LEARN SPANISH

Avoid 100 Plus Gringo

Mistakes
Learn To Avoid Over 100 Common Mistakes that
Native English Speakers Make When Speaking Spanish

By
Patrick V. Jackson
Copyright © 2016 Learning Like Crazy
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Why Did I Write This Book?
Learn Spanish: Avoid 100-Plus Gringo Mistakes
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About The Author
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 WHY DID I WRITE THIS BOOK?
I am a native New Yorker who has lived in Colombia since
2007. Initially, I lived on the Caribbean coast of Colombia in a
city called Barranquilla. And then in 2008, I moved to
Medellin, Colombia and have remained in Medellin since. In
my quest to learn Spanish, I have traveled to several Spanish-
speaking countries, including Panama, Dominican Republic,
Mexico and Spain.
For the most part, I am a self-taught student of the Spanish
language. In my efforts to learn Spanish, I have noticed that
native Spanish speakers were reluctant to correct my errors.
Not only in Colombia, but also in New York City, where I had
many native Spanish speaking friends from the Dominican
Republic.
As native English speakers, we often do the same. Unless the
native Spanish speaker is a child, we rarely correct native
Spanish speakers when they commit errors when speaking
English. Whether the unwillingness to correct others is from a
feeling of indifference or a fear of offending someone, we
rarely, if ever, correct them even if they are close friends.
As a result, the foreign language learner continues to make the
same mistakes over and over again. Unfortunately, when you
commit errors when speaking a foreign language, some people
may make assumptions about your intelligence or level of
education. And if living abroad, some people may make
assumptions about the degree of respect that you have for the
host country’s language and culture because of your written
and spoken blunders.
In 2001 while still living in New York City, I started writing
notes in a notebook every time a Spanish instructor would
correct my Spanish. At the meet-ups that I would attend or
other Spanish language exchange meetings that I attended,
there were always a couple of Spanish instructors who were
willing to correct my blunders. It didn’t take long before I had
a notebook full of my mistakes.
When I moved to Colombia in 2007, I continued the practice
of taking notes every time a Spanish professor corrected my
Spanish. But by that time, my Spanish had improved enough
where I could easily spot the speaking-Spanish errors of other
Americans and foreigners in Colombia. I made it a habit to
never leave home without a pen and a notepad to make sure
that I was ready whenever I heard a mistake spoken in Spanish
by a non-native Spanish speaker. With the advent of the
smartphone, I transitioned from a pen and notepad to taking
either voice notes or written notes with my smartphone.
This book is an accumulation of notes of speaking-Spanish
mistakes that I either personally made or heard others make
over a span of more than 15 years. My motivation for writing
this book is to provide you with a resource that will help you
avoid over 100 of the most common errors and pitfalls that
native English speakers make when speaking and writing
Spanish. A native Spanish-speaking professor who teaches the
Spanish language could have also written such a book.
However, only a native English speaker could truly explain to
you ‘why’ we make these errors. By providing you with a
better understanding of ‘why’ we make these errors, I hope
this increased understanding will prevent you from making the
same mistakes over and over again.
This book is also my way of ‘giving back’ to this wonderful
romance language. Prior to 2004, I was a New York attorney.
To say that I was miserable practicing law would be an
understatement. Ever since the early 2000s, when first I
learned about people creating online businesses from their
hobbies or passions, I dreamed about taking my passion
(learning Spanish) and turning it into a business that would
allow me to finally ‘escape’ from the practice of law and live
in a Spanish-speaking country.
The Spanish language allowed me to be the Founder of a
company, Learning Like Crazy, that has created products such
as Learning Spanish Like Crazy, Verbarrator (Spanish verb
conjugation software), Visually Speaking Spanish, Fast Lane
Spanish and Learning Italian Like Crazy. Above all, the
Spanish language has allowed me to leave a profession that I
was so unhappy with and has enabled me to turn my passion
into a business that allows me to live the life of my dreams in
Medellin, Colombia. Medellin is known as “La Ciudad de la
Eterna Primavera” (The City of Eternal Spring). But I simply
call it “paraíso” (paradise).
If you are wondering if this is a book about Colombian
Spanish, it is not. After writing this book, I had the entire book
proofread and corrected by a Spanish professor from
Guatemala, and then re-proofread and re-corrected by a
Spanish professor from Mexico. I wanted to be fully aware of
any Spanish words, phrases and expressions that I covered in
this book which are idiosyncrasies of Colombians. In this
book, I will bring to your attention any words, phrases or
expressions that are peculiar to Colombia.
Before we begin, there is something about the word “Gringo”
that I must bring to your attention. When I use the word
“Gringo” in this book, I do not use the word “Gringo” as a
racial term to mean “American white male.” I also do not use
the term “Gringa” to mean “American white female.” Many
people associate the words “Gringos” and “Gringas” with
American white males and American white females,
respectively.
However, in this book you will find that I use the terms as they
are commonly used in Colombia. In Colombia the term
“Gringo” is used loosely and the word can be used irrespective
of one’s race when referring to nearly any native English
speaker, including, but not limited to, English speakers from
America, Canada, the U.K., New Zealand and Australia. Even
my American-born Latino friends who visit or live in
Colombia are often referred to as “Gringos” or “Gringas” by
Colombians.
I’m black and my “ex-novia” (ex-girlfriend) use to lovingly
refer to me as “mi gringuito” which is an affectionate way to
say “my Gringo.” (In Spanish the names of nationalities are
not capitalized. I mention this because one may argue that
some Spanish speakers use the word “gringo” as a nationality).
Nevertheless, if anyone is offended by my use of the words
“Gringo” and “Gringa” in this book, I apologize in advance.
I hope that you not only enjoy this book but also learn how to
avoid many of the most common errors and pitfalls that
English speakers make when learning and speaking Spanish.
Besides learning to avoid many common mistakes, you will
also learn lots of Spanish words and phrases that are
commonly used in Latin America but rarely taught in Spanish
books and courses.
 LEARN SPANISH:
AVOID 100-PLUS GRINGO MISTAKES
1. No tengo un billete menos que 20.000 pesos.
That’s not how you say “I don’t have a bill less than 20,000
pesos.”
One night, I took a taxi home from a “discoteca” (night club)
with a friend named Jim (not his real name) from the States
who lives here in Medellín, Colombia. Whenever he is in the
mood, he tends to speak to me in Spanish.
I told the “taxista” (cab driver) to drop Jim off first. When we
arrived at Jim’s home, Jim handed me a bill valued at 20,000
Colombian pesos bill (about $10 U.S.) But the fare to Jim’s
home was less than 10,000 Colombian pesos (about $5 U.S.).
And when he handed me the “billete” (bill) Jim said to me “no
tengo un billete menos que 20.000 pesos.”
Did you notice Jim’s error?
Well, that’s not how you say “I don’t have a bill less than
20,0000 pesos.” Although in Spanish, when comparing two
things the English word “than” is normally translated to the
Spanish word “que,” there is an exception. When comparing
numbers you must use “de” instead of “que.” For example:
No tengo menos de 20.000 pesos.
I don’t have less than 20,000 pesos.
No tengo un billete de menos de 20.000 pesos.
I don’t have a bill less than 20,000 pesos.
Notice the use of “que” when comparing something other than
numbers:
Esta película es más interesante que las otras.
This movie is more interesting than the others.
By the way, in many Spanish speaking countries, they use a
period where the English language uses a comma in a number.
In those Spanish-speaking countries, they also use a comma
where the English language uses a period in a number. For
example,
English: 2.43
Spanish: 2,43
2. Te rogo que me perdones, no quise lastimarte.
That’s not how you say “I beg you to forgive me, I didn’t want
to hurt you.”
Not long ago, an American friend of mine, here in Medellín,
asked me to proofread a “carta de amor” (love letter) that he
was emailing to his Colombian “novia” (girlfriend). And one
of the sentences in his letter read, “te rogo que me perdones,
no quería lastimarte.” “Te rogo que me perdones” is not how
you say “I beg you to forgive me.”
The Spanish verb “rogar” (to beg) is a stem-changing verb
where the verb’s stem changes from “o” to “ue” in all forms
but nosotros and vosotros. Look at how the verb is conjugated
in the present tense:
Ruego (yo)
Ruegas (tú)
Ruega (él, ella, usted)
Rogamos (nosotros)
Ruegan (ellos, ellas, ustedes)
So my “amigo” should have written “te ruego …” (I beg you
…) and NOT “te rogo … “
Te ruego que me perdones. No quería lastimarte.
I beg you to forgive me. I didn’t want to hurt you.
Some other Spanish verbs that are conjugated the same way
(stem changes from “o” to “ue”) are:
almorzar (to have lunch)
colgar (to hang up)
contar (to count, to tell)
costar (to cost)
dormir (to sleep)
morder (to bite)
morir (to die)
mostrar (to show)
mover (to move)
probar (to prove)
recordar (to remember)
sonar (to sound, to ring)
soñar (to dream or to dream about)
volver (to return)
volar (to fly)
3 and 4: Cuando llego en casa te llamo.
That is not how you say “When I get home I’ll call you.”
One day when I was having lunch in Medellín in a very
touristy area of Medellín called Parque Lleras located in a
“barrio” (neighborhood) of Medellín called Poblado, I
overheard an American make several mistakes while talking
on his smartphone. A couple of his mistakes involved his
Spanish. The other mistake could have involved his life.
I was sitting in the same restaurant as him and he was
speaking on his shiny new iPhone while having lunch with a
couple of guys who were apparently also Americans. I have
noticed that American men visiting Medellín who are in a
tourist area often speak very loudly on their cell phones.
Sometimes I think they want others to know that they are
Americans. Even in an upscale “barrio” (neighborhood) of
Medellín, such as Poblado, bringing attention to the fact that
you are an American or foreigner is “tonto” (dumb) or “bobo”
(dumb) at best, and “peligroso” (dangerous) at worst.
When the American was speaking on his smartphone, I heard
him incorrectly say:
Cuando llego en casa te llamo.
(When I get home, I’ll call you.)
Did you notice his two mistakes? Besides the fact that he
should have used the subjunctive and said “Cuando llegue … “
he should have said “a casa.” In other words, “cuando llegue a
casa” (when I arrive home).
Notice that in conversational Spanish, in this instance, most
Spanish speakers would not use the future tense, unlike in
English where one would say, “When I get home I WILL call
you.” But in Spanish, it is literally “when I get home I call
you.” Of course, it is perfectly fine if you prefer to use the
future tense and say “te llamaré” (I will call you.) So he should
have said:
Cuando llegue a casa te llamo.
(When I get home, I’ll call you.)
The reason why he should have used “a casa” instead of “en
casa” is because in Spanish, you must use “llegar a” when
talking about arriving at a location. And you use “llegar en”
when talking about a means of transportation, such as bus,
plane, train, car, etc. For example:
Llegué en tren muy tarde.
I arrived by train very late.
5 and 6: Me bañé con sopa. Estoy muy embarazado.
“Me bañé con sopa” is not how you say “I bathed with soap.”
And “estoy muy embarazado” is not how you say “I am very
embarrassed.”
Earlier this year, I received an email from a subscriber to my
newsletter who wrote:
“Patrick, you like to talk a lot about the learning-Spanish
mistakes that your American and other English-speaking
friends in Medellín make. Surely, you have made tons of
mistakes of your own in your journey to learn Spanish.”
Well, I have certainly made lots of mistakes. In fact, I think
one of the main reasons why I was able to learn Spanish so
quickly is because I have never been afraid to make mistakes.
By committing lots of mistakes, I learned the correct words
and proper grammar. But there is one story that I would like to
share with you where I made a couple of very embarrassing
mistakes. I committed these errors back in the fall of 2001.
Once a week, in the evening, we (a group of English speakers
learning Spanish) would meet with a group of Spanish
speakers learning English. We would meet at an elementary
school in lower Manhattan.
We would help the Spanish speakers with English and they
would help us with Spanish. It was a free class given at an
elementary school in the evenings. But the class was only for
adults. I am absolutely certain that it was the fall of 2001
because of a horrific odor that I distinctly remember and will
never forget for the rest of my life. It was an odor that lingered
in the air for several months, if not longer. An odor that you
could never imagine unless you actually experienced it. The
awful odor was a combination of burnt jet fuel and charred
bodies.
There were about 5 or 6 of us (English speakers) in the class
and about 15 to 20 Spanish speakers. One evening, the
instructor of the class asked if any of the English speakers
would volunteer to demonstrate how you to use the preterit
tense in Spanish by describing what he or she did that
morning. For example, woke up, showered, brushed your
teeth, ate breakfast, left for work, etc.
I quickly raised my hand before any of my English-speaking
classmates had a chance to volunteer. I don’t remember
everything that I said but I do remember saying “me lavé con
sopa.” I was trying to say “I washed myself with soap.”
Unfortunately, the Spanish word for soap is “jabón” and the
Spanish word for soup is “sopa.” So I actually said that “I
washed myself with soup (and not soap).”
All of the Spanish speakers in the class were roaring with
laughter after I said that phrase. One of the Spanish speakers
then politely corrected me and told me that the Spanish word
for soap is “jabón” not “sopa.” In an effort to express my
embarrassment, I then said to the class “estoy muy
embarazado.” Unfortunately, the Spanish phrase “estoy
embarazado” does NOT mean “I am embarrassed.” “Estoy
embarazada” means “I am pregnant.”
So when I told the class “estoy muy embarazado” I actually
said that “I am very pregnant.” As you probably imagined, my
second mistake lead to even louder round of laughter from the
Spanish speakers in the class. The correct way to say “I am
embarrassed” in Spanish is “siento vergüenza.”
By the way, I noticed in Colombia the people do not say
“siento vergüenza” in order to say “I am embarrassed.” In
Colombia the “gente” (people) say “me da pena” in order to
say “I am embarrassed.” “Me da pena” literally means “it
gives me shame.”
In some Spanish-speaking countries you may also hear people
say “me da vergüenza” (I am embarrassed). I also noticed in
Colombia, or at least in Medellín, they normally do not say
“estoy embarazada, ella está embarazada, etc.” when referring
to pregnancy. In Colombia they usually say:
Estoy en embarazo. (I am pregnant.)
Ella está en embarazo. (She is pregnant.)
7. Tengo un cólico en la pierna.
“Tengo un cólico en la pierna” is not how you say “I have a
cramp in my leg.”
If you think my mistake when I said “estoy muy embarazada”
was so embarrassing, wait until you hear about the mistake
that I am now going to tell you about.
I practice an “artes marciales” (martial arts) in Colombia
called “jiu-jitsu brasileño” or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Brazilian Jiu-
Jitsu isn’t nearly as popular in Colombia as it is in Brazil or
the United States. So when “extranjeros” (foreigners) come to
Medellín and they want to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while
they are here, they usually go the Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu
academy where I train.
One night, I was training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a guy who
was visiting from the States. His name is “Mike” (not his real
name). Mike told me that he was visiting Medellín for two
reasons:
• To improve his Spanish
• To meet a very beautiful “Paisa.” (The people of
Medellín are called Paisas)
Mike stressed to me “not in that order.” By the way, Medellín
has a reputation not only for being the “La Ciudad de la Eterna
Primavera” (City of Eternal Spring), but the city that also has
the reputation for having some of the most beautiful women in
Latin America.
While we were training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mike suddenly
stopped and said to me in a voice full of anguish “tengo un
cólico en la pierna.” “Tengo un cólico en la pierna” literally
means “I have a menstrual cramp in my leg.”
I resisted the temptation to laugh aloud at what Mike said, and
explained to him that if you are referring to the type of cramp
that you get from exercising or running, you must use the
word is “calambre.” And the type of cramps that women get
from their menstruation are called “cólicos.” So Mike should
have said:
Tengo un calambre en la pierna.
I have a cramp in my leg.
On a side note, “cólicos” can also refer to abdominal pain
caused by a condition such as “diarrea” (diarrhea).
8 and 9: ¿Ese perrito es un muchacho? ¿Es una
mujer?
Although the questions ¿ese perrito es un muchacho? and ¿es
una mujer? may make grammatical sense, they are not how
you ask “Is that puppy a male?” and “Is it a female (puppy)?”
respectively.
This is a rather funny incident that I had the pleasure of
experiencing. I want to share this story with you because it
illustrates two very common mistakes that English speakers
make when speaking Spanish.
This incident took place one morning when I went with a
Colombian friend to buy a “perrito” (puppy) for his daughter’s
birthday. While in the “tienda de mascotas” (pet shop), I
noticed an English speaking male with his wife or girlfriend. I
couldn’t figure out where he was from by listening to his
accent. He wasn’t American. But his native language was
English. I believe that he was from New Zealand or Australia.
And I heard him ask the “muchacha” (girl) working in the
“tienda de mascotas” a question about one of the puppies. He
asked, ¿Ese perrito es un muchacho? (Is that puppy a boy?)
The “muchacha” working in the store then gave him a very
confused look. And then he asked her: ¿Ese perrito es un
hombre? (Is that puppy a man?) Then she turned and looked at
her “compañera de trabajo” (co-worker) as if she wanted to
ask “Do you understand this foreigner? Why is he asking is an
animal a human?”
Well, it is a common mistake for English speakers to refer to
male animals as “muchachos” (boys) or “hombres” (men)
when speaking Spanish. But the correct word for a male
animal is “macho.” For example:
Mi perra tuvo una camada de siete cachorros, cuatro hembras
y tres machos.
My dog had a litter of seven puppies, four females and three
males.
Back to the incident that took place …
The English speaker then asked the “muchacha” (girl) another
question. Referring to the same puppy, he asked:
¿Es una mujer?
Is it a woman?
And again, the “muchacha” turned and looked at her
“compañera de trabajo” (co-worker) with a very puzzled look.
Well, it is also a common mistake for English speakers to refer
to female animals as “mujeres” (women) when speaking
Spanish. The correct word for a female animal is “hembra.” I
also want you to be aware that besides “hombre” you may hear
Spanish speakers refer to a male human being as a “varón.”
As we were leaving the “tienda de mascotas” (pet shop), my
Colombian “amigo” who also speaks English fluently, and
who happens to have a very warped “sentido del humor”
(sense of humor) then said to me:
“Patrick, the Gringo’s mistake could have been worse.
Imagine if he had made a mistake with his Spanish and asked
the question in reverse: ‘¿Esa mujer es una perra?’”
By the way, in Colombia, I noticed that Colombians have a
tendency to use the term “gringo” very loosely and refer to
almost any English-speaking foreigner as a “Gringo” — not
just Americans.
10. Me trae los utensilios, por favor.
That is not how you would ask a waiter on anyone else “bring
me the eating utensils, please.”
I have a friend named Larry (not his real name) who comes to
visit me in Medellín about 3 or 4 times a year. During one of
Larry’s trips to Medellín we ate out at a restaurant. Larry with
his huge appetite ordered the largest dish on the menu:
Bandeja Paisa.
“Bandeja Paisa” is a dish that is what Paisas and other
Colombians consider “comida típica” or food typical of
Colombia. “Bandeja Paisa” is actually only typical of Medellín
and the other surrounding areas of the Colombian department
Antioquia. “Bandeja Paisa” is a humongous dish that consists
of:
arroz blanco (white rice)
frijoles (beans)
aguacate (avocado)
carne molida (ground beef)
maduro (sweet plantains)
chicharrón (fried pork rinds)
chorizo (spicy sausage)
huevo frito (fried egg)
arepa (patty made of cornmeal, similar to a tortilla)
When Larry’s plate arrived, Larry was all set to eat. But the
“mesero” (waiter) had forgotten to bring Larry’s silverware.
So when the waiter passed by our table again, Larry said “me
trae los utensilios, por favor.”
