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Spanish Title:Doña

Pronunciation:Doh-nya

Translation:Mrs.

Function:Title

Just to be on the safe side, you can use this word when talking to -or about- a lady. It works for all-kinds of situations, formal or informal. It is almost like using “madam”.

If you know the marital status, then you can use ’señora’ for the married woman and ’señorita’ for the unmarried. ‘Muchacha’ is used only for acquaintances. ‘Nena’ [baby] is supposed just for small female children, younger than a ‘niña’ [girl].

Example:Doña Lydia vendrá a la fiesta

Translation:Mrs. Lydia will come to the party

Tags: Doña, learn spanish, Spanish Title
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Spanish Noun:Gringo

Pronunciation:Green-goh

Translation:Gringo

Function:noun

Used in Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Perú, this refers to an “all-american” individual. Usage is no longer pejorative in most countries, but just a shorter word than ‘estadounidense’

Negro’ [Black] is not a pejorative either. It is even used to show affection or love. Every country has such local terms to refer to aliens.

Example:El gringo que vino del norte

Translation:The gringo that came from the north

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Spanish Noun:Psicología

Pronunciation:see-coh-loh-geeah

Translation:Psychology

Function:noun

More simplifications: Some Spanish words are loosing a letter and both the old and modern form are correct, for example, all words beginning with ‘ps’ can also be written without the ‘p’: ‘psicología’ is one of them, ‘psiquiatra’ [psychiatrist] is another.

Also, when prefix ‘re-’ [re-] meets a word beginning with an ‘e’, the result might be a single ‘e’, as in old ‘reembolso’ [refund], now ‘rembolso’. Prefix ‘Sobre-’ is in the same case, as in ‘sobrentender‘ [be implied]

Example: sobrestimado

Translation:overestimated

Tags: learn spanish, Psicología, Spanish noun
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Spanish Verb: dé

Pronunciation:deh

Translation:give

Function:verb

Most single-syllable Spanish words need no ‘acento’ [stress mark], but some do, and there are one or two very common, such as the pronoun ‘tú’ [you]. If you don´t use the ‘acento’, then you are talking about possessive ‘tu’ [yours]

Another interesting pair is ‘de’ [of] and ‘dé’ [give it], functioning as a preposition or verb, depending of whether the stress mark is used or not.

Example:si, sí

Translation:if, yes

Tags: dé, learn spanish, Spanish Verb
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Spanish:Trastrueques: Inmune, Impune; sedición, seducción

Pronunciation:Trahs-trooay-keh

Translation:Change round

Function:various

Beware of ‘parónimos’ [paronyms], very similar words with very different meanings, because they can lead you to a ‘trastrueque’ of words.

Some of the most popular among foreigner are: ’sedición’ [sedition] for ’seducción’ [seduction] and ‘Inmune’ [Immune] for ‘impune’ [unpunished]

Example:No confundas la gimnasia con la magnesia

Translation:Don’t take a gymnasium for magnesium

Tags: Impune, Inmune, learn spanish, sedición, seducción, Trastrueques
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Spanish verb:Artículo

Pronunciation:Ayr-tee-coo-loh

Translation:Article

Function:noun

Artículo’ has more meanings in Spanish than in English, as in ‘Los artículos del diario’ [The newspaper articles], meaning a literary composition; ‘El artículo 3° de la constitución’ [Article 3rd of the constitution] meaning parts of a law.

It can also be used when referring to commercial objects, as in: ‘Artículos perecederos’ [perishable goods]

Example:Arículos terminados

Translation:Finished goods

Tags: Artículo, learn spanish, Spanish noun
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Spanish Noun:Dieciséis

Pronunciation:Deeay-cee-sayees

Translation:Sixteen

Function:Numbers

Most nouns ending in ‘o’ are masculine and those ending in ‘a’ are feminine, but sometimes you have to know origins, as not all nouns are created equal…
There are exceptions, as in: ‘Foto’, ‘polio’ and ‘radio’ [Photo, polio, radio and motorcycle]. This is because they all originate in longer feminine words: ‘Fotografía’, ‘poliomielitis’ and ‘radiodifusión’.

Example:moto (from ‘motocicleta’)

Translation:motorcycle

Tags: Dieciséis, learn spanish, Spanish Numbers
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Spanish Noun: radio

Pronunciation:rah-deeoh

Translation:radio

Function:noun

Most nouns ending in ‘o’ are masculine and those ending in ‘a’ are feminine, but sometimes you have to know origins, as not all nouns are created equal…
There are exceptions, as in: ‘Foto’, ‘polio’ and ‘radio’ [Photo, polio, radio and motorcycle]. This is because they all originate in longer feminine words: ‘Fotografía’, ‘poliomielitis’ and ‘radiodifusión’.

Example:moto (from ‘motocicleta’)

Translation:motorcycle

Tags: learn spanish, radio, Spanish noun
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Spanish Pronoun:Vos (in America)

Pronunciation:Vohs

Translation:You

Function:Pronoun

In the so-called ‘zona rioplatense’ of Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, very close people ara addressed using ‘vos’ instead of ‘tú’

The associated verb conjugations change from one country to another, and they follow “rules” not found anywhere else, so ‘vos sabés’ [you know] is from Buenos Aires and ‘vos sabes’ is used in the rest of Argentina.

Example:¡Ya te dije que me dejés en paz!

Translation:I’ve told you to leave me alone!

