Spanish word of the day

Index of previous Spanish Words of the Day.

1	6/5/11	Calzon	2	7/5/11	Apostar	3	8/5/11	Verdad
4	9/5/11	Querer	5	11/5/11	Clandestino	6	12/5/11	Cabello
7	14/5/11	Gustar	8	15/5/11	Esposa	9	16/5/11	Trigo
10	17/5/11	Nido	11	18/5/11	Pasado	12	19/5/11	Dedo
13	20/5/11	Gatear	14	21/5/11	Terremoto	15	22/5/11	Caballo
16	23/5/11	Sueño	17	24/5/11	Abrego	18	25/5/11	Repugnante
19	26/5/11	Pardall	20	27/5/11	Encantar Amar	21	27/5/11	Querer
22	27/5/11	Amar	23	28/5/11	Estacionamiento	24	29/5/11	Hot Cakes
25	30/5/11	Despensa	26	31/5/11	Lujuria	27	1/6/11	Gula
28	2/6/11	Dejar	29	3/6/11	Codicia	30	4/6/11	Pereza
31	5/6/11	Ira	32	6/6/11	Envidiar	33	7/6/11	Orgullo
34	8/6/11	Vegas	35	9/6/11	Nevada	36	10/6/11	Colorado
37	11/6/11	Montana	38	12/6/11	Tejas	39	13/6/11	Florida
40	14/6/11	Punta	41	15/6/11	Concha	42	16/6/11	Boludo
43	17/6/11	Nafta	44	18/6/11	Aspirar	45	19/6/11	El Internet Está Jodido
46	21/6/11	Comida	47	23/6/11	Papá	48	23/6/11	Mamá
49	23/6/11	Papás	50	28/8/11	Viña	51	29/8/11	Milpa
52	30/8/11	Venir	53	31/8/11	Propina	54	1/9/11	Traer
55	2/9/11	E	56	4/9/11	Romper	57	5/9/11	Gastar
58	6/9/11	Advinar	59	7/9/11	Liga	60	7/9/11	Blindaje
61	9/9/11	Plantada	62	12/9/11	Solitario	63	21/9/11	Quejar
64	22/9/11	Casamiendo	65	23/9/11	Pescar	66	25/9/11	Engatusar
67	26/9/11	Pisotear	68	27/9/11	Fruto Seco	69	28/9/11	Sostener
70	29/9/11	Reloj	71	30/9/11	Asistir	72	1/10/11	Pasear
73	2/10/11	Despistado	74	3/10/11	Puñado	75	4/10/11	Portar
76	6/10/11	Fianza	77	7/10/11	Rodear	78	8/10/11	Jamón Ibérico
79	9/10/11	Telo	80	10/10/11	Meter	81	11/10/11	Añadir
82	11/10/11	Agregar	83	12/10/11	Orgulloso	84	13/10/11	Equivocarse
85	14/10/11	Hermosa	86	15/10/11	Terma	87	16/10/11	Cebra
88	17/10/11	Paz	89	18/10/11	Culebra	90	19/10/11	Chicle
91	20/10/11	Cumbre	92	21/10/11	Saltillo	93	22/10/11	Astilla
94	23/10/11	Alacrán	95	24/10/11	Cañada	96	25/10/11	Cueva
97	26/10/11	Ardilla	98	27/10/11	Jarabe	99	28/10/11	Petardo
100	29/10/11	Mariposa	101	30/10/11	Cabaña	102	1/11/11	Ceboruco
103	2/11/11	Arroyo	104	3/11/11	Barro	105	4/11/11	Cemita
106	5/11/11	Peña	107	6/11/11	Cereza	108	7/11/11	Pozo
109	8/11/11	Concordia	110	9/11/11	Vidrio	111	10/11/11	Pimiento
112	11/11/11	Palpitar	113	13/11/11	Cuna	114	14/11/11	Caldo
115	16/11/11	Agujero	116	20/11/11	Cobre	117	29/11/11	Zócolo
118	7/12/11	Piedad	119	8/12/11	Estropea	120	8/12/11	Estómago
121	9/12/11	Soltar	122	9/12/11	Yogur	123	10/12/11	Sonreír
124	10/12/11	Lengua	125	11/12/11	Zanahoria	126	11/12/11	Perfectamente
127	12/12/11	Chirriar	128	12/12/11	Maestra	129	15/12/11	Otoño
130	15/12/11	Hormiga	131	16/12/11	Estrella	132	16/12/11	Vomitar
133	23/12/11	Aguantar	134	24/12/11	Plazo	135	25/12/11	Pelea
136	26/12/11	Merienda	137	28/12/11	Partir	138	31/12/11	Avergonzado
139	9/1/12	Mayordomo	140	10/1/12	Ya	141	12/1/12	Empeñar
142	13/1/12	Batería	143	14/1/12	Masticar	144	15/1/12	Bisiesto
145	16/1/12	Tiempo, Clima	146	17/1/12	Tardar, Durar	147	18/1/12	Baboso
148	19/1/12	Bruto	149	20/1/12	Arándano	150	21/1/12	Acaso
151	22/1/12	Capilla	152	23/1/12	Perdonar	153	24/1/12	Enviar
154	26/1/12	Hipoteca	155	28/1/12	Lloriquear	156	29/1/12	Enfadar
157	2/2/12	Chimenea	158	3/2/12	Fuente	159	4/2/12	Morder
160	5/2/12	Patriota, Gigante	161	6/2/12	Agotar	162	8/2/12	Gozar
163	9/2/12	Acceder	164	10/2/12	Asombrosa	165	11/2/12	Llanta
166	13/2/12	Grifo	167	14/2/12	Joyas	168	16/2/12	Guiñar
169	17/2/12	Burbuja	170	18/2/12	Pertrechos	171	19/2/12	Asentir
172	20/2/12	Largar	173	21/2/12	Aguantar	174	22/2/12	Mezclar
175	25/2/12	Rayo	176	27/2/12	Maldecir	177	1/3/12	Espabilar
178	3/3/12	Carecer	179	4/3/12	Casillero	180	5/3/12	Regañar
181	6/3/12	Aplastar	182	7/3/12	Bostezar	183	9/3/12	Apestar
184	10/3/12	Penoso	185	11/3/12	Pila	186	12/3/12	Conseguir
187	13/3/12	Lloriquear	188	13/3/12	Albóndiga	189	14/3/12	Cifra
190	15/3/12	Saldar	191	16/3/12	Chupa-Chup	192	17/3/12	Captar
193	18/3/12	Cuestión	194	19/3/12	Pecar	195	20/3/12	Motosierra
196	21/3/12	Boquete	197	22/3/12	Atajar	198	23/3/12	Gallito/A
199	24/3/12	Pillar	200	25/3/12	Energúmeno	201	26/3/12	Envolver
202	27/3/12	Atiborrar	203	28/3/12	Indumentaria	204	28/3/12	Cachivache
205	31/3/12	Reprobar	206	1/4/12	Arrancar	207	2/4/12	Chula
208	3/4/12	Telón	209	4/4/12	Estropear	210	5/4/12	Hechicero
211	6/4/12	Palmo	212	7/4/12	Compadecer	213	9/4/12	Ñoño
214	10/4/12	Navaja	215	11/4/12	Derribar	216	12/4/12	Rentabilizar
217	13/4/12	Largar	218	14/4/12	Párvulo	219	15/4/12	Sembrar
220	16/4/12	Migar	221	17/4/12	Liar	222	18/4/12	Alocar
223	19/4/12	Plis-Plas	224	20/4/12	Infarto	225	21/4/12	Quicio
226	22/4/12	Traicionar	227	23/4/12	Aparcamiento	228	24/4/12	Mohoso
229	25/4/12	Jugarreta	230	26/4/12	Arriesgar	231	27/4/12	Empapar
232	28/4/12	Adjudicar	233	29/4/12	Lío	234	30/4/12	Plumazo
235	2/5/12	Espabilar	236	3/5/12	Tiritar	237	4/5/12	Encarga
238	5/5/12	Luchar	239	9/5/12	Subasta	240	12/5/12	Azar
241	19/5/12	Apoderar	242	21/5/12	Bala	243	22/5/12	Carretera
244	23/5/12	Apaciguar	245	24/5/12	Heredar	246	25/5/12	Frenar
247	26/5/12	Rezar	248	27/5/12	Arrastrar	249	28/5/12	Apuro
250	29/5/12	Fregar	251	30/5/12	Discutir	252	31/5/12	Rompecabezas
253	01/06/12	Constar	254	02/06/12	Puñal	255	03/06/12	Conducto
256	04/06/12	Constar	257	05/06/12	Colega	258	06/06/12	Reventar
259	07/06/12	Ojear	260	08/06/12	Espistolar	261	09/06/12	Tope
262	11/06/12	Topar	263	12/06/12	Bombilla	264	13/06/12	Cadena
265	14/06/12	Atragantarse	266	15/06/12	Despejar	267	16/06/12	Naricear
268	14/06/12	Mimar	269	15/06/12	Ruega	270	16/06/12	Alborotar
271	20/06/12	Todoterreno	272	21/06/12	Rebozar	273	22/06/12	Pulga
274	26/06/12	Coraje	275	29/06/12	Lata	276	30/06/12	Recatar
277	01/07/12	Foso	278	02/07/12	Cortacésped	279	03/07/12	Halagar
280	04/07/12	pañuelo	281	05/07/12	Escama	282	06/07/12	Presumir
283	07/07/12	Talvera	284	08/07/12	Sobresalir	285	09/07/12	Colchón
286	10/07/12	Espiar	287	11/07/12	Ortografía	288	16/07/12	Detengar
289	17/07/12	Disparar	290	18/07/12	víspera	291	19/07/12	guateque
292	20/07/12	retrasar	293	21/07/12	Replantear	294	22/07/12	Agrietar
295	?/07/12	Soportar	296	?/07/12	Pocilga	297	?/07/12	Galleta salada
299	?/07/12	Rascar	299	?/07/12	Fugar	300	30/07/12	Muescar
301	31/07/12	Leña	302	1/8/12	Restregar	303	2/8/12	Despistar
304	3/8/12	Furgon	305	4/8/12	Reflexionar	306	5/8/12	Bochorno
307	7/8/12	Atontar	308	7/8/12	Fracasar	309	7/10/12	Despilfarrar
310	8/8/12	Palomitas de maíz	311	8/12/12	Arruinar	312	8/14/12	Bramar
313	8/15/12	Patrón	314	8/16/12	Pavonearse	315	8/17/12	Quinceañera
316	8/18/12	Traguear	317	8/19/12	Aullar	318	8/22/12	Holgazanear