I was expecting the waiter to return with pots, pans, spatula,
and a cooking spoon instead of just a knife, fork and spoon.
The Spanish word “utensilios (de cocina)” means kitchen
utensils or cooking utensils as opposed to “eating utensils.”
The Spanish word “cubiertos” means silverware or eating
utensils. So Larry should have said:
Me trae los cubiertos, por favor.
Bring me eating utensils, please.
Tráigame los cubiertos, por favor.
Bring me eating utensils, please.
11. Necesito una navaja para cortar la carne de res.
Unless you are accustomed to cutting your steak with a folding
knife, that is not how you say “I need a knife in order to cut
the beef/steak.”
It is a common mistake for English speakers to call the knife
that you would cut a steak with a “navaja.” Although “navaja”
does mean knife, a “navaja” is a folding knife. The Spanish
word for knife, as in the type of knife that you would use when
eating a steak dinner, is “cuchillo.” By the way, if you want to
say Swiss army knife in Spanish the phrase is “navaja suiza.”
You should also be aware that in some Spanish speaking
countries the Spanish word for steak is “bisté” or “bistec.”
(Just think of the English word “beefsteak.”) And in some
other Spanish-speaking countries, such as Colombia, the word
for steak is “carne” or “carne de res.”
Necesito un cuchillo para cortar la carne de res.
I need a knife in order to cut the steak.
While we are on the topic of the Spanish word “navaja,” I
have also heard English speakers make a mistake and refer to a
folding knife as a “navajo.” “Navaja” means folding knife, not
“navajo.” Navajo is a Native American tribe.
12. Yo comí pollo fritado.
That is not how you say “I ate fried chicken.” The Spanish
verb “fritar” (to fry) has an irregular past participle: frito
(fried). So the correct phrase is:
Yo comí pollo frito.
I ate fried chicken.
While we are on the topic of “fried,” there are two things that
you should be aware of. In some Spanish speaking countries,
they use the verb “fritar” in order to say “to fry.” And in other
Spanish speaking countries they use the verb “freír” in order to
say “to fry.”
If you are thinking about taking a trip to Colombia, you
probably will not hear the phrase “pollo frito” anywhere in
Colombia. In Colombia, they say “pollo apanado” (fried
chicken). “Apanado” literally means “breaded.” But the “pollo
apanado” in Colombia is not breaded. The chicken is coated
with flour before being fried, just like the fried chicken in the
States. Even in the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in
Colombia, the fried chicken is called “pollo apanado.”
13. La mesa está rompida.
That is not how you say “the table is broken.” The Spanish
verb “romper” (to break) is another Spanish verb that has an
irregular past participle: roto (broken). So the correct phrase
is:
La mesa está rota.
The table is broken.
14. Mi abuelo está morido.
That is not how you say “my grandfather is dead.” The
Spanish verb “morir” (to die) is another Spanish verb that has
an irregular past participle: muerto (dead). So the correct
phrase is:
Mi abuelo está muerto.
My grandfather is dead.
15. Mi bisabuelo es muerto.
That is not how you say “my great-grandfather is dead.”
When stating that someone or something is dead you should
use the verb “estar.” As beginner students of the Spanish
language, we were taught that the verb “estar” is used for
temporary situations, and the verb “ser” is used for permanent
situations. Well, what could be more permanent than death?
Probably nothing. But Spanish speakers use the verb “estar”
and not the verb “ser” when stating that someone or something
is dead. The same rule applies when stating that someone or
something is alive.
Mi bisabuelo está muerto.
My great-grandfather is dead.
Mi bisabuela está viva.
My great-grandmother is alive.
16. Es la una en la mañana.
That is not how you say “it is one in the morning.” When
talking about a specific time of day, in Spanish you must use
the phrases “de la mañana (in the morning)” “de la tarde (in
the afternoon),” and “de la noche (in the evening).” English
speakers frequently make the mistake of using “en” because
the Spanish word “en” can be translated as the English word
“in.” And in English, when speaking about a specific time of
day, we use the word “in.” For example, in English one says
“one in the morning.” But in Spanish one says “Es la una de la
mañana,” in order to say “It is one o’clock in the morning.”
Here’s another example of how to say a specific time of day in
Spanish:
La fiesta es a las dos de la tarde.
The party is at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
When you are not talking about a specific time of day, in
general, you can use either “por la mañana” or “en la mañana,”
“por la tarde” or “en la tarde,” and “por la noche” or “en la
noche.”
Me gusta correr por las mañanas.
I like to run in the mornings.
Me gusta caminar en las noches.
I like to walk in the evenings.
17. ¿Qué tiempo es?
That is not the way to ask “what time is it?” If you want to ask
“what time is it?” then you must ask ¿Qué hora es?
You cannot use the word “tiempo” when asking someone the
specific time of day. Instead, you must use the word “hora” -
which literally means “hour.” The Spanish word “tiempo”
refers to the total concept of time.
Hace mucho tiempo, mis antepasados se asentaron en este
país.
A long time ago, my ancestors settled in this country.
You should be aware that instead of asking “¿Qué hora es?” in
some Spanish speaking countries you may hear ¿Qué horas
son?
18. Pregunté por una copa de vino.
That is not how you say “I asked for a glass of wine.” The
correct phrase is:
Pedí una copa de vino.
I asked for a glass of wine.
The Spanish verb “preguntar” does mean “to ask.” But
“preguntar” means “to ask” as in to ask a question or to ask for
information. On the other hand, the Spanish verb “pedir”
means to ask for something or to make a request. In that case,
the phrase “pregunté por una copa de vino,” is grammatically
correct. But it means “I asked ABOUT a glass of wine.” As
opposed to “I asked FOR a glass of wine.”
19. Quiero un vaso de vino, por favor.
That is not the correct way to say “I want a glass of wine,
please,” unless, of course, you are used to drinking wine from
the same type of glass that you would use in order to drink a
soft drink or water.
A wine glass is not called a “vaso” in Spanish. A wine glass is
called a “copa.” “Vaso” means drinking glass in Spanish. But
“vaso” is not used when referring to a wine glass.
Quiero una copa de vino, por favor.
I want a glass of wine, please.
Me regala un vaso de agua, por favor.
Give me a glass of water, please.
20. Me gustaría tomar una copa de vino rojo.
If you want to say “red wine” in Spanish, the phrase is “vino
tinto.”
This is another common mistake that English speakers make.
That’s because the Spanish word “rojo” means the color red.
But in Spanish red wine is not literally called red wine. The
Spanish phrase for red wine translated to English literally
means “tinted wine.” That’s why the Spanish phrase is “vino
tinto.”
Me gustaría tomar una copa de vino tinto.
I would like to drink a glass of red wine.
¿Qué vino prefieren? ¿Vino blanco, rosado o tinto?
Which wine do you prefer? White, rose or red wine?
21. El asesino chocó a la víctima.
That is not how you say the “the assassin/killer/murder choked
the victim.”
Although the Spanish verb “chocar” may look and sound like
the English verb “choke,” the words have completely different
meanings. The Spanish verb “chocar” means to collide or to
crash.
Alejandro chocó el carro de Ángela.
Alejandro crashed Angela’s car.
Las olas chocan contra las rocas.
The waves crash against the rocks.
Depending on the context, if you want to use the verb for “to
choke” in Spanish you will use either “estrangular” or
“ahogar.”
Homero quiere estrangular a Bart.
Homer wants to choke (strangle) Bart.
Valentina se estaba ahogando en la piscina.
Valentina was choking (drowning) in the pool.
Juan trató de ahogarme con una almohada.
Juan tried to choke (sufocate) me with a pillow.
22. Miguel es un relativo mío.
That is not how you say “Miguel is a relative of mine.”
The Spanish word “relativo” does not mean the English noun
“relative” as in “a person who is related to another by blood or
marriage.” In general, the Spanish word “relativo” means the
English adjective “relative.” In other words, the Spanish word
“relativo” means “relevant,” “pertaining to,” “comparative,” or
“not absolute.”
The Spanish word “pariente” means “relative” as in someone
who is related to someone else by blood or marriage. In that
case, the correct phrase is:
Miguel es pariente mío.
Miguel is a relative of mine.
Yo leí un estudio relativo al cáncer.
I read a study relating to cancer.
23. Él es un médico.
I have heard Spanish speakers who have lived in the United
States for a very long time use indefinite articles when a native
Spanish speaker living in Latin America would not use an
indefinite article. For example, I have heard Spanish speakers,
who have lived in the United States for many years, say
phrases such as “él es un médico” or “ella es una abogada.”
But the correct phrases are:
Él es médico.
He is a doctor.
Ella es abogada.
She is a lawyer.
I have a theory on why Spanish speakers who have lived in the
United States for many years unnecessarily and
inappropriately include indefinite articles. It is because they
have grown accustomed to it after hearing the English
language spoken for many years.
As an English speaker, you would say “he is a relative of
mine” as opposed to “he is relative of mine.” And native
English speakers would also say “he’s a doctor” as opposed to
“he is doctor.” So maybe that explains how Spanish speakers
living in the States picked up this bad habit when speaking
Spanish.
However, if you want to modify a noun by adding an adjective
to the sentence, then it becomes necessary to use an indirect
article:
Él es un médico famoso.
He is a famous doctor.
Ella es una abogada costosa.
She is an expensive attorney.
24. Voy a la grosería.
That is not how you say “I am going to the grocery store.”
The Spanish suffix “ía” is usually used to indicate some type
of store. For example, “zapatería” (shoe store), “floristería”
(flower shop), “droguería” (drug store), “licorería” (liquor
store), “panadería” (bakery), “carnicería” (butcher’s shop). But
if you want to say grocery store in Spanish, depending on the
country, any of the following words may be used:
mercado
supermercado
almacén
abarrotería
bodega
tienda
Voy al almacén/mercado.
I’m going to the grocery store.
However, the Spanish word “grosería” means foul language or
rudeness:
No digas groserías.
Don’t say bad words.
Estoy cansado de tus groserías.
I am tired of your rudeness.
No seas grosero.
Don’t be rude.
25. No me realicé.
That is not how you say “I didn’t realize (it).” The Spanish
verb “realizar” means “to effectuate” or “execute an action.”
The phrase “darse cuenta” means to realize as in “to grasp” or
“understand clearly.”
No me di cuenta.
I didn’t realize (it).
Juan realizó un trabajo excelente.
John did a great job.
Here’s another example:
¡Me realicé como padre y esposo, me siento muy orgulloso!
I succeeded as a father and a husband, I feel very proud!
26. El cuento, por favor.
“El cuento, por favor” is a mistake that I have heard English
speakers make in restaurants on numerous occasions. If you
are in a restaurant, and you want to say “the bill, please” The
correct phrase is “la cuenta, por favor.”
The Spanish word “cuento” means “story” or “fairy tale” or
“lie.” So if you are in a restaurant, and you make a mistake
and say “el cuento, por favor” don’t be surprised if the waiter
responds by saying “había una vez …” (once upon a time … )
Cuéntame un cuento.
Tell me a story.
Tengo una cuenta de ahorros.
I have a savings account.
Déjame pagar la cuenta (de restaurante).
Let me pay the (restaurant) check.
27. Estoy mirando para mi libreta.
That is not how you say “I am looking for my notebook.”
English speakers commonly make this mistake because the
Spanish verb “mirar” means “to look” or “to look at” and the
Spanish preposition “para” means “for.” However, the Spanish
verb “to look for” is “buscar.”
Estoy buscando mi libreta.
I am looking for my notebook.
Estoy mirando la libreta.
I am looking at the notebook.
Jessica está mirando para arriba/abajo/el lado/otro lado.
Jessica is looking above/below/to the side/to the other side.
I also want you to be aware that besides the word “libreta,”
you may also hear Spanish-speakers use the word “cuaderno”
when referring to a notebook. The Spanish word “libreta” is
often used to refer to a small notebook.
Yo encontré mi cuaderno.
I found my notebook.
28. Not saying “gracias”, “por favor”, “de nada,”
etc.
Latin America is a lot more formal than the United States,
especially the big cities of the United States. In Latin America,
it is customary to greet taxi drivers before telling them your
destination. It is also customary to greet a store’s personnel
before telling them what you are looking for. If you overlook
these formalities, not only does it become obvious that you are
a Gringo or a Gringa, but you will come across as
“maleducado.” “Maleducado” does not mean poorly educated.
“Maleducado” means discourteous.
Buenos días.
Good morning.
Me lleva al centro, por favor.
Take me downtown, please.
A mí me trae una hamburguesa, por favor.
Bring me a hamburger, please.
¿Me dice la hora, por favor?
Will you tell me the time, please?
Gracias
Thank you.
Muchas gracias
Thank you very much.
De nada.
You’re welcome.
In many parts of Colombia, in order to say “you’re welcome”
you may hear people say “con gusto” or “con mucho gusto”
instead of “de nada.” When I used to live on the Atlantic coast
of Colombia, I heard Colombians say “a la orden” instead of
saying “de nada” (your welcome) or “con gusto” (your
welcome). “A la orden” literally means “at your request,” but
just think of it as the way people on the Atlantic coast of
Colombia say “your welcome.”
A Colombian friend explained to me that the phrase “a la
orden” is somewhat common for superior-subordinate
communication at workplaces. In other words, an employee
may respond to his boss, “a la orden” when the boss says,
“gracias”. However, as workplaces become more egalitarian,
the expression “a la orden” is falling into disuse in Colombia.
29. Hice un error.
That is not how you say “I committed an error” or “I made a
mistake.”
In Spanish, you do not “make” mistakes or errors. In Spanish,
you “commit” mistakes or errors. The Spanish verb for “to do”
or “to make” is “hacer.” In English, we have the option to say
that we “made a mistake/error” or “committed a
mistake/error.” That’s why English speakers will sometimes
commit this error and use the Spanish verb “hacer” (to make)
instead of the Spanish verb “cometer” (to commit)
Cometí un error.
I made a mistake.
Él cometió una falta en el partido.
He committed a foul in the game.
30. ¿Hace sentido?
That is not how you ask “does it make sense?”
In Spanish, something does not “make” sense. In Spanish,
something “has” sense. As mentioned above, the Spanish verb
for “to do” or “to make” is “hacer.” In English, we say that
something “makes” sense or does “not make” sense. That’s
why English speakers will sometimes commit this error and
use the Spanish verb “hacer” (to make) instead of the Spanish
verb “tener” (to have) when indicating that something does or
does not make sense.
Tiene sentido
It makes sense.
(Literally, “it has sense.”)
No tiene sentido.
It does not make sense.
(Literally, “it has no sense.”)
No logro entender esta carta.
I can’t make sense of this letter.
Another interesting distinction between English and Spanish is
that in Spanish, one does not literally “make oneself” sad or
“become” sad or any other emotional state not requiring a
conscious effort. In Spanish you use the verb “ponerse” which
means that “one puts himself/herself” sad or any other
emotional state not requiring a conscious effort.
Ayer, Juan se puso triste.
Yesterday, Juan became sad.
(Literally, “yesterday, Juan put himself sad.)
31. Ella está vestida en rojo.
That is not how you say “she is dressed in red.”
This is another common mistake that English speakers make
from attempting to literally translate Spanish into English. In
English, we say that someone is “dressed in” a certain color.
But in Spanish, you are literally saying that someone is
“dressed of” a certain color.
Ella está vestida de rojo.
She is dressed in red.
El niño de azul.
The boy in blue.
Claudio se viste de fiesta
Claudio is dressed up for a party.
Santiago se disfrazó de payaso.
Santiago wore a clown’s costume.
32. Casi me olvidé.
That is not how you say “I almost forgot.”
In English, when speaking about an event that almost
happened in the past but did not happen, we use the preterit
tense. But in Spanish, when speaking about an event that
almost happened in the past but did not happen, we use the
present tense.
Casi me olvido. (I almost forgot.)
Casi se me olvida. (I almost forgot.)
(Literally, “I almost forget.”)
Casi me caigo
I almost fell.
(Literally, “I almost fall.”)
Ella casi se resbala.
She almost slipped.
(Literally, “She almost slip.”)
Carlos casi se muere en la operación.
Carlos almost died in the surgery.
33. Quiero parar de fumar.
That is not how you say “I want to quit/stop smoking.
Although the verb “parar” does mean to stop, when talking
about stopping a bad habit or quitting a bad habit, Spanish
uses the verb “dejar de.” If you are talking about stopping
something that is not a bad habit, such as stop talking or stop
dancing, then you can use either “dejar de” or “parar de.”
Quiero dejar de fumar.
I want to quit smoking.
Juanita no quiere parar de bailar.
Juanita does not want to stop dancing.
Sergio no para de hablar.
Sergio does not stop talking.
34. Jaime se siente en el sofá.
That is not how you say “Jaime sits on the couch.”
It is very easy to confuse the Spanish verbs “sentar” (to sit)
and “sentir” (to feel). That’s because the subjunctive form of
the verb “sentar” is similar to the present tense for the verb
“sentir.” And the subjunctive form of the verb “sentir” is
similar to the present tense for the verb “sentar.”
Él se sienta en el sofá.
He sits on the sofa.
Ella se siente triste.
She feels sad.
35. Ella nunca sale sin máscara.
That is not how you say “she never goes out without mascara.”
The above phrase actually means “she never goes out without
a MASK.” That’s because the Spanish word “máscara” does
not mean the English word “mascara.” That Spanish word
“máscara” means the English word “mask.” The Spanish word
for mascara is “rímel.” In Latin America, you may also hear
the words “pestañina” and “máscara de pestañas” used in order
to say mascara.
Ella nunca sale sin pestañina.
She never goes out without mascara.
El ladrón llevaba una máscara.
The robber wore a mask.
36. El ladrón llevó mis joyas.
If you want to say “the robber took away my jewelry” that is
not how you say it.
Although the Spanish verb “llevar” does mean to take, if you
want to translate the English verb “take away” then you must
use the reflexive form of the verb which is “llevarse.”
El ladrón se llevó mis joyas.
The robber took away my jewelry.
On the other hand, if you want to express that someone took
something or took someone to a particular destination, in that
case, you do not use the reflexive form of the verb.
El ladrón llevó mis joyas a la casa de empeños.
The robber took my jewelry to the pawn shop.
Llevé a mi esposa al hospital.
I took my wife to the hospital.
37. El papá tomó a su hijo a la escuela.
That is not how you say “the dad took his son to school.”
The Spanish verb “tomar” does mean to take. But “tomar”
means to take as in:
a. to hold, grasp, or grip
b. to receive or accept
c. to receive into the body by eating or drinking
d. to use as a means of transportation
e. to apply oneself to, to study
Tome este libro.
Take this book.
Mi marido tomó dos tragos de ron.
My husband drank two shots of rum.
En la mañana, ella toma el autobus.
In the mornings, she takes the bus.
Me gustaría tomar clases de gastronomía.
I would like to take cooking classes.
But we do not use the verb “tomar” when talking about
transporting someone or something from one place to another.
In that case, we use the verb “llevar.”
El papá llevó a su hijo a la escuela.
The dad took his son to school.
38. Llévame los boletos a mi casa.
If you want to say “bring the tickets to my house,” and you
happen to be at home, that is not how to say it. The Spanish
verb “llevar” is used when talking about transporting
something or someone from one destination to another
destination other than where you are. So if you are not at home
and you are somewhere else, possibly at work, and you are
speaking to someone and you want the tickets to be at your
home when you arrive then you can, in fact, say “llévame los
boletos a mi casa.”
“Llévame los boletos a mi casa” does not mean “bring” the
tickets to my house. “Llévame los boletos a mi casa” actually
means, “take” the tickets to my house. Assuming that you are
somewhere other than your home, you can also instruct
someone to take the tickets to your home by saying:
Me lleva los boletos a mi casa. (formal)
Take the ticket to my house.
