Englisch
Französisch
Italienisch
DeutschYabla Spanisch
El Día del Padre (Father's Day) is celebrated on el tercer domingo de junio (the third Sunday in June) in both the United States and in many Latin American countries. Let's talk about some Spanish vocabulary and traditions related to this holiday aimed at showing appreciation for fathers and father figures.
Let's start off by learning 5 different ways to say "father" in Spanish, ranging from more formal to less so, and hear them pronounced:
Mm... ¿y a tu padre, en qué cosas te pareces?
Mm... And your father, how are you like him?
Captions 60-61, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: parecer y parecerse
Play Caption
Ayer me llamó mi papá.
My dad called me yesterday.
Caption 53, Carlos y Cyndy La pronunciación en Colombia y Argentina
Play Caption
Hola, pa, hola, ma.
Hi, Dad, hi, Mom.
Caption 30, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 5 - Part 7
Play Caption
Papito...
Daddy...
Caption 5, X6 1 - La banda - Part 6
Play Caption
Sólo un poquito, papi... ¿Sí?
Just a little bit, Daddy... OK?
Caption 8, X6 1 - La banda - Part 6
Play Caption
Note that the latter two terms can also be used colloquially to say something like "dude" or "baby," depending on the context.
Probably the single best way to show appreciation for your dad is simply pasar tiempo con él (to spend time with him). This might entail going out to a meal, which is a common tradition in the United States as well as in Spanish-speaking countries, where it is also traditional to do large family cookouts or asados (barbecues). Alternatively, you might organize some kind of excursión (outing) with dad, like the one Fermín talks about here:
Hoy nos hemos ido de excursión para hacer senderismo,
Today, we've gone on an excursion to hike,
Captions 2-3, Viajando con Fermín El Caminito del Rey - Part 1
Play Caption
Giving your dad a little regalo (present) might also help make his day! Hallmark reports that Father's Day is the fourth most popular day to give tarjetas (greeting cards), or make them oneself, which is a common tradition in Mexico. Let's hear this word pronounced:
Por ejemplo, podemos hacer tarjetas para regalos,
For example, we can make cards for gifts,
Caption 14, Adriana Lettering - Part
Play Caption
Vamos a llenar completamente el tazón.
We're going to fill the mug completely.
Caption 31, Aprendiendo con Priscilla Haciendo pizza - Part 1
Play Caption
Included in this category might be accessories like un albúm (an album) or un portarretratos (a picture frame). Let's listen to the latter term along with the longer term for "pictures":
un portarretratos con la fotografía de mi hijo.
a picture frame with my son's picture.
Caption 30, Ana Carolina Arreglando el dormitorio
Play Caption
Qué linda corbata.
What a nice tie.
Caption 2, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 5 - Part 5
Play Caption
And although a tie is, perhaps, the most popular Father's Day clothing gift, other articles of clothing also rank high on the list, the names for which you can learn in our lesson on articles of clothing in Spanish.
Finally, you might also offer your father kind words like Te quiero mucho (I love you a lot), Eres el mejor papá del mundo (You're the best dad in the world) or simply Gracias por estar ahí (Thanks for being there). Or, wish him a Happy Father's Day by saying Feliz Día del Padre (Happy Father's Day) or simply ¡Feliz Día, Papá! (Happy Day, Dad!).
That's all for today. If you like learning about holiday vocabulary and traditions in Spanish, we recommend you check out more lessons in our archives related to holidays and celebrations, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.
Among the months of the year, May stands out with its vibrant energy, blooming flowers, and warm weather in many parts of the world. In this lesson, we'll explore Spanish vocabulary related to el mes de mayo (the month of May), including holidays, events and natural phenomena.
Let's dive in!
May is packed with festivities and special occasions. Here are some key events celebrated during this month:
May 1st is Labor Day in many countries around the world, celebrated to honor the contributions of workers. In Spanish-speaking countries, it's known as el Día del Trabajo.
On May 5th, Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo, commemorating the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It's a day filled with parades, music and traditional Mexican cuisine.
In many Spanish-speaking countries, Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May. It's a day to honor and appreciate mothers and mother figures for their love and sacrifice.
The prestigious Cannes Film Festival takes place annually in May, showcasing the best of international cinema. It's a prominent event in the film industry calendar.
May marks the transition to warmer weather and the peak of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Let's explore some vocabulary related to nature during this beautiful month:
May is known for its abundance of blooming flowers. From colorful tulips to fragrant roses to exotic bougainvilleas, gardens come to life in May:
La buganvilla, también conocida como bougainvillea, es una planta originaria de América del Sur conocida por sus vistosas y vibrantes flores.
The bougainvillea, also known as "buganvilia," is a plant [that's] native to South America, known for its attractive and vibrant flowers.
Captions 7-9, Fermín y las plantas Buganvilla
Play Caption
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, the sun becomes a prominent feature of May. People enjoy outdoor activities under the warm rays of the sun.
In some regions, May brings occasional showers that nourish the earth and contribute to spring's lush greenery.
Birds are more active in May, building nests, singing melodies and raising their young. It's a time when the air is filled with the sounds of chirping birds.
La primavera se caracteriza, entre otras cosas, por los sonidos de los pájaros cantando desde sus nidos.
Spring is characterized, among other things, by the sounds of the birds singing from their nests.
Captions 2-3, Jacky Canción de los pájaros
Play Caption
In Spanish culture, there are several expressions and sayings associated with the month of May. Let's learn a few:
This saying emphasizes the idea that the weather conditions in March and April contribute to the beauty of the month of May. Let's hear it:
"Marzo ventoso y abril lluvioso hacen a mayo florido y hermoso".
"Windy March and rainy April make May flowery and beautiful."
Caption 46, Aprendiendo con Silvia Dichos populares - Part 1
Play Caption
This saying reflects the belief that a blossoming May foretells a fruitful and prosperous year ahead.
This is a reminder that as May weather can be unpredictable, it's wise to be prepared for cooler days. Let's listen to Silvia's explanation about this popular saying:
"Hasta el cuarenta de mayo no te quites el sayo". Nos indica que aunque en mayo puede hacer días soleados y calurosos, el verano en toda regla no llega hasta que haya entrado bien el mes de junio.
"Until May fortieth, don't take off your tunic." It indicates to us that even though in May, there can be sunny and hot days, the full-blown summer doesn't arrive until June has begun properly.
Captions 60-64, Aprendiendo con Silvia Dichos populares - Part 1
Play Caption
That wraps up our lesson on Spanish vocabulary for the month of May! Did you enjoy learning about May traditions and nature? Feel free to share your favorite May memories or traditions, and don't hesitate to send us your questions and comments.
Do you know what a phrasal verb is? According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, it is "an idiomatic phrase consisting of a verb and another element, typically either an adverb... a preposition... or a combination..." Some common examples of the countless English phrasal verbs are "break down," "break up, "put in," "put on," and so forth, and while there are far less phrasal verbs in Spanish, there are many common ones it would behoove you to know. For this purpose, we have comprised a list of 35 with examples from Yabla's Spanish video library.
While some Spanish phrasal verbs can be translated literally into English, others employ a different preposition than their English counterparts or have totally different literal translations. With this in mind, let's look at the list.
The verb acabar (to finish) plus the preposition de (from/of) plus an infinitive Spanish verb (the "to" or -ing form) means that one "has just" completed some action. Let's take a look:
Acabamos de disfrutar de Jarabe de Palo.
We just enjoyed Jarabe de Palo.
Caption 25, Tu Música Rock en español
Play Caption
The reflexive verb acordarse de is a synonym for recordar (to remember) in Spanish. Both are used to talk about what one "remembers" or "remembers to" do:
Me acuerdo de estar aquí con mi perro,
I remember being here with my dog
Caption 53, Amaya Recordando - Part 1
Play Caption
The reflexive verb acostumbrarse plus the preposition a means "to get used to" or "accustomed to" something:
y nos acostumbramos a ir a playas,
and we got used to going to beaches,
Caption 40, El coronavirus La cuarentena en Coro, Venezuela - Part 1
Play Caption
Yet another reflexive verb, alegrarse de, is used to talk about one being happy or pleased about something. You will often see it alongside the conjunction que plus a verb in the subjunctive mood, as we see below:
Me alegro de que le guste.
I'm glad you like it.
Caption 15, Los casos de Yabla Problemas de convivencia - Part 2
Play Caption
Although caer bien literally means "to fall well," like the verb gustar, it is used to describe the idea of "liking." Like gustar and other verbs like gustar, it is usually employed with an indirect object pronoun in sentences where, grammatically speaking, it is the object of the sentence (what is liked) that performs the action. Let's see an example:
Creo que a Lola no le cae bien.
I think Lola doesn't like her.
Caption 60, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 8: La prima de la dueña - Part 6
Play Caption
You might have guessed that caer mal (literally "to fall badly") means the opposite of caer bien and functions similarly to convey the idea that one does not like someone or something:
Creo que le caigo mal a mi jefe.
I think that my boss doesn't like me.
Caption 21, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: Subjuntivo y condicional
Play Caption
Interestingly, while we get married "to" someone in English, the Spanish verb for "to marry" contains the preposition con, making its translation "'to marry with":
El príncipe se casó con ella
The prince married her
Caption 61, Cleer La princesa y el guisante
Play Caption
Whereas the Spanish verb contar by itself can have such diverse meanings as "to tell" and "to count," with the preposition con, it means "to count on" (not with!).
Sabes que puedes contar con todas en cualquier momento, en cualquier necesidad que tengamos.
You know that you can count on all of them at any time, for any need that we might have.
Captions 28-29, Mari Carmen La amistad
Play Caption
As you can see, the phrasal verb dar con does not mean "to give with"! Let's see its correct translation in an example sentence:
Ayer di con mis zapatos.
Yesterday I found my shoes.
Caption 26, Lecciones con Carolina Verbo - dar
Play Caption
As our friend Carolina explains in her video on the verb dar, which means "to give" on its own, the phrasal verb dar por can mean different things when used with an adjective vs. a participle. Let's see an example of each:
A su marido lo dieron por muerto en la guerra.
