Quick idea In Spanish, mal is usually an adverb meaning “badly, in a bad way, wrongly, poorly”. We use it all the time to talk about health, results, behavior, and even moral judgments, so it is much more frequent in real life than many students expect. Some expressions with mal Common when softening criticism or […] More
A simple guide to Spanish ordinals, common Mexican usage, and how French, Italian, and English handle the same idea. Ordinal numbers express order: first, second, third, and so on. In Spanish, the first ten are familiar, but after that the system becomes less regular and more variable in real life. The standard forms Traditional Spanish […] More
Some of these words are very regional, so what sounds normal in one country may sound strange or too strong in another. Some others are very similar across different Romance languages. Spanish has many informal, strange, and funny words for body parts. Some are affectionate, some are slang, and some can sound rude, so […] More
In Spanish, fruits and vegetables don’t always get the same name in every country. You say a word that worked perfectly in one place… and in another country they look at you like you’re speaking Chinese. In this post you’ll see some classic examples, so the next time you see china, palta, batata or pochoclo […] More
If you go to a salón de belleza, peluquería, or centro de belleza, it helps a lot to know some basic Spanish words. In this post, you will also learn common vocabulary for haircuts, hair color, skin care, and nails. For example, how to ask for a corte de pelo, a manicura, or a tratamiento […] More
These common expressions with sin are hard to understand if you translate word by word. This table gives you a natural English meaning and a short explanation with an easy example sentence. Spanish “sin” expression English meaning Notes sin falta without fail We use this in promises or commitments. Example: Te llamo mañana sin […] More
10 Mexican Spanish expressions that are hard to figure out These expressions are common in Mexican Spanish, and probably in other Latin American Spanish varieties but they are very hard to understand if you only translate the words one by one. In this table you can see the natural English idea, a literal meaning, and […] More
Adjectives Before and After the Noun in Spanish Gran hombre or hombre grande? In Spanish, the position of the adjective is not only decoration. Sometimes, when we put the adjective before or after the noun, the meaning can change a lot. 1. Two Main Positions Adjective before the noun: usually more subjective, emotional, or something […] More
The many meanings of cuenta in Spanish The noun cuenta comes from the verb contar (to count / to tell), and it carries both ideas: numbers and stories. From there, Spanish builds a whole family of expressions about money, responsibility, realization, revenge, and more. At the basic level, cuenta can mean: a bill / check in a restaurant (la cuenta) an […] More