On the other hand, if you are already at home and you want
someone to “bring” the tickets to you at your home, then you
would use the verb “traer” (to bring).Tráeme los boletos a mi
casa. (informal)
Me traes los boletos a mi casa. (informal)
Tráigame los boletos a mi casa. (formal)
Bring the tickets to my house.
Tráigame las llaves. (formal)
Bring me the keys.
The reason why English speakers tend to make this mistake is
because English speakers (or at least Americans) tend to use
the English verbs “bring” and “take” interchangeably when
speaking colloquial English. For example, I may say “I am
going to bring the tickets to your house,” although the correct
English phrase is “I am going to take the tickets to your
house.”
39. No come muchos dulces.
That is not how you tell someone or command someone “do
not eat a lot of sweets.”
The phrase “no come muchos dulces” literally means “he/she
does not eat a lot of sweets” or “you do not eat a lot of
sweets.” So if you mistakenly use this phrase to instruct a
Spanish speaker to not eat a lot of sweets, he or she may
respond “¿Quién no come muchos dulces? (Who does not eat
a lot of sweets?). This common mistake is caused by
improperly conjugating Spanish verbs. The follow examples
show how to correctly conjugate Spanish verbs and give the
command “do not eat …”
No comas muchos dulces. (informal)
Don’t eat a lot of sweets.
No comas muchos dulces, come frutas. (informal)
Don’t eat a lot of sweets, eat fruits.
No coma carnes rojas, coma pollo. (formal)
Don’t eat red meat, eat chicken.
No comas tan rápido. (informal)
Don’t eat so fast.
40. No míresla
That is not how you tell someone or command someone “do
not look at her.”
In Spanish, when giving positive commands, the pronoun is
attached to the end of the conjugated verb:
Mírela.
Look at her.
Cómetelo.
Eat it up.
However, when you are giving a negative command, the
pronoun comes before the conjugated verb.
No la mires.
Don’t look at her.
No te comas mi pollo.
Don’t eat up my chicken.
41. Voy al mercado los luneses.
That is not how you say, “I go to the market on Mondays.”
The word “luneses” does not exist in Spanish. The days of the
week “lunes” through “viernes” are the same in the singular
and plural form.
Voy al mercado los lunes.
I go to the market on Mondays.
El lunes - Monday
Los lunes - Mondays
El martes - Tuesday
Los martes - Tuesdays
El miércoles - Wednesday
Los miércoles - Wednesdays
El jueves - Thursday
Los jueves - Thursdays
El viernes - Friday
Los viernes - Fridays
However, “sábado” and “domingo” have distinct plural forms.
El sábado - Saturday
Los sábados - Saturdays
El domingo - Sunday
Los domingos - Sundays
Mi novia y yo vamos al cine los sábados.
My girlfriend and I go to the movies on Saturdays.
Ella va a la iglesia los domingos.
She goes to church on Sundays.
Notice that the days of the week are not capitalized in Spanish.
42. Soy americano.
Not exactly a mistake. But “soy americano” is not the
politically correct way to say “I am American.” Well, I know
we were all taught to say “Soy americano/a” in order to say “I
am American.” But let me tell you about an incident that
happened to me while living in Colombia.
Not too long ago, I visited a Colombian friend’s house here in
Medellín. While I was there, his “bisabuela” (great
grandmother) was there visiting. She is not from Medellín. She
is from a “pueblito” (little town) very far from Medellín but
still in the same “departmento” as Medellín - which is
Antioquia. She doesn’t get to travel much and she has lived in
the same “pueblito” all of her life. Many people in Latin
America would probably refer to her as a “campesina” (a
country person or even a farmer).
After my friend introduced me to his “bisabuela” (great
grandmother) she asked me “¿de dónde es?” (where are you
from?), I responded, “soy americano.”
And when I said “soy americano,” she asked me “¿cómo?”
(what?) And again, I responded “soy americano.” And again
she asked, “¿cómo?” (what?) Arrogantly, I asked myself “how
is it possible that someone in this country, even a ‘campesina’
(country person), has never heard of the greatest country in the
world?”
My Colombian friend then told me that I have to say “soy
estadounidense.” Then he explained to me that for them the
Americas consist of both South America and North America
(which also consists of Central America). As he explained to
me, Spanish speakers who live in major cities their entire lives
are accustomed to hearing Americans arrogantly say “Yo soy
americano/a.” But for someone who has lived in a small town
their entire life it is rather confusing when someone says “soy
americano/a.”
He even said that for some people in Latin America it is not
only incorrect but also arrogant for an American to say “soy
americano,” and to imply that South America is not part of the
Americas.
My initial reaction was to argue with him that “todo el mundo”
(everyone) knows that America is the United States and that
South America is NOT America. But then I thought about
something that happened to me a few years ago when I first
arrived here in Medellín.
I had volunteered at a local university to tutor Colombian
students with their English. Via email, I made an appointment
to meet with a Colombian student in order to help her with her
English. We arranged to meet for the first time in front of the
university’s “biblioteca” (library).
I didn’t know what she looked like because it was going to be
our first meeting. Sitting on a bench in front of the library, I
waited for her for at least 45 minutes. I was unable to call her
to ask where she was or what was the cause for the delay
because her cell phone number was still in my email box in an
email message that she had sent. (This is before the advent of
the smartphone which would have easily allowed me to check
my email box). After waiting for at least 45 minutes, I finally
left - furious!
When I got home, I retrieved her number from my email box
and called her up immediately to ask her why did she waste
my time. But she insisted that she had walked by the library
numerous times and that I was not there. And I insisted that
she was not there and that she had never walked past the
“biblioteca” because I was there waiting for her for 45 minutes
and she would have seen me.
And she continued to insist that she was there. Finally, she told
me that it was impossible that I was there waiting for her
because she did not see any Americans in front of the library.
She said that the only person she saw was a “negrito” (black
guy) sitting on a bench in front of the library.
I remember thinking how could someone be so “bobo” (dumb)
to think that American is a race and not know that there are
Americans who are white, black, Asian, Native American,
Latino, Arab, Indian, etc. But I guess, my friend’s
“bisabuelita” (great grandmother) looked at me and thought
how could someone be so “bobo” (dumb) to not know that the
Americas consist of both North America and South America.
By the way, if you think the word “estadounidense” is a hard
word to remember, besides saying “soy estadounidense” you
can also tell someone “soy de Los Estados Unidos” or “soy de
Estados Unidos” in order to tell someone that you are an
American or that you are from the United States.
Keep in mind that the words used for nationalities aren’t
capitalized in Spanish.
43. ¿Dónde está el partido?
That is not the correct way to ask “where is the game?”
Not too long ago, I had an American friend come visit me in
Medellín. My friend has used several of the learning-Spanish
products that you see my competitors advertise on the Internet.
I usually don’t ask my friends to use my own products. So I
wasn’t surprised that he made so many mistakes with his
Spanish.
I won’t tell you his real name because I want to respect his
privacy. But let’s say that his name is Mike. While Mike was
visiting me, there was a “partido” (game) between Medellín’s
major “fútbol” (soccer) team called “Nacional” and another
team.
On a side note, after living in Colombia for many years, I am
still not a fan of “fútbol” (soccer) unlike most people who live
in South America. I should say unlike most people outside of
the United States. All I know is that Medellín’s team wears
“verde” (green) and “blanco” (white). I guess I am too much
of a New York Giants fan to embrace any sport that has the
same name as football (i.e. fútbol).
In order to improve his Spanish, Mike and I agreed that we
would speak to each other in Spanish as much as possible
during his stay. Mike is a true “fútbol” (soccer) fan and really
enjoys the sport no matter who is playing it. Mike immediately
made two mistakes when he tried to ask me “where is the
game taking place?” and “is the game taking place in the
Stadium.” Mike asked me the following?
¿Dónde está el partido? (INCORRECT PHRASE)
In general, we use the verb “estar” to indicate a location.
However, we use the verb “ser” to tell where an event is taking
place. So he should have asked me:
¿Dónde es el partido?
Where is the game?
44. ¿En la arena?
That is not how you ask “in the Stadium.”
Mike really lost me when he asked me ¿En la arena? Although
the English word “arena” and the Spanish word “arena” look
exactly the same, they have two completely different
meanings. That’s because in Spanish the word “arena” means
sand. Not only does Medellín not have a “playa” (beach) but it
would be strange if the “fútbol” game was taking place “in the
sand.”
So the correct Spanish word in order to say the English word
“arena” or the English word “stadium” is “estadio” So what
Mike really wanted to ask me was:
¿En el estadio?
In the stadium?
45. ¿Hay una parada?
That is not how you ask “is there a parade?”
When Mike returned from the “partido de fútbol” (soccer
game), the first thing he said was “¡mi equipo ganó!” (my
team won) and that it was time to celebrate. Mike’s idea of a
celebration usually consists of drinking 5 or 6 “cervezas”
(beers).
After drinking 5 or 6 “cervezas” Mike thought that his team
deserved more of a celebration, and that his team deserved a
large public procession along with a marching band. So he
asked me:
¿Hay una parada?
So when he asked me, “¿Hay una parada?” I told him
“enfrente del edificio” (opposite/facing the building). Mike
then walked over to the window of my “apartamento,” looked
outside and said to me in English “I don’t see any parade.
Well, the Spanish word “parada” doesn’t mean the English
word “parade.” The Spanish word “parada” means bus stop.
So when Mike asked me ¿Hay una parada? (is there a bus
stop?), I told him where it was: “Enfrente del edificio”
(opposite or facing the building).
The Spanish word for parade is “desfile.”
Las calles están cerradas por el desfile.
The streets are closed because of the parade.
On a side note, in New York City every year the Puerto Rican
Day Parade is celebrated. In New York City, on countless
occasions, I have heard my Puerto Rican friends refer to the
Puerto Rican Day Parade as “una parada.” Referring to a
parade as a “parada” is not Spanish. It’s Spanglish. With that
said, it is not incorrect to refer to a military parade as a
“parada.”
La gente esperaba para ver la parada militar.
The people were waiting in order to see the military parade.
46. Tienes ketchup en tu collar.
That is not how you say “you have ketchup on your collar.”
After Mike’s last mistake, I decided that it was time for me to
“tomar un descanso” (take a break) from my work and go get
something to eat with Mike. At the “restaurante,” I had
“pechuga a la parrilla con papas a la francesa” (grilled chicken
breast with french fries also known as “papas fritas” in other
parts of Latin America) and Mike had “costillas con puré de
papas” (ribs with mashed potatoes) and a Club Colombia
(Colombian brand of “cerveza”).
While we were eating, I must have gotten a little bit of “salsa
de tomate” (ketchup) on my shirt’s collar. By the way, “salsa
de tomate” — which literally means “tomato sauce” is the
word they use for “ketchup” here in Colombia. In Colombia, a
lot of people also say “salsa roja” (red sauce) in order to say
“ketchup.” And in many parts of Latin America, ketchup is
simply called “ketchup” but with a Latin American accent of
course. Back to Mike’s next mistake …
When Mike saw the “salsa de tomate” on the collar of my
shirt, he said to me “Patrick, tienes ketchup en tu collar.” I
understood what he was trying to say, but I couldn’t resist the
temptation of saying to him in English, “but I am not wearing
any jewelry.”
Although the English word “collar” and the Spanish word
“collar” look exactly the same, they have two completely
different meanings. That’s because in Spanish the word
“collar” means necklace or ornament that is worn around the
neck.
If you want to say collar in Spanish, the phrase is “cuello de la
camisa.” “Cuello” also means “neck.”
Tienes salsa de tomate en el cuello de tu camisa.
You have ketchup on your collar.
47. Tú eres una persona muy amarga.
That is not how you say “you are a very bitter person.”
It is a common mistake for English speakers learning Spanish
to confuse “amargo/a” and “amargado/a.” “Amargo” means
sour or bitter as in taste.
No quiero comer la fruta porque está muy amarga.
I don’t want to eat the fruit because it is very bitter.
“Amargado” means bitter as in a bitter person.
Ella es una persona amargada, envidiosa y celosa.
She is a bitter, envious and jealous person.
Eres una persona muy amargada.
You are a very bitter person.
48. Failing to pronounce or incorrectly pronouncing
Spanish “r” and “rr”.
This next mistake is one of the most embarrassing mistakes
that I ever made when learning Spanish. It is so embarrassing
that I almost decided against including it in this book. The
only reason why I have the guts to talk about it now is because
I want to be absolutely certain that you never make the same
embarrassing mistake that I did. So that’s the only reason why
I have decided to share this mistake with you and warn you of
it.
Years ago when I first start learning Spanish I went to dinner
at a Dominican restaurant with a Dominican friend in New
York City’s “barrio dominicano” (Dominican neighborhood)
known as Washington Heights.
I had only been learning Spanish for about 6 months at the
time but I still felt confident enough to speak to the Dominican
“mesero” (waiter) in Spanish.
I had a humungous plate of Dominican food that night
consisting of “pollo guisado” (chicken stew), “arroz blanco”
(white rice) and “habichuelas.” “Habichuelas” is the
Dominican and Puerto Rican word for beans. In most Latin
American countries, beans are called “frijoles,” and
“habichuelas” are what Americans call string beans.
At the Dominican restaurant, I also had “aguacate” (avocado),
“tostones” (or as they call them in Colombia “patacones” —
fried green plantains), and I washed it all down with a
Mexican beer (Corona).
Unlike the restaurants in Colombia and unlike the restaurants
in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican restaurants in New
York give you “un montón” (a heap or a pile) of food. Much
more than I was able to eat that night.
So at the end of my meal, when the waiter asked me “¿le
gustó?” (did you like it?), I attempted to tell him in Spanish
that I wanted to take the rest of my plate home.
Usually, in this situation a Spanish speaker would have used
the verb “llevar” (to take/to carry), but I mistakenly used the
verb “cargar” (to load/to carry), and I said to him “Quiero
cargar esto” (I want to carry this) while pointing to my plate.
When I said that phrase to the “mesero” he gave me a look as
if I was the most obnoxious person that he had ever met in his
entire life. Well, the problem wasn’t with my choice of verbs.
The problem was with my pronunciation.
Like many beginner English-speaking students learning the
Spanish language, I had trouble pronouncing the Spanish letter
“r” — or I would simply fail to pronounce the Spanish letter
“r” by completely omitting it.
So when I failed to pronounce or incorrectly pronounced the
Spanish letter “r” in the first syllable of “cargar” my statement
“Quiero cargar esto” (I want to carry this) took on a
completely different meaning.
To a Spanish speaker, it sounded as if I had said “I want to
defecate this (food).” Actually, when I failed to pronounce the
Spanish letter “r” in the first syllable of “cargar” it sounded as
if I used a Spanish verb which is a lot more vulgar than the
verb “defecar” (to defecate). It sounded as if I had use the
Spanish counterpart to the English word “to s—t.”
So in addition to learning how to properly pronounce the “r”
and “rr” in Spanish, learn that the phrase for “take-out food” is
“comida para llevar.”
Quiero la comida para llevar.
I want the food for take-out.
In retrospect, the ideal phrase to say to the “mesero” (waiter)
was not “quiero la comida para llevar.” I say that now because
I didn’t really want the food as “take-out.” I just wanted the
“mesero” to give me a doggy bag to take home what I could
not eat. So I should have said:
Me empaca esto.
Will you pack this for me (to take home).
49. Sueño de ti cada noche.
That is not how you say “I dream about you every night.”
One night, I was at an American friend’s house here in
Medellín, Colombia. Let’s call him Joe (not his real name). Joe
tends to make a lot of common mistakes that native English
speakers make when speaking in Spanish.
When I was at Joe’s house, I overheard a conversation that he
was having over the telephone. He must have been speaking to
his “novia” (girlfriend/fiancée). And I heard him make a
couple of mistakes while speaking over the phone. One
mistake I heard him make was when he said to her, “sueño de
ti cada noche.”
When you want to say that you dream about someone, you
have to use “con” instead of “de.” As English speakers, we
commonly make this mistake in Spanish because in English
we say “I dream ABOUT you.” And we don’t say “I dream
WITH you.”
In Spanish, for example, you would ask,
¿Sueñas conmigo?
Do you dream about me?
(But literally, “do you dream WITH me?”)
Sueño contigo cada noche.
I dream about you every night.
50. Puedes contar en mí.
That is not how you say “you can count on me.”
That same night, when Mike was speaking over the phone, I
also heard him say “puedes contar en mi.” However, when you
want to say that you can count on someone (i.e. rely on
someone) you have to use the preposition “con” instead of
“en.” As English speakers, we commonly make this mistake in
Spanish because in English we say “you can count ON me.”
And we don’t say “you count WITH me” (unless you were
talking about counting as in saying numbers). In Spanish, for
example, you would say:
Tengo mucho trabajo pero cuento con mi hermanita para que
me ayude.
I have a lot of work but I count on my sister in order to help
me.
(But literally, “I have a lot of work but I count WITH my sister
in order to help me.”)
51. ¿Tienes un mil pesos?
That is not the correct way to ask “do you have a 1,000
pesos?”
This is a mistake that I have heard quite a few English
speakers make here in Colombia when speaking Spanish. In
fact, a friend of mine made the same mistake very recently
when we were taking a cab. I will tell you what he said in
Spanish and before I point out the mistake, try to spot his error
on your own.
I will not say his real name because he may be reading this
book. Let’s just say his name is “Frank.” Recently, Frank and I
shared the cab fare after visiting another friend. When we
arrived to our destination Frank offered to pay part of the cab
fare or as they say in Colombia, “los pasajes.” The fare was
the minimum. 4,600 Colombian pesos. About $2.00 in U.S.
dollars.
I handed “el taxista” (the cab driver) a bill of 5,000 Colombian
pesos and Frank then gave the taxi driver coins totaling 600
Colombian pesos. In other words, we gave the cab driver a
total of 5,600 Colombian pesos.
Since the fare was only 4,600 Colombian pesos and we were
handing the cab driver a total of 5,600 Colombian pesos Frank
asked the cab driver:
¿Tienes un mil pesos? (Incorrect)
Did you spot Frank’s error? If not, look at the phrase again.
Frank asked the cab driver:
¿Tienes un mil pesos?
In English we have a tendency to say “a thousand” as in “I
have a thousand dollars,” “I know a thousand vocabulary
words,” “she earns a thousand dollars per week,” etc. But in
Spanish you do not put the indefinite article “un” (a) before
“mil” (thousand). In other words, the correct way to ask “do
you have a thousand pesos?” is ¿tienes mil pesos? You may be
wondering why didn’t Frank just tell the cab driver to keep the
change as a “propina” (tip). Since 1,000 Colombian pesos is
equivalent to less than 50 cents.
Well in Colombia, Colombians usually don’t tip the cab
drivers. I know that Frank isn’t Colombian and he’s as Gringo
as “pastel de manzana” (apple pie) and “béisbol” (baseball).
But we expats have a tendency to “do as the Colombians do
when in Colombia.” And Frank’s willingness to pay only a
small portion of the cab fare indicates that he happens to be
incredibly “tacaño” (cheap/stingy).
52. Se lo he dicho millón de veces.
That is not the correct way to say “I have told him (it) a
million times.”
Although in Spanish you do not put the indefinite article “un”
(a) before “mil” (thousand), this rule of not using the indefinite
article does not apply when speaking about a “millón”
(million). In that case the indefinite article “un” (a) is used:
Se lo he dicho un millón de veces.
I have told him (it) a million times.
53. Los blancos de huevo
That is not the correct way to say “egg whites.”