Her husband was presumed dead in the war.
Caption 32, Lecciones con Carolina Verbo - dar
Play Caption
Doy la fiesta por terminada.
I consider the party finished.
Caption 30, Lecciones con Carolina Verbo - dar
Play Caption
In this case, the reflexive form of the verb dar is employed along with the noun prisa (hurry/rush) to mean "to hurry" or "hurry up":
Pues, dese prisa, se lo está llevando la grúa.
Well, hurry up, the tow truck is taking it.
Caption 38, Los casos de Yabla El perrito malcriado - Part 2
Play Caption
The Spanish verb dejar plus de plus an infinitive verb means "to stop" or "quit" doing something:
"Mi marido dejó de fumar hace ya cuatro años".
"My husband quit smoking four years ago now."
Caption 26, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados del verbo dejar - Part 2
Play Caption
We should mention that the negative version of this phrasal verb, no dejar de, can be utilized to express the idea of "always," as we see here:
no deja de haber muchísima gente.
there are always a ton of people.
Caption 18, Con Marta por Madrid La Plaza del Sol - Part 1
Play Caption
The Spanish version of "to depend on" would be "to depend of" if translated literally:
depende de la porción que vayan a hacer;
it depends on the portion you're going to make;
Caption 27, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y el pozole - Part 2
Play Caption
Similarly, one falls in love "of" someone instead of "with" them in Spanish:
Me enamoré de un chico, que es el padre de mis hijos,
I fell in love with a guy, who is the father of my children,
Caption 11, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Adriana y la fiesta de los muertos - Part 1
Play Caption
While encontrarse con sounds like it would mean "to find oneself with," its actual meaning is "to get together" or "meet up with" (which is not too far off!):
Y "anteayer" me encontré con unas amigas,
And "the day before yesterday," I met up with some friends,
Caption 12, Aprendiendo con Silvia Horas, fechas y períodos de tiempo - Part 3
Play Caption
The Spanish verb echar can have different meanings from "to throw" to "to fire." In conjunction with the preposition a and a verb in the infinitive, however, it means "to start to" do something, usually in a sudden fashion. Let's see two examples:
Se asustó, echó a correr y no hubo manera de cogerlo.
It got scared, it took off running, and there was no way to get it.
Caption 62, Soledad Positivo y negativo
Play Caption
El marido se echó a reír al ver la cara de sorpresa de su esposa.
The husband burst out laughing when he saw his wife's surprised face.
Caption 32, Cleer El espejo de Matsuyama
Play Caption
We bet you wouldn't guess that something that seems to mean "to throw of less" is a synonym for extrañar (to miss) in Spanish:
Ay, yo os he echado de menos.
Oh, I've missed you.
Caption 4, Con Marta por Madrid El Palacio Real y Doña Manolita - Part 1
Play Caption
Estar para literally means "to be for," which is pretty close to its English equivalents "to be up for" or "in the mood" for something:
Es que ya no estoy para tantas vueltas y me siento cansado.
It's just that I am not up for so many rounds and I feel tired.
Caption 44, Guillermina y Candelario El parque de diversiones - Part 1
Play Caption
Estar por, in contrast, typically means "to be in" or "around" some area or, when accompanied by an infinitive, becomes a phrasal verb that means "to be about to" do something. Let's see an example of each of these uses:
Yo estaba por ahí, todavía estaba caminando, ¿no?
I was around there, still walking, right?
Caption 21, Federico Kauffman Doig Arqueólogo - Part 3
Play Caption
que todo está por... por... por empezar,
when everything is about to... to... to start,
Caption 65, Amaya Recordando - Part 3
Play Caption
While hablar alone means "to speak" or "to talk," if you want to express the idea of "talking about" something, use the Spanish phrasal verb hablar de:
Mi amiga Amaya os habló de este lugar maravilloso
My friend Amaya talked to you about this wonderful place,
Caption 7, Montserrat El burrito Luz
Play Caption
Since the Spanish phrasal verb llevar a cabo can be literally translated as "to take to the ending," it makes sense that its various English equivalents include "to carry out," "do," "perform" and "accomplish":
Para llevar a cabo estas funciones se necesitan tres figuras claves en el proceso terapéutico:
To carry out these roles, three key figures are needed in the therapeutic process:
Captions 35-36, Isabel Lavesa Terapia asistida con animales
Play Caption
Although the idea of "forgetting" in Spanish is often expressed as a no fault construction (something more like "it slipped my mind"), the more straightforward way to say that one forgot something in Spanish is with the Spanish phrasal verb olvidarse de:
¡Ah! Me olvidé de estos dos elementos.
Oh! I forgot these two items.
Caption 63, Dayana Rutina de belleza y aseo
Play Caption
Like the English "think of" or "about," the Spanish phrasal verb pensar de is used to talk about the belief or opinion one has of something or someone.
¿Qué piensas de tu nuevo jefe?
What do you think of your new boss?
Caption 77, Carlos explica Tuteo, ustedeo y voseo: Conjugación
Play Caption
Pensar en, on the other hand (literally "to think on") is used to talk about one's process of thinking "about" something:
pensamos en un país, en una época, en un pueblo.
we think about a country, an era, a people.
Caption 3, Silvina Una entrevista con la artista
Play Caption
Similar to echar a, ponerse a plus an infinitive verb refers to "starting" an action.
y al verlas como antes se puso a bailar."
and when she saw them like before, she started to dance."
Caption 60, Cleer Rafael Pombo y "Pastorcita"
Play Caption
If you wish to talk about what you "worry about," use the Spanish phrasal verb preocuparse por:
que sepan que hay personas que se preocupan por ellas.
so that they know that there are people who are concerned about them.
Caption 8, Transformación Estética
Play Caption
In her video series on the verb quedar, Silvia mentions the phrasal verb quedarse con, which can have several different meanings including "to keep," "end up with" or "be left." Let's take a look at two captions that include it:
"Tras el divorcio, ella se quedó con el chalé
"After the divorce, she kept the chalet,
Caption 56, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 3
Play Caption
Toda la familia "se quedó con la boca abierta".
The whole family "was left open-mouthed."
Caption 8, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 7
Play Caption
As you might imagine, quedarse sin often means the opposite of quedarse con ("to be left" or "end up without"), but it can also mean "to run out of" something:
Nos quedamos sin guitarrista, sin banda y sin concurso; ¡no!
We are left without a guitarist, without a band and without a contest; no!
Caption 16, X6 1 - La banda - Part 6
Play Caption
No, se quedó sin nafta. -¿Qué?
No, it ran out of gas. -What?
Caption 4, Yago 7 Encuentros - Part 11
Play Caption
To talk about something or someone you "laughed at," use the Spanish phrasal verb reírse de:
Nos reímos de la muerte.
We laugh at death.
Caption 28, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Adriana y la fiesta de los muertos - Part 3
Play Caption
As you probably know, salir by itself means "to leave." That said, when referring to leaving a particular place, salir de is the correct Spanish phrasal verb to choose.
Y cuando salimos de la iglesia me dice mi padre:
And when we left the church my father says to me:
Caption 52, María Marí Su pasión por su arte - Part 1
Play Caption
While it might seem strange to English speakers, the literal translation for this Spanish phrasal verb is "to dream with" (rather than "about"):
y muchas veces incluso sueño con aquellos tiempos.
and very often I even dream about those times.
Caption 49, Clara y Cristina Saludar
Play Caption
Rather than meaning "to have that," the Spanish phrasal verb tener que plus an infinitive means "to have to" do something:
Todos tenemos que superarlo y tenemos que empeñarnos en ello.
We all have to overcome it, and we have to be set on doing it.
Captions 74-75, Soledad Compartir tus problemas
Play Caption
When you want to describe something that you're "trying to" do, use the infinitive following the Spanish phrasal verb tratar de:
trato de alimentarme bien, de tomar agua,
I try to eat well, to drink water,
Caption 26, Otavalo Ejercicios
Play Caption
When talking about "coming to" a place, use the phrasal verb venir a, which translates very literally to English.
¿qué consejos le darías a un turista que viene a Barcelona?
what advice would you give to a tourist who's coming to Barcelona?
Caption 51, Carlos y Xavi Part 4 Tradiciones y comida de Barcelona
Play Caption
And finally, when used with an infinitive, volver a (literally "to return to") means to perform some action again. Let's see two examples:
volvimos a revalidar el título
we locked in the title again
Caption 90, Viajando con Fermín Final Copa del Rey
Play Caption
y mi mamá no se volvió a casar,
and my mother didn't remarry,
Caption 55, La Sub30 Familias - Part 2
Play Caption
After perusing our list of 35 Spanish Phrasal Verbs, we have compiled a list of all of them along with their English translations so that you may study or review them at your leisure:
1. Acabar de: to have just (done something)
2. Acordarse de: to remember/remember to
3. Acostumbrarse a: to get used to/accustomed to
4. Alegrarse de: to be glad/happy/pleased about
5. Caer(le) bien (a alguien): to please (equivalent of "to like")
6. Caer(le) mal (a alguien): to displease (equivalent of "to not like")
7. Casarse con: to marry/get married to
8. Contar con: to count on
9. Dar con: to find
10. Dar por: to presume/consider
11. Darse prisa: to hurry/hurry up
12. Dejar de: to quit or stop (doing something)
13. Depender de: to depend on
14. Enamorarse de: to fall in love with
15. Encontrarse con: to meet up/get together with
16. Echar a: to suddenly start to (do something)
17. Echar de menos: to miss
18. Estar para: to be up for/in the mood for
19. Estar por: to be about to (do something)
20. Hablar de: to talk about
21. Llevar a cabo: to do/carry out/perform/accomplish
22. Olvidarse de: to forget
23. Pensar de: to think of/about (hold a belief)
24. Pensar en: to think about (the thought process)
25. Ponerse a: to start to (do something)
26. Preocuparse por: to worry/be concerned about
27. Quedarse con: to keep/end up with/be left with
28. Quedarse sin: to be left without/end up without/run out of
29. Reírse de: to laugh at
30. Salir de: to leave/leave from (a place)
31. Soñar con: to dream about
32. Tener que: to have to (do something)
33. Tratar de: to try to (do something)
34. Venir a: to come to (a place)
35. Volver a: to do (something) again
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to better navigate many of the most common phrasal verbs in Spanish, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.