Tags: learn spanish, Spanish Pronoun, Vos
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Spanish verb:Dieciséis

Pronunciation:Abaer

Translation:Has

Function:verb

More simplifications: You don´t have to make this verb agree with the subject, if another verb is not present. Rule of thumb: If there is no other verb, then just use ‘Hay’, ‘Había’ or ‘Habrá’, depending on Tense.

Examples: ‘Hubieron muchos truenos’ is wrong, ‘Hubo muchos truenos’ is right. ‘Habrán 3 comidas’ is wrong, ‘Habrá 3 comidas’ is right

Example:Si sólo hubiera dos asientos libres

Translation:If only there were two free seats

Tags: Haber, learn spanish, Spanish Verb
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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: 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

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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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Spanish Salutation: Buen día

Pronunciation: Booayn deeah

Translation: Good day

Function: Salutation

If you can´t remember the right time of day to use ‘buenos días’, ‘buenas tardes’ or ‘buenas noches’ you can always use the orthographically correct ‘Buen día’ at any time of the day (it can be used on writing too, as an introduction for all kinds of e-mail, formal or not)

If you don´t want to sound that formal, you can say the colloquial that locals use: ‘buenas’. They say it at any time of day, but mostly to their acquaintances

Example: Buen día tengan todos ustedes

Translation: Good day you all

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Spanish Interjecciones: ¡Ah!, ¡Eh!, ¡Ojalá!

Interjections: ¡Ah!, ¡Eh!, ¡God willing!

Pronunciation: Ah, Ayh, Ohhah-lah

Translation: That thing

Function: Interjection

Interjections in Spanish, as in English, are used to show surprise, disagreement, even pain. In general, you can use ‘Ojalá’ and all the vowels: ah, eh, i, oh, uh (although ‘i’ is not an official one, but is used to show disbelief, just the same as English ‘So?’)

Ojalá’ is pretty much used as ‘god willing’ is used in English, but it lacks the religious feeling of its English counterpart. The vowels are followed by an ‘h’ when written: ‘ah’, ‘eh’, ‘oh’ y ‘uh’; they show surprise, estrangement, shock and disbelief, respectively (if you want to sound Caribbean and show an interested surprise, say the one Bart Simpson uses: ¡Caramba!)

Tags: learn spanish, Spanish Interjection: ¡Ah!, spanish phrase, ¡Eh!, ¡Ojalá!
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Spanish Phrase: Esa cosa

Pronunciation: Ay-sah co-sah

Translation: That thing

What’s a foreigner to do when the Spanish name of something is unknown but -nevertheless- it is part of the conversation? Well, just say “esa cosa”, as locals do when they are talking so fast they don´t want to slow down and remember the exact name of “that thing”

This phrase is used more frequently in Spanish than in English, so you won’t be taken for someone lazy if you use it, just don’t forget to point it out if you can see “that stuff”.

Example: ¿Cuánto vale eso?… esa cosa que cuelga del techo.

Translation: How much is that?… that thing hanging from the ceiling.

Tags: learn spanish, spanish phrase, spanish phrase Esa cosa
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Spanish Phrase: Me gusta.

Pronunciation: meh’ goos-tah’

Translation: I like it.

This Spanish phrase is useful for those who are going on a shopping spree. Aside from your bargaining skills, you can also express how you feel about a particular purchase that you are trying to make. If you like a particular item, you say “Me gusta.”

For “I like this bag”, the Spanish equivalent is “Me gusta este bolso.”

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Spanish Phrase: No funciona

Pronunciation: no foon-thyona

Translation: Does not work/ Is not working.

If you’re booked at a local hotel, there would be instances when you do not know exactly why something is not working. It could be the air conditioning, the lights or the heating. So how would you say to a staff or the manager that something is not working? Here goes.

If you want to say that the light doesn’t work, you say “La luz no funciona.” If there’s a problem with the air conditioning, you say “El aire acoondicionado no funciona.”

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Spanish Phrase: La cuentaPronunciation: lah’ koo-wen-tah’

Translation: The bill

If you’re eating out in a local restaurant in a Spanish speaking country and you would like to get the bill, you need to say “La cuenta, por favor.” That literally means, “The bill, please.”

As you may already know, the Spanish phrase por favor translates to please in English – and if you’re asking anybody a favor, it does pay to always add that at the end of your sentence.

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Spanish Phrase: No intiendo.

Pronunciation: noh een-tee-yen-doh’

Translation: I don’t understand.

Even if you’ve already studied the basics of the Spanish language, there are nuances to it that you may not necessarily understand when speaking with a native. As such, it pays to know exactly what you need to say if you can’t hold your own in a conversation anymore.

To express that you don’t understand, you simply say “No intiendo.”

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Spanish Word: Cerveza

English Word: Beer, ale, malt liquor

Pronunciation: ther-vay-thah’

Function: noun

Your visit to any Spanish country will never be complete unless you have sampled what the local brew has to offer. Beer lovers would have a blast sampling drinks like cerveza de barril or draught beer; cerveza de botella or bottled beer; cerveza negra or brown beer; cerveza clara or light beer; and cerveza de sifón or draught beer.If someone asks you “¿De barril o botella?”, you have to say whether it’s a draught or bottled beer that you want.

Example: En esa tienda venden mi cerveza preferida.

Translation: In that shop, they sell my favorite beer.

Tags: learn spanish, Spanish vocabulary, Spanish Word, spanish word creveza
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