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votes
2 answers
imperative or subjunctive
In my Spanish class I have learnt that only the second person (s & pl) has distinct forms for the imperative, but the forms for all other persons are the same as for the subjunctive.
Pragmatically, that's all I need to know to express myself, but…
gpr
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7
votes
5 answers
Computer science, software engineer/developer, and programmer
When visiting Spanish-speaking countries, I've been told various ways to translate these terms:
Computer Science (as in a university degree program)
Software Engineer
Software Developer
Programmer
What is the most accurate way to translate these…
jrdioko
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7
votes
8 answers
When the Moors conquered Spain did Spaniards already speak Spanish?
When the Moors conquered Spain did Spaniards already speak Spanish? Or were they speaking a different language like Latin?
Isabella
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7
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3 answers
Does "No tengo sueño" really have these two quite different meanings?
Is "No tengo sueño" really both "I have no dream" and "I am not tired" (two completely different thoughts)?
On Duolingo, I supplied the first as the translation, and it was judged to be correct, but "Another correct solution" was the latter.
My…
B. Clay Shannon-B. Crow Raven
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7
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4 answers
Why would "water" not be translated?
In "The Grapes of Wrath" there's a scene where they're talking about toilets. When the water in the toilet is discussed, in the translation ("Las Uvas de la Ira"), the word is not translated (to "agua" as would be expected), but it remains…
B. Clay Shannon-B. Crow Raven
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7
votes
3 answers
Is "número" masculine or feminine?
English:
Consider this sentence "Mi habitación es la número cinco." Why couldn't "número" be masculine as in "el número cinco"? Does it have something to do with the gender of "habitación"?
I'm asking this question because I'm sure I've heard…
gnarlybracket
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7
votes
4 answers
Where did using "un servidor" to address yourself come from? / De donde se origina la costumbre de llamerse a sí mismo "un servidor"?
I've heard from many Spanish-speakers now that when they talk about themselves, they use the phrase "un servidor" instead of "yo" or "mi." I have always thought of the English equivalent of the phrase to be "yours truly."
However, in English, "yours…
user96872
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7
votes
1 answer
Gender illusions?
This is a multiple question about genders.
Recently I just wondered about this subject while writing and thought:
Why is juez or concejal considered masculine while agente and detective are not?
Why aren't ciclista and dentista feminine but modista…
Jose Luis
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7
votes
1 answer
"Liking" a musician or other artist
The verb gustar, when used with people, conveys a romantic interest (e.g. Ella me gusta. -> I have a crush on her.). How then, can you convey that you like a musician's music or an artist's paintings, for example, without romantic overtones? For…
jrdioko
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7
votes
2 answers
Pluralize words ending in a tonic vowel
I'm a native speaker. I'm pretty sure that the plural of tabú is tabúes, I've seen it used in writing, in the press. For similar reasons that the plural of marroquí is marroquíes.
I argued with someone recently about the pluralization of menú.…
carlosdc
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7
votes
2 answers
Is there a difference between "ambos" and "los dos"?
Is there a difference between "ambos" and "los dos"?
¿Hay alguna diferencia entre "ambos" y "los dos"?
Example:
Me gustan los dos.
Me gustan ambos.
Evaaaano
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7
votes
2 answers
What are leísmo, loísmo, and laísmo?
What are leísmo, loísmo, and laísmo? How common are they, and where are they primarily encountered?
jrdioko
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7
votes
3 answers
Different words for "hole"
Spanish has several words that could be translated "hole" in English:
hoyo
agujero
hueco
bache
boquete
brecha
madriguera
What are the differences between these words? In what situations can each be used?
jrdioko
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7
votes
4 answers
Words for strong or weak rain (sprinkling, drizzling, pouring)
This question on English.StackExchange made me wonder about words for rain in Spanish. In English, a light rain can be a drizzle, sprinkle, or mist and a heavy rain can be a deluge, downpour, or pouring rain.
What similar words in Spanish are used…
jrdioko
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7
votes
6 answers
Correct usage : Papas versus Patatas
Is it simply Spain is using Patatas and the rest of the world is using Papas? What is the distinction?
Ash Machine
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