Weißt du, wie man die Begriffe „statt“ bzw. „anstatt“ auf Spanisch ausdrückt? In der heutigen Lektion lernst du vier gängige Methoden dafür kennen. Natürlich wie immer mit Beispielen aus der spanischen Videothek von Yabla.
Die wohl gebräuchlichste Art, „anstatt“ im Spanischen zu sagen, ist en vez de. Eine alternative Übersetzungen für en vez de ist das deutsche Synonym „anstelle von“. Schauen wir uns diesen Begriff im Kontext an:
cierran a las ocho y media en vez de a las nueve, ¿correcto?"
Sie schließen um halb neun statt um neun, richtig?“
Caption 47, Aprendiendo con Silvia Horas, fechas y períodos de tiempo - Part 4
Play Caption
Sam compró seis melones en vez de seis limones.
Sam hat sechs Melonen anstelle von sechs Zitronen gekauft.
Caption 36, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 2: Sam va de compras - Part 5
Play Caption
En lugar de bedeutet wörtlich übersetzt „am Platz von" und wird im Spanischen auch häufig benutzt wenn wir im Deutschen „anstatt“ sagen. Dazu zwei Beispiele:
En lugar de plumas amarillas, las suyas eran grises
Anstatt gelber Federn waren seine Federn grau
Captions 22-23, Cleer El patito feo
Play Caption
No se olviden que en lugar de "finalmente" también podría decir "por último"
Vergessen Sie aber nicht, dass man statt „finalmente“ auch „por ultimo“ sagen könnte.
Captions 32-33, Natalia de Ecuador Los adverbios de orden
Play Caption
Die spanische Wendung en cambio kann in bestimmten Kontexten mit „stattdessen“, „hingegen“ oder „jedoch“ übersetzt werden. Schauen wir uns das mal an.
Si en cambio queremos usarlo para expresar una valoración, lo usamos con un verbo en modo subjuntivo.
Wenn wir stattdessen eine Bewertung ausdrücken wollen, verwenden wir es mit einem Verb im Subjunktiv.
Captions 52-53, Carlos explica Cómo expresar opiniones en español - Part 3
Play Caption
Otras en cambio lo tiran o lo destruyen
Andere werfen es hingegen weg oder zerstören es.
Caption 39, Los Reporteros Sembrar, comer, tirar - Part 3
Play Caption
Obwohl mejor meist mit „besser“ und lo mejor mit „am besten“ übersetzt wird, kann es in bestimmten Kontexten auch wie „stattdessen“ funktionieren.
Pero, vecino, mejor le recomiendo usar la opción de agua fría;
Aber, Herr Nachbar, ich empfehle stattdessen, die Kaltwasseroption zu verwenden;
Caption 27, Cristina Lavandería
Play Caption
Das war's für heute. Nun, da du vier verschiedene Möglichkeiten kennst, den Begriff „stattdessen“ auf Spanisch auszudrücken, hier ein Vorschlag für dich: Nimm dir einen Stift zur Hand und schreibe vier Sätze auf, in denen jede Variante einmal vorkommt. Das trainiert! Und vergiss nicht, uns deine Vorschläge und Kommentare zu schreiben.
Spanish Language Day, known as El Día del Idioma in Spanish, is an annual celebration that falls on April 23rd. This special date highlights the importance of the Spanish language and its cultural significance. This lesson will delve into the origins of this celebration and explore some key facts about "the language of Cervantes."
Spanish Language Day, declared officially by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2010, is observed on April 23rd. This day serves as a celebration of the Spanish language's significance as an official and intercontinental language, recognizing its rich history and cultural impact.
Initially, celebrations were held on October 12th to coincide with el Día de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day) in certain countries, which commemorates Colombus' arrival to the American continent. However, the date was later changed to April 23rd to align more closely with evolving worldviews and honor the memory of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, who passed away on April 22, 1616 but was buried the next day.
Coincidentally, April 23rd also marks the death of English playwright William Shakespeare. This shared date of remembrance highlights the enduring legacies of both Cervantes and Shakespeare, as well as the global impact of their work and languages.
Spanish boasts 590 million speakers worldwide, making it the world's second most spoken language.
Spanish is among the world's top four most studied languages, with 21 million students currently learning it.
With over 480 million native speakers, Spanish ranks as the language with the second most native speakers worldwide. It is also the third most used language on the internet, highlighting its relevance in the digital sphere.
With widespread use in various sectors across the globe, Spanish serves as a language that facilitates mutual understanding in the realms of culture, business and beyond.
The United States, Brazil and France top the list of countries where Spanish is most commonly learned.
The Spanish language is distinguished by the presence of an official institution, La Real Academia Española (The Royal Spanish Academy), which was founded in 1713. Ever since, this institution has had the mission of ensuring the proper use and unity of the Spanish language, serving as a guardian of linguistic standards and norms while recognizing regional distinctions.
Aside from its millions of speakers, Spanish is also the official language in at least 21 countries, including Spain, the majority of Latin American nations and the African country Equatorial Guinea. Do you know why Spanish is spoken in Equatorial Guinea? Let's hear Carlos explain it:
Igualmente quiero mencionar, que en Guinea Ecuatorial se habla español, gracias a un tratado del siglo dieciocho, a través del cual Portugal le cedió a España este territorio. Se estima que hoy en día el setenta y cuatro por ciento de la población ecuatoguineana, habla español de forma nativa.
I also want to mention that in Equatorial Guinea, Spanish is spoken, thanks to an eighteenth-century treaty through which Portugal ceded this territory to Spain. It is estimated that today, seventy-four percent of the Equatoguinean population speaks Spanish natively.
Captions 61-67, Carlos explica Recursos para consultas del español - Part 1
Play Caption
In addition to Spanish Language Day, Book Day is also celebrated every April 23rd to pay tribute such renowned writers as Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. This tradition, initiated by Vicente Clavel Andrés in 1923, has become an international celebration via which UNESCO promotes culture and intellectual property protection.
The city of Barcelona, Spain, also marks this date with a very unique celebration: Sant Jordi's Day! Let's find out more about it:
un día como hoy, Sant Jordi, es el día en que se une el amor y la cultura. Además de ser el Día del Libro, para nosotros aquí en Barcelona tiene una tradición muy especial. A las mujeres se les suele regalar rosas, por una tradición y un cuento maravilloso de una doncella que estaba en peligro y fue rescatada por un príncipe de aquel peligroso dragón. Hubo un momento en el que ese amor se transformó en una rosa y es por ello que a ellas se les regala una rosa. Regalan ellas a ellos un libro, por ser parte del Día del Libro; así que es una tradición muy bonita.
a day like today, Sant Jordi, is the day that love and culture come together. In addition to being Book Day, for us here in Barcelona, it has a very special tradition. Roses are typically given to women due to a tradition and a wonderful tale of a maiden who was in danger and was rescued by a prince from that dangerous dragon. There was a moment in which that love became a rose, and that's why they [female] are given a rose. They [female] give them [male] a book because it's part of Book Day; so, it's a very nice tradition.
Captions 53-63, Víctor en España La fiesta de Sant Jordi
Play Caption
With this clip, we have come to the end of this lesson. As you can see, studying Spanish is one of the best intellectual and cultural investments that you can make. We hope you keep learning Spanish, and don't forget to send us your suggestions and comments.
Are you familiar with the Spanish relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que? Do you know how to use them? Today's lesson will explain the differences and similarities between these four Spanish phrases, all of which are most typically translated as "the one" or "ones that" or "who."
Like other relative pronouns, el que, la que, los que and las que are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about a noun or noun phrase. Let's see an example:
Al principio, las traducciones al español son las que serán visibles para los estudiantes.
At first, the translations to Spanish are the ones that will be visible for the students.
Captions 39-40, Tutoriales de Yabla Cómo crear clases
Play Caption
Here, las que is used to introduce the relative clause serán visibles para los estudiantes, making it clear that the "the ones" referenced are those that "will be visible for the students." Note that, in this case, las que is chosen because it refers to the feminine plural noun las traducciones (the translations) as these relative pronouns must agree with the nouns they refer to in terms of number and gender as broken down below:
el que ("the one that" or "who" for masculine singular nouns)
la que ("the one that" or "who" for feminine singular nouns)
los que ("the ones that" or "who" or "those" for masculine plural or mixed nouns)
las que ("the ones that" or "who" or "those" for feminine plural nouns)
The noun to which the relative pronoun refers is known as an antecedent or referent. Be aware that while antecedents are sometimes mentioned explicitly in sentences containing the relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que (as was las traducciones in the aforementioned example), in other cases, the speaker understands what is being referenced based on the previous conversation. Let's look at each of these relative pronouns in sentences with and without antecedents.
Antecedent:
Ese dato es el que necesitamos, hermano.
That piece of information is the one that we need, brother.
Caption 27, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 4 - Part 12
Play Caption
Here, we see that the relative pronoun el que refers to the masculine singular antecedent dato (piece of information).
No Antecedent:
¿El que me había robado a Cata?
The one who had stolen Cata from me?
Caption 5, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 11 - Part 2
Play Caption
Although there is no antecedent in the sentence, we know from the previous dialogue that the speaker is referring to a boy named Sergio Casas, warranting the choice of the singular masculine el que. Remember that even though the third person singular male pronoun él has an accent to distinguish it from el meaning "the," the relative pronoun el que should not be written with an accent, even when referring to a specific male person.
Antecedent:
Yo soy la que le da el toque especial al grupo.
I'm the one who gives the group that special touch.
Caption 21, X6 1 - La banda - Part 6
Play Caption
In this case, the female speaker's use of the word Yo (I) sheds light on her choice of the feminine singular la que.
No Antecedent:
La que cantaste.
The one you sang.
