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18
votes
9 answers
How do you differentiate between walnuts and pecans in Spanish?
It recently occurred to me that the Spanish nuez can be translated to English as both "walnut" and "pecan." Is the same word really used for both types of nuts? How would you specify which nut you're talking about when the difference is important…
jrdioko
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18
votes
3 answers
¿Cuál es la etimología de "sin embargo"?
La frase "sin embargo" se traduce como "however" en inglés, pero no la entiendo.
La palabra "sin" significa "without", y la palabra "embargo" significa "ban" o lo mismo que la palabra inglesa "embargo".
Así que a mí me parece que la traducción…
user682
18
votes
2 answers
¿Qué casos existen en el español de etimologías "cíclicas"?
En estos días leía acerca de reptiles y al buscar del tema en el DLE pude encontrar una curiosa etimología del aligátor:
aligátor
Quizá del fr. alligator, este del ingl. alligator, y este del esp. el lagarto.
Además ayer planteaban la pregunta…
VeAqui
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18
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8 answers
What is the role of the "le" in the sentence "Miguel le dio a su novia un anillo."?
The sentence:
Miguel le dio a su novia un anillo.
Translates into:
Miguel gave a ring to his girlfriend.
I would think that there would be no need for the "le", since the direct object (his girlfriend) is in the sentence. My understanding is…
floatingfrisbee
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18
votes
1 answer
¿Tiene la RAE algún criterio a la hora de consultar textos en Internet para dar forma a su diccionario?
Hasta hace relativamente poco, la RAE lo tenía fácil para consultar textos escritos en los que basarse para construir su diccionario. Bastaba con irse a la librería, biblioteca o quioscos más cercanos (es un decir) y ponerse a leer libros o (más…
Charlie
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18
votes
7 answers
Is there a trick to remembering 'llevar' and 'traer'?
After years of living in a Spanish-speaking country, and speaking mostly only Spanish all day, I still struggle with 'llevar' and 'traer'. The rules are clear and all, but it is just very difficult to apply this properly. Is there anybody who has a…
anon
18
votes
6 answers
What is the difference between allí and ahí ("there")?
English
What is the difference between allí and ahí? Is there any difference in pronunciation between the two? Are there any contexts where one is correct and one is wrong, or are they completely synonymous?
Español
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre…
jrdioko
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18
votes
5 answers
What does the slang "cerote" mean?
I know this is a slang expression from Central American people. I don't remember the context but it was something like:
Eres un cerote! (from a pretty angry girl)
I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean I'm a big zero, or does it?
César
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18
votes
5 answers
Why is the 'b' and 'v' pronunciation inconsistent?
I've learnt that the v sound in Spanish is pronounced as a "b", however why are some words such as "por favor" and "Revolucion" pronounced as a "v"? Also, is this type of pronunciation Spanish (spoken in Spain)?
Lschk
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17
votes
6 answers
How prevalent is the phrase "qué padre"?
Here in Mexico, the slang phrase qué padre (or variations such as muy padre, etc) are quite common, with the meaning "how cool".
Is this just Mexican slang, or do other regions use the same phrase?
Flimzy
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17
votes
2 answers
When is it appropriate to say "buenos días"?
English
It looks like "buenos días" is most commonly translated as "good morning," although apparently it can mean "good day" as well (like a literal translation would suggest).
Is it appropriate to greet someone with "buenos días", even if it's not…
Orion
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17
votes
1 answer
Difference between -iera and -iese ending of the imperfect subjunctive
There are two forms of the imperfect subjunctve in use, for example,
pudiera, pudieras, pudiera, pudiéramos, pudierais, pudieran
and
pudiese, pudieses, pudiese, pudiésemos, pudieseis, pudiesen
I believe that these have identical meaning (please…
John Powell
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17
votes
4 answers
Does using "tío" imply a negative opinion?
I've seen the word tío used to mean "guy" or "bloke", but can't recall (in my admittedly limited experience) having seen it used to imply a positive opinion of someone.
If I refer to someone as "Ese tío" do I imply that I don't have a high opinion…
razlebe
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17
votes
6 answers
"Bueno" as hello or greeting?
In the US State I live in, I sometimes hear Spanish speakers greet one another by simply staying "Bueno". I didn't hear this when I was recently in Mexico, although I realize I may just have not noticed it.
How or when is "bueno" used as a greeting?…
rynomax
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17
votes
6 answers
¿Por qué la diferencia entre s y z/c solo se da en España?
La pronunciación en el centro y el norte de España, como sabemos, pronuncia la "ce" y la "zeta" en forma diferente a la "ese" que es el único sonido que se utiliza para estas tres letras en hispanoamérica. ¿Cual es la causa?
Cecilia Trevino
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