Here is the first entry...

Until today I thought a Calzon was an Italian entré -- like a small pie with meat and other yummy things inside. That is until I watched Telemundo this afternoon, for my usual dose of no-nonsense journalism. Never mind that I don't understand 90% of it. However, I at least added one word to my Spanish vocabulary as a result. After some searching, I found the clip on the Telemundo web site. I think you'll understand the gist of it not knowing even one word of Spanish, and you will like it.

You can tell from the video they seemed to have lots of other terms for a Calzon. The title of that page uses the term pantaletas. So, my Spanish speaking members, what is the proper term?

Meanwhile, I'll try to teach a new Spanish word every day.

Quote: Wizard

You can tell from the video they seemed to have lots of other terms for a Calzone. The title of that page uses the term pantaletas. So, my Spanish speaking members, what is the proper term?

"Calzone" is Italian for men's briefs, which is what the entre is shaped like (more or less). The corresponding Spanish term is "calzón."

"Pantaletas" is Spanish for panties.

I don't speak Spanish or Italian, and I have enough trouble with American English. but maybe there is a relationship between the words for the food item you thought of and for the item described in in the video clip, as hinted at by this definition:

Quote: Some dictionary on my computer

calzone |kalˈzōn(ē)|,
noun ( pl. -zoni |-ˈzōnē| or -zones |-ˈzōn(ē)z|)
a type of pizza that is folded in half before cooking to contain a filling.
ORIGIN Italian dialect, probably a special use of calzone ‘trouser leg,’ with reference to the shape of the pizza.