Caption 6, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y Fernando hablan de música
Play Caption
Here, it is clear to the listener based on the subjects' conversation topic that the speakers is referring to una canción (a song).
Antecedent:
clientes como usted son los que necesitamos.
clients like you are the ones we need.
Caption 49, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 10
Play Caption
The inclusion of the noun clientes leaves no doubt as to what los que refers to.
No Antecedent:
Los que viven en sus casas siempre andan por su misma zona
The ones who live in their homes always roam around their same area
Caption 25, Fermín y los gatos Mis gatas vecinas
Play Caption
Since gatos (cats) is the subject of the video, we understand that los que refers to them. Let's see an additional example where los que is translated as "those":
Para los que no me conocen, mi nombre es Karina García
For those who don't know me, my name is Karina García,
Caption 2, Venezolanos por el mundo Karina en Barcelona - Part 2
Play Caption
Antecedent:
cosas parecidas a las que hacemos con los textos en papel.
things similar to the ones we do with text on paper.
Caption 13, Club de las ideas Libertexto
Play Caption
The feminine plural noun cosas is stated prior to las que to let us know the antecedent.
No Antecedent:
Y las que te faltan por conocer.
And the ones that you still have to experience.
Caption 40, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 1 - Part 10
Play Caption
Interestingly, las que also refers to las cosas (the things) here, which came up one sentence prior in this conversation.
Note that when the relative pronouns el que, los que, la que and las que are preceded by prepositions, they can be translated with a vast array of terms such as "which," "that," "when, "where," "who" or "whom," dpending upon what they refer to. Let's take a look at some examples where we have also highlighted the prepositions that accompany these relative pronouns.
El material con el que fue construido
The material with which it was built
Caption 14, Paseando con Karen Bienvenidos a Parque Fundidora
Play Caption
Madrid es una ciudad en la que se respira historia.
Madrid is a city where one breathes history.
Caption 19, Con Marta por Madrid Lavapiés y la corrala - Part 1
Play Caption
Another possible translation in this example would be "in which."
Cada noche escribo en él las cosas por las que estoy agradecida.
Every night, I write in it the things that I'm grateful for.
Captions 42-43, Aprendiendo con Silvia Las emociones - Part 13
Play Caption
Although "for which" could be an alternative, more formal translation, "that" is the more colloquial choice.
Ha habido días en los que había más de treinta incendios activos,
There have been days on which there were more than thirty active fires
Caption 48, Soledad Incendios
Play Caption
You probably inferred that "when" could substitute "on which" in this utterance. Let's see one more:
como una persona muy distinta a mí y con la que yo no podría tener una conversación distendida
as a very different person from me and with whom I wouldn't be able to have a relaxed conversation
Captions 54-55, Soledad Los prejuicios
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to better understand the somewhat tricky relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que and their different uses and translations, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.
Sicherlich hast du das Wort hecho auf Spanisch schon einmal gehört. Aber wusstest du, dass dieses spanische Wort als Substantiv, Verb oder Adjektiv verwendet werden kann und Teil zahlreicher feststehender Ausdrücke ist? Schauen wir uns die vielen Verwendungen des Wortes hecho im Spanischen an!
Das maskuline Substantiv el hecho kann im Spanischen „die Tatsache", „der Vorfall“ oder „das Ereignis“ bedeuten. Sehen wir uns einige Beispiele an:
El hecho es que a mí Vargas me asignó ese caso
Tatsache ist, dass Vargas mir diesen Fall zugewiesen hat
Caption 22, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 2 - Part 3
Play Caption
el microrrelato tenía que estar basado en un hecho o personajes históricos.
die Flash-Fiction-Geschichte musste auf einem historischen Ereignis oder einer historischen Figur beruhen.
Caption 15, Aprendiendo con Carlos El microrrelato - Part 3
Play Caption
Hecho ist die Partizipform des Verbs hacer, das „tun“ oder „machen“ bedeutet. Da Partizipien mit dem Hilfsverb haber gebildet werden, um das Perfekt zu bilden (das Äquivalent zu deutschen Sätzen wie „ich habe gesprochen“, „ich habe gegessen“ usw.), wäre die Übersetzung für hecho in diesem Zusammenhang „getan“ oder „gemacht". Hören wir uns zwei Beispiele an, in denen hecho das haber als Teil des Perfekts der Gegenwart begleitet:
Pero, ya he hecho un montón de cosas.
Aber ich habe schon viele Dinge getan.
Caption 22, Clase Aula Azul La segunda condicional - Part 1
Play Caption
Han hecho un viaje bastante largo.
Sie haben eine ziemlich lange Reise gemacht.
Caption 6, Amaya Mis burras Lola y Canija
Play Caption
Das spanische Wort hecho kann auch ein Adjektiv sein, das „getan“ oder "gemacht“ bedeutet. Schauen wir uns das mal an::
Pero todo hecho con el material o tejidos andinos.
Aber alle sind aus andinen Materialien oder Textilien hergestellt.
Caption 31, Otavalo Zapatos andinos
Play Caption
Denk daran, dass Adjektive im Spanischen mit den Substantiven, die sie verändern, in Bezug auf Anzahl und Geschlecht übereinstimmen müssen. Daher gibt es für das männliche Adjektiv hecho im Singular das weibliche Singular hecha und die männlichen/weiblichen Pluralformen hechos und hechas. Hören wir uns zwei dieser Formen an:
Es una masa redonda, hecha con harina,
Es ist ein runder Teig, der aus Mehl hergestellt wird,
Captions 5-6, El Aula Azul Adivinanzas de comidas - Part 3
Play Caption
Quesos especiales hechos aquí en la región.
Besondere Käsesorten aus der Region.
Caption 32, Desayuno Puerto Escondido Frijoles Refritos
Play Caption
Das spanische Wort hecho ist nicht zu verwechseln mit echo, der Form der ersten Person Singular des Verbs echar (werfen, wegwerfen, hineinlegen usw.):
Primero echo casi más de la mitad.
Zuerst habe ich fast mehr als die Hälfte davon reingetan [des Paketes].
Caption 45, Recetas de cocina Papa a la Huancaína
Play Caption
Da das „h“ in hecho stumm ist, führt die identische Aussprache dieser beiden Wörter selbst bei spanischen Muttersprachlern zu Verwechslungen. Beachte jedoch, dass es im Spanischen kein Verb wie hechar gibt und echo in diesem Zusammenhang immer ohne „h“ geschrieben werden sollte.
Das Wort hecho kommt in zu vielen festen spanischen Ausdrücken vor, als dass man sie alle aufzuzählen könnte! Hier eine kleine Auswahl davon, mit Beispielen aus unserer Yabla Spanisch-Videothek. Kannst du herausfinden, wie das Wort hecho oder eine seiner Varianten in jedem von ihnen gemeint ist?
dar por hecho: voraussetzen, als gegeben ansehen, als selbstverständlich ansehen
puesto que se da por hecho que cuando lo comunicamos es porque nos gusta
weil es als selbstverständlich angesehen wird, dass wir kommunizieren, weil wir es das gerne tun.
Captions 39-40, Raquel y Marisa Español Para Negocios - Introducción
Play Caption
de hecho: in der Tat, in Wirklichkeit
De hecho, es un sitio bastante tranquilo y pintoresco que vale la pena visitar.
Es ist tatsächlich ein eher ruhiger und malerischer Ort, der einen Besuch wert ist.
Caption 23, Aprendiendo con Carlos América precolombina - El Dorado
Play Caption
quiero recalcar el hecho de que todo pasa,
Ich möchte die Tatsache betonen, dass alles vorbeigeht,
Captions 74-75, Soledad Refranes - Part 2
Play Caption
estar hecho polvo: erschöpft sein: (wörtlich „zu Staub gemacht werden“)
"yo ya estoy hecho polvo.
„Ich bin schon ganz kaputt
Caption 24, Pigueldito y Federico El cielo
Play Caption
hecho a mano: handgemacht
son todas hechas a mano; bordados hechos a mano,
sind alle handgefertigt; handgemachte Stickereien,
Captions 40-41, Málaga Lourdes y la talabartería en Mijas Pueblo
Play Caption
hechos reales: echte Fakten
basada en hechos reales.
die auf wahren Begebenheiten beruhen.
Caption 12, Aprendiendo con Silvia Nacionalidades y adjetivos - Part 1
Play Caption
trato hecho: abgemacht, erledigt
Trato hecho, ¿sí o no? -¡Trato hecho!
Abgemacht, ja oder nein? - Einverstanden!
Caption 60, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 5
Play Caption
Das war‘s für heute. Wir hoffen, dass diese Lektion dazu beigetragen hat, dir ein Gefühl für die vielen Möglichkeiten zu geben, wie das Wort hecho im Spanischen verwendet werden kann, und auch für die eine Art, wie es nicht verwendet werden sollte. Und vergiss nicht, uns deine Kommentare und Fragen zu schicken. ¡Hasta la próxima!
Kennst du das Wort capaz auf Spanisch? Obwohl dieses Wort oft mit dem deutschen Begriff „fähig“ übersetzt wird, hat es verschiedene Nuancen und zusätzliche Übersetzungen, die es wert sind, entdeckt zu werden. In dieser Lektion werden wir fünf verschiedene Möglichkeiten aufzeigen, wie dieses nützliche spanische Adjektiv verwendet werden kann.
Wir können das Wort capaz im Spanischen verwenden, wenn wir uns auf „Kapazität“ beziehen oder auf die Anzahl oder Menge von etwas, das in einen bestimmten Raum passt. Wie in diesem Beispiel:
El salón de baile es capaz para 1,500 personas.
Der Ballsaal bietet Platz für 1.500 Personen.
Das Wort capaz kann auch verwendet werden, um die „Fähigkeit“ einer Person oder einer Sache auszudrücken:
Roberto es capaz de conducir un auto.
Roberto ist in der Lage, Auto zu fahren.
