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Amanecer: much more than just “sunrise”
When English speakers learn Spanish, they are usually told that amanecer means sunrise. That is correct sometimes, but the truth is that in Spanish the word amanecer goes far beyond that. It is not only a noun, it is also a verb, and Spanish speakers use it in ways that simply do not exist in […] More
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in Funny, Mexico, News, Translation, Vocabulary
Decoding Governor Newsom’s Tweet: “Vete a la Chingada” Explained
Students of Spanish often encounter phrases that carry a much deeper meaning than their literal translation, and Governor Newsom’s recent tweet, “Vete a la Chingada,” is a good example. While it is a highly offensive expression in many contexts, its use in this particular political situation takes on a nuanced, “playful trolling” tone, which is […] More
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Why Do Spanish Speakers Use Two Last Names?
In most Spanish-speaking countries, people are traditionally identified by two last names. The usual format is: First name + father’s last name + mother’s last name. For example, someone named María González López is María, daughter of Mr. González and Mrs. López. In daily life she may be called simply María González, but in legal […] More
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Rayo
The Spanish word rayo is short, but it has many different meanings. Depending on the situation, it can be translated in many ways in English. That is why it is a good word to look at when comparing Spanish with English and other Romance languages. In Spanish, rayo can mean: A lightning bolt: Le cayó […] More
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Consuegros: Another Spanish Word with No English Equivalent
One of the things students always find fascinating in Spanish is how we have very specific words for family relationships that in English don’t exist. A good example is the word consuegros. Who are the consuegros? Very simple: they are the parents of your son-in-law or your daughter-in-law. In other words, the parents of your […] More
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in Grammar, Mexico, Video, Vocabulary
María Inés, a famous telenovela character
A Little Background on Mirada de Mujer Mirada de Mujer is one of those Mexican telenovelas that really changed the way people looked at the genre. It aired from 1997 to 1998 on TV Azteca and was produced by Argos Televisión. With Angélica Aragón in the role of María Inés, it became an unforgettable story. […] More
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in Culture, Spanish, Translation, Vocabulary
Tocayo, tocaya: More Than Just Sharing a Name
In Spanish, tocayo is a warm and friendly word you use when someone has the same first name as you. It’s like saying “name twin” in English, but with more charm. If your name is Carlos and you meet another Carlos, you can greet him with “¡Hola, tocayo!” and maybe even smile like you’ve known […] More
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in Grammar, Spanish, Translation, Vocabulary
Ser and Estar: Your Essential Spanish Guide
Learning Spanish can be a wonderful and challenging task. One of the most common difficulties for students is knowing when to use the verbs Ser and Estar. Both translate to “to be” in English, but they have very different uses in Spanish. Don’t worry, by the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer idea! […] More
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in Culture, Spanish, Translation
Estrenar: One Spanish Word for First-Time Experiences
Estrenar is one of those Spanish words that doesn’t translate into just one simple English word. In English, we often have to use more words, like “wear for the first time,” “use for the first time,” “debut,” or “premiere,” depending on what we are talking about. In Spanish, estrenar works for almost anything you are […] More
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in Culture, Grammar, Spanish, Translation, Vocabulary
Madrugar — and the Beautiful Word Madrugada
In Spanish, madrugar means “to wake up very early in the morning.” At first, it sounds simple — just wake up early, right? But this word is more than a clock time. It carries a cultural feeling: starting your day before most people are even thinking about coffee. The word comes from madrugada, which is […] More
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in Culture, Funny, Grammar, Spanish, Vocabulary
Spanish Suffixes: re-, rete-, requete- to Exaggerate
In Spanish, we can exaggerate meaning by adding special prefixes to adjectives and adverbs.The most common ones are: re- rete- requete- They all mean very, super, extremely — but in a more informal or playful way.Sometimes they are used in everyday speech, sometimes in children’s books, and sometimes just for fun. re- This is the […] More
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AZUL: one word in Spanish, many blues in other languages
If you speak Spanish, azul is simple: it’s blue. Dark blue, light blue, sky blue… still azul. But in other languages (Italian, French, even English), things get a little more complicated. Where does azul come from? And blue? Azul comes (indirectly) from Arabic lazaward, which comes from Persian and referred to lapis lazuli, the blue […] More
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