I am going to take this opportunity not only to point out a
common error that English speakers make when speaking
Spanish, but to also tell you a little about the cuisine of
Medellín, Colombia, specifically the breakfast that is eaten in
Medellín, Colombia.
At least once a month and sometimes twice a month, I will
receive an email from a customer who wants to know more
about the culture and cuisine of Colombia, especially about
“Paisas,” the people of Medellín, Colombia.
Most people think of Medellín, Colombia as the city that was
once known for being the most dangerous city in the world
(more than 20 years ago — during the rule of former
billionaire drug trafficker, Pablo Escobar).
But today Medellín is a metropolis with sprawling high-rise
buildings, beautiful spring-like weather, friendly people, a
night-life (which I enjoy even more than major cities in the
U.S. such as New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and
Atlanta) and, of course, a city with strikingly beautiful women
everywhere. But for now, I will only talk about “el desayuno
paisa” (breakfast of Medellín).
By the way, a typical breakfast in Colombia varies from one
city to another. But this is a typical “desayuno” (breakfast) in
Medellín or “desayuno paisa:”
1.) Huevos con aliños (also called “huevos con hogao”).
“Huevos” are eggs. And “huevos con aliños” consist of
“huevos revueltos” (scrambled eggs) with “tomate y
cebolla” (tomato and onion).
When I lived on the coast of Colombia, in a city called
Barranquilla, the term that they used for scrambled eggs was
“huevos pericos.” By the way, the word “perico” is also used
in Colombia to mean “café con leche”, and “perico” is also the
slang word for “cocaína” (cocaine).
On more than one occasion, I have heard a native English
speaker use a literal translation when referring to “egg
whites.” They are NOT called “los blancos de huevos.” And
when I first started learning Spanish, I once literally translated
and called the yolk “the yellow of an egg” in Spanish. Here are
the correct words:
a. Clara de huevo (egg white — literally “clear of the egg”)
b. Yema de huevo (egg yolk)
Back to the typical “desayuno paisa”…
2.) Arepa de maíz con mantequilla — Corn arepa with butter.
An arepa is a tortilla made of ground corn dough and it is
popular in both Colombia and Venezuela.
3.) Quesito — a white, very fresh, soft cheese.
4.) Calentao — this is a mixture of the “frijoles” (beans) that
are left over from the night before and the “arroz” (rice)
that is left over from the night before.
5.) “Salchicha” (sausage) or “chorizo” (spicy sausage) or a
slice of “carne asada” (grilled meat). And the grilled meat
can be a choice of either “res, cerdo o pollo” (beef, pork
or chicken).
6.) Café con leche (Coffee with milk) or “chocolate” (hot
chocolate) or “jugo” (juice)
In a restaurant, this “desayuno” (breakfast) costs about 6.000
or 7.000 Colombian pesos. About $3.00 or $3.50 U.S.
This morning I cooked a typical “desayuno paisa” for me and
my “novia” (girlfriend). As usual, I skipped the “arepa” and
put a couple of slices of “pan” (bread) in the “tostador”
(toaster) and made “tostada” (toast). I think I am one of the
only persons in Colombia who own a toaster. And as usual, my
“novia” did not eat the “tostada” and she cooked an “arepa”
for herself on a small “parrilla” (grill) over the “estufa” (stove)
and coated it with “mantequilla” (butter), and then she put a
couple of slices of “quesito” (fresh, white cheese typical of
Medellín) on top. I told her one day that I am going to cook
her a “desayuno” Gringo-style:
Blueberry pancakes or waffles or french toast with turkey
bacon. A breakfast which I personally prefer over “desayuno
paisa” any morning. Which explains why at least once a week,
you can find me in the morning at a McDonalds in Medellín,
eating pancakes smothered in “jarabe” (syrup) and
“mantequilla” (butter). And don’t let me get started on how
much I miss New York pizza or a Philly cheese steak.
54. Estoy usando un sombrero de los Yankees de
Nueva York.
That is not the proper way to say “I am wearing a New York
Yankees baseball cap.”
When I first started learning Spanish, one thing that used to
really confuse me is what do you call a garment that covers the
head in Spanish. The Spanish books would have one to believe
that any garment that is used to cover the head is called a
“sombrero.” But depending on the type of item that is used to
cover the head, I have heard Spanish speakers use many
different words:
1.) sombrero - hat with a brim but without a visor.
“Sombrero” can also refer to the type of very large hat
that is worn by the “vaqueros” (cowboys) from Mexico,
who are better known as “los charros” (the Mexican
cowboys).
2.) gorra - A brimless head covering with a visor or what
most English speakers would call a “cap.” Such as a New
York Yankees cap.
Estoy usando una gorra de los Yankees de Nueva York.
I am wearing a New York Yankees cap.
3.) cachucha - cap
Mi papá me compró una cachucha con el emblema de mi
equipo favorite de béisbol.
My dad bought me a cap with the emblem of my favorite
baseball team.
Both “cachucha” and “gorra’ mean cap.
4.) gorro - A small, brimless close-fitting cap, often worn to
protect one from the cold. Many English speakers would
refer to this as a skull cap (but not the type worn for
religious purposes).
5.) pasamontañas - skimask
6.) casco - helmet
But be careful not to confuse the words “casco” and “cáscara.”
This is another mistake that I have heard English speakers
make. “Casco” is what covers or protects the head (i.e.
helmet). “Cáscara” is what covers the outside of an egg or fruit
(i.e. egg shell or the peel of a fruit.)
7.) boina - beret
8.) capucha - hood that is attached to a jacket
Besides “capucha” you may also hear some Spanish speakers
use the word “caperuza” for hood. Do you know how to say
Little Red Riding Hood in Spanish?
Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood)
Be careful not to confuse the words “cachucha” and
“capucha.” “Cachucha” means cap. And “capucha” means
hood.
55. ¿Qué clase de pez tiene?
If you happen to be in a restaurant, that is not the correct way
to ask “what kind of fish do you have?” On the other hand, if
you happen to be in a “tienda de mascotas” (pet shop), it may
make sense to ask, ¿Qué clase de peces tiene?” (What kind of
fish do you have?)
My American friend, Gary (not his real name), recently came
to visit me in Medellín. Gary has taken some Spanish classes
and even attended an immersion Spanish course while visiting
the Amazon jungle or Amazon rainforest. By the way, visiting
the Amazon jungle is something that I have dreamed of doing
since living in Colombia.
For “almuerzo” (lunch), I took Gary to a fish restaurant
because he likes “mariscos” (seafood) or “comida del mar”
(seafood). “Mariscos” or “comida del mar” aren’t very popular
in Medellín because Medellín is so far from the coast of
Colombia. But in this particular restaurant, the owners or
workers are from Chocó.
Chocó is a department of Colombia known for its large black-
Colombian population. And it is the only Colombian
department to have coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and
the Atlantic Ocean. Chocó borders Panamá.
A lot of Colombians from Chocó have relocate to Medellín
after being displaced from their homes because of fighting
between FARC guerrillas, paramilitaries, the Colombian army
and drug traffickers. Back to the Spanish mistakes Gary made
…
When the waiter came to our table to take our orders, Gary
asked him “¿Qué clase de pez tiene?” (What kind of fish do
you have?). Did you notice Gary’s mistake?
“Pez” refers to a live fish as a fish in the ocean. If you are
talking about fish as in a plate of fish, then you must say
“pescado.” I was waiting for the “muchacho” to come back
with a live, wet fish flapping in a bucket of water — but he
didn’t. By the way, referring to a young waiter as “muchacho”
or “chico” instead of “mesero” (waiter) is not considered
offensive or derogatory in Latin America.
Before bringing us the main course, the “muchacho” brought
us two “tazones” (bowls) of “sancocho de pescado” — a fish
stew or soup with large pieces of plantain, potato, yuca and
other vegetables. Gary and I both ordered the same main
course:
Tilapia (the same name is used in both English and Spanish),
“arroz de coco” (coconut rice), “patacones” (fried green
plantains) and “ensalada” (salad). And for the “bebidas”
(drinks) we had “aguapanela” — a non-alcoholic drink made
by dissolving “panela” (a block of sugarcane) into water and
adding lime juice. “Aguapanela” is a common refreshment in
both Colombia and Ecuador.
56. El pescado tiene muchos huesos.
That is not how you say “the fish has a lot of bones.”
Just before our main dishes arrived, the “muchacho” started to
pick-up Gary’s empty “tazón” (bowl) of “sancocho de
pescado.” But Gary stopped him and said “Necesito eso para
los huesos.” (I need that for the bones.) Did you notice Gary’s
mistake?
“Huesos” certainly means bones. But when you are talking
about the bones of a fish you don’t call them “huesos.” The
bones of a fish are called “espinas.” So Gary should have said:
Necesito eso para las espinas.
I need that for the bones.
El pescado tiene muchas espinas.
The fish has a lot of bones.
By the way, “espinas” also means “thorns” as in the thorns of a
rose.
Una de las espinas de la rosa me pinchó el dedo.
One of the rose’s thorns pricked my finger.
If you are wondering how much did this “almuerzo” (lunch)
for two cost — that consisted of soup, fish, rice, fried green
plantains, salad and a beverage - the total price was 16,000
Colombian pesos. That is the equivalent to about $7 U.S. or
about $3.50 per person. There is a big sign in the restaurant
that says “La propina es voluntaria.” (The tip is voluntary).
But I still left a tip of 2,000 Colombian pesos (about $1 U.S.)
57. Using the wrong word or phrase to say “excuse
me” when you want to get someone’s attention
A friend of mine named John (not his real name), from
“Nueva York” (New York), was staying with me for several
weeks in Medellín while he looked for a place to live. After
retiring, John decided to fulfill his dream and study Spanish
abroad by studying Spanish at a local university here in
Medellín. John has studied Spanish on his own and in a
classroom setting in “Nueva York.”
One night John and I went to a “restaurante italiano” (Italian
restaurant) for dinner. When the “mesero” (waiter) took our
orders I requested my favorite “entrada” (appetizer): berenjena
parmesana (eggplant parmesan).
John then immediately made two common mistakes by asking
for “un vaso de vino,” instead of “una copa de vino” (glass of
wine). Next, he told the “mesero” that he wanted “vino rojo”
instead of “vino tinto” (red wine).
John then made his third mistake after dropping his knife and
fork. Well, it wasn’t actually a mistake. John is from the Bronx
and he has lived in Spanish-speaking “barrios”
(neighborhoods) such as “Spanish Harlem.” And New York
born Puerto Ricans and Dominicans speak Spanish that is
more informal than the Spanish of Colombia. So that’s the
type of Spanish John is used to hearing. And when John
dropped his knife and fork which were wrapped in a
“servilleta” (napkin) in order to get the waiter’s attention he
shouted “¡Mira!” “¡Mira!” (Look! Look!)
When that didn’t get the attention of the “mesero” (waiter),
John then shouted “¡Oye!” “¡Oye!” In The Bronx and in
Spanish Harlem, it may be acceptable to try to get someone’s
attention by yelling “¡Mira!” or “¡Oye!” But not in Colombia.
In Colombia, yelling “¡Mira!” or “¡Oye!” “¡Oiga!” to get the
attention of the “mesero” is considered “maleducado.”
You may recall that “maleducado” does NOT mean poorly
educated. Maleducado is an “amigo falso” (false friend).
“False friends” or “amigos falsos” are Spanish words that are
pronounced and spelled a lot like English words but have very
different meanings. “Maleducado” means discourteous. So
what is the proper way to get someone’s attention in Latin
America?
In Latin America, in order to get the attention of someone, you
should say “perdón” or “disculpe.” You can also just say
“señor” or “señora” in order to get someone’s attention. And
when the waiter is a young person, words such as “muchacho”
or “chico” or “niña” are all acceptable in Colombia and many
parts of Latin America. As a matter personal preference (and
respect), I prefer to address young waiters by “señor” and
young waitresses by “señorita.”
Finally, John did get the waiter’s attention by yelling “¡Oye!”
And when the waiter approached our table John told him:
Se me cayeron los cubiertos.
My eating utensils fell.
John actually surprised me when he said “se me cayeron los
cubiertos.” That is, in fact, the correct way to say “my eating
utensils fell.” Both John’s grammar and choice of vocabulary
were perfect when he said that phrase. But because of John’s
thick Gringo accent the “mesero” didn’t understand him and
asked “¿Cómo?” (What?) And John responded and committed
a common mistake by saying:
Se me cayó la cuchilla.
58. Se me cayó la cuchilla.
That is not the correct way to say “my knife fell.”
“Cuchillo” means knife in Spanish. But “cuchilla” means razor
blade. But the waiter apparently understood John this time
because he returned with a “servilleta” (napkin), “tenedor”
(fork), “cuchara” (spoon), and “cuchillo” (knife) to cut his
food — instead of a “cuchilla” (razor blade) in order for John
to shave.
59. Quiero que usted llegue en tiempo.
That is not how you say “I want you to arrive on time.” In
order to say “on time” in Spanish you must use the phrase “a
tiempo.”
Quiero que usted llegue a tiempo.
I want you to arrive on time.
The reason why native English speakers tend to make this very
common mistake is because in English we use the phrase “on
time” when expressing punctuality and a literal translation of
the phrase “on time” is “en tiempo.”
60. Saying “permiso” in order to say “excuse me”
after belching
After burping, passing gas, etc. in order to say “excuse me,”
you should say “perdón” and not “permiso.” “Permiso” can be
used to say “excuse me” if you want to pass and someone is
blocking your way. You can also say “perdón” if you want to
pass and someone is blocking your way.
61. Quiero soportarla.
That is not how you say “I want to support her.”
I have an American friend who is going to marry a much
younger Colombian woman who happens to be very attractive
looking. A mutual Colombian friend asked him was he
concerned that she may be marrying him for his money. He
responded by saying “no importa” (it doesn’t matter), and then
he incorrectly added the phrase “quiero soportarla.”
My American friend apparently wanted to express that he
wanted to support and help his future wife. But he actually
said that he wanted to TOLERATE her. The word “soportar”
means to tolerate, to stand, or to bear. For example:
No puedo soportar el llanto de los bebés.
I cannot stand/tolerate the crying of babies.
If he wanted to say that he wants to support and help her, then
he should have said:
Quiero apoyarla.
I want to help her.
He could have also said:
Quiero mantenerla.
I want to financially support her.
By the way, besides “to support,” the word “apoyar” also
means “to lean, to rest.”
El carpintero apoyó la madera en la pared.
The carpenter rested the wood on the wall.
Note that the word “aguantar” also has the same meaning as
“soportar.” Both “aguantar” and “soportar” can mean the
following:
a.) (Sostener) - to hold, to sustain
b.) to tolerate, to stand, to bear
La mujer dijo que no aguantaba estar sola.
The woman sad that she could not bear being alone.
So you should never use the Spanish verb “soportar” (to stand,
to bear, to tolerate) when you want to express the English verb
to support, unless you are talking about “to support” as in to
support a load, mass, structure, etc. (i.e., to sustain).
62. Estoy enamorado contigo
That is not the way you say “I am in love with you.”
This is a common mistake that English speakers make because
in English we literally say “I am in love with you” as opposed
to “I am in love from you.”
Estoy enamorado de ti.
I am in love with you.
(Literally, “I am in love from you” or “I am in love about
you.”)
63. Sueña de mí
That is not the way you say to someone “dream about me.”
This is another very common mistake that English speakers
make because in English we literally say “dream about me” as
opposed to “dream WITH me.”
Sueña conmigo.
Dream about me.
(Literally, “Dream with me.”)
64. Me duele mi cabeza.
That is not the correct way to say “my head hurts” - at least
not in normal, everyday conversational Spanish.
English speakers have a tendency to excessively use
possessive adjectives when referring to body parts and articles
of clothing in Spanish. As English speakers we have a
tendency to commit this error because in English we
frequently use possessive adjectives even when possession is
obvious. For example, in English we may say “my head hurts
me.” We make such comments of redundancy despite the fact
that it is obvious to the listener that it is “my” head that is
hurting me and that someone else’s head is not hurting me.
Spanish does not function this way. Since it is obvious to the
listener’s whose head is hurting me (my own head) in Spanish
it is only necessary to state that “the” head is hurting me as
opposed to “my” head.
Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.
(Literally, “it hurts me, the head.”)
INCORRECT: Voy a cepillarme mis dientes.
CORRECT: Voy a cepillarme los dientes.
I am going to brush my teeth.
WRONG: Ponte tu ropa.
CORRECT: Ponte la ropa.
Put on your clothes.
65. No tengo algo.
That is not the way to say “I don’t have anything.”
As kids, we were told not to use double negatives in English.
But in Spanish, it is grammatically correct to use double
negatives.
WRONG: No tengo algo.
CORRECT: No tengo nada.
I don’t have anything.
WRONG: No dije algo.
CORRECT: No dije nada.
I didn’t say anything.
WRONG: No hice algo ayer.
CORRECT: No hice nada ayer.
I didn’t do anything yesterday.
66. Ella va a moverse (de casa) esta semana.
That is not how you say “she is going to move (to another
home) this week.”
English speakers frequently make the mistake of using the
verb “moverse” when they should be using “mudarse.” If you
are going to say “to move” as in “to move” one’s home, house,
apartment, etc., then you must use the verb “mudarse.”
Ella va a mudarse (de casa) este fin de semana.
She is going to move this weekend.
“Moverse” is used when you are talking about the change of
one’s body position from one position to another.
Mientras dormimos nos movemos muchas veces sin darnos
cuenta.
While we are sleeping we move many times without realizing
it.
67. Solo tengo dos hermanas.
That is not the correct way to write “I only have two sisters.”
It is a very common written mistake for native English
speakers to confuse “solo,” with “sólo,” and “solamente.” The
Spanish word “sólo,” (notice the accent mark over the first
letter “o”) and “solamente” are “adverbios” (adverbs). “Sólo,”
and “solamente” are interchangeable and they both mean
“only.” For example:
Sólo faltan dos semanas para que empiecen las vacaciones.
Only two weeks to go before the vacation starts.
Yo tengo ocho hermanos y ella solamente dos.
I have eight brothers and she only has two.
Sólo tengo dos hermanas.
I only have two sisters.
On the other hand, “solo/a,” (notice that there is no accent
mark over the first letter “o”) is an “adjetivo” (adjective).
“Solo/a’” is NOT interchangeable with “sólo” and
“solamente.” The Spanish word “solo/a” means alone or
solitary. For example:
Quiero estar solo para poder estudiar sin distraerme.
(I want to be alone in order to be able to study without being
distracted.)
Keep in mind that “solo” (alone, solitary) which is an adjective
can be masculine or feminine (i.e., solo or sola). But “sólo” (or
“solamente”) which is an adverb only has one form. Look at
these examples:
Yo vivo solo/a.
I live alone.
Vivo sólo (solamente) por ti.
I only live for you.
Vivo solo/a por ti.
I live alone because of you.
Of course, in a regular conversation you will not be able to see
the accent mark in “sólo” or see the lack of an accent mark in
“solo.” So you will have to rely on the context of the
conversation to determine which one the speaker intends to
use. Here’s an example using both solo and sólo:
Yo tomo solo, sólo cuando estoy deprimido.
I drink alone, only when I am depressed.
68. Using the verb “gustar” instead of “caer bien” in
order to say that you have a friendly feeling towards
someone.
This is another very embarrassing mistake that I made when I
first started learning Spanish. When I was still living in New
York, my next door “vecinos” (neighbors) were Dominicans.
My neighbors Carlos and his wife Luz, who both spoke
English fluently, used to help me out a lot with my Spanish.
Carlos and I became really good friends. So one day I told his
wife “me gusta Carlos.”