Beachte, dass wir in diesem Beispiel lediglich sagen, dass Roberto „in der Lage“ ist, ein Auto zu fahren (und nicht, dass er ein hervorragender Fahrer ist!). Schauen wir uns ein anderes, ähnliches Beispiel an:
Quiero comprar un barco que sea capaz de... de hacer travesías largas.
Ich möchte ein Boot kaufen, das in der Lage ist,... lange Überfahrten zu machen.
Captions 72-73, 75 minutos Gangas para ricos - Part 20
Play Caption
Im Gegensatz zum vorherigen Gebrauch kann das spanische Wort capaz auch verwendet werden, um das Talent oder die Fähigkeit einer Person zu betonen. In diesem Fall ist die beschriebene Person tatsächlich hervorragend in einer Aufgabe oder gilt allgemein als „qualifiziert“ oder „effizient“:
Ah, bueno, Juan Cruz es un muchacho muy capaz, un excelente muchacho.
Nun, Juan Cruz ist ein sehr fähiger junger Mann, ein ausgezeichneter junger Mann.
Caption 56, Muñeca Brava 45 El secreto - Part 5
Play Caption
Eine andere Bedeutung des Wortes capaz hat damit zu tun, ob jemand „es in sich hat“ oder „sich trauen würde“, etwas zu tun oder nicht.
¿Ah? ¡A ver! A ver si es capaz de decírmelo en mi cara.
Oh? Mal sehen! Mal sehen, ob er es mir ins Gesicht sagen kann.
Captions 42-44, Tu Voz Estéreo Embalsamado - Part 12
Play Caption
¡A que no eres capaz!
Dazu bist du nicht fähig!
Caption 53, Guillermina y Candelario El Mar enamorado
Play Caption
Im folgenden Clip stellt unsere Freundin Silvia einen Ausdruck vor, der zu dieser Verwendung von capaz passt:
"No tener pelos en la lengua" quiere decir que esta persona es capaz de decir cualquier cosa de forma clara y directa, sin importarle lo que piensen los demás.
„Kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen“ bedeutet, dass diese Person in der Lage ist, alles klar und direkt zu sagen, unabhängig davon, was andere denken.
Captions 13-16, Aprendiendo con Silvia Frases hechas - Part 4
Play Caption
In vielen lateinamerikanischen Ländern kann der Ausdruck es capaz que verwendet werden, um zu sagen, dass „es möglich ist, dass“ oder dass etwas „passieren könnte“, wie in dem Satz Es capaz que nieve (Es könnte schneien). In ähnlicher Weise kann capaz auch als Adverb mit que oder allein verwendet werden, um die Idee von „vielleicht“ auszudrücken, wie in den folgenden Beispielen:
Y capaz que lo conozco.
Und vielleicht kenne ich ihn auch.
Caption 53, Yago 14 La peruana - Part 3
Play Caption
capaz están cerca de un lugar para escalar
vielleicht bist du in der Nähe eines Ortes zum Klettern
Caption 12, Buenos Aires Escalando en Buenos Aires
Play Caption
Und zu guter Letzt sei noch erwähnt, dass jemand auf eine Frage wie "¿Vas a la fiesta?" durchaus auch einfach mit „Capaz“ (vielleicht) antworten kann.
Wir laden wir dich ein, zehn Sätze mit diesem sehr nützlichen Wort zu schreiben. Auf diese Weise wird es dir leichter fallen, es beim spontanen Sprechen zu nutzen. Danke für deine Aufmerksamkeit und vergiss nicht, uns deine Vorschläge und Kommentare zu schreiben.
Are you familiar with gender in Spanish, which classifies Spanish nouns into masculine and feminine? If so, you might also know that Spanish grammatical agreement stipulates that nouns' definite and indefinite articles should agree with the nouns they accompany in terms of gender. That said, since the vast majority of Spanish nouns that end in -o are masculine and most that end in -a are feminine, why do we see the masculine singular indefinite article un next to a noun that ends in -a below?
¡Eres un egoísta!
You're a selfish person!
Caption 31, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 12 - Part 8
Play Caption
The reason for this apparent discrepancy is that, when used as a noun, the word egoísta (selfish person) falls into a Spanish noun category that is sometimes called "common gender nouns" that describe people and can take either masculine or feminine articles depending upon whether the described entity is male or female. With this in mind, let's learn a plethora of such nouns in Spanish as well as several categories that they often fall into.
Below are several Spanish nouns that end in -ista. While we have selected ten, there are countless more, many of which refer to professions in Spanish or people who adhere to particular beliefs.
el/la artista (the artist)
el/la centrista (the centrist)
el/la colonialista (the colonialist)
el/la dentista (the dentist)
el/la derechista (the right-winger)
el/la futbolista (the soccer player)
el/la izquierdista (the leftist)
el/la novelista (the novelista)
el/la periodista (the journalist)
el/la vocalista (the vocalist)
Now, let's see two of these in context, noting how their articles change when describing males vs. females.
¿No oyó la periodista Yasmín?
Didn't you hear Yasmín the [female] journalist?
Caption 28, Kikirikí Agua - Part 3
Play Caption
el periodista y el entrevistado llegaron a las manos, ¿hm?,
the [male] journalist and the interviewee came to blows, hmm?
Caption 51, Aprendiendo con Silvia Frases hechas - Part 5
Play Caption
El dentista, la dentista.
The male dentist, the female dentist.
Caption 32, Isabel El Género Gramatical - Masculino y Femenino
Play Caption
The genders of the following Spanish words that end in -crata (the equivalent of -crat in English) also vary according to real life gender:
el/la autócrata (the autocrat)
el/la burócrata (the bureaucrat)
el/la demócrata (the democrat)
el/la aristócrata (the aristocrat)
Let's look at an example that describes a male aristocrat:
Desde luego, será un aristócrata,
Of course, he'd be an aristocrat,
Caption 56, Beatriz Expresiones con colores
Play Caption
Note how this sentence could be modified to describe a female aristocrat with the simple substitution of a feminine article:
Desde luego, será una aristócrata,
Of course, she'd be an aristocrat,
In addition to the aforementioned categories, here are several more Spanish nouns ending in -a whose articles reveal their gender:
el/la guía (the guide)
el/la policía (the police officer)
el/la psicópata (the psychopath)
el/la sociópata (the sociopath)
el/la terapeuta (the therapist)
While it may seem counterintuitive to call a female fashion model una modelo, that is indeed the correct way to say it, while a male model would be un modelo. Here are a few more common gender nouns in Spanish that end in -o with examples of the latter.
el/la miembro (the member)
el/la modelo (the model)
el/la soldado (the soldier)
el/la testigo (the witness)
Sí, tengo un testigo.
Yes, I have a [male] witness.
Caption 2, Los casos de Yabla El perrito malcriado - Part 2
Play Caption
quisiera invitar a este estrado a una testigo que va a demostrar
I'd like to invite to this stand a [female] witness who is going to prove
Captions 63-64, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 5 - Part 4
Play Caption
Although most Spanish nouns that end in -e are specifically masculine (e.g. el coche/the car) or feminine (e.g. la llave/the key) and thus require a masculine or feminine article, some can refer to either men or women with articles that vary accordingly. Let's see a list of several plus two examples describing both a male and a female "lover."
el/la amante (the lover)
el/la ayudante (the helper)
el/la cantante (the singer)
el/la estudiante (the student)
el/la integrante (the member)
el/la interprete (the interpreter)
el/la paciente (the patient)
el/la recipiente (the recipient)
Descubrí que Marcela tiene un amante.
I found out that Marcela has a [male] lover.
Caption 2, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 2 - Part 3
Play Caption
¿Tiene una amante? Eso es lo que quiero saber.
Does he have a [female] lover? That is what I want to know.
Caption 9, Muñeca Brava 3 Nueva Casa - Part 7
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has clarified one scenario in Spanish where you might see a masculine article with a word ending in -a, a feminine article with one that ends in -o or the very same noun with a masculine or feminine article. For more on Spanish nouns that are a bit nontraditional in terms of gender, be sure to read our lesson on epicene nouns in Spanish, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.
Die meisten Menschen essen drei Mahlzeiten am Tag: Frühstück, Mittagessen und Abendessen. Weißt du, wie man diese drei Mahlzeiten auf Spanisch bezeichnet? Die Antwort auf diese Frage hängt davon ab, wo du dich in der spanischsprachigen Welt befindest.
Wenn Du in Spanien oder Mexiko bist, sind die Namen der drei wichtigsten täglichen Mahlzeiten folgende:
es la hora del desayuno
es ist Frühstückszeit,
Caption 7, Clase Aula Azul Acciones habituales y en este momento - Part 1
Play Caption
Todos los días, hago la comida a mediodía
Jeden Tag mache ich mittags das Mittagessen.
Caption 24, Ariana Mi Casa
Play Caption
y normalmente cuando llego a casa, me hago la cena,
und wenn ich nach Hause komme, mache ich mir normalerweise das Abendessen,
Caption 30, El Aula Azul Actividades Diarias
Play Caption
Im folgenden Clip erwähnt unsere mexikanische Freundin Karla alle drei dieser täglichen Mahlzeiten, während sie uns erzählt, dass Tacos in ihrem Land zu jeder Tageszeit gegessen werden können!
Eh... Puedes encontrar tacos en todas las esquinas, en todas las ciudades de todo México y puedes comerlo, en realidad, de desayuno, de comida o de cena,
Äh... Tacos gibt es an jeder Straßenecke, in jeder Stadt in Mexiko, und man kann sie zum Frühstück, Mittag- oder Abendessen essen,
Captions 37-39, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y los tacos - Part 2
Play Caption
In den meisten lateinamerikanischen Ländern dagegen heißen die drei Hauptmahlzeiten wie folgt:
Hoy es domingo y vamos a hacer el desayuno.
Heute ist Sonntag und wir machen jetzt mal das Frühstück.
Captions 6-7, Quito Desayuno con Julia
Play Caption
Al mediodía, preparo el almuerzo.
Am Mittag bereite ich das Mittagessen vor.
Caption 14, GoSpanish La rutina diaria de Maru
Play Caption
Während mancherorts das Wort comida verwendet wird (z. B. in Kolumbien), heißt es in anderen Ländern cena (z. B. in Argentinien). Schauen wir uns dazu ein paar Clips an::
¿Qué es la comida?