Edit: Ooops, once again. Slow typing combined with a more knowledgeable member posting ahead of me.

Quote: Wizard

After some searching, I found the clip on the Telemundo web site. I think you'll understand the gist of it not knowing even one word of Spanish, and you will like it.


Meanwhile, I'll try to teach a new Spanish word every day.

Oh, the sacrifices you make to educate us! :P

Quote: Nareed

"Calzone" is Italian for men's briefs, which is what the entre is shaped like (more or less). The corresponding Spanish term is "calzón."

"Pantaletas" is Spanish for panties.

Not to say you're wrong, but look at the 1:17 point of the video. The caption says "Mas mujeres optan por no usar calzones." It would seem the video editor has a different opinion that yours. I did not see one close-up of a man's cola the entire clip.

My Spanish tutor warned me that Telemundo and Univision butcher the Spanish language all the time.

Quote: Wizard

Not to say you're wrong, but look at the 1:17 point of the video. The caption says "Mas mujeres optan por no usar calzones." It would seem the video editor has a different opinion that yours. I did not see one close-up of a man's cola the entire clip.

Remember I warned you the usage of common words varies in different Latin American countries? In Mexico calzón means men's briefs. The plural is calzones, though. it can also mean any other type of men's undies, too. Here you won't hear the word calzón applied to women's wear at all.

So maybe I'm not right, but I'm definitely not wrong :P

Quote: Wizard

Not to say you're wrong, but look at the 1:17 point of the video. The caption says "Mas mujeres optan por no usar calzones." It would seem the video editor has a different opinion that yours. I did not see one close-up of a man's cola the entire clip.

My Spanish tutor warned me that Telemundo and Univision butcher the Spanish language all the time.

calzón singular
calzones plural

If a noun ends in a vowel, simply add -s.
If a noun ends in a consonant, simply add -es.

You can also use calzones in plural with a singular meaning

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Chicano English is a relatively new dialect that is developing in the Southwest. It's people who speak English with a Latino dialect, but who do not speak Spanish. Try the Chicano English Quiz and listen to the four interviews with Tomás, Mario, Carlos, Salvador. Then decide if they're bilingual, or if they speak only English. I am curious if Nareed can pick out the bilinguals from the monolinguals.

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Code-switching is the complete opposite of Chicano English. Somebody who speaks Chicano English doesn't know Spanish per se but might choose to mix in words in Spanish. Code-switching is people with total command of both languages whose brains seek out the best word to use in each case regardless of the language chosen.

Quote: pacomartin

Chicano English is a relatively new dialect that is developing in the Southwest. It's people who speak English with a Latino dialect, but who do not speak Spanish.

Is there such a thing as a dialect of Spanish as spoken in the United States? If so, what is it called? Mexican Spanish obviously has a big influence, but are there any regional differences between the southern US and northern Mexico? What else could explain the Calzones thing?

Question for the Spanish speakers. What do you call a swimming pool, a piscina or an alberca? How about a car, a carro or automovil?

Quote: Wizard

Is there such a thing as a dialect of Spanish as spoken in the United States? If so, what is it called? Mexican Spanish obviously has a big influence, but are there any regional differences between the southern US and northern Mexico? What else could explain the Calzones thing?

There is some difference. When I was in mortgage processing we got a small but steady number of spanish-only speaking customers. Before we hired a translation service we had one guy who spoke spanish. He told me it was not as easy for him as people thought. He said he knew "Puerto Rico Spanish" (this was in NY State) and that was fine. But callers from the southwest more spoke "Mexican Spanish" and the dialect was different. The best explanation was picture if you went to London and heard the people talking. Same language but a different accent and lots of local terms.

Quote: Wizard

Is there such a thing as a dialect of Spanish as spoken in the United States? If so, what is it called? Mexican Spanish obviously has a big influence, but are there any regional differences between the southern US and northern Mexico?

Hell, yes. There are regional variations within Mexico. Suppose you want to ask someone why he parked his pickup truck so far from the market. In Mex City you'd say "¿Porque estacioanste tu camioneta tan lejos del mercado?" while up in the north, epsecially nearer the border, you'd ask "¿Porque aparcaste la troca tan lejos de la marqueta?"

Quote:

Question for the Spanish speakers. What do you call a swimming pool, a piscina or an alberca? How about a car, a carro or automovil?

Both alternatives in both examples are right. In Mexico you won't hear piscina or automovil very often.

Quote: Wizard

Question for the Spanish speakers. What do you call a swimming pool, a piscina or an alberca? How about a car, a carro or automovil?

A friend of mine who owns a used car lot says that it depends on where the person is from. I believe he said that if they are from Mexico, it is carro, if from Nicaragua automovil. I think he mentioned cocha, but the conversation was at least 10 years ago. I could also be wrong on what country used what term; the gist is that it depends.

Quote: Mosca

A friend of mine who owns a used car lot says that it depends on where the person is from. I believe he said that if they are from Mexico, it is carro, if from Nicaragua automovil. I think he mentioned cocha, but the conversation was at least 10 years ago. I could also be wrong on what country used what term; the gist is that it depends.

I think carro is much more common in the southwest US. My Spanish tutor mentioned coche is also an option, but I can't recall anybody actually using it.

Fecha: 7 de Mayo
Palabra de la dia: APOSTAR

Apostar means to bet/gamble. Naturally, this word comes up a lot as I struggle to describe my daily life to my Spanish tutor. The verb jugar might also be used to mean gamble, but that is also the word for play, as in to play a game. I think there deserves to be a dedicated word for gambling, so I prefer to go with apostar.

The word for the noun bet, as in I made a $10 bet, is apuesta, which can also mean dashing/handsome in reference to anyone of the female gender. You would use apuesto for a man.

To use our word of the day in a sentence:

Quiero apostar en el Derby de Kentucky hoy. = I want to bet on the Kentucky Derby today.
Note: corrected (thanks nareed)

As always, I welcome correction and comments from those who really understand the language.

Quote: Wizard

Me gusta apostar por la Kentucky Derby de hoy = I want to bet on the Kentucky Derby today.