His wife then explained to me that I just said that I like her
husband in a romantic way. That’s definitely not what I wanted
to imply. She then explained to me that if I have a friendly
feeling for someone that I should use the verb “caer bien” and
only use the verb “gustar” to express that I like someone in a
romantic way.
Me cae bien Carlos.
I like Carlos (but “like” as in to have a kindly or friendly
feeling).
Me gusta Juliana.
I like Juliana in a romantic way.
No me cae bien Juan.
I do not like Juan.
Me cae mal Jorge.
I dislike George.
Me gusta Shakira.
(Since I do not personally know the singer Shakira, it is
understood that I am saying that I like the music of Shakira.)
69. Estoy al cine.
That is not how you say “I am in the movies” or “I am at the
movies.”
Native English speakers (or at least Americans) tend to use the
Spanish word “a” (at) when a native Spanish speaker would
use the word “en.” A couple of months ago, while I was at a
movie theatre, I heard someone with a thick Gringo accent
talking on his cell phone in Spanish. I heard him say:
“Estoy al cine,” which literally means “I am AT the movie
theatre.” But native Spanish speakers do not speak that way.
They would say “Estoy en el cine” (I am IN the movie
theatre). Some native English speakers may prefer to say “I am
IN the movie theatre.” Others may prefer to say “I am AT the
movie theatre.”
In conversational or informal English, you may have a choice
of which one to say. But you do not have a choice in Spanish.
When you are talking about your location as opposed to your
destination, you have to use “en” in Spanish. Here are some
examples:
Estoy en el cine.
I am in the movies.
Estoy en la casa.
I am in the house.
I am at home.
Estoy en la tienda.
I am in the store.
Voy al cine.
I am going to the movies.
Ella va a la casa.
She is going home.
70. Voy a dejar de mi casa ya.
That is not how you say “I am going to leave my house now”
unless you are trying to express that you are going to abandon
your home.
Many people learning Spanish tend to use the wrong Spanish
verb in order to say “to leave.” I can think of four different
Spanish verbs that mean “to leave.”
Irse
Marcharse
Salir
Dejar
However, only the first 3 verbs (irse, marcharse, and salir)
mean “to leave” as in “to leave a place,” “to remove oneself
from a place,” or “to go away from.” “Marcharse” is not
commonly used in Latin America. The verb “dejar” means “to
leave” as in “to abandon,” “to leave behind,” or “to let
someone remain in a position to do something without
interference.”
Ya me voy de la casa.
I am leaving the house now.
Cuando salgo de casa siempre llevo un abrigo.
When I leave (from) home, I always take a coat
Yo iba a dejar las llaves sobre la mesa.
I was going to leave the keys on the table.
Yo dejé a mi novia hace un mes.
I left (abandoned) my girlfriend a month ago.
¡Déjame en paz!
Leave me alone!
(Literally, “leave me in peace!”)
71. Él es casi un billonario.
That is not how you say he is almost a billionaire.
One day when I was at the “gimnasio” (gym) in Medellín, an
American was speaking to the gym’s receptionist who was
thumbing through an entertainment magazine while the two
were having a conversation. I then saw the American point to
someone in her magazine and say “él es casi un billonario.”
The Colombian “muchacha” looked at the American with
disbelief and told him “imposible.” The American then turned
around and said to me in English “will you tell her that guy is
almost a billionaire.”
I then explained to him the reason for her disbelief. The
Spanish word “billón” and the English word “billion” may
look and sound very similar but they have two completely
different meanings. The English word “billion” is equal to one
thousand millions. However, the Spanish word “billón” is
equal to one million millions. That’s a huge difference! I
would have just said “él es multimillonario.” (He is a
multimillionaire.)
72. Mi hermano más viejo baila bien.
That is not the correct way to say “my older brother dances
well.”
It is a common mistake to use “viejo” when one should use
“mayor.”
Mi hermano mayor baila bien.
My older brother dances well.
73. Mi hermana más joven es doctora.
That is not the correct way to say “my younger sister is a
doctor.”
It is also a common mistake to use “joven” when one should
use “menor”
Mi hermana menor es doctora.
My younger sister is a doctor.
74. Confusing ser and estar.
In a nutshell, the verb “ser” is normally used when speaking
about permanent and inherent qualities. The verb “estar” is
used to speak about temporary qualities or qualities that can
change with time. There are certain words where you can
completely change the meaning of a sentence depending on
your choice of “ser” and “estar.” Let me give you some
examples.
Ser rico/a (to be rich)
Soy rico. (I am rich)
Estar rico/a (to be delicious)
La comida está rica. (The food is delicious)
While “soy rico” may be a line a guy may use to impress a
“muchacha,” “estoy rico” sounds like something that may get
him slapped.
Ser aburrido/a (to be boring)
Ella es aburrida. (She is boring.)
Estar aburrido/a (to be bored).
Antes de la fiesta, estuve muy aburrido.
(Before the party, I was very bored.)
The last one reminds me of a “señorita” who I met in
Colombia when I used to live on the Atlantic coast in a city
called Barranquilla. At the time, she was studying English and
we went out on a date. The first time we went out she said to
me more than once in English “You look very BORING.”
Actually, what she meant to say in English was “You look very
BORED.” Well, that’s what I hope she meant to say. Here are
some more examples of how your choice of “ser” and “estar”
can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
Ser listo/a (to be smart)
El muchacho es listo. (The boy is smart)
Estar listo/a (to be ready)
El muchacho está listo. (The boy is ready)
Ser malo/a (to be bad)
Cuando yo era pequeño era muy malo. (When I was little, I
was very bad.)
Estar malo/a (to be sick/to go bad)
Hoy el juez está mal. (Today the judge is sick.)
Ser seguro/a (to be safe/secure)
El boxeo no es un deporte seguro.
Boxing isn’t a safe sport.
Estar seguro/a (to be sure)
¿Estás seguro que mi avión llega a las seis?
Are you sure that my plane arrives at six?
75. Quiero llorar porque de mi novia.
That is not how you say “I want to cry because of my
girlfriend.”
I have an American friend who lives in Medellín and his
Colombian girlfriend/fiancée left him. I will not say his name
to protect his privacy but he recently committed a Spanish-
speaking error by saying to me “quiero llorar porque de mi
novia.” This is another case of an English speaker literally
translating from English to Spanish. The expression “porque
de” is NOT how you say “because of” in Spanish. “Por”
means “because of.” So he should have said to me:
Quiero llorar por mi novia.
I want to cry because of my girlfriend.
I started to correct his Spanish but I was afraid that he was
going to burst out into a “llanto” (flood of tears).
76. Sí, muy.
The same English-speaking friend who is having problems in
his relationship with his Colombian girlfriend/fiancée then
said to me:
Ella es muy trabajadora y muy tierna.
She is very hard-working and very tender/affectionate.
I then asked him:
¿Ella es linda?
Is she pretty?
That’s when he made another mistake by INCORRECTLY
responding to my question by saying:
Sí, muy. (INCORRECT)
But in Spanish, you cannot use “muy” (very) by itself. I know
in English that we use “very” by itself, but you cannot in
Spanish. You have to use “mucho.” So in response to my
question:
¿Ella es linda?
Is she pretty?
He should have responded:
Sí, mucho.
Yes, very much.
77. Llegamos en sábado.
That is not how you say “we arrived on Saturday.”
One afternoon when I was having lunch in a restaurant, I
overheard two men from the U.K. make several mistakes when
speaking Spanish to a Paisa (person from Medellín). The first
mistake that I overheard was when one of them said “llegamos
en sábado.” Spanish speakers use the definite article (”el”)
before the names of the days of the week. They do NOT use
“en” to translate the English word “on.”
Llegamos el sábado.
We arrived on Saturday.
Me voy para España el martes.
I leave for Spain on Tuesday.
78. ¿Hoy es el lunes?
That is not how you ask “is today Monday?”
One of the “caballeros” (gentlemen) from the U.K. then made
another mistake by asking “hoy es el lunes?” Normally, it is
necessary in Spanish to use the definite article (”el”) before
the names of the days of the week. However, you do not use
“el” or any type of definite article after any form of the verb
“ser” when speaking about the days of the week. So he should
have asked:
¿Hoy es lunes?
Today is Monday?
79. Medio raro.
“Medio raro” is not how you say “medium rare” as in a steak
that is cooked medium rare.
This mistake is not a mistake that I heard an English-speaker
make in Colombia. It is a mistake from an email message from
one of the subscribers to my Learning Spanish Like Crazy
newsletter. I want to discuss his email message because it
illustrates a common mistake. The mistake is translating
everything literally from English to Spanish and forgetting that
English and Spanish are two completely different languages.
Let’s say that the reader’s name is John (not his real name.)
John asked me, “Patrick, how do you say medium rare in
Spanish, as in a steak that is cooked medium rare?”
I wrote him back and said that it depends on the country. Here
in Colombia, I would say “término medio cruda.” In Spain,
they’d say “poco hecha.” In Peru, “un cuarto.” In Guatemala,
“vuelta y vuelta.” In many other Spanish speaking countries,
including Argentina, they would say “jugosa” which literally
means juicy.
He then wrote me back and said “Gracias, but I already have
the answer to my question. A Latina waitress told me that
‘medio raro’ means medium rare.” When he wrote me back
and said that a waitress told him that “medio raro” means
medium rare, I immediately knew that he was not traveling in
a Spanish speaking country and that the waitress who he spoke
to was a Spanish speaker who lived somewhere in the States.
As I suspected, he was dining in a Latino restaurant in the
States, a Cuban restaurant in Florida to be exact. Maybe in
“Spanglish” (a combination of English and Spanish) “medio
raro” means medium rare but definitely not in Spanish. And I
am sure that if you use the term “medio raro” in Latin
America, a waiter or waitress will have no idea what you’re
requesting - unless he or she is accustomed to taking orders of
food from Gringos.
“Medio raro” is a literal translation that a native English
speaker would make when translating the phrase medium rare.
Although the Spanish word “raro” does mean the English
word “rare,” the problem is that the Spanish word “raro” does
NOT mean rare in the sense of “lightly cooked.” The Spanish
word “raro” means rare in the sense of “happening
infrequently.”
“Medio raro” is also a term that is used in Colombia to
describe someone or something of “dubious reputation.” For
example, “ese tipo es medio raro, creo que es contrabandista”
(that guy is very strange, I think he is a smuggler/gun runner).
“Medium raro” is not the only “Spanglish” phrase that I have
heard used. Growing up in “Nueva York” (New York), on
numerous occasions, I heard Puerto Ricans or “Nuyoricans”—
use the phrase “llámame pa’tras.” “Nuyorican” is a term that is
used to refer to a Puerto Rican who was born in New York
City.
The term “llámame pa’tras” is a literal translation of the
English phrase “call me back.” But in the Spanish language,
“one does not call one back.” In Spanish “one returns a call.”
That is, “devolver la llamada.” So in Latin America, people do
not say “llámame pa’tras.” Instead, they say “devuélveme la
llamada” (return my call) or just “llámame” (call me).
I remember several years ago when a Spanish profesor in
Colombia told me that she had just watched an American-
made movie about a Puerto Rican family living in the Bronx.
She said that in the movie one of the family member used the
phrase “llámame pa’tras” while talking on the telephone. She
thought the phrase “llámame pa’tras” was one of the most
hilarious things she had ever heard in her life.
Another “Spanglish” phrase that I have heard Nuyoricans and
New York City born Dominicans use is “janguear.” “Janguear”
means “to hang out.”
Oye, yo estoy aburrido, vamos a janguear.
Yo, I’m bored, let’s go hang out.
80. Te gusta la sofá.
That is not how you say “you like the sofa/couch.”
Today, I noticed that the bookshelf that I currently have is
getting too small for my constantly growing collection of
learning-Spanish books. So I went shopping for a “biblioteca”
here in Medellín. I know you’re probably wondering “Patrick,
why would you go shopping for a library?” Don’t feel bad. My
Spanish books also taught me that the word “biblioteca” only
means “library.” But in Latin America, “biblioteca” not only
means library, “biblioteca” also means “bookshelf.”
While I was at the “mueblería” or “furniture store” I saw a
twenty-something year old English-speaking “extranjero”
(foreigner) make a common error when speaking Spanish. The
“extranjero” (foreigner) appeared to be a “mochilero.”
“Mochilero” means “backpacker” and it comes from the word
“mochila” which means “backpack.” A lot of “mochileros”
from Europe come to visit Colombia and other countries in
South America.
I noticed that the young “mochilero” was with a Colombian
friend who was apparently shopping for a couch. Then I heard
the “mochilero” incorrectly ask his friend “ ¿te gusta la sofá?
Did you spot his error?
In general, Spanish nouns that end with the letter “o” are
masculine. And Spanish nouns that end with the letter “a” are
feminine. But there are exceptions to this rule. And “sofa” or
“el sofá” is one of them. That’s why he should have asked:
¿Te gusta el sofá?
¿Do you like the sofa?
Here is a list of some more words that are exceptions to the
general rule that nouns that end with “o” are masculine and
nouns that end with “a” are feminine:
el drama - drama
el clima - climate
el problema - problem
el fantasma - ghost
el poema - poem
el idioma - language
el tema - theme
el sistema - system
el mapa - map
You may have noticed that many of the above words end with
“ma.” But do not make the mistake of thinking that every
Spanish word that ends with “ma” is masculine. Many Spanish
words that end with “ma” are feminine. For example:
la rama - branch
la firma - signature
la cama - bed
la broma - joke
By the way, the word “estante” also means “shelf.” But
“estante” means “shelf” in general while “biblioteca” means a
“shelf” that is specifically used for books as in a “bookcase.”
Voy a poner el plato en el estante.
I am going to put the plate on the shelf.
81. Ella pretendió estar feliz durante la fiesta.
That is not how you say “she pretended to be happy during the
party.”
The Spanish verbs “aparentar” and “fingir” mean “to pretend.”
The Spanish verb “pretender” does not mean “to pretend.” The
Spanish verb “pretender” means “to aspire to obtain
something.”
Claudia aparentó estar feliz durante la fiesta, pero estuvo
triste toda la noche.
Claudia pretended to be happy during the party but she was
sad the whole night.
Sofia, no finjas que duermes, sé que estás despierta.
Sophia, don’t pretend to be asleep, I know that you are awake.
Juan pretende obtener buenas calificaciones.
Juan aspires to obtain good grades.
82. Prende el agua.
That is not how you say “turn on the water.”
This error reminds me of a statement that I saw a Facebook
“friend,” post on his own Facebook wall. He wrote “why do
Mexicans say such dumb things like ‘open the water?’” Let
me clarify that I do not have friends who make such idiotic
statements. He was actually just a Facebook “conocido”
(acquaintance).
Just before clicking Facebook’s “unfriend” button, I wrote on
his Facebook “muro” (wall) that Spanish speakers use the verb
“abrir” (to open), instead of the verb “prender” (to turn on) or
the verb “encender” (to turn on) when referring to turning
water on.
I also wrote on his “muro” (wall) that the phrases that Spanish
speakers use make a lot more sense than the phrases that we
use. That’s because water does not flow through an electrical
conduit. So there is nothing to “turn on.” You are “opening” a
faucet so that water can pass through a pipe.
Abre el agua.
Turn on the water.
(But literally, “open the water.”)
Abre la llave (de agua).
Turn on the water.
Abre el grifo.
Turn on the water.
The Spanish word “grifo” also means water tap or tap:
Tienes que arreglar el grifo del lavamanos porque está
goteando.
You have to fix the sink’s tap because it is dripping.
83. Apaga el agua.
That is not how you say “turn off the water.”
Spanish speakers use the verb “cerrar” (to close), instead of
the verb “apagar” (to turn off) when referring to turning water
off.
Cierra la llave (de agua).
Turn off the water.
Cierra el agua.
Turn off the water.
Cierra el grifo.
Turn off the water.
84. Estoy hambre.
That is not how you say “I am hungry.”
In order to say that one is hungry, Spanish speakers use the
phrase “tener hambre.”
Tengo hambre
I am hungry.
(Literally, I have hunger.)
85. Estoy frío.
That is not how you say “I am cold.”
In order to say that one is cold, Spanish speakers use the
phrase “tener frío.”
Usted tiene frío.
You are cold.
(Literally, “you have cold.”)
While we are on the topic of the weather, in order to express
that it is windy, you can use the phrase “hacer viento.”
Hoy hace viento.
Today it is windy.
(Literally, “today it makes wind.”)
86. He dejado cinco dólares.
That is certainly not the way to say “I have $5 left.” In
Spanish, you do not “have something left.” In Spanish,
“something stays with you” (quedarle a alguien).
Solamente me quedan cinco dólares.
I only have five dollars left.
(Literally, “only five dollars stay with me.”)
Le he dejado cinco dólares al mesero.
I have left the waiter five dollars.
87. Yo puse la moneda en mi alcancía.
“Yo puse la moneda en mi alcancía,” is, in fact, how you say
“I put the money in my bank (as in a small bank in which
coins are kept).” But if you want to say that you “put away”
something for storage or you “saved something for later use,”
then you should use the verb (guardar).
Guarda la moneda en tu alcancía de cerdito.
Put the change away in your piggy bank.
(Literally, “guard the change in your piggy bank.”)
88. Págame atención.
That is not how you say “pay attention to me.”
In Spanish, you do not “pay attention.” In Spanish, you “lend
attention” or “place attention.” In Spanish, in order to say “to
pay attention” you should use the phrase “prestar atención” or
“poner atención.”
Mi hijo no me presta atención.
My son does not pay attention to me.
(Literally, “my son does not lend attention to me.”)
El maestro dijo, “pónganme atención.”
The teacher said “pay attention to me.”
89. Confusing “por” and “para.”
Alejandra cocinó por Pedro.
Alejandra cooked for Pedro.
Alejandra cocinó para Pedro.
Alejandra cooked for Pedro.
Although the phrase “Alejandra cocinó por Pedro” is
grammatically correct, if you want to express that Alejandra
cooked in order for Pedro to eat, then you must use “para”
instead of “por.” On the other hand, if you want to express that
Alejandra cooked in Pedro’s place or instead of Pedro, then
you must use “por.”
In many cases, you can use either “por” or “para” and form a
sentence that is structurally correct from a grammatical
perspective. But depending on your choice of “por” or “para,”
you can completely change the listener’s understanding of
your sentence. And unless you are speaking to a native
Spanish speaker who also happens to be a psychic, he or she
will have no idea of what you really want to express. Let’s
take a closer look at these two sentences.
Alejandra cocinó para Pedro.
Alejandra cooked for Pedro.
Alejandra cocinó por Pedro.
Alejandra cooked for Pedro.
In the first example “Alejandra cocinó para Pedro,” imagine
that Alejandra has cooked, and has placed a plate of food on
the table “for” or “in order” for Pedro to eat. In the second
phrase “Alejandra cocinó por Pedro,” imagine that Pedro
normally cooks, but Alejandra has cooked instead of Pedro
because Pedro is away from home, busy, sick, etc. or
otherwise unable to cook. So Alejandra has cooked “for” him
or “instead of” him or that she has cooked “in his place.”
90. Ella dio nacimiento a gemelos el jueves pasado.
That is not how you say “she gave birth to twins last
Thursday.“ In Spanish, one does not give birth. Well, at least
not linguistically. In Spanish, one “gives light” (dar a luz). Just
imagine a baby being “in the dark” for nine months and then
the baby’s mother gives him or her light (by giving birth).
Anoche Maricela dio a luz a un bebé.
Last night Maricela gave birth to a baby.
(Literally, last night Maricela gave light to a baby.)
Ella dio a luz gemelos el jueves pasado.
