counterpart to this word in English, but I know you know the feeling. That extreme embarrassment you feel for somebody else? The Spanish call it Vergüenza Ajena.

See also:

10 Beautiful Spanish Love Quotes that will Melt Your Heart

40 DE LAS MÁS BELLAS PALABRAS DEL CASTELLANO. ¿ESTÁN VUESTRAS FAVORITAS?

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Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

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Spanish Essay Phrases

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Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

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III. Level 2 Spanish Cursing

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I. Get the PDF

III. Spanish Terms of Endearment for Male Lover

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Let’s begin!

The Basics

Before we proceed to the different names of days and months, let us tackle the basic words first.

The Days of the Week

Now let’s move on to the days of the week (días de la semana).

Take note that unlike in English, the names of the days of the week are not capitalized in Spanish.

Let’s see some examples below.

Necesito ir al médico el jueves. I need to go to the doctor on Thursday.

Mi cumpleaños es el martes. My birthday is on Tuesday.

El nuevo capítulo sale cada miércoles. The new chapter comes out every Wednesday.

Months in Spanish

Now let’s move on to the different months of the year.

Just like the days of the week, the names of the months are also not capitalized in Spanish!

Let’s take a look at some example sentences below.

El cumpleaños de Luis es en febrero. Luis's birthday is in February.

Las vacaciones terminan en septiembre. Vacation ends in September.

Talking about Dates in Spanish

Dates will always come up during conversations, so make sure you know how to say the date in Spanish!

Here are a few reminders:

Here are some more examples:

Hoy es 5 de Diciembre de 2018. Today is December 5, 2018.

Ella nació el 12 de febrero de 1990. She was born on February 12, 1990.

Conclusion

You can also learn Spanish words in context with your copy of Spanish Stories for Beginners. It comes with free audio, too! Check it out below!