Quiero apostar en el Derby de Kentucky hoy.

Quiero = I want (also I love)

Me gusta = I like

Hoy = Today

De hoy = of today, or today's

Quote: Wizard

Apostar means to bet/gamble. Naturally, this word comes up a lot as I struggle to describe my daily life to my Spanish tutor. The verb jugar might also be used to mean gamble, but that is also the word for play, as in to play a game. I think there deserves to be a dedicated word for gambling, so I prefer to go with apostar.

play is from an old Anglo Saxon verb (plegian) "to exercise, frolic, perform music,". The word existed for hundreds of years before it acquired the connotation of being the opposite of work. As with most Anglo-Saxon words it has multiple meanings in modern English which have dozens of counterparts in Latin.

The Latin based languages (usually called Romance since they spoke the language of the Romans) are spoken by close to a billion people. Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian Protuguese , French , Italian with Romanian and Catalan being lesser languages. Smaller languages left are Corsican, Emiliano-Romagnolo, Galician, Gascon, Lombard, Mirandese, Occitan, Piedmontese, Aromanian, Sardinian, Sicilian, Venetian, Asturian, Neapolitan and Friulian.

While this is simplistic, Italian kept most of the vocabulary, Romanian kept most of the noun declensions, and Spanish kept most of the verb structure of Latin. Spanish traditionally had very few foreign vocabulary influences except for Arabic.

Principal Meanings of the verb play (not the noun)
play a game - jugar
play music - tocar
play a part in desempeñar
play an stringed instrument - tañer

Gamble and bet are also from Anglo Saxon or Old English. But we post a wager which is English words based on Latin. As you would expect, the latin based word would form the basis of the Spanish verb.

Verbs can be transitive (act on an object),intransitive (act on nothing) or reflexive (act on yourself). Sometimes variations of the same verb can have versions of all types.

te apuesto una cena a que gana el Madrid -> I bet you the price of a dinner that Madrid will win
apuesto a que no viene -> I bet he doesn't come
apostarse algo con alguien -> to bet somebody something
Apostarlas or apostárselas -> to contend, to defy
Apostar carreras -> to run races

Quote: Wizard

Is there such a thing as a dialect of Spanish as spoken in the United States? If so, what is it called? Mexican Spanish obviously has a big influence, but are there any regional differences between the southern US and northern Mexico? What else could explain the Calzones thing?

I don't think there is any clear distinction between Spanish spoken in the USA and Spanish in northern Mexico. But the Spanish spoken in the Mexican states near the border is distinctly different than that in Mexico city, or along the oceans, or in the south or Yucatan.

Spanish is clearly going to be influenced by the 56 indigenous languages as well.

Quote: pacomartin

play is from an old Anglo Saxon verb (plegian) "to exercise, frolic, perform music,"...

Thank you for going beyond the call of duty, as always. Most of the languages in your list I have never even heard of.

Fecha: 8 de Mayo
Palabra de la dia: VERDAD

This is la otra Spanish Mike with your Spanish word of the day. Who is the original Spanish Mike, you might ask? Paco turned me onto his video One' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngRq82c8Baw]One Semester of Spanish Love Song. That is the most enjoyable thing I've seen on YouTube for a long time, thanks Paco.

To get to the point, the word of the day is verdad=truth. How might you remember this one? Think of these English words: verdict, verify, version, and verily. What do they all have in common besides starting with ver? They all have to do with the truth, or at least the quest for it.

How about the suffix "dad?" I'm not sure what that means, but if nareed can't help, Paco is seldom stumped. One thing I do know is that Spanish words ending in the suffix 'dad' have in common is that they are all feminine words.

Recently, when I was torturing my poor tutor with trying to say something in Spanish I said "el verdad." She corrected me, saying verdad is feminine, because women always like the truth. Hmmm. I'm not sure that was a truthful reason. Tal vez estaba bromeando.*

Example time.

Tú no habias afrontar la verdad. = You can't handle the truth.

* Corrected, thanks nareed.

The easiest English word that comes from the latin word for truth is "very". Which is roughly the same meaning as "truly".

Generally we say that verbs have "conjugations" and nouns have "declensions". Noun declensions can be complicated (look up in Wikipedia), and Romanian is the modern Latin based language that kept most of the Latin noun declensions. But Spanish did keep the idea of a noun having masculine or feminine gender.

Example of masculine noun
calzón (plural calzones)

Feminine nouns
(1) Generally nouns ending in "-a"
la fruta, la mesa, la palabra ( exceptions!)

(2) Nouns ending in "-dad" / "-tad" / "-tud"
la ciudad, la edad, la universidad
la amistad, la facultad, la libertad
la inquietud, la juventud, la virtud

(3) Nouns ending in "-ción" / "-sión" / "-gión"
la canción, la estación, la lección
la profesión, la televisión, la tensión
la legión, la región, la religión

(4) Nouns ending in "-ez", as long as they refer to abstract nouns formed with suffixes
la rigidez -- rigidity
la sensatez -- soberness
la validez -- validity
la vejez -- old age, oldness

(5) Nouns ending in "-triz"
la actriz, la directriz, la emperatriz

(6) Nouns ending in "-umbre"
la costumbre, la incertidumbre, la legumbre

(7) Shortened version of originally feminine nouns
la disco -- la discoteca*
la foto -- la fotografía
la moto -- la motocicleta
la tele -- la televisión
* but when it refers to a disk, it's el disco

(8) Nouns referring to women
la madre -- mother
la mujer -- woman, wife

Quote: Why gender sucks when you are trying to learn Spanish

Because you cannot predict the gender of most nouns.
Because not every noun that ends in -o is masculine, and not every noun that ends in -a is feminine.
Because many nouns end in letters other than o or a.

Por ejemplo. Do you think the Spanish word for "dress" is masculine or feminine? Actually, the word for "dress" is : el vestido

Muchas palabras que terminan en "-tad" o "-dad" en espanol terminan en "-ty" en ingles:

universidad - university
maternidad - maternity
nacionalidad - nationality
calidad - quality

But the precise meaning or origin of suffixes and prefixes is often not obvious. Nareed is just as likely to know what -dad means as you are to know what -ty means.