She gave birth to twins last Thursday.
91. Ella no queda en esa silla.
That is not how you say “she doesn’t fit in that chair.” The two
Spanish verbs “caber” and “quedar” can both be translated as
the English verb “to fit.” The verb “quedar” is usually used to
say that something looks well or doesn’t look well on a
person. For example,
Esa camiseta no te queda bien.
That tee-shirt doesn’t fit/suit you well.
But the verb “caber” is normally used when referring to
occupying space.
Ella no cabe en esa silla.
She doesn’t fit in that chair.
On the other hand, you would not say, “esa camiseta no te
cabe bien” in order to say “that tee-shirt doesn’t fit/suit you
well.” In this instance, one would use the verb “quedar”
instead of “caber.”
92. Me puse los zapatos. (GRAMMATICALLY
CORRECT PHRASE)
That is, in fact, the correct way to say “I put on my shoes.” But
if you want to say “I put on my sneakers, sandals, boots, house
slippers, flip-flops, etc” that phrase is not correct. It is a
common mistake for English speakers to refer to any and all
“calzado” (footwear) as “zapatos” (shoes).
Zapato - shoe
Tenis - sneaker or tennis shoe
Sandalia - sandal
Bota - boot
Botín - ankle boots
Pantufla - house slipper
Patín - skate
Chancleta - flip-flop
Chancla - flip-flop
Barefoot - descalzo/a
“Chancletas” is the word that I have heard “dominicanos”
(Dominicans) use in “Nueva York” (New York City) for flip-
flops. And “chanclas” is the word that I have heard used in
Colombia for flip-flops.
93. Yo estudié la derecha.
That is not how you say “I studied law.” This one reminds of a
“broma” (joke) or “chiste” that I heard. Here’s the joke:
Did you hear the one where the Gringo lawyer was
vacationing in Cancún, and a Mexican asked him what did he
study when he was a student and he replied “yo estudié la
derecha.” And the Mexican replied “¿Y nunca la izquierda?”
(and never the left?)
In Spanish, “derecho” means “law.” But “la derecha” means
“the right” as in “left or right.”
Yo estudié derecho.
I studied law.
94. Me gustó el bistec. ¿Qué comen las vacas acá?
¿Comen pasta?”
“Me gustó el bistec. ¿Qué comen las vacas acá?” does mean “I
liked the steak. What do the cows here eat?” But ¿comen
pasta?” is not how you ask “do they eat grass.”
This one reminds me of another “broma” (joke) or “chiste”
that I heard. Here’s the joke:
A Gringo was on vacation in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After
eating a steak dinner in a restaurant the Gringo said to the
waiter:
Me gustó el bistec. ¿Qué comen las vacas acá? ¿Comen pasta?
The waiter then responded “No, a las vacas acá no les gusta
comer espaghetti.” (No, the cows here do not like to eat
spaghetti.)
In Spanish, “el pasto” means “grass” as in the type of grass
that cows eat. But “la pasta” means “the pasta” as in fettuccini,
linguine, spaghetti, etc. When referring to the grass of a lawn,
you may hear Spanish speakers use the words “césped” or
“grama.” The type of “grass” someone would smoke is often
informally referred to as “yerba” or “hierba” (i.e., marihuana).
95. Espera una rata
That is not how you say “wait a little while.”
This also reminds me of a “broma” (joke) or “chiste” that I
heard. Here’s the joke:
Did you hear the one where the Gringo in Colombia called his
date on a cell phone to tell her that he was lost because he had
taken the wrong bus and it was going to be a little while longer
before he arrived. So to make sure she didn’t leave before he
arrived, over the cellphone he tells her:
“Espera una rata” And she yelled “ ¡Para nada! ¡Yo odio los
roedores!” (No way! I hate rodents!)
In Spanish, “un rato” means “a little while.” But “una rata”
means “a rat” as in a rodent.
Espera un rato.
Wait a little while.
96. Assuming that Spanish words such as “gato”
(cat) only have one meaning
Many English words do not have only one meaning. So why it
is that so many English speakers assume that Spanish words
only have one meaning? A few months ago, a friend of mine
from the States came to visit me in Medellín. Let’s call him
Tim (not his real name).
Tim has traveled to a couple of Latin American countries and
has been studying Spanish on his own for several years in
order to make his trips to Latin America more enjoyable. Tim
frequents the on-line dating sites that many Americans and
Europeans use in order to meet Latinas.
Tim finally met who he believes to be his “media naranja”
(soul mate, but literally “half of orange”). They met on-line.
And since she lives in Medellín, he felt that it would be
“económico” for him to stay at my place during his stay in
Colombia while he finally meets his “media naranja” face to
face and she meets her “príncipe azul” (knight in shining
armor or prince charming, but literally “blue prince”)
Before he arrived, we agreed that we would speak to each
other in Spanish, as much as possible, to help improve his
Spanish. And, of course, he would only speak Spanish with his
“novia” and the other Paisas (people of Medellín). The biggest
mistake that Tim made during his stay was assuming that all
Spanish words only have one meaning. After I picked him up
at the “aeropuerto” (airport) he committed his first mistake.
Tim started speaking Spanish immediately by asking our
“taxista” (taxi driver):
¿Hay espacio en su baúl?
Is there space in your trunk?
And the “taxista” responded “Sí señor. Solamente tengo un
gato en el maletero.” That’s when Tim turned to me and
whispered in English, “These guys here apparently never
heard of PETA.” With Tim’s silly sense of humor, there’s no
way of knowing if he really assumed that “gato” only means
“cat” in Spanish and that he did not realize that “gato” also
means “jack” in Spanish. But just in case Tim was serious, I
explained to him that when the “taxista” said “solamente tengo
un gato en el maletero,” he did not mean that he was driving
around Colombia with a cat in his car’s trunk. What he meant
was that he only had a jack in the car’s trunk, in order to lift
the car in case of a “llanta desinflada” (flat tire) or “llanta
pinchada” (flat tire).
97. Assuming that Spanish words such as “bomba”
(bomb) only have one meaning
After we got into the taxi, I remembered that I only had two
bills in my wallet. I had two bills of “50,000 Colombian
pesos” (about $20 U.S. each bill). It is not uncommon for
“taxistas” in Colombia to not have enough cash to give me
change of a bill of 50,000 Colombian pesos. Usually, the
“taxista” will stop at a gas station in order to get change.
After I told the “taxista” about the smallest bill that I had, he
said that we would have to stop to get change. After driving
for a few minutes, the “taxista” said to me “Señor hay una
bomba en la esquina.” That’s when Tim turned to me and
jokingly said in English, “Patrick, you may be used to this but
I’d like to leave Colombia in one piece. Tell him to take
another route!”
“Bomba” not only means “bomb” but it also means “pump.”
In Colombia and other parts of Latin America, “bomba” is the
word that people use for “estación de gasolina” (gas
pump/station).
98. Assuming that Spanish words such as “cancelar”
(to cancel) only have one meaning
The “taxista” then dropped us off at a restaurant to get
something to eat. After eating, Tim told me that he wanted to
practice his Spanish with the “mesera” (waitress). Knowing
Tim for as many years as I have known him, I knew that his
true intention was to “coquetear” (flirt) with the “mesera
linda” (pretty waitres).
After he got her attention by saying “mesera” she approached
our table. I was hoping that she would not ask him “¿puedo
retirar?”
Although “retirarse” can mean “to retire,” “¿puedo retirar (los
platos)?” means “Can I lift (the plates)?” The “meseros”
(waiters) in Colombia always use the phrase “puedo retirar?”
for short instead of asking the longer question “¿puedo retirar
los platos?”
If she had asked Tim “puedo retirar?” I am sure that he would
have turned to me and asked “why is she asking me if she can
retire? She looks too young to retire.” Fortunately, she did not
ask him “¿puedo retirar?” Instead she asked him “¿Usted
quiere cancelar ya?” He responded, “No. Yo no quiero
cancelar. Acabo de comer. Quiero pagar.” (No. I don’t want to
cancel. I just finished eating. I want to pay).
“Cancelar” can mean “to cancel.” But “cancelar” also means
“pagar una deuda” (to pay a debt.) And “cancelar” is the word
that “meseros” commonly use in Colombia when referring to
paying the bill for the food. They do not ask “¿Quiere pagar?”
Instead, they always ask “¿Quiere cancelar?”
During Tim’s stay, he continued to make mistakes by
assuming that all Spanish words only have one meaning. Not
unlike many English speakers learning Spanish, he kept
overlooking the fact that just like many English words have
more than one meaning, many Spanish words also have more
than one meaning.
Here’s another error he committed when he asked me if it was
safe to visit the “barrio” (neighborhood) where his “novia”
(girlfriend) lives. I told him:
Te recomiendo que no vayas allá.
I recommend that you do not go there.
He asked:
¿Por qué no?
(Why not?)
And I answered:
Porque hay muchas bandas en ese barrio.
His response to that was:
Pero me encanta la música latina.
But I love Latino music.
In this instance Tim assumed that the only definition for the
Spanish word “banda” is “band” as in a “musical band.” But
“banda” also means “gang” as in a group of adolescents who
engage in delinquent behavior.
Hay muchas bandas en ese barrio.
There are a lot of gangs in that neighborhood.
Tim being the “arriesgado” (daring) type decided to ignore my
advice and go to the “barrio” that I recommended that he not
go to. When he returned to my home later the same night I
asked him, ¿cómo te fue? (how did it go?) Then I said to him,
“cuéntame.” When I said “cuéntame” to him at first he looked
a bit puzzled. And then he pointed to me and said: Uno, dos,
tres, cuatro …
This time Tim assumed that the only definition for the verb
“contar” is “to “count.” The verb “contar” does mean “to
count.” But “contar” also means “to tell.” So when I said
“cuéntame” to him, I meant for him to “tell me” and not
“count me.”
During the last day of his stay and before returning to the
airport, Tim told me that he often gets sick when he flies. So I
told him, “vamos a la farmacia” (let’s go to the pharmacy).
Then I added, “no necesitas una receta.” When I said to him
“no necesitas una receta,” he responded, “why would someone
need a recipe to go to a drug store?” This time Tim assumed
that the only definition for the word “receta” is “recipe.” But
“receta” also means “prescription.”
99. No problema
That is not how you say “there isn’t a problem” or “there’s no
problem.” This is perhaps the most common error that English
speakers make with conversational Spanish. When I hear
someone in Colombia say “no problema,” without even paying
attention to the person’s accent, I know right away that the
person is a Gringo or other “extranjero.” On second thought, I
do have a Colombian friend named Juan who always says “no
problema.” He says “no problema” whenever he wants to
“burlarse” (make fun of) English speakers.
In English, we are accustomed to saying the phrase “no
problem.” We completely overlook the fact that the phrase “no
problem” lacks a verb. But Spanish speakers include a verb
and say “no hay problema.”
No hay problema.
No problem.
(Literally, “there isn’t a problem.”)
100. ¿Qué talla?
One evening, I went “al cine” (to the movies) with some
Colombian friends and they had a friend named Andy join us.
Andy is from the U.K, and he is sort of a “mochilero”
(backpacker) who has traveled throughout Latin America.
“Mochilero” comes from the word “mochila” which means
“backpack.” I heard Andy make numerous mistakes that night
while speaking Spanish. I made sure that I made a note of
many of his mistakes with my smart phone that night.
After we were seated in the movies but before the movie
started, Andy decided to get something from the refreshment
stand. And he asked his Colombian friend if he wanted
anything, ¿Quieres algo? (Do you want anything?). His friend
requested “una manzana.” “Manzana” literally means apple
but in this case “manzana” refers to an apple-flavored soft
drink that is very popular in Colombia. It reminds me of an
apple-flavored Snapple except that it is carbonated.
In order to determine what size “gaseosa” (soda/soft drink)
that his friend wanted, Andy asked, ¿Qué talla? Andy’s friend
responded, “no importa.” (It doesn’t matter.)Well, “talla” does
mean size, but “talla” refers to the size of clothing. When
referring to spatial dimensions, proportions, magnitude, or
bulk of anything, you should use the word “tamaño” instead of
“talla.”
So Andy should have asked his friend ¿Qué tamaño? or ¿De
qué tamaño? But if Andy was asking about the size of a shirt,
dress, pants, etc. then it would have been appropriate to ask
¿Qué talla? (Be sure to not confuse the words “talla” and
“taller.” “Talla” means size. “Taller” means work shop, as in
an auto body or auto mechanics work shop.)
Since I wanted “crispetas” (popcorn), I decided to accompany
Andy. By the way, in several countries in Latin America,
outside of Colombia, they use the word “palomitas” instead of
“crispetas” in order to say popcorn.
101. ¿Qué?
When we arrived at the refreshment stand, Andy requested
“una manzana” and the “cajero” (cashier) asked him ¿Qué
tamaño? At first, Andy did not understand the question from
the “cajero” and he responded, ¿Qué?
¿Qué? does mean “what?” But to respond ¿Qué? when you
don’t understand someone or you didn’t hear the person may
be considered “maleducado” or “grosero” in Latin America.
When Andy did not hear or did not understand the “cajero” he
should have responded ¿Cómo? With that said, it is acceptable
to respond ¿Qué? (”what?”) when in disbelief. For example,
when someone tells you some shocking news.
102. Medio
That is not the word that you use in order to say “medium-
sized.”
At the refreshment stand, the “cajero” (cashier) then asked
Andy again, ¿Qué tamaño? In order to say medium-sized,
Andy responded “medio.” “Medio” or “mitad” means half.
But if you want to say “medium-sized” then you should say
“mediano/a.”
103. El primero dulce
The “cajero” (cashier) then asked Andy, ¿Algo más? (anything
else?). Andy then pointed to a Snickers bar behind the stand
and said “ése, por favor.” (that one, please). And the “cajero”
asked ¿éste? (this one?) pointing to a bag of M&Ms candy.
Andy, responded “no,” “ése, no,” and then he added “el
primero dulce.”
As adjectives, the ordinal numbers “primero” and “tercero”
drop the - o when coming before a masculine singular noun:
el primer dulce (the first candy)
el primer libro (the first book)
el tercer dulce (the third candy)
el tercer libro (the third book)
So Andy should have said “el primer dulce” (the first candy)
or “el primero” (the first one).
104. Mediana botella de vino rojo
After the movie, we were all a little hungry so we went to a
nice “restaurante” to grab a bite to eat. At the “restaurante,”
Andy read the “carta de vinos” (wine menu) and then decided
that he wanted a half of a bottle of wine. He then told the
“mesero” or waiter that he wanted “mediana botella de vino
rojo, por favor.” Did you notice Andy’s mistake?
“Mediana” means “medium sized.” But “media” means half.
So he should have said “media botella de vino tinto, por
favor.” (Half a bottle of red wine, please.) He should have also
said “vino tinto” and not “vino rojo.” Although “rojo” does
mean the color red, in Spanish red wine is more commonly
referred to as “vino tinto” than “vino rojo.” “Tinto” is also the
word that is used in order to say “black coffee” in both
Colombia and Venezuela.
105. ¿Quieres perder gordo?
Andy noticing that I had ordered a healthy “plato” (dish), he
then asked me in Spanish, “Patrick, ¿quieres perder gordo? I
responded, “Sí, quiero perder GRASA y ganar músculo.”
(emphasis added). (Yes, I want to lose fat and gain muscle.)
“Gordo” does refer to fat. But when you are talking about
body fat (or blubber) the word to use is “grasa.” So Andy
should have asked me, “Patrick, ¿quieres perder grasa?”
(Patrick do you want to lose fat?) I should also point out that
the Spanish word “grasa” also means grease. And the Spanish
word for lard is “manteca.”
106. Cada otro día
That is not how you say “every other day” in Spanish.
In Colombia, I practice an “artes marciales” (martial arts)
called “jiu-jitsu brasileño” (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). “Jiu-jitsu
brasileño” is very popular in the States and also Brazil - as its
name implies. And it is becoming popular in Colombia and
other parts of South America outside of Brazil.
One night, an American came to visit the “academia de jiu-
jitsu brasileño” where I train. I noticed 4 mistakes that he
made while speaking Spanish. Let’s say his name is “Brad”
(not his real name to protect his privacy).
A couple of the Colombian guys who I train with asked Brad
how often does he train in “jiu-jitsu brasileño.” In Brad’s
attempt to say “every other day” in Spanish he incorrectly
said: Cada otro día. When Brad responded “cada otro día” the
two Colombian guys looked at each other as if they were
thinking “do you understand what this Gringo is trying to
say?” And then the two Colombian guys looked at me at the
exact same time as if they wanted to say to me, “Patrick,
you’re a Gringo. Do you understand him?” And I said to the
two Colombians, “día de por medio.”
“Día por medio” is the correct way to say “every other day” in
Spanish. In Colombia, however, they commonly use the
phrase “día de por medio”, instead of “día por medio”.
WARNING: Do NOT try to translate in your head what does
“día de por medio” literally mean in English. I have tried this
and it only confused me more. If you prefer a way to say
“every other day” in Spanish that is closer to the way we say it
in English, here’s another way to say “every other day” in
Spanish:
Cada dos días - every other day
“Cada dos días” literally means “every two days.”
Voy al gimnasio cada dos días.
Voy al gimnasio día de por medio.
I go to the gym every other day.
Viajo a Bogotá cada dos semanas.
Viajo a Bogotá semana de por medio.
I travel to Bogota every two weeks.
Él compra un carro nuevo cada tres años.
He buys a new car every three years.
Yo visito la capital cada dos años.
Yo visito la capital año de por medio.
I visit the capital every other year.
By the way, there’s another way to say “every other day” in
Spanish — but it is not as commonly used in Latin America -
actually, I should say that it is not as commonly used in
Colombia — as “día de por medio” and “cada dos días.” And
it is:
Un día sí y otro no — every other day
(Literally, “one day yes and the other no”)
Yo hago ejercicios un día sí y otro no.
I exercise every other day.
107. Ella hace la técnica muy rápida.
That same night when Brad was visiting after observing a
“muchacha” do a somewhat amazing jiu-jitsu technique, I
heard him say the following:
Ella hace la técnica muy rápida. (INCORRECT)
That is not the correct way to say “she does the technique very
quickly.” This is another very common mistake that English
speakers make. Apparently, they reason that because “ella” is
feminine then you must use the feminine form of the adjective
“rápido,” and say “rápida.” But that is not correct. That’s
because in this case “rápido” is not an adjective. It is an adverb
in this case. It is an adverb which modifies the verb “hacer” -
to do or to make. I don’t know of anything inherently
masculine or feminine about the verbs “to do” and “to make.”
So Brad should have said:
Ella hace la técnica muy rápido.
She does the technique very quickly.
By the way, there is another Spanish adverb that you may hear
Spanish speakers use which also comes from the adjective
“rápido.” And that adverb is “rápidamente.”
Ella hace la técnica muy rápidamente.
She does the technique very quickly.
108. “Cualquier”
Before leaving the jiu-jitsu academy that night, Brad decided
to buy a souvenir, a tee-shirt with our jiu-jitsu academy’s
emblem. Our jiu-jitsu instructor who happens to be from
Panama always speaks to the visiting Americans in English.
Referring to the tee-shirts in the display window, I heard him
ask Brad, “which one?” Brad responded, “cualquier.” But if
Brad wanted to express “any one” or “any one of them” that
was not the correct response. In Spanish “cualquier” is used as
an adjective. And “cualquiera” is usually - but not always -
used as a pronoun. So in response to my instructor’s question,
“which one?” he should have responded, “cualquiera” (any
one)
In English, “any one” is actually an “adjective phrase.” But a
course in English grammar is beyond the scope of this book.