Was gibt’s zum Abendbrot?
Caption 9, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 1 - Part 3
Play Caption
Bueno, espero que lleguemos justo para la cena porque tengo un hambre que me muero.
Ich hoffe, wir sind rechtzeitig zum Abendessen da, denn ich habe einen Riesenhunger.
Caption 49, Muñeca Brava 44 El encuentro - Part 6
Play Caption
Das Wort "Almuerzo" in Spanien
Wie wir soeben gesehen haben, besteht der Hauptunterschied zwischen den Tagesmahlzeiten in Spanien und Mexiko im Vergleich zu anderen lateinamerikanischen Ländern in dem Begriff, den man für das Mittagessen verwendet. Wenn du jedoch das Wort almuerzo in Spanien hörst, solltest du wissen, dass sich almuerzo in diesem Land auf einen Vormittagssnack bezieht. Außerdem ist es in Spanien sehr üblich, einen Nachmittagsimbiss namens la merienda zu genießen. Lassen Sie sich das von Raquel und Marisa im Detail erklären:
El almuerzo es lo que tomamos entre el desayuno y la comida. Pero además tenemos la merienda y la cena. La merienda suele ser a las seis de la tarde. Y la cena es la última comida del día.
Der Vormittagssnack ist das, was wir zwischen Frühstück und Mittagessen essen. Aber es gibt auch einen Nachmittagssnack und ein Abendessen. Der Nachmittagssnackist normalerweise um sechs Uhr abends. Und das Abendessen ist die letzte Mahlzeit des Tages.
Captions 30-33, Raquel Presentaciones
Play Caption
Und hiermit sind wir nun am Ende dieser Lektion angekommen. Wir hoffen, dass du ein paar neue Wörter gelernt hast, und vergiss nicht, uns deine Kommentare und Fragen zu schicken. ¡Hasta la próxima!
Of Christian origin, Easter, or Pascua in Spanish, is celebrated by many around the world, including in Spanish-speaking countries. Regardless of religion, however, Easter has evolved into many fun traditions that may be observed by Christians and non-Christians alike. Let's talk about some religious and non-religious Easter customs in the Spanish-speaking world and beyond, along with some Spanish vocabulary to describe them.
Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is an important festive period for many Catholics and other Christians worldwide that commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Cristo (Jesus Christ) and is celebrated with particular fervor in Spain and Latin America. While there are variations among the different countries' festivities, common costumbres (customs) include attending church, the sharing of special foods, the blessing and distribution of palm leaves and days of elaborate procesiones with special floats and statues, as we can hear about and catch a glimpse of in the following clips:
más de cincuenta mil personas se visten de nazarenos para desfilar por las calles y para acompañar a las figuras religiosas.
more than fifty thousand people dress as Nazarenes to parade through the streets and to accompany the religious figures.
Captions 41-44, Raquel Fiestas de España
Play Caption
Todo esto sin olvidar el sentimiento religioso; la Semana Santa de Málaga es la particular forma de los malagueños de vivir su fe.
All of this without forgetting the religious sentiment; Málaga's Holy Week is the people from Málaga's particular way of living their faith.
Captions 33-35, Málaga Semana Santa
Play Caption
Now let's look at a list of useful Spanish vocabulary related to some of the days and customs of the Semana Santa season:
la Cuaresma: Lent
el Domingo de Ramos: Palm Sunday
el Miércoles de Ceniza: Ash Wednesday
el Miércoles Santo: Spy Wednesday
el Jueves Santo: Maundy Thursday
el Viernes Santo: Good Friday
El Domingo de Pascua/de Resurección/de Gloria: Easter Sunday
El Lunes de Pascua/de Resurección: Easter Monday
bendecir: to bless
los católicos: the Catholics
los cristianos: the Christians
el día de ayuno: the fasting day
las hojas de palmera: the palm leaves
la iglesia: the church
la imagen/el paso: the statue
el trono: the float/throne
Let's hear a couple of these pronounced:
Y el tambor se toca desde Miércoles Santo a las cuatro de la tarde hasta Domingo de Resurrección
And the drum is played from Holy Wednesday at four o'clock in the afternoon until Easter Sunday
Captions 48-49, Francisco Javier de España Su trabajo y su ciudad en La Mancha
Play Caption
Interestingly, many of the non-religious Easter symbols and traditions that are celebrated around the world actually have religious origins. For example, eggs, chickens and rabbits are symbols of fertility, rebirth and new life that many associate with Jesus' resurrection. However, for many others, these objects and activities are merely fun and festive annual traditions. Let's learn some Spanish vocabulary to describe some of them:
la búsqueda/la caza de huevos de Pascua: the Easter egg hunt
la cesta de Pascua: the Easter basket
el chocolate: the chocolate
el conejo de Pascua: the Easter Bunny
el cordero: the lamb
las flores: the flowers
el huevo de Pascua: the Easter egg
el pollito: the chick
la primavera: the spring
el sombrero de primavera: the Easter bonnet
teñir/pintar huevos: to dye/color eggs
We can hear many of these together in Yabla's video on basic Easter vocabulary, some captions from which we can hear below:
Cinco, caza del huevo de Pascua.
Five, Easter egg hunt.
Caption 9, Vocabulario básico Feliz Pascua
Play Caption
Uno, el conejo de Pascua.
One, the Easter Bunny.
Caption 5, Vocabulario básico Feliz Pascua
Play Caption
Dos, la cesta de Pascua.
Two, the Easter basket.
Caption 6, Vocabulario básico Feliz Pascua
Play Caption
To conclude this lesson, it would be behoove us to know how to wish someone a "Happy Easter" in Spanish:
"Felices fiestas" o "Felices Pascuas".
"Happy Holidays" or "Happy Easter."
Caption 13, Aprendiendo con Silvia Felicitar y expresar buenos deseos - Part 2
Play Caption
Do you know the names of the shapes in Spanish? Today's lesson will teach you what the most basic Spanish shapes are called as well as the words for more advanced Spanish shapes and figures. Let's get started!
Let's start with the basics! Listen to the following caption from the Yabla Spanish video library to hear how to say "shapes" in Spanish:
Puedes jugar con diferentes formas y colores
You can play with different shapes and colors
Caption 76, Manos a la obra Papel picado para Día de muertos
Play Caption
Now, let's hear the Spanish word for the similar concept of "figures":
como los números o las figuras geométricas,
like numbers or geometric figures,
Caption 16, Carlos explica Vocabulario de las matemáticas - Part 1
Play Caption
Next, we'll learn the Spanish names for the most classic shapes, including their definite articles, and hear them in context:
Vamos a marcar el círculo
We're going to mark the circle,
Caption 47, Maoli Calabaza de Halloween
Play Caption
se presenta como un cuadrado de ocho por ocho
appears as an eight by eight square
Caption 18, Aprendiendo con Carlos El ajedrez - Part 1
Play Caption
Puede ser un cuadrado, un rectángulo.
It can be a square, a rectangle.
Caption 41, María Fernanda Hacer un turbante
Play Caption
Obtendrás un triángulo.
You will get a triangle.
Caption 39, Manos a la obra Separadores de libros: Charmander
Play Caption
Let's move on to the Spanish words for some slightly more sophisticated shapes and hear them pronounced:
—podríamos decir que es un óvalo—
we could say that it's an oval—
Caption 49, Con Marta por Madrid La Plaza del Sol - Part 2
Play Caption
Lograrás un rombo como éste.
You will get a diamond like this one.
Caption 45, Manos a la obra Separadores de libros: Charmander
Play Caption
Interestingly, this word also means "trapezius" (the muscle) in Spanish as well as "trapeze," as in the following example, which we've included for pronunciation purposes:
como un número de trapecio,
as a trapeze act,
Caption 18, Circo Berlín Jose - Part 2
Play Caption
"semicírculo",
"semicírculo" [semicircle],
Caption 74, Carlos explica Los prefijos en español - Part 7
Play Caption
Figures with at least three but typically five or more sides and angles are called los polígonos (the polygons) in Spanish. Let's learn their Spanish names along with their respective numbers of lados (sides) and ángulos (angles):
El pentágono (the pentagon): 5
El hexágono (the hexagon): 6
El hectágono (the hectagon): 7
El octógono (the octagon): 8
El nonógono (the nonagon): 9
El decágono (the decagon): 10
While not "official" geometric shapes, figures like the heart, cross, star, etc., are recognized universally as shapes and/or symbols. Let's learn how to say them in Spanish!
a hacer pancitos de corazón, pancitos decorados y este tipo de, de...
into making heart rolls, decorated rolls, and this kind of, of...
Caption 18, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Luis y el pan de muerto
Play Caption
es la cruz de piedra.
is the stone cross.
Caption 16, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 2
Play Caption
y la estrella.
and the star.
Caption 27, Ana Carolina Símbolos de Navidad
Play Caption
con la punta bien afilada en forma de flecha,
with a well-sharpened tip in the shape of an arrow
Caption 32, Isabel Lavesa Dibujo en acuarela
Play Caption
Do you know how to say 3-D in Spanish? You could say tridimensional (three-dimensional) or simply use the Spanish pronuncation of 3-D, as we hear here:
Y las obras están sacadas de modelos 3-D del programa Google Earth.
And the works are taken from 3-D models from the Google Earth program.
Caption 24, El estudio De Julio Sarramián
Play Caption
That said, we'll conclude this lesson with the names of several of the most common formas tridimensionales (3-D shapes):
¿podría ponerme un cono de chocolate por favor?
can you give me a chocolate cone please?
Caption 36, Málaga Calle Larios
Play Caption
en forma de pirámide invertida.
in the shape of an inverted pyramid.
Caption 14, Víctor en Caracas Centro comercial
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that you have found this lesson on the names of the shapes in Spanish useful, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments. ¡Hasta pronto!
Do you know how to express the idea of "instead" and "instead of" in Spanish? Today's brief lesson will teach you four common ways to do so, as always with examples from Yabla's Spanish video library.