Some suffixes and prefixes are obvious. Suffixes that enlarge or diminish are an example. But often times it is obscure.

For example in the English words: amnesty, levity, depravity, laxity, audacity, surety, temerity, scanty, haughty, humidity, specialty, majority, ability, humanity, activity, creativity, vanity, loyalty, lucidity the suffix "ty" or "ity" means state of, quality of, or condition of.
But university is the quality of "universalness"?

Using this meaning of the suffix -ty in English, and -dad in Spanish, combined with the latin word for truth, "ver" you get "verdad" which is having the quality or state of truth.

Women love truth. Tell her her dress makes her look frumpy.

English is the most studied language on the planet. The Oxford 3000 is a core vocabulary list for people learning English. It might be a good place to start your Spanish vocabulary.

Limon y sal
Tengo que confesar que a veces,
no me gusta tu forma de ser,
luego te me desapareces
y no entiendo muy bien porque,
no dices nada romantico
cuando llega el atardecer,
te pones de un humor extraño
con cada luna llena al mes.

Pero a todo lo demás,
le gana lo bueno que me das,
solo tenerte cerca,
siento que vuelvo a empezar.

Chorus
Yo te quiero con limon y sal,
yo te quiero tal y como estas,
no hace falta cambiarte nada,
yo te quiero si vienes o si vas,
si subes y bajas y no estas
seguro de lo que sientes.

Tengo que confesarte ahora,
nunca creí en la felicidad,
a veces algo se le parece,
pero es pura casualidad,
Luego me vengo a encontrar
con tus ojos me dan algo mas,
solo tenerte cerca,
siento que vuelvo a empezar.

Chorus x 2

Solo tenerte cerca
siento que vuelvo a empezar.

Quote: Wizard

How about the suffix "dad?" I'm not sure what that means, but if nareed can't help, Paco is seldom stumped.

Spanish doesn't do much with prefixes and suffixes anyway. I can tell you verdad is descended from the Latin veritas, past that, as the old Spanish saying has it, ni p**** idea (don't try that with your tutor)

Quote:

One thing I do know is that Spanish words ending in the suffix 'dad' have in common is that they are all feminine words.

Really? I dind't knwo that. Mostly you memorize such things through repeated sue. Of course, I started some decades before you did...

Quote:

Tal vez ella fue bromas.

I'm afraid you're slipping. that phrase doesn't make sense. literally you said "Maybe she was jokes."

Assuming you wanted to say "Maybe she was kidding," then "tal vez ella bromeaba," or "Tal vez estaba bromeando."

You think nouns are hard, just wait til you hit conjugation.

Quote:

Tú no habias afrontar la verdad. = You can't handle the truth.

Tu no puedes afrontar la verdad, o tu no puedes manejar la verdad.

Thanks to Nareed for the corrections and to Paco for the song. By the way, I don't want you guys to feel I'm abusing your help. I owe both of you a favor, and I consider the meter to still be running on that.

That said, here is my stab at translating Paco's song. I really enjoyed the video, by the way.

Español	Ingles
Tengo que confesar que a veces,	I have to confess that at times,
no me gusta tu forma de ser,	I don't like the form you take,
luego te me desapareces	later you disappear on me,
y no entiendo muy bien porque,	and I don't understand very well because,
no dices nada romantico	you don't say anything romantic
cuando llega el atardecer,	when the sunset arrives,
te pones de un humor extraño	you put on a strange mood
con cada luna llena al mes.	when each full moon arrives.
Pero a todo lo demás,	But all the rest,
le gana lo bueno que me das,	is beaten by the good you give me,
solo tenerte cerca,	only to have you arround
siento que vuelvo a empezar.	I feel I turn to begin
Chorus
Yo te quiero con limon y sal,	I want you with lemon and salt,
yo te quiero tal y como estas,	I want you so and how you are,
no hace falta cambiarte nada,	It's not your fault change nothing,
yo te quiero si vienes o si vas,	I want you if you come or if you go,
si subes y bajas y no estas	If you rise up and if you don't.
seguro de lo que sientes.	It is secure where you sit.
Tengo que confesarte ahora,	I have to confess now,
nunca creí en la felicidad,	never believed in happiness,
a veces algo se le parece,	at times all seems,
pero es pura casualidad,	but it is a pure coincidence,
Luego me vengo a encontrar	Later I come to find
con tus ojos me dan algo mas,	with you eyes give me something more
solo tenerte cerca,	only to have you around
siento que vuelvo a empezar.	I feel I'm turning to begin
Chorus x 2
Solo tenerte cerca	only to have you around
siento que vuelvo a empezar.	I feel I'm turning to begin

Quote: Wizard

That said, here is my stab at translating Paco's song. I really enjoyed the video, by the way.

Someone else's translation

Siento que vuelvo a empezar <==> me siento que puedo empezar de nuevo
I feel like I can start again.

Julieta is from Tijuana, and has lived in California for a while. She is a pop singer that doesn't always use a huge range. I thought if you can sing you might try the chorus. It would really impress your Spanish teacher.


From the same album (this one really has an easy chorus):
Me Voy
Porque no supiste entender a mi corazón
lo que había en el porque no tuviste el valor de ver quien soy
porque no escuchas lo que esta tan cerca de ti
sólo el ruido de afuera y yo
que estoy a un lado desaparezco para ti

No voy a llorar y decir que no merezco esto
porque es probable que lo merezco pero no lo quiero
por eso me voy que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti y me voy
que lastima pero adios me despedio de ti

Porque se que me espera algo mejor
alguien que sepa darme amor
de ese que endulza la sal y hace que salga el sol
yo que pense nunca me iría de ti
que es amor del bueno de toda la vida
pero hoy entendí que no hay suficiente para los dos

No voy a llorar y decir que no merezco esto
porque es probable que lo merezco pero no lo quiero
por eso me voy que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti y me voy
que lastima pero adios me despedio de ti

Me voy que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti y me voy
que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti y me voy
que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti
me voy
que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti
me voy

Thanks again for turning me onto Julieta Venegas. I'll have to get some of her discos.