Here are some examples of how the Spanish words
“cualquier” and “cualquiera” are used.
Yo quiero cualquier camiseta.
I want any tee-shirt, whatever tee-shirt, whichever tee-shirt,
etc.
Ella necesita cualquier carro.
She needs any car, whatever car, whichever car, etc.
Yo quiero cualquiera de esas camisetas.
I want any one of those tee-shirts.
Ella manejaría cualquiera de esos carros.
She would drive any one of those cars.
Although this grammatical structure is not as common as
putting the adjective “cualquier” before a noun, you may come
across phrases where “cualquiera” is used as an adjective
instead of a noun and comes after the noun. For example:
un hombre cualquiera - any man
(as opposed to “cualquier hombre”)
un país cualquiera - any country
(as opposed to “cualquier país”)
109: ¿Usted viene al práctico mañana?
Brad made a final mistake when he was leaving the jiu-jitsu
academy that night. On his way out, I heard him ask one of the
new students ¿Usted viene al práctico mañana? That is not
how you ask someone, “Are you coming to the practice
tomorrow.” The Spanish word “práctico” which ends with the
letter o- means “practical.”
Es muy práctico saber hacer algunos arreglos domésticos,
puedes ahorrar tiempo y dinero así. (It is very practical
knowing how to make some domestic repairs; you can save
time and money that way.) Of course, if you are using the
Spanish word for practical to modify a feminine noun,
“práctico” becomes “práctica.” For example:
Esta técnica de defensa personal es muy práctica.
This self-defense technique is very practical.
On the other hand, the Spanish noun “práctica” which ends
with the letter a- means “practice” as in a repeated
performance or a systematic exercise.
¿Usted viene a la práctica mañana?
Are you coming to the practice tomorrow?
Be sure that you do not confuse the conjugated first-person
verb “practico” with the adjective “práctico” or the noun
“práctica.” The conjugated verb “practico” - with the stress on
the next to last syllable - means “I practice.”
110: Me duele la oreja.
That is not the correct way to say “I have an earache.”
A couple of weeks ago, I was in a “farmacia” (drug store) and
there was an American in the “farmacia” who was explaining
his condition to the pharmacist so that the pharmacist could
recommend something to alleviate it. By the way, there is
something very interesting that I have noticed about Latin
American culture. Unlike the States, you can often go to a
pharmacist in Latin America and explain your medical
condition and the pharmacist will provide you with medication
that would normally require a doctor’s “receta” (prescription)
in the States.
The American in the “farmacia” was trying to explain that his
ears were clogged and that that he had an ear ache. And I
heard him incorrectly say the following two phrases when
explaining his condition to the pharmacist.
Mis orejas están tapadas. (INCORRECT)
Me duele la oreja. (INCORRECT)
The first phrase is not the correct way to say “my ears are
clogged.” And the second phrase is not the correct way to say
“I have an ear ache.” It is a very common mistake for English
speakers to refer to any part of the ear as the “oreja” when
speaking Spanish. That’s because in English the word ear can
refer to two different things:
1. The external part of the body that is attached to the head
2. The organ of hearing
But in Spanish there are two different words for ear:
oreja - the external part of the body that is attached to the
head
oído - the organ of hearing (“oído” can also refer to the sense
of hearing.
So if the American wanted to say “my ears are clogged” he
should have said: Mis oídos están tapados. And if he wanted
to say, “I have an ear ache” then he should have said: Me
duele el oído (literally, “my ear hurts me.”)
Of course, if his outer ear was hurting him - as opposed to the
organ of hearing - then it would make sense to say, “me duele
la oreja.” But since he was complaining to the pharmacist that
his ears were clogged, it is safe to assume that he meant the
former.
111. Me gustan las palabras de esta canción.
That is not how you say “I like the words/lyrics of this song.”
This is a mistake that I heard an American friend make one
night when we went out for salsa dancing with some
Colombian friends. The Spanish word “palabra” does in fact
mean “word.” For example,
Si no conoces la palabra “esternocleidomastoideo,” búscala
en el diccionario.
If you do not know the word “sternocleidomastoid” look for it
in the dictionary.
But when you are talking about the words of a song (i.e.
lyrics), then you must use the Spanish word “letra.” For
example,
Me gustan la letra de esta canción.
I like the words of this song.
By the way, in addition to “words of a song,” the Spanish
word “letra” also means letter, as in the letters of the alphabet.
For example,
El alfabeto contiene las letras que usas en un idioma.
The alphabet contains the letters that you use in a language.
However, if you are talking about the word “letter” as in
written correspondence, then you must use the Spanish word
“carta.” For example,
Ayer yo recibí una carta de mi abuelita.
I received a letter from my grandmother yesterday.
112. Me voy a aprovechar de mi tiempo en
Colombia.
That is not how you say “I am going to make the best of my
time in Colombia” or “I am going to take advantage of my
time in Colombia in a positive way.”
Native English speakers seem to have a lot of trouble with the
Spanish verbs “aprovechar” and “aprovechar(se) de.”
“Aprovechar(se) de” means to take advantage of in a negative
way:
Los guerrillas se aprovecharon de los secuestrados.
The guerrillas took advantage of the hostages.
On the hand “aprovechar (algo)” means to make use of or take
advantage of in a good way.
Voy a aprovechar mi tiempo en Colombia.
I am going to make the best use of my time in Colombia
113. Voy a despedir de Luis.
That is not how you say “I am going to say good-bye to Luis.”
Native English speakers also frequently confuse the Spanish
verbs “despedir” and “despedir(se) de alguien.” “Despedir a
alguien” means to fire someone.
Despedí a Luis.
I fired Lewis.
But “despedir(se) de alguien” means to say good bye to
someone.
Me voy a despedir de Luis.
I am going to say good-bye to Lewis.
114. Voy a presentarle a mi marida.
That is not how you say “I am going to introduce you to my
wife.”
Although the Spanish word “marido” means “husband,” the
word “marida” does not exist in Spanish. If you want to say
the word wife in Spanish you must use either “mujer” or
“esposa.”
Le voy a presentar a mi mujer.
I’ll introduce you to my wife.
The Spanish word “mujer” also means woman.
La mujer se alegró al saber que estaba embarazada.
The woman became happy when she learned that she was
pregnant.
115. ¡Quieto!
That is not how you tell someone to be quiet or to shut-up in
Spanish.
The Spanish word “quieto” does not mean the English word
“quiet” or “silent.” The Spanish word “quieto” means still or
motionless:
El entrenador le enseña al perro a quedarse quieto cuando se
lo ordena.
The trainer teaches the dog to remain still when he orders it.
The Spanish word “callado” means quite or silent.
Ella es una chica muy callada y tímida.
She’s a very quiet and shy girl.
This is how you tell someone to shut-up in Spanish:
¡Cállate! - Shut-up!
¡Cállate la boca! - Shut your mouth!
But a more polite way to tell someone to “shut-up” in Spanish
is by saying “silencio” (silence).
116. Discúlpame, soy retrasado.
That is not how you would say “Sorry, I am late” or “Sorry,
I’m running late.”
One afternoon while having a “tinto” (Colombian black
coffee) at a Juan Valdez coffee shop, a burly American entered
the coffee shop and greeted several of his Colombian friends
by announcing, “discúlpame, soy retrasado.” I somehow
managed to force myself not to burst out laughing and make a
note of this mistake on my smart phone. This is another
mistake that is caused by confusing the Spanish verbs “ser”
and “estar,” the two verbs which mean “to be.”
If you arrive late somewhere and say “discúlpame, estoy
retrasado” that means “excuse me, I am late” or “excuse me, I
was delayed.” But if you say “discúlpame, soy retrasado” that
means “excuse me, I am retarded, developmentally delayed,
learning-disabled, etc.”
117. Es una maldición.
That’s not how you say “it’s a curse word.”
One afternoon my friend Fred (not his real name) was showing
a Colombian friend’s son a YouTube video on his smartphone
of two American teenagers fighting. While they were fighting
one of the American boys shouted a four-letter word in
English. That’s when Fred attempted to tell our Colombian
friend’s son “don’t ever say that word — it is a curse (word).”
Fred was correct initially when he translated “never say that
word” as “nunca digas esa palabra.” But he committed a
serious blunder when he tried to translate “it is a curse (word)”
as “es una maldición.” Yes, “maldición” does mean curse. But
“maldición” means curse as in a hex or evil spell. If you want
to say the Spanish word for curse as in a curse word, then you
must use “grosería.” So Fred should have said,
Nunca digas esa palabra. Es una grosería.
Never say that word. It is a curse word.
Unless, of course, Fred was trying to tell the Colombian kid an
evil spell would be cast upon him for saying a four-letter
English curse word. By the way, if you follow my advice and
you watch your favorite English-speaking movies dubbed over
in the Spanish language in order to improve your Spanish, you
will frequently hear the word ¡Maldición! In this case
¡Maldición! Means “Damn!” or “Damn it!” For example,
¡Maldición! Otra vez me ha robado el carro
Damn it! My car was stolen again.
118. ¿Cuánto cuesta el banco?
That is not how you ask “how much does the piggy-bank
cost?”
A couple of years ago I befriended an American who was here
in Colombia visiting. Let’s say that his name is Don. Don and
I went to “El Centro” (downtown) to shop for “recuerdos”
(souvenirs) that he could take back to the States. While we
were in “El Centro” (downtown) shopping for “recuerdos”
(souvenirs), I heard Don make two mistakes in Spanish that I
should cover.
In “El Centro” there was a “vendedora” (vendor) who was
selling “recuerdos” (souvenirs) from a little “stand” (stand,
booth). The Spanish word “stand” is actually a “palabra
inglesa” (English word). But of course in Spanish, you
pronounce the word “stand” in accordance with the rules of
Spanish pronunciation.
The “vendedora” had several piggy-banks for sale that looked
like they were made of “cerámica” (ceramic). The piggy-banks
really caught Don’s attention because he asked the
“vendedora” the following:
¿Cuánto cuesta el banco?
(Literally, how much does the bank cost?)
Although the word “banco” means bank in Spanish, “banco”
refers to a “financial institution” — and not a bank such as a
small bank with a slot at the top to insert coins or a money
box. If you are referring to a piggy-bank or any small bank in
which coins are kept, then the Spanish word that you should
use is “alcancía.”
En la alcancía, ella guardaba las monedas que ahorraba a
diario.
She kept coins that she saved each day in her piggy bank.
By the way, between living in Latin America and spending
most of my free time in online forums for English-speakers-
learning-Spanish with Spanish-speakers-learning-English, or
watching Spanish-language television programs, I have
learned close to a half-a-dozen Spanish words for piggy-bank:
1. alcancía
2. marrano de alcancía
3. alcancía de marrano
4. alcancía de cerdito
5. alcancía con forma de cerdo
You probably already know that “cerdo” can mean pig or pork
in Spanish. But “marrano” is also a word that is commonly
used in Latin America and it means pig. For example,
Mi abuelita tiene una receta de patas de marrano en
escabeche para chuparse los dedos.
My grandmother has a recipe for pickled pigs’ feet that is
finger-licking good.
“Chuparse los dedos” is a phrase that is commonly used by
Spanish speakers. “Chuparse los dedos” literally means “to
suck one’s fingers” as opposed to “to lick one’s fingers.”
Before moving on to Don’s second mistake, I have a related
Spanish word to share with you: guaca. The Spanish word
“guaca” has a couple of meanings:
1. alcancía (i.e. money box)
2. tesoro enterrado (buried treasure)
Back to Don’s mistakes …
When Don incorrectly referred to a piggy-bank as a “banco” I
did not interrupt. It was getting to be too much fun to even
think of interrupting. The “vendedora” (vendor) had a very
puzzled look on her face as Don tried to explain. And that’s
when Don made another mistake and caused the “vendedora”
to become even more confused. Don tried to explain by
saying: Quiero salvar monedas.
119. Quiero salvar monedas.
That is not how you say “I want to save coins” - save as in to
avoid spending.
The Spanish word “salvar” does mean “to save.” But “salvar”
means to save as in to save from danger or possible harm,
injury, etc. So Don’s statement, “quiero salvar monedas,”
implied that he wanted to save his coins from danger or
possible harm - which explained the increasingly puzzled look
on the face of the “vendedora.” If you want to say “to save” as
in to avoid spending, consumption, or waste of, then you must
use the verb “ahorrar.”
Quiero ahorrar monedas.
I want to save coins.
While we are on the topic of the verb “to save,” here’s a
Spanish word that is good to know and that may even save
your life in a Spanish-speaking country:
chaleco salvavidas - life jacket
“Chaleco salvavidas” literally means “life-saving jacket.”
Todos tienen que tener puesto su chaleco salvavidas antes de
zarpar.
Everyone must have his or her life-jacket on before we set sail.
120. Animal relleno
That is not how you say stuffed animal in Spanish.
I overheard an American make this mistake around the time
when “El Día del Amor y Amistad” is celebrated in Colombia.
“El Día del Amor y Amistad” (Day of Friendship and Love) is
Colombia’s version of Valentine’s Day. “El Día del Amor y
Amistad” is celebrated on the third Saturday of September.
Although most Colombians will know what is “Día de San
Valentín” (Valentine’s Day), they normally don’t celebrate it.
Instead, “el día de los enamorados,” (the day of lovers) that’s
celebrated in Colombia is “El Día del Amor y Amistad”
While in a store shopping for a “regalo” (gift) for my “novia”
(girlfriend/fiancée) to celebrate “El Día del Amor y Amistad,”
I overheard an American with a thick southern accent talking
to someone who I assumed was his Colombian friend. The
American was discussing the “precio” (price) of what he
referred to as an “animal relleno” for who he referred to as his
“otra significativa.”
I guess “animal relleno” would be a literal translation of the
phrase “stuffed animal.” But in the Spanish-speaking world,
people do not use that phrase to refer to a stuffed animal. The
Spanish word for stuffed animal or stuffed toy is “peluche.”
And the adjective is “de peluche.”
Le regalaron un oso de peluche gigante por su cumpleaños.
They gave him/her a gigantic stuffed bear for his/her birthday.
On a side note, I have never heard anyone in Latin America
uses the phrase “otro significativo” in order to say “significant
other” or “soul mate.” The phrase that is used in Latin
America is “media naranja.” For example,
Ella había empezado a pensar que nunca encontraría a su
media naranja.
She had started to think she’d never find her soul mate.
121. Woof, woof, woof
That is not how you imitate the sound of a barking dog in
Spanish.
Let me explain, before you ask, “¿me estás tomando el pelo?”
(Literally, “are you pulling my hair?” but the equivalent of the
English expression “are you pulling my leg?”). In Medellín,
Colombia I have a “vecino” (neighbor) with a dog that barks
all the time. The “raza” or dog’s breed is beagle. On a side
note, you may find it interesting to know that the the name of
the dog’s “raza” is called “beagle” in both English and
Spanish.
I have a Colombian friend who dropped by my house recently
and I said to him,
No puedo aguantar el ruido. Ese perro me vuelve loco.
Siempre está ladrando.
I can’t put up with that noise. That dog is driving me crazy. He
is always barking.
And immediately my neighbor’s dog started barking again as
if he had heard our conversation. And then my Colombian
friend started to “burlarse de mí” (make fun of me), by
imitating the sound of a barking dog. I cannot describe the
sound that my Colombian friend was making but it did NOT
sound like “woof, woof, woof.” And it definitely did NOT
sound like “bow, wow, wow.” It was not the first time that I
heard a human in Latin America make a barking sound that
did NOT sound like “woof, woof, woof” or “bow, wow, wow.”
When I lived on the coast of Colombia, in a city called
Barranquilla, with my “ex-novia” (ex-girlfriend), we also had
a “vecino” (neighbor) with a barking dog. And my “novia” at
the time would complain about the barking dog and say “Voy a
poner una queja con la administración del edificio.” (I am
going to file a complaint with the building’s management).
The phrase “poner una queja” means “to file a complaint.
And then she’d say “todos los días, yo escucho …” or
“everyday, I hear …” and then she would make the sound of a
barking dog that did NOT sound like “woof, woof, woof” - but
a sound that I cannot describe. The same sound that my
Colombian friend in Medellin would make when imitating a
dog’s bark. So a few days ago, I went online and posted a
question on a forum for English speakers learning Spanish and
Spanish speakers learning English. I posted:
¿Cómo se escribe el sonido de un perro ladrando? En inglés se
escribe, “woof, woof, woof.” (How does one write the sound
of a barking dog? In English one writes “woof, woof, woof.”)
And several native Spanish speakers responded to say, that the
sound is written as “guau, guau, guau.” In case you want to
know how to pronounce “guau, guau, guau,” I found a
“canción infantil” (children’s song) on YouTube in Spanish
about a dog’s bark. The video is called, you guessed it, “Guau,
Guau” Here’s the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tBCrf2t-fI
You may take comfort in knowing that the sound of a cat
meowing in Spanish and English is the same sound. However,
it is written slightly different in Spanish: miau. The noun for
meow or the sound that a cat makes is “miau” in Spanish. But
the Spanish verb for meow is “maullar.”
Los gatos maúllan.
Cats meow.
Los perros ladran.
Dogs bark.
122. Yo juego el piano.
That is not how you say “I play the piano.”
It is a common mistake for English speakers to use the verb
“tocar” (to play) when they should use the verb “jugar” (to
play) and vice versa. If you are talking about playing a game
or doing something for fun such as a little girl playing with a
doll, then you must use the verb “jugar.”
A las niñas les encanta jugar a las muñecas.
Girls love to play with dolls.
Jugar al ajedrez mantiene mi mente activa.
Playing chess keeps my mind alert.
However, if you are talking about playing a musical
instrument, then you must use the verb “tocar.”
Yo toco el piano.
I play the piano.
Ella tocaba el piano y la guitarra.
She used to play the piano and the guitar.
By the way, the verb “tocar” also means to touch.
Estoy tocando la mesa.
I am touching the table.
123. Usted es una persona muy sensible.
That is not how you say “you are a very sensible person.”
This is a perfect example of an “amigo falso” (false friend).
The phrase “amigos falsos” is used to describe Spanish words
that sound similar to English words, yet have entirely different
meanings. The Spanish word “sensible” doesn’t mean the
English word “sensible.” The Spanish word “sensible” means
“sensitive” in English. For example,
Para un hombre mi hermano es muy sensible.
For a man, my brother is very sensitive.
So if the Spanish word “sensible” means “sensitive,” in
English, then how do you say the English word “sensible” in
Spanish? The word is “sensato” which means having, using, or
showing good sense or sound judgment (i.e. prudent).
Mi jefa es muy sensata. Ella siempre piensa antes de hacer las
cosas.
My boss is very sensible. She always thinks before doing
things.
With that said, I don’t think I have ever heard the word
“sensato” used in Colombia. The word that is commonly used
in Colombia in order to describe someone who’s prudent or
sensible is “juicioso.”
Es un joven juicioso que no se mete en líos.
He is a sensible young man who does not get into trouble.
124. ¿Te gustan las películas de horror?
That is not how you ask “do you like horror movies?”
The word “horror” is both a Spanish word and an English
word. In fact, the Spanish word horror and the English word
horror have the same definition. I believe that’s why English
speakers make the mistake of referring to a horror movie as
“una película de horror.” But that’s not the Spanish phrase for
horror movie. If you want to say horror movie, then you must
say “película de terror.”
¿Te gustan las películas de terror?
Do you like horror movies?
125. Cara abajo
That is not how you say “facedown” in Spanish.