Perhaps the most common way to say "instead of" in Spanish is en vez de. Alternative translations for en vez de are the English synonyms "rather than" or "in place of." Let's see this phrase in context:
cierran a las ocho y media en vez de a las nueve, ¿correcto?"
you close at eight-thirty instead of at nine, correct?"
Caption 47, Aprendiendo con Silvia Horas, fechas y períodos de tiempo - Part 4
Play Caption
Sam compró seis melones en vez de seis limones.
Sam bought six melons instead of six lemons.
Caption 36, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 2: Sam va de compras - Part 5
Play Caption
En lugar de literally means "in place of" of and is another way to say "instead of" in Spanish. Let's see two examples:
En lugar de plumas amarillas, las suyas eran grises
Instead of yellow feathers, his were grey,
Captions 22-23, Cleer El patito feo
Play Caption
No se olviden que en lugar de "finalmente" también podría decir "por último"
Don't forget that instead of "finally" I could also say "lastly"
Captions 32-33, Natalia de Ecuador Los adverbios de orden
Play Caption
The Spanish phrase en cambio can be translated as "instead" in certain contexts (other possible translations include "however" and "whereas"). Let's take a look.
Si en cambio queremos usarlo para expresar una valoración, lo usamos con un verbo en modo subjuntivo.
If instead we want to use it to express a valuation, we use it with a verb in the subjunctive mood.
Captions 52-53, Carlos explica Cómo expresar opiniones en español - Part 3
Play Caption
Otras en cambio lo tiran o lo destruyen
Others instead throw it away or destroy it
Caption 39, Los Reporteros Sembrar, comer, tirar - Part 3
Play Caption
Finally, although mejor is most commonly translated as "better" or "best," it can function like "instead" in certain contexts, as we see here:
Pero, vecino, mejor le recomiendo usar la opción de agua fría;
But, neighbor, I recommend using the cold water option instead;
Caption 27, Cristina Lavandería
Play Caption
That's all for today. Now that you know four different ways to express the idea of "instead" in Spanish, we suggest you practice by coming up with your own sentences with each of them. And don't forget to write us with your suggestions and comments.
Are you familiar with the Spanish word según? Did you know that it can function as a preposition, a conjunction or even an adverb? Let's explore six meanings of this common Spanish word.
As a preposition, the Spanish word según can mean "according to," "in agreement with" or "in accordance with," in the sense of following or abiding by something. Let's see an example of this usage:
Yo estoy actuando según la ley.
I'm acting in accordance with the law.
Caption 11, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 3 - Part 10
Play Caption
As we see in the following captions, like "according to" in English, the Spanish preposition según can also appear before nouns or personal pronouns to describe what people or entities believe or say.
y según expertos es una de las más antiguas
and according to experts, it's one of the oldest ones,
Caption 25, Amaya Cata de vinos
Play Caption
Las pirámides, según los abuelos Mayas, no son monumentos
The pyramids, according to the Mayan elders, are not monuments
Caption 47, Guillermo el chamán La tecnología maya
Play Caption
This use of según as a preposition is often translated with the English phrase "depending on." In this case, según is often followed by a noun phrase that includes a verb in the subjunctive and describes some variable on which an outcome depends. Let's take a look:
que, según la manera en que respiremos, así va a ser nuestra vida.
as, depending upon the manner in which we breathe, that's how our life is going to be.
Captions 76-77, Ana Teresa La respiración
Play Caption
Esta planta tiene diferentes nombres según el país en que se encuentre,
This plant has different names depending on the country in which it is found,
Caption 15, Fermín La plumeria - Part 1
Play Caption
In this case, the Spanish word según is classified as a conjunction and is often followed immediately by a verb in the subjunctive mood. Typical translations include "depending on what" or "depending on how," as in the following example:
Según me sienta mañana, decidiré ir o no al evento.
Depending upon how I feel tomorrow, I'll decide whether or not to go to the event.
Let's see one more from the Yabla Spanish library:
Aquí se tira mucho o poco según se mire.
Here a lot or a little is thrown away depending on how you look at it.
Caption 20, Los Reporteros Sembrar, comer, tirar - Part 1
Play Caption
There are two ways in which the Spanish conjunction según can function like the English word "as." Let's take a closer look.
The Spanish word según can be replaced with the English word "as" to say "in the way that," as we see here:
Que según entiendo tampoco estás haciendo con juicio.
Which, as I understand, you're not doing sensibly, either.
Caption 59, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 5 - Part 7
Play Caption
según dicen algunos, que de ahí proviene el nombre de Coronil.
as some people say, from there comes the name Coronil.
Captions 10-11, Tecnópolis El Coronil
Play Caption
Según can also be translated as "as" as to talk about something that is happening at the same time as something else:
según iba caminando, iba interactuando con los niños, hablando, y a la vez
as I was walking, I was interacting with the kids, talking, and, at the same time,
Caption 81, Circo Berlín Christian - Part 1
Play Caption
Finally, as we see in the caption below, the word según in Spanish can stand alone as an adverb meaning "depending" or "it all depends."
Durante un año, según.
In a year, depending.
Caption 46, Edificio en Construcción Hablando con los trabajadores - Part 1
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to distinguish the many nuanced uses of the word según in Spanish, and don't forget to write us with your suggestions and comments.
Kennst du das Wort entonces im Spanischen? Entonces wird meistens mit „dann“, oder „also“ übersetzt, aber die zahlreichen Verwendungen dieses Wortes sind recht nuanciert.
Entonces wird mit „dann“ übersetzt, um auf ein Ereignis zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt hinzuweisen. Hier ein paar Beispiele.
Y entonces se escaparon.
Und dann entkamen sie.
Caption 35, Guillermina y Candelario El mundo de los juguetes perdidos - Part 2
Play Caption
Wenn man über die Vergangenheit spricht, ist es üblich, einige der folgenden Ausdrücke zu verwenden. Im Deutschen werden sie je nach Kontext dann mit „damals“ oder „in dieser Zeit“ übersetzt werden:
en aquel entonces
por aquel entonces
en ese entonces
por ese entonces
Hören wir uns einige von ihnen im Zusammenhang an:
Lo que vivió Colombia en aquel entonces era realmente aterrador.
Was Kolumbien in dieser Zeit durchmachte, war wirklich erschreckend.
Caption 50, Los Tiempos de Pablo Escobar Capítulo 1 - Part 14
Play Caption
En aquel entonces los niños todavía podían salir solos
Damals konnten Kinder noch allein ausgehen
Caption 2, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 1 - Part 9
Play Caption
En mi urbanización, junto a la piscina, vive una amiga que por aquel entonces tenía una gata totalmente blanca y con un pelo precioso.
In meinem Viertel, direkt neben dem Schwimmbad, wohnt eine Freundin, die damals eine ganz weiße Katze mit einem wunderschönen Fell hatte.
Captions 26-27, Fermín y los gatos Mi gata Poeska
Play Caption
entonces sabremos que hemos hecho un buen trabajo.
dann werden wir wissen, dass wir gute Arbeit geleistet haben.
Caption 77, Ana Carolina La meditación
Play Caption
Entonces kann insbesondere zusammen mit der Präposition solo (nur) verwendet werden, um einen Zeitpunkt zu beschreiben, der dem deutschen „erst dann“ entspricht:
Solo entonces se sabrá quiénes son los mejores.
Erst dann werden wir wissen, wer die Besten sind
Caption 76, Región mundo Paso a paso - Part 5
Play Caption
In dieser Verwendung steht entonces direkt nach einer Präposition, um sich auf einen Zeitraum in der Vergangenheit zu beziehen.
Im folgenden Beispiel wird die Präposition de mit entonces kombiniert und bedeutet „von damals“
Yo me imagino que los artistas de entonces
Ich stelle mir vor, dass die Künstler von damals
Caption 40, Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori Una vida como pintor - Part 5
Play Caption
y esa es la razón por la cual resido aquí desde entonces.
und das ist der Grund, warum ich seither hier lebe.
Caption 19, Adriana Mi historia con el café
Play Caption
In diesem Szenario wird entonces verwendet, um zu beschreiben, was passieren könnte, wenn etwas anderes zuerst eintritt.
Si vienes, entonces te invito a comer.
Wenn Sie kommen, lade ich Sie zum Mittagessen ein.
Caption 22, Ana Carolina Condicionales
Play Caption
Eh... No tenía muchos órganos, no estaban desarrollados, porque había tenido poco espacio en el útero de la madre. Entonces, fue un bebé prematuro,
Ähm ... Er hatte nicht viele Organe, sie waren nicht entwickelt, weil er im Mutterleib wenig Platz gehabt hatte. Es war also eine Frühgeburt,
Captions 46-48, Amaya El burrito Luz - Part 2
Play Caption
Yo voy a decir unas frases, y... utilizando ustedes, y tú vas a decir la misma frase utilizando vosotros. ¿OK? Entonces comenzamos con la primera frase.
Ich werde ein paar Sätze sagen und... „ustedes“ verwenden und ihr sagt denselben Satz mit „vosotros“. Okay? Wir beginnen also mit dem ersten Satz.
Captions 52-54, Carlos y Xavi Part 2 Ustedes y Vosotros
Play Caption
¿no es cierto? -No, tampoco es lugar para mí. Entonces ¿por qué vas? Porque estoy loco.
Ist das nicht so? -Nein, für mich ist es auch kein Ort. Warum gehst du dann? Weil ich verrückt bin.
Captions 63-65, Muñeca Brava 47 Esperanzas - Part 1
Play Caption
Hier taucht das Wort entonces im Rahmen des Ausdrucks pues entonces (na dann) auf.
"¡Esto está superfrío y de todas formas no sé nadar". "Pues entonces no podemos ir allí, donde comienza el cielo",
„Hier ist es super kalt und ich kann sowieso nicht schwimmen“. „Also können wir nicht dorthin gehen, wo der Himmel beginnt,
Captions 40-42, Pigueldito y Federico El cielo
Play Caption
Und hiermit sind wir nun am Ende dieser Lektion angekommen. Wir hoffen, dass du dich nun sicherer im Umgang mit dem Wort entonces fühlst, und vergiss nicht, uns deine Kommentare und Fragen zu schicken. ¡Hasta la próxima!