Okay, here is one of many verses I got wrong:

yo te quiero si vienes o si vas,

I translated quiero to "I like."

It is hard to break the habit of knowing querer only as to want, but I recognize that it also means to love. My question is, how do you know whether someone is saying they want something or love something. I could imagine huge misunderstandings around this. Even in this particular verse, how do you know?

Quote: pacomartin

Someone else's translation

A bad one.

Here's mine:


Tengo que confesar que a veces,
I have to confess sometimes
no me gusta tu forma de ser,
I don't like the way you are
luego te me desapareces
Then you disappear
y no entiendo muy bien porque,
And Y don't understand why
no dices nada romantico
cuando llega el atardecer,
You don't say anything romantic
when dusk comes
te pones de un humor extraño
You get into a strange mood
con cada luna llena al mes.
with every full moon each month

Pero a todo lo demás,
But everything else
le gana lo bueno que me das,
is beaten by the good you give me
solo tenerte cerca,
just having you close
siento que vuelvo a empezar.
makes me feels I'm starting again

Chorus
Yo te quiero con limon y sal,
I want you with lime and salt
yo te quiero tal y como estas,
I want you hust the way you are
no hace falta cambiarte nada,
There's no need to change anything
yo te quiero si vienes o si vas,
I want you if you come or go
si subes y bajas y no estas
if you go up or down and when you're not here
seguro de lo que sientes.
sure that you feel it

Tengo que confesarte ahora,
I ahve to confess now
nunca creí en la felicidad,
I never believed in happiness
a veces algo se le parece,
sometimes something is like it
pero es pura casualidad,
but it's just a coincidence
Luego me vengo a encontrar
Then I come to find
con tus ojos me dan algo mas,
Your eyes give me something more
solo tenerte cerca,
Just having you close
siento que vuelvo a empezar.
Makes me feel I'm starting again.

Quote: Wizard

It is hard to break the habit of knowing querer only as to want, but I recognize that it also means to love. My question is, how do you know whether someone is saying they want something or love something. I could imagine huge misunderstandings around this. Even in this particular verse, how do you know?

Context.

In a love song, though, want and love work about as well.

Anyway, love doesn't apply when talking about things or actions. So anyone saying "quiero comer," "quiero ir al cine," "quiero un vestido," means want in every case.

You can say you love something. If you wanted to say "I love this dress," you'd say "Amo este vestido." Though you'd more likely say "adoro este vestido," or "me encanta este vestido (BTW I'm doing some shopping in another browser window...)

Quote: Nareed's translation

Yo te quiero con limon y sal,
I want you with lime and salt

Thank you for the translation. As I wrote before, I'm not just humoring you with this stuff, but am really trying to get better. I definitely owe you a favor for your help.

So, your translation of quiero illustrates my point about the problem with querer. You used want, but the online translation, which I know you don't like, went with love. Why did you choose to go with want? In English there is a huge difference between those two words. It is a big deal to say "I love you" here, especially for women, and if you used a word that could mean want or love, the person on the receiving end would wonder which one you meant.

Quote: Wizard

Thank you for the translation. As I wrote before, I'm not just humoring you with this stuff, but am really trying to get better. I definitely owe you a favor for your help.

So, your translation of quiero illustrates my point about the problem with querer. You used want, but the online translation, which I know you don't like, went with love. Why did you choose to go with want? In English there is a huge difference between those two words. It is a big deal to say "I love you" here, especially for women, and if you used a word that could mean want or love, the person on the receiving end would wonder which one you meant.

Perhaps it is because I studied ancient Greek and Latin decades ago, but I always look at etymology.

Love is based in Old English, Want is based in Old Norse. Generally, I find that English words based on Old Norse have often the most non-subtle meanings (think Viking invasions). "Want" originally meant "to lack something" which you struggle to "get" (another Old Norse verb).

The Latin verb quaerō, (first person) means: I seek, I seek to obtain, I strive for, I endeavor, I miss, I lack, I desire, I question, I inquire, and I require.

The Latin word is carried down into English in words like quest, query, and question. In particular quest is to fulfill a lack or desire. With prefixes the verb becomes require, acquire,inquire, conquest, and exquisite. All words are variations on the same concept of seeking for something of value.

Perhaps Nareed has more insight, but usually I just try to tell from overall context if you the mild want translation is required for a simple need (like the Taco Bell commercials), or if you want that person from the depth of your soul.

Since Spanish started out basically a regional dialect of Latin, it tends to keep the range of meanings. All of the Latin vocabulary was shoved into English, but not always in a way that is obvious. In addition the words that are most commonly used in English are not the ones based on Latin.

Quote: Wizard

So, your translation of quiero illustrates my point about the problem with querer. You used want, but the online translation, which I know you don't like, went with love. Why did you choose to go with want?

Want expresses a desire while love expresses a feeling. The song feels more like desire than feelings.

Though maybe it's other musical influences. one of my all-time favorite songs in Olivia Newton John's "Make a move on me." The chorus goes

"I'm the one you want
that's all I gotta be.
So come on, baby,
Make a move on me"

BTW, here's a word to give you headaches: despensa

There are at least three possible usages, exemplified as follows:

1) Mete la mostaza a la despensa

2) Me pagarón parte de mi sueldo con vales de despensa

3) Recibí una despensa del gobierno estatal.

Now I'll go laugh maniacally like a cheap B-movie villain.

Let's make QUERER the word of the day for May 9, since we're still discussing it.

First, could I say that querer is perhaps a softer version of love than amar? Kind of like in Greek philos would be softer than agape. I have a Spanish lesson at 2:30 and will see why my maestra says about all this.

Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell? I was just there yesterday and annoying the manager with hot sauce questions. Damn!, I could have asked this instead. I'm sure she spoke Spanish.

Third, that Olivia songs reminds me of my favorite Abba song, although it is hard to pick just one, because they had so many huge hits.

"If you change your mind,
I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me"

Fourth, I just stumbled upon the fact that Gidget, the Taco Bell chihuahua, died in 2009. She was also the dog in Legally Blonde 2. This shows you the kind of thing I manage to waste my time researching. “Yo quiero Taco Bell” Chihuahua Has Gone to Rainbow Bridge.