I mentioned earlier that I practice an “artes marciales” (martial
arts) here in Medellín, Colombia. The “artes marciales” that I
practice is called “jiu-jitsu brasileño” (Brazilian jiu-jitsu). One
evening, we had a visiting American jiu-jitsu instructor who is
a “cinturón negro” (black belt) come and demonstrate a few
“técnicas” (techniques) for “defensa personal” (self-defense).
Let’s say the instructor’s name is Jeff (not his real name). Jeff
speaks Spanish on an intermediate/advanced level.
One of the “técnicas” (techniques) that Jeff taught us was how
to defend from what is known in wrestling, jiu-jitsu and MMA
circles as a rear-naked choke. In both Spanish and Portuguese,
the word for rear-naked choke is “mataleón.” “Mataleón”
literally means lion-killer. In order to demonstrate the
“técnica,” Jeff needed one of the students in the jiu-jitsu class
to lie facedown. And when the student mistakenly started to lie
on his back, speaking in Spanish, in order to ask the student to
lie facedown, Jeff said “cara abajo.”
“Cara abajo” literally means “facedown.” But the term “cara
abajo” is not used in Spanish. In Spanish, the term “boca
abajo” (or “bocabajo”) is used. “Boca abajo” literally means
“mouth down.” So Jeff should have told the student “boca
abajo” in order to get the student to lie facedown (or
mouthdown). Here’s a sentence using the phrase “boca abajo:”
Coloca el documento boca abajo sobre el cristal para
escanearlo.
Put the document facedown above the pane in order to scan it.
126. ¿Usted es enferma o doctora?
That is not how you ask “are you a nurse or a doctor?” in
Spanish.
One evening, I introduced an American friend named Frank to
a Colombian friend named Claudia. At first Frank was doing
very well with his Spanish. He asked her in Spanish where did
she work. She responded that she worked in a hospital and he
understood her. Then I heard him ask her: ¿Usted es enferma o
doctora?
Do you recognize the mistake that Frank made? The word
“enfermero/a” means “nurse.” But the word “enfermo/a”
means “patient” or “sick person.” So instead of asking her is
she a nurse or a doctor, he actually asked her is she a patient or
a doctor. He should have asked her:
¿Usted es enfermera o doctora?
Are you a nurse or a doctor?
127. Las plantas de mis zapatos
That is not how you say the “soles of my shoes.”
The Spanish language has two different words for “sole”
depending on whether you are referring to the soles of your
feet or the soles of your shoes. The Spanish word “planta”
refers to the sole of one’s foot. The Spanish word “suela”
refers to the sole of one’s shoe.
Te quemaste la planta de un pie porque pisaste descalzo la
arena que estaba muy caliente.
You burned the sole of your foot because you stepped
barefooted on sand that was very hot.
Las suelas de tus zapatos están gastadas de caminar.
The soles of your shoes are worn out from walking.
Be careful that you do not confuse the Spanish word “suela”
(sole of a shoe) with the Spanish word “suelo.” “Suelo” refers
to the “ground,” as the ground that you walk on outdoors.
128. ¿Qué piensa del Papá?
That is not how you ask “what do you think about the Pope?”
The Spanish word “papá” with the stress on the last syllable
means “father.” But the Spanish word “Papa” with the stress
on the next last syllable means “Pope.”
¿Qué piensa del Papa?
What do you think about the Pope?
Note that the Spanish word “Papa” (Pope) is always
capitalized. On the other hand, the Spanish word “papa”
(potato) is not capitalized.
Las papas al horno son mucho más saludables que las papas
fritas.
Baked potatoes are much healthier than fried potatoes.
129. Yo quité me trabajo.
That is not how you say “I quit my job.”
When talking about “quitting” a job, you do not use the verb
“quitar.” You must use the verb “renunciar:”
Yo renuncié a mi trabajo.
(I quit my job.)
Ella renunció a su trabajo ayer.
(She quit her job yesterday.)
130. Mi gorra azul oscura
That is not how you say “my dark blue cap.”
Recently, while attending a meet-up language exchange I met
an American who was here visiting Medellín. Let’s say that his
name is Ralph (not his real name). Ralph spoke Spanish very
well. But he made one very common mistake with his Spanish.
We were talking about some of the things that make
“extranjeros” (foreigners) stand out in Medellín. And he
pointed to his dark blue New York Yankees cap and said, “Por
ejemplo, mi gorra azul oscura.” In general, colors agree with
the nouns they modify. For example,
pantalones azules - blue pants
camiseta roja - red tee-shirt
vestido negro - black dress
However, when colors are modified by additional adjectives as
in the case of navy blue, light green, dark red, bright yellow,
etc. the color’s adjective becomes ‘invariable.’ In other words,
in this case, colors do not change to agree with the nouns. For
example,
pantalones azules (blue pants), but “pantalones azul marino”
(navy blue pants)
una sandalia roja (a red sandal), but “una sandalia rojo oscuro”
(a dark red sandal)
los zapatos verdes (the green shoes), but “los zapatos verde
claro” (the light green shoes)
pantalones azules (blue pants), but “pantalones azul claro”
(light blue pants)
So in that case, Ralph should have said “mi gorra azul” (my
blue cap) or “mi gorra azul oscuro” (my dark blue cap).
131. Ayer yo fui a una rama del banco.
That is not how you say “yesterday, I went to a branch of the
bank.”
The Spanish word “rama” does mean branch. But “rama”
refers to a stem of a tree or plant. It doesn’t mean branch as in
a local operating division of a business, bank, library, etc.
“Sucursal” is the word used when referring to a local operating
division of a business, bank, library, etc. For example,
Ayer yo fui a una sucursal del banco.
Yesterday I went to a branch of the bank.
Mi empresa está creciendo, estoy por abrir una sucursal.
My company is growing, I’m about to open a branch.
Quiero colgar un columpio de cuerda de una rama de ese
roble.
I want to hang a swing made of rope from a branch of that oak
tree.
132. Quiero darte una propina.
That is not how to say “I want to give you a tip” as in to give
you some helpful advice.
Do not use the Spanish word “propina” to mean the English
word tip when you are referring to a “useful hint or helpful
idea.” “Quiero darte una propina,” does mean “I want to give
you a tip.” But it means a tip in the sense of a “small present
of money for performing a service” as opposed to a “piece of
helpful advice.” If you are referring to a “useful hint or helpful
idea,” then you must use the word “consejo.” For example,
Alejandra nos dio algunos consejos para viajar por México.
Alejandra gave us some helpful tips for traveling through
Mexico.
Le dejamos una propina de un 15%.
We left him a 15% tip.
In Colombia the standard tip is 10% and it is normally listed
on the bill when you receive it. If you are eating in a small
neighborhood restaurant in Colombia, the tip normally isn’t
included in the bill, and leaving a tip is optional. Of course, I
always choose to leave a tip.
133. Set de herramientas
That is not how you say tool set or set of tools in Spanish.
You may, in fact, hear the word “set” in some Spanish
speaking countries. The Spanish word “set” is apparently a
word that was borrowed from the English language. But in the
Spanish speaking countries that use the word “set,” the word is
not used to refer to a bedroom set or a set of tools or any other
collection of items designed for use together. In the Spanish
speaking countries that use the word “set,” the word is used to
refer to a “parte de un partido” (i.e. a part of a game). For
example, a tennis set, a volley ball set, etc. In those Spanish
speaking countries, they may also use the word “set” to refer
to a movie set or the set of a television show. For example,
¡Quiero a toda esa gente fuera del set inmediatamente!
I want all those people off the (movie) set immediately!
However, if you want to say the English word “set” in Spanish
as in a bedroom set or a set of tools, then you must use the
word “juego.”
No te preocupes, voy por mi juego de herramientas y lo
arreglo.
Don’t worry, I will go get my set of tools and fix it.
Yo iba a comprar un juego de alcoba contemporánea.
I was going to buy a contemporary bedroom set.
The Spanish word “juego” not only means ‘set,’ it also means
‘game.’
El escondite es un juego para niños.
Hide-and-seek is a game for kids.
134. Papel de arena
That is not how you say “sandpaper” in Spanish.
One morning when I was in a “ferretería” (hardware store) in
Medellín called Home Center, I heard an American asking one
of the store’s employees “¿tienen papel de arena?” By the way,
you can think of Home Center as Colombian’s version of
Home Depot. The Spanish word “arena” does mean sand, and
“papel” means paper. But “papel de arena” is not how you say
sandpaper in Spanish. In Spanish, sandpaper is called “papel
de lija” or just “lija.”
¿Dónde está el papel de lija?
Where is the sandpaper?
135. ¿Tienen nueces?
The same American then asked the same employee at Home
Center “¿tienen nueces?” “Nuez” is not how you say “nut” in
Spanish if you are referring to the type of nut that is usually
made of metal with a hole in the middle that you use with a
screw. “Nuez” does mean nut, but the type of nut that’s a dried
fruit, walnut, etc. Which explains why the employee at Home
Center responded to the American by saying, “¿Cómo?
¿Cómo? Yo no entiendo.” If you are referring to the type of
nut that is made of metal with a hole in the middle that you use
with a screw, the correct name is “tuerca.”
Perdió las tuercas y no pudo montar las estanterías.
He lost the nuts and wasn’t able to mount the bookshelves.
Yo puse unas nueces en la ensalada.
I put some nuts in the salad.
136. ¿Compraste siete cervezas o ocho?
That is not the correct way to ask “did you buy seven beers or
eight?”
In Spanish, you must use “u” instead of “o” in order to say the
English word “or” when the word that follows starts with the
same letter sound. Therefore, in the example above, “o”
changes to “u” because the beginning sound of the next word
(”ocho”) begins with an “o” sound.
¿Compraste siete cervezas u ocho?
Did you buy seven beers or eight?
¿Compraste siete cervezas o seis?
Did you buy seven beers or six?
137. Eduardo y Ignacio estudian la ley.
That is not the correct way to say “Eduardo and Ignacio study
law.”
In Spanish, you must use “e” instead of “y” in order to say the
English word “and” when the word that follows starts with the
same letter sound. Therefore, in the example above, “y”
changes to “e” because the beginning sound of the next word
(Ignacio) begins with an “i” sound.
Eduardo e Ignacio estudian la ley.
Eduardo and Ignacio study law.
Eduardo y Diana estudian la medicina.
Eduardo and Diana study medicine.
This change and the one from “o” to “u” are made solely for
phonetic purposes
138. Me duele el muñeco.
That is not how you say “my wrist hurts.”
This is another mistake that I have heard from an English
speaker in my martial arts class. “Muñeco” means male doll
such as an action figure doll. But “muñeca” means wrist.
Me duele la muñeca.
My wrist hurts.
Le regalaron un muñeco de trapo vestido de vaquero.
They gave him a rag doll dressed as a cowboy.
139. Me gusta la comida caliente.
That is not how you say “I like spicy food.”
The Spanish word “caliente” means hot as hot in temperature.
If you want to say that something is hot in flavor (i.e. spicy),
then you must use the Spanish word “picante.”
Me gusta la comida picante.
I like spicy food.
Me gusta la comida caliente.
I like hot food (as opposed to cold).
140. Le pregunté un café.
That is not how you say “I asked him for a cup of coffee.”
This is a mistake that I heard an American say in a Juan
Valdez coffee shop in Medellin, Colombia. It is a common
mistake for English speakers to confuse the Spanish verbs
“preguntar” and “pedir.” The Spanish verb “preguntar” means
“to ask” as in “to ask a question” or “to make an inquiry.” The
Spanish verb “pedir” also means “to ask,” but “pedir” means
to ask as in to make a request.
Les pregunté “¿Dónde está el parque?
I asked them, “where is the park?”
Le pedí un café.
I asked him for a cup of coffee.
Notice that there is no need to use the Spanish word for cup
(“taza”) in the above phrase. From the context of the
conversation, it is implied that one is asking for a “taza” or a
cup of coffee as opposed to another quantity of coffee.
141. Yo sé un buen restaurante.
That is not how you say “I know a good restaurant.”
It is also a very common mistake for English speakers to
confuse the Spanish verbs “conocer” and “saber.” Both
“conocer” and “saber” can be translated as the English verb
“to know.” “Conocer” is used to express knowledge or
familiarity about something or someone. The verb “conocer”
means that one is acquainted with something, somewhere or
someone. However, “saber” is used when discussing learned
skills, such as swimming, driving, speaking a foreign
language.
Yo conozco un buen restaurante.
I know a good restaurant.
I am familiar with a good restaurant.
Yo conozco a Alejandro.
I know Alejandro.
Nosotros sabemos hablar español.
We know how to speak Spanish.
We can also use “saber” to express that we know facts about
certain information.
¿Sabes dónde hay un buen restaurante?
Do you know where a good restaurant is?
142. ¿Vemos más tarde el juego de tenis?
That is not how you ask “should we watch the tennis game
later?” Although the Spanish word “juego” means the English
word “game,” when you are referring to a sports session or
sports match, you must use the word “partido.”
¿Vemos más tarde el partido de tenis?
Should we watch the tennis game later?
On the other hand, when talking about an amusement, pastime
or fun activity, you should use the Spanish word “partido”
Los estudiantes participan en muchos juegos.
The students participate in a lot of games.
Todo era un juego entre ellos, nada serio.
It was all a game between them, nothing serious.
143. Luz de tráfico
That is NOT how you say “traffic light” in Spanish.
Recently, I was in an Uber with a friend who is visiting
Medellin to study Spanish at a university. I don’t remember
the entire sentence that he said but when speaking to the Uber
driver he referred to a traffic light as a “luz de tráfico.”
As a native English speaker, I can definitely understand why
he used that phrase. “Luz de tráfico” is a literal translation of
the word “traffic light” into Spanish. But in Spanish the phrase
“luz de tráfico” does not exist. And from the look on the Uber
driver’s face, it was obvious that the Uber driver had no idea
what my friend was trying to say in Spanish. The Spanish
word for traffic light is “semáforo.”
Cuando el semáforo se ponga en rojo, te debes detener.
When the traffic light turns red, you must stop.
You may find it interesting to know that in Colombia the word
for traffic is not “tráfico.” It’s “trancón.”
Hay mucho trancón en el centro durante la hora pico.
There’s a lot of traffic downtown during rush hour.
And in Medellin, Colombia, the word “taco” is commonly
used for traffic or traffic jam.
Este camino siempre tiene mucho taco.
This road always has a lot of traffic.
And of course in Medellin, Colombia the word “taco” is also
used to refer to the Mexican folded or rolled tortilla dish that
“todo el mundo” (everyone) knows as a “taco.”
Before moving to Colombia, I used to take private Spanish
lessons with a Spanish professor from Argentina in New York
City. He told me that in Argentina the word for traffic is
“tránsito.”
Ese cruce de caminos tiene un tránsito muy pesado a todas
horas.
This truck crossing has very slow moving traffic at all hours.
144. Hace siete días nosotros llegamos.
The above is not really a speaking-Spanish mistake when
saying “we arrived a week ago.” But there is an idiosyncrasy
that I want to bring to your attention in case you ever hear a
Spanish-speaker refer to a week having eight (8) days instead
of seven (7).
One night, I was reading a book that I consider one of the
“clásico” (classic) learning-Spanish books. It is a book called
Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal. On
page 279 the author made an interesting point and wrote:
“Sometimes Spanish speaking people say ‘eight days ago’
instead of ‘a week ago’ and ‘fifteen days ago’ instead of ‘two
weeks ago.’ Why? Only heaven knows.”
In other words, Margarita Madrigal is saying that at times
Spanish-speakers say ‘eight days ago’ instead of ‘7 days ago’
and ‘14 days ago’ instead of ‘two weeks ago.’ Señora
Madrigal then gave several examples:
Hace ocho días
(A week ago/eight days ago).
Hace quince días
(Two weeks ago/fifteen days ago).
Well, Señora Madrigal may think that “only heaven knows”
why Spanish speakers speak that way. But I also know why.
They count “today” as a day. We don’t. Let me give you a real
life example to help explain. Today (el sábado - Saturday), I
let my “novia” (girlfriend) talk me into getting both a pedicure
and a manicure — which by the way are not called “pedicura”
and “maincura” here in Colombia as all of my Spanish books
have taught me to say. Colombianos use the words “pedicure”
and “manicure” and pronounce the words somewhat similar to
the way that we pronounce them in English but with a Latin
American accent.
After the “muchacha” finished with both, she told me to return
in eight (8) days. So if today is Saturday, then that means
return on a Sunday, not the following Saturday. Correct? So I
asked her “La peluquería está abierta los domingos?” (Is the
hair salon open on Sundays?) “No” she responded, “no está
abierta los domingos. Vuelva el sábado.” (No it is not open on
Sundays. Return on Saturday.) And I responded “entonces,
necesito volver en siete días.” (Then I need to return in seven
days.) She says “No, en ocho días.”
At that point, I started to wonder if Latin American math is
different from American math. But then she began to count the
eight days “en voz alta” (aloud): “Sábado, domingo, lunes,
martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado — ocho días —
oíste?” That’s when I realized why they call “ocho días” a
week and call “quince días” two weeks. They count ‘today’ as
a day — and we don’t.
145. Columbia
That is NOT, I repeat that is not how you write the name of the
country Colombia.
“Columbia” spelled with a letter ‘u’ in the middle is the name
of a university in New York City or a sportswear clothing
brand. I have seen Americans and other foreigners mispell
Colombia, the name of a country, countless times on Facebook
and other online forums and groups. If you are going to take
the time to learn the language of a country, please take the
time to also learn the correct spelling of the country’s name.
Colombia es un país con mucha biodiversidad.
Colombia is a country with a lot of biodiversity.
Ella tiene un título en historia por la Universidad de
Columbia.
She has a degree in history from Columbia University.
146. Tú soplaste un pedo.
That is not how you say “you made a fart” or “you blew a
fart.”
Let me start out by saying that I know that this last and final
common error is a topic that’s incredibly adolescent. I also
realize that some people may find this topic “asqueroso”
(disgusting). But I have an American “amigo” here in
Colombia who made this mistake (and he happens to be an
adult) so I decided why not include it in this book?
The verb “soplar” means “to blow.” But in Spanish, you do not
“make” or “blow” farts. In Spanish you “throw a fart” (tirarse
un pedo).
La niña dijo que los niños se tiraron muchos pedos en la
escuela.
The girl said the boys farted a lot in school.
(Literally, “the girl said the boys threw a lot of farts in school.)
If you are around anyone other than your buddies, and you
find a need to talk about breaking wind, then you should use
the phrase “echarse un gas” (to pass gas).
Me eché un gas.
I passed gas.
(Literally, I threw a gas.)
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You will hear two different words used in Latin America in
order to say gift. The two words are “obsequio” and “regalo.”
Here are some examples:
Mi gatito fue el mejor obsequio que recibí en mi cumpleaños.
My kitten was the best gift that I received for my birthday.
El anillo fue un regalo de aniversario.
The ring was an anniversary gift.
In order to say “gracias” to you for investing in my book, I
have put together a very special bonus “obsequio” or “regalo”
package for you of two bonus gifts:
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To get your FREE learning-Spanish bonus package,
go to:
http://www.LearningSpanishLikeCrazy.com/100Plus
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patrick Jackson is a native New Yorker

and an attorney who is now retired from
the practice of law. He received his J.D.
(Juris Doctor) from Georgetown
University Law Center. He is also the
Founder of Learning Like Crazy, a
company that has created the following
products:
• Learning Spanish Like Crazy
• Verbarrator (Spanish verb conjugation software)
• Visually Speaking Spanish
• Fast Lane Spanish
• Learning Italian Like Crazy
He currently lives in Medellin, Colombia, “La Ciudad de la
Eterna Primavera” (The City of Eternal Spring).
 OTHER PRODUCTS BY THE
AUTHOR
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You also get the following bonus package:

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