Have you heard the word capaz in Spanish? Although this word is often translated with the English term "capable," it has several different nuances and additional translations that are worth exploring. In this lesson, we will highlight five different ways in which this useful Spanish adjective can be employed.
We can use the word capaz in Spanish when referring to "capacity," or the number or amount of something that can fit in a determined space. Let's see an example of this usage:
El salón de baile es capaz para 1,500 personas.
The capacity of this ballroom is 1,500 people.
The word capaz can additionally be used to indicate someone or something's "ability" to do something:
Roberto es capaz de conducir un auto.
Roberto is capable of driving a car.
Note that in this example, we are merely saying that Roberto is "able" to drive a car (rather than implying that he is an excellent driver!). Let's see another, similar example:
Quiero comprar un barco que sea capaz de... de hacer travesías largas.
I want to buy a boat that is capable of... of making long voyages.
Captions 72-73, 75 minutos Gangas para ricos - Part 20
Play Caption
Contrary to the previous usage, the Spanish word capaz can also be used to emphasize someone's talent or ability. In this case, the person described actually excels at some task or is generally considered "qualified" or "efficient":
Ah, bueno, Juan Cruz es un muchacho muy capaz, un excelente muchacho.
Oh, well, Juan Cruz is a very capable guy, an excellent guy.
Caption 56, Muñeca Brava 45 El secreto - Part 5
Play Caption
Another meaning of the word capaz has to do with whether or not one "has it in them" or "would dare" to do something. Let's take a look at a couple of clips that illustrate this meaning:
¿Ah? ¡A ver! A ver si es capaz de decírmelo en mi cara.
Huh? Let's see! Let's see if you're capable of saying it to my face.
Captions 42-44, Tu Voz Estéreo Embalsamado - Part 12
Play Caption
¡A que no eres capaz!
I bet you can't do it!
Caption 53, Guillermina y Candelario El Mar enamorado
Play Caption
In the following clip, our friend Silvia shares with us an expression that fits into this use of capaz:
"No tener pelos en la lengua" quiere decir que esta persona es capaz de decir cualquier cosa de forma clara y directa, sin importarle lo que piensen los demás.
"Not to have hairs on one's tongue" means that this person is capable of saying anything clearly and directly, without what others think mattering to them.
Captions 13-16, Aprendiendo con Silvia Frases hechas - Part 4
Play Caption
In many Latin American countries, the expression Es capaz que can be used to say that "It's possible that" or something "might" happen, as in the sentence Es capaz que nieve (It might snow). Similarly, the Spanish word capaz can also function as an adverb with que or on its own to express the idea of "perhaps" or "maybe," as in the following examples:
Y capaz que lo conozco.
And maybe I know him.
Caption 53, Yago 14 La peruana - Part 3
Play Caption
capaz están cerca de un lugar para escalar
maybe you are near a place to climb
Caption 12, Buenos Aires Escalando en Buenos Aires
Play Caption
In fact, you might even hear someone answer a question like "¿Vas a la fiesta?" with the simple word: "Capaz" (Maybe/I might).
That's all for today. Having learned several ways to use capaz in Spanish, we invite you to write ten sentences with this very useful word— and don't forget to write us with your suggestions and comments.
This year, we have chosen a word that has already been named Word of the Year by other linguistic sources. In fact, it was FundeuRAE's Word of the Year last year. However, we believe that this word has gained new traction in the last twelve months, and, for this reason, have selected it as our Spanish Word of the Year 2023. Let's reveal it!
Is there anything more trendy than AI today? From ChatGPT to MidJourney and everything in between, the concept of AI is totally transforming the world around us. This is why we have chosen the term inteligencia artificial (artificial intelligence) as the Spanish Word of the Year 2023. Let's see how to pronounce this word in the definition that Carlos shares with us in his video about this topic:
la inteligencia artificial es la disciplina científica que se ocupa de crear programas informáticos que ejecutan operaciones comparables a las que realiza la mente humana, como el aprendizaje o el razonamiento lógico.
artificial intelligence is the scientific discipline that deals with creating computer programs that execute comparable operations to the ones that the human mind carries out, like learning or logical reasoning.
Captions 25-29, Aprendiendo con Carlos Inteligencia artificial - Part 1
Play Caption
Now that the winner has been revealed, here are a couple of things to keep in mind about the term inteligencia artificial:
1. In Spanish as in English, the term inteligencia artificial should be written in lowercase.
2. If you wish to use the acronym for inteligencia artificial, remember to use the Spanish initials "IA" rather than the English version, "AI," which some people mistakenly use in Spanish.
There are several AI-related Spanish words that have been quite popular this year, and dato (data) has definitely been one of them.
La percepción del comerciante coincide con el dato que manejan algunos expertos.
The perception of the merchant coincides with the data that some experts work with.
Caption 6, Los Reporteros Crecen los robos en tiendas - Part 4
Play Caption
Unfortunately, this word is still trending, especially after what has occurred this year in Israel.
La palabra más fea es guerra.
The ugliest word is war.
Caption 61, Karla e Isabel Palabras
Play Caption
This year was full of deadly earthquakes. From Turkey and Morocco to Afghanistan and Nepal, the world was shaking far too much this year.
Este mes han muerto muchas personas en el terremoto.
This month many people have died in the earthquake.
Caption 26, Lecciones con Carolina Participios - Ejemplos de uso
Play Caption
So, there you have it. What do you think of our Spanish Word of the Year 2023, and how do you feel towards AI in general? Can you think of any other word that is worthy of this title? Don't forget to send us your feedback!
Have you ever noticed that there are several types of words that are capitalized in English but not in Spanish? Today's lesson will point out nine such categories where there is a discrepancy in capitalization between English and Spanish.
While the names of the days of the week must be capitalized in English, the same is not so of the days of the week in Spanish, whose first letters are lowercase. Let's take a look:
Voy a una academia de baile los martes y los jueves.
I go to a dance academy on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Caption 15, Ariana Mi Semana
Play Caption
The same can be said for the names of the months in Spanish, which are written in all lowercase letters in contrast to their capitalized English counterparts. This is demonstrated in the following clip:
sobre todo en los meses de diciembre, enero, febrero e incluso en mayo.
especially in the months of December, January, February, and even in May.
Caption 27, Mercado de San Miguel Misael
Play Caption
Although English capitalizes the names of languages, Spanish does not:
Bueno, yo hablo español, inglés y estoy aprendiendo alemán.
Well, I speak Spanish, English, and I'm learning German.
Captions 19-20, Cleer y Lida ¿Qué idiomas hablas?
Play Caption
Words that refer to someone or something's nationality do not start with a capital letter in Spanish as they do in English. Included in this category are both demonyms, or Spanish adjectives of nationality, and Spanish nouns that refer to the inhabitants of a particular nation. Let's see examples of each:
y puedas decir, "Este artista es colombiano, este es un artista brasilero", es decir,
and can say, "This artist is Colombian, this is a Brazilian artist," I mean,
Captions 69-70, Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori Una vida como pintor - Part 5
Play Caption
Antes de la llegada de los españoles, existían cientos de diferentes culturas.
Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, there were hundreds of different cultures.
Caption 8, Historia mexicana Cultura y la unión de dos mundos
Play Caption
As we see below, this group includes the names of religions, their respective adjectives, and the nouns that describe their adherents.
y que se utilizó para simbolizar el triunfo del cristianismo sobre la fe musulmana.
and was employed as a symbol of the triumph of Christianity over the Muslim faith.
Captions 61-62, Viajando con Fermín Sevilla - Part 2
Play Caption
España recibió más de treinta y cinco mil judíos,
Spain received more than thirty-five thousand Jews,
Caption 27, Víctor en España El Hotel Palace de Barcelona
Play Caption
When preceding a last name and/or addressing a specific person, English words like "mister" or "doctor" must be capitalized. The equivalent titles in Spanish, however, are written in all lowercase letters, as we see here:
Vamos a escuchar a la doctora Consejos y a su paciente Adrián
Let's listen to Doctor Advice and her patient Adrián
Caption 2, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: Por y para
Play Caption
Por supuesto, señora Castaño.
Of course, Ms. Castaño.
Caption 24, Cleer y Lida Recepción de hotel
Play Caption
In English, most of the words of the titles of original compositions like books, films, songs, articles, or works of art are capitalized, with the notable exceptions of words like prepositions and coordinating conjunctions. In Spanish, on the other hand, only the first word of a title is capitalized, for example, the famed novel Cien años de soledad, which is written in English "One Hundred Years of Solitude." Let's see one more:
Para ello, el artista pintó un gran fresco titulado "El juicio final",
To do so, the artist painted a large fresco called "The Last Judgment,"
Caption 32, Aprendiendo con Carlos El microrrelato - Part 4
Play Caption
All of the words of proper nouns for specific geographical place names in English, like the Andes Mountains or Lake Titicaca, must be capitalized. In Spanish, however, the first words of these proper nouns are lowercase, e.g., la cordillera de los Andes and el lago Titicaca. Let's look at more examples:
y es atravesada por el río Cauca.
and is crossed by the Cauca River.
Caption 17, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 1
Play Caption
en el océano Pacífico y en el mar Caribe.
in the Pacific Ocean and in the Caribbean Sea.
Caption 46, Instinto de conservación Parque Tayrona - Part 4
Play Caption
Although the first person singular personal pronoun "I" is always written with a capital letter in English, its Spanish equivalent yo is not, as we can see here:
No, pueden llorar, pero yo tengo que trabajar.
No, you can cry, but I have to work.
Caption 9, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 8
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped to clarify several of the classes of words that should not be capitalized in Spanish, some of which might seem a bit counterintuitive to English speakers. Can you think of any additional cases in which Spanish and English capitalization are different? Feel free to write us with any questions or comments.
English
Français
Deutsch 
Español
Italiano
Português