Fifth, I just wrote to Taco Bell, via their web site, the following question.

Quote: Taco Bell inquiry

Hello. I'm trying to learn Spanish, and understand that QUIERO can mean I want or I love. I'm sure you're aware of the Taco Bell chihuahua, who said "Yo quiero Taco Bell."

My question, is was he/she saying I want, or love, Taco Bell? Thank you for helping me with my Spanish. I have been enjoying eating at your restaurants for many years.

Quote: Wizard

\First, could I say that querer is perhaps a softer version of love than amar? Kind of like in Greek philos would be softer than agape. I have a Spanish lesson at 2:30 and will see why my maestra says about all this.
Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell? I was just there yesterday and annoying the manager with hot sauce questions. Damn!, I could have asked this instead. I'm sure she spoke Spanish.

Wikipedia translates it both ways, ¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" ("I want Taco Bell!" or "I love Taco Bell!"), but usually on the commercial it is "I want my Taco Bell".

While philos is brotherly love, and agape is romantic love, I think querer is more like the similar word in English, I require something. Which can have a range of levels from simple want to a passionate need.

There is the verb 'amar' in Spanish if you want to be more precise.

Quote: Wizard

Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell? I was just there yesterday and annoying the manager with hot sauce questions. Damn!, I could have asked this instead. I'm sure she spoke Spanish.

So, you eat at Taco Bell? I was craving tacos yesterday but ended up with Indian food since the idea of Taco Bell skeeves me out. But it's okay?

They may have picked the word for the very reason it means both things!

Quote: pacomartin

I think querer is more like the similar word in English, I require something. Which can have a range of levels from simple want to a passionate need.

Maybe you're right in your theory that it comes from the Latin quaerō, in which case it should always lean towards wanting something, which was how I originally used querer before I got confused with adding love to it.

I have a Spanish lesson today, and will bring out a printout of the Limon y Sal lyrics. However, I'll bet that she will go with translating the usage there as love. She seems to like to express things in an affectionate way.

Paco, we have our lessons in a coffee shop. If you ever want to drop by to say hello, drop me a PM.

Nareed, I'll look into your word from the last page next. Maybe the word of the day for tomorrow.

Quote: FarFromVegas

So, you eat at Taco Bell? I was craving tacos yesterday but ended up with Indian food since the idea of Taco Bell skeeves me out. But it's okay?

Not very much, once every one or two months. Usually on Sundays I ride bikes with my son, and sometimes my daughter, to a local restaurant. My son likes to pick Taco Bell, which is fine with me too.

Quote: Wizard

First, could I say that querer is perhaps a softer version of love than amar? Kind of like in Greek philos would be softer than agape. I have a Spanish lesson at 2:30 and will see why my maestra says about all this.

You could look at it that way. Someone saying they love their friends would say "quiero mucho a mis amigos," but he woulnd't say "amo a mis amigos." But there are no hard and fast rules about it.

Overall "querer" is used more as "to want" than "to love."

Quote:

Second, is the chihuahau saying he wants or loves Taco Bell?

He wants Taco Bell.

At some point make a list of Latin verbs, then the English words derived from those Latin verbs, then the Spanish verbs derived from the Latin, then the Anglo-Saxon/ Germanic or Old Norse based English verbs that have a similar meaning. Often the Online etymology dictionary is helpful. If a word comes from Old French that means it once had Latin base (England was conquered by Normans in 1066, not by Spaniards.

Example:
Latin verb: cognoscō: cognoscere:
Spanish verb: conozco: conocer:
Spanish related words/phrases: un conocido(an acquiantance), poner en conocimiento de (to inform about), reconocer(recognize or admit), desconocer(to be ignorant of)
English "Old English" word: I know; to know
English "Latin" words: acquaint, cognition, cognizance, connoisseur, incognito, notice, notify, notion, notorious, quaint, recognize, reconnaissance, reconnoiter

The Anglo-Saxons used two distinct words for this, witan (see wit) and cnawan.

Logically if "know" is a word, then "reknow" should also be a word, but English switches to the Latin base and says "recognize".

Latin verbs (A to K)
Latin verbs (L to Z)

Quote: Te Conozco Bien

Marc Anthony who was born in New York City.
Siento pena,
pena porque te quise de veras
rabia porque te di
lo que nunca
imaginaste un dia tener
todo el mundo a tus pies

Siento lastima
porque yo se que aun
tu me extranas
lo noto en tu voz
las veces que llamas
porque yo se que sufres con el
aunque fingas ser fiel

Mira si yo te conozco bien
que me atreveria jurar
que no duras junto a el
un fin de semana mas
sin que extranes en tu piel
todas mis caricias

[Coro:]
Yo que te conozco bien
me atreveria a jurar
que vas a regresar
que tocaras mi puerta
yo que te conozco a ti
me atreveria decir
que estas arrepentida

[Repite Coro]

Mira si yo se tanto de ti
que me atreveria decir
que en las noches al dormir
me imaginas junto a ti
devorando como el mar
toda tu malicia

[Repite Coro 2X]

Hey!

Te conozco bien...
estas arrepentida
Yo que conozco tu cuerpo y tu piel
me atreveria a jurar
que me extranas, mujer
(te conozco bien)
te conozco bien
(estas arrepentida)
que tu volveras
que tu volveras
que tu volveras a mi puerta
y para ese momento
siempre estara abierta

(te conozco bien)
te conozco bien
(estas arrepentida)
tu regresaras
y aqui te espero, negrita

pa pa ra ri ra ra [8X]

pa pa ra ri ra ra [4X]
volveras
pa pa ra ri ra ra
otra vez
pa pa ra ri ra ra
yo lo se
pa pa ra ri ra ra
dime que
pa pa ra ri ra ra
volveras
pa pa ra ri ra ra
otra vez
pa pa ra ri ra ra
yo lo se
pa pa ra ri ra ra
dime que
pa pa ra ri ra ra
volveras

Quote: Wizard

Thank you for the translation. As I wrote before, I'm not just humoring you with this stuff, but am really trying to get better. I definitely owe you a favor for your help.

