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Spanish Noun:Federico- Fede Verónica- Vero 

Pronunciation:Fay-dayh, Bay-roh

Translation:Frederick, Veronica

Function: noun

You’ll find nowadays new shortened names in use. Don’t take these funny, but classic ones as ‘Beto’ [short for Roberto] or ‘Lupe’ [short for Guadalupe] are being used less, and ‘Robe’ or ‘Guada’ are in fashion instead.

Practically anything goes, and the rule is easy: just chop the final one or two syllables.

Example:Diles Vero y Fede, no Verónica y Federico

Translation:Tell them Vero and Fede, not Veronica and Federico

Tags: Federico- Fede, learn spanish, Spanish noun, Verónica- Vero
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Spanish Verb: Bajar, subir

Pronunciation: Bah-hahr, soo-beer

Translation: go down, go up

Function: verb

Saying ‘bajar abajo’ [go down down] or ’subir arriba’ [go up up] is a frequent mistake done by foreigners, because they are thinking in English.

Just because the preposition is used in English, it doesn´t have to be used in Spanish too. The definition of the Spanish verbs ’subir and ‘bajar’ imply the direction already.

Example:Tiene que bajar para llegar ahí

Translation:You have to go down to get there

Tags: Bajar, learn spanish, Spanish Verb, subir
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Spanish Noun:Apócopes: Un buen coche, un gran coche

Pronunciation:Oon booayn coh-chay, Oon grahn coh-chay

Translation:Good, great

Function:adjective

Don’t forget to shorten these adjectives!, when saying them first. Many adjectives, such as the very popular ‘bueno’ [good] y ‘grande’ [big] are often used before the noun.

In this cases they are to be shortened by taking the last vowel off, as in ‘buen’ and ‘gran’. «If you forget, you’ll regret» because saying or writing ‘un bueno’ or ‘un grande’ sure will sound awful to locals.

Example: Es un gran hijo

Translation: He is a great son

Tags: Apócopes, learn spanish, spanish adjective, Un buen coche, un gran coche
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Spanish Noun:Desde  

Pronunciation:Days-day

Translation:From

Function:Preposition

Remember ‘Desde’ [From] and ‘hasta’ [to] often work in pairs when referring to an origin and destination.

Forgetting on doing so would turn your expression obscure. ‘Desde’ [Ever since] also work in pair with ‘ya’ [no longer], as in: ‘Desde que ganó la lotería ya no viene por aquí’ [Ever since he won the lottery, he comes no longer]

Example:Desde Los Ángeles hasta Can-Cun

Translation:From Los Angeles to Can-Cun

Tags: Desde, learn spanish, Spanish Preposition
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Spanish Noun: Apócopes: Tele, refri, auto, cine

Pronunciation:Tay-lay, ray-phree, ahoo-toh, cee-nay

Translation:tv, fridge, auto, theater

Function:noun

Apócopes’ [apocopes] in Spanish are as common as in the English language. So very long daily words are shortened, i.e.: ‘tele’ [tv], ‘refri’ [fridge], ‘auto’ [auto] and ‘cine’ [theater] are preferred in daily talk.

As in English, you should use them only in informal settings. ‘Cine’ is short of ‘cinematógrafo’, now considered archaic; even in writing, ‘cine’ is used more often than the whole word.

Example:Lo primero que todos los recién casados quieren tener después de la casa es refri, tele y auto.

Translation:First thing just married want to have after the house, is fridge, TV and car.

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Spanish Noun: Joven, Señorita (tratamiento)

Pronunciation: Hoj-bayn

Translation: Waiter, Maid (treatment)

Function: Noun

While trying to get an attendant´s attention, using his or her job’s name could be considered impolite. Usage in most of Spain and Latin America calls for a general name to be used instead, such as ‘señor’ or ‘señora’, instead of ‘mesero’ or ‘mesera’ [waiter] or any other attendant job name.

If the attendant is a young man or woman, then you can also use ‘joven’ [young man] for a male, or ‘señorita’ [miss], for a female (just remember never to call a male attendant with archaic ‘señorito’, as it is only used these days in a pejorative sense)

Example: ¡Señorita!

Translation: Maid!

Tags: learn spanish, Señorita (tratamiento), Spanish Noun: Joven
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Spanish Noun:Oficial

Pronunciation:Oh-phee-ceeahl

Translation:Officer

Function: Noun

How to address a representative of the authority? ‘Oficial’ [officer] is a sure bet whether he or she is ranked or not. They’ll gladly accept it nevertheless.

You can use this word for all kinds in Latin America and any representative with uniform in Spain. ‘Oficial’ is also the translation for ‘Official’, so don’t get confused if you hear it in another context.

Example:¿Hay algún problema oficial?

Translation:Is there a problem, officer?

Tags: learn spanish, Oficial, Spanish noun
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Spanish Noun: Dolor

Pronunciation: Doh-lohr

Translation: Pain

Function: Noun

Sometimes it is very important to get across your feelings, especially when you have to do it in a foreign language and it is about some pain you are feeling. It is a good thing to know if you need to tell a foreign doctor. You should know how to convey at least three different intensities, as in ‘dolor’ [pain], ‘molestia’ [bothersome,] and ‘sensación’ [feel], all three going from a high to a low discomfort. They all accept to be qualified with ‘intenso’ [intense] or ‘leve’ [mild], in case you want to emphasize.

Example: Tengo una molestia en la pierna

Translation: I have a bothersome pain in my leg

Tags: Dolor, learn spanish, Spanish noun
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Spanish Noun:Rubio

Pronunciation:Roo-beeoh

Translation:Blond

Function:adjective

Rubio’ [blond] is used referring to people’s light hair color, skin color or both. If hair color is very light, then ‘platino’ [platinum] is used more often.

Instead, ‘güero’ is much more used in Mexico and Venezuela. In formal writing or talking, ‘rubio’ is the right word. ‘Güero’ might be used when referring to whitish objects color too.

Example: ¿Hay algún problema oficial?

Translation:Is there any problem, officer?

Tags: learn spanish, Rubio, spanish adjective
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