Careful what you say. I was going to send you a bill for services rendered, but now it's really open-ended :P

Who knows, I might ask for my soul back :D

Could the word also be translated as "desire"? I still think the ambiguity was intentional.

If we're going to be posting songs, let's post something of better lyrical quality:

Todo pasa y todo queda
Pero lo nuestro es pasar
Pasar haciendo caminos
Caminos sobre la mar

Nunca perseguí la gloria
Ni dejar en la memoria
de los hombres mi canción

Yo amo los mundos sutiles
ingrávidos y gentiles
como pompas de jabón

Me gusta verlos pintarse
de sol y grana, volar
bajo el cielo azul temblar
subitamente y quebrarse

Caminante son tus huellas el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino se hace camino al andar.

Al andar se hace camino Y al volver la vista atrás
Se ve la senda que nunca Se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante no hay camino sino estelas en la mar...

Let's see how long it takes Paco to identify this one...

Edited to add the rest:

Hace algún tiempo en ese lugar
Donde hoy los bosques se visten de espinos
Se oyó la voz de un poeta gritar
"Caminante no hay camino
Se hace camino al andar"

Murió el poeta lejos del hogar
Lo cubre el polvo de un país vecino
Al alejarse le vieron llorar:
"Caminante no hay camino
Se hace camino al andar."

Golpe a golpe
verso a verso

Cuando el jilguero no puede cantar
Cuando el poeta es un peregrino
Cuando de nada nos sirve rezar
Caminante no hay camino
Se hace camino al andar

Golpe a golpe
Verso a verso.

I wouldn't attempt a translation of this piece.

Quote: FarFromVegas

Could the word also be translated as "desire"? I still think the ambiguity was intentional.

Desire is a possibility, but there is a word "desear" that specifically means to desire.

I am not sure why there is perceived problem. In English we use "want" from wanting a burger to carnal desire. It can also be a romantic word, as I want you in my life. And all the related English words built on the Latin word are in pursuit of satisfying this want. You go on a quest, you become acquainted, you require this person in your life, you conquer (i.e. achieve your goal), and you acquire her hand in marriage.


Video of song

Quote: pacomartin

I am not sure why there is perceived problem. In English we use "want" from wanting a burger to carnal desire. It can also be a romantic word, as I want you in my life. And all the related English words built on the Latin word are in pursuit of satisfying this want. You go on a quest, you become acquainted, you require this person in your life, you conquer (i.e. achieve your goal), and you acquire her hand in marriage.

It is a problem because want and love, while similar, still mean different things. For example, consider this exchange in front of a romantic fireplace.

Girl: Te quiero. = I want/love you.
Boy starts to take off girl's clothes.
Girl: What are you doing!
Boy: Didn't you want to do...it?
Girl: No! I meant I LOVE you, not I WANT you!

Quote: Wizard

Girl: Tu quiero. = I want/love you.

That's "tE quiero." "Tu quiero" is meaningless.

I told you conjugations were hard.

It's similar in Italian. Most Italians say "Ti voglio bene" -- literally, "I want you well" when expressing love for another. I don't understand the nuances (never did pick it up even after living there), but it's a much more common construction than "Ti amo" -- literally, "I love you."

Quote: pacomartin

Desire is a possibility, but there is a word "desear" that specifically means to desire.

It also means "wish," both noun and verb, and is used more that way. Except at restaurants, where you may be asked "¿que desea ordenar?" At a birthday party, before blowing out the candles you may be told "Pide un deseo."

Quote: Nareed

Quote: Wizard

Girl: Tu quiero. = I want/love you.

That's "tE quiero." "Tu quiero" is meaningless.

I told you conjugations were hard.

140 people blog about when to use te quiero and when to use te amo

Pronombres:
Palabras que reemplazan sustantivos.

Pronombres personales
como sujeto: yo, ‎tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros ellos/ellas/ustedes
como objeto directo: me, te, lo/la , nos, los/las
como objeto indirecto: me, te, le, .. nos, les

You used first person singular conjugation "quiero" meaning "I want"
The pronoun for the direct object for English you in Spanish is "te".
In English the pronouns for subjective and direct object are both "you".

Indirect object pronouns are more rare in English than in Spanish. They are not gender specific in the 3rd person.

Historical note: English used to have a familiar 2nd person pronoun, it was thou in the singular, and ye in the plural, but has become archaic. Because people rarely see it anymore except in the King James version of the bible (published 1611), many people mistakenly believe it is a "holy" word. Actually the words were pretty common.

Quote: pacomartin

Historical note: English used to have a familiar 2nd person pronoun, it was thou in the singular, and ye in the plural, but has become archaic.

I always thought "you" was the familiar form and "thou" was the formal one.

I understand French suffer sfrom the same problem, but it's not like French is a real language anyway. I'm clueless about Portuguese.

Quote: Nareed

I always thought "you" was the familiar form and "thou" was the formal one.

I understand French suffer sfrom the same problem, but it's not like French is a real language anyway. I'm clueless about Portuguese.

The French have "vous" and "tu". Vous is the formal one, and also the plural version.

Germans have "Sie" and "du" (and in that order). A quick search suggests "du" and "thou" had similar roots in the language, and thou is the familar version..

(Think "Abandon all hope ye that enter here"... )

Quote: Nareed

I always thought "you" was the familiar form and "thou" was the formal one.

The reason you think that is an artifact of only hearing the word "thou" in costume dramas or in religious settings.
The books of the bible were written in Hebrew, but most of the time the discussion of God's are in the familiar. You can translate into contemporary Spanish, but not contemporary English.

Look at the first commandment:

אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים:
: לֹא-יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, עַל-פָּנָי.

I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. (1611)

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me. (1901)

Yo soy Jehová tu Dios, que te saqué de la tierra de Egipto, de casa de servidumbre.
No tendrás dioses ajenos delante de mí. (1960)

Quote: Wizard

Meanwhile, I'll try to teach a new Spanish word every day.

Why bother? Just yell louder and louder in English until they finally understand.