There are many Spanish slang dictionaries in Spanish, but when you are looking for a specific Spanish slang to English dictionary the options are more limited. This is a work-in-progress list of bilingual Spanish Slang to English dictionaries by country. My goal is to feature all the dictionaries available in print or eBook format as […]
What Type of Adult Spanish Course Should I Take?
Many adults are finding that they need to be able to speak or understand Spanish in their work or personal lives, so much so that they will need some type of formal instruction. There are many different paths to receive this instruction, but the type you choose depends solely on what you want out of […]
Learn Spanish in Puerto Rico: Immersion Program ISLA
A while ago Jared published Speaking Latino’s most controversial post ever –Should You Learn Spanish in Puerto Rico?– where he questions if Puerto Rico is a good destination to learn Spanish. Obviously that is his opinion and I (and many others readers) don’t agree with it. So, now is my time to share my point […]
5 Student-approved Classroom Games to Learn Spanish
5 Student-approved Classroom Games to Learn Spanish from Speaking Latino We all know that students always look forward to playing games in the classroom. It is usually the very first question they ask upon entering class. Let’s face it, as teachers we like them too since they can be so effective and engaging. There are […]
How to Say AMERICAN With 9 Spanish and Spanish Slang Words: Infographic
If we want to make a list of demonyms in Spanish and cover all the Spanish-speaking countries we could list some examples such as: Puerto Ricans are called Puertorriqueños or Boricuas, Costa Ricans are know by Costa Ricans or Ticos and the Nicaraguans are Nicaraguences or Nicas. But when Latinos refer to Americans, the list […]
25 Goofy Spanish Similes with the Word NUN
One of the funniest types of Spanish language idioms are the ones that uses similes or comparisons. The Wikipedia definition of a simile is “a figure of speech that directly compares two things through some connective, usually like, as, than, or a verb such as resembles.” The use of a nun or monja as a […]
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER: English Phrase in Spanish
Have you ever felt out of place? If you want to express that feeling in Spanish you can use the phrase “fuera de lugar.” But that phrase sound a bit formal and serious. Here are two ways you can translate “like a fish out of water” maintaining the English phrase in Spanish. 1. Como sapo […]
Spanish Idiomatic Expression CUANDO LAS GALLINAS MEAN in English
Cuando las gallinas mean is a common Spanish idiomatic expression generally said to children when they speak when they are not supposed to. The full Spanish saying goes los niños hablan cuando las gallinas mean and literally translates to “children talk when hens piss.” For anyone that doesn’t know hens doen’t pee and this phrase […]
Celebrate El Día E and The Spanish Language Day
Spanish is the second language in the world in number of native speakers, the second language of international communication (more than 500 million people speak it), and the third most used language on the Internet. To celebrate this vast wealth of Spanish culture, the Instituto Cervantes organizes for the fifth time El Día E, a […]
Bilingual Story Books: 5 Children Books in Spanish and English
Hispanics are 16.7% of total population of the United Sates, making them the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. If you are part of that statistic, you are one of the 52 million Latinos that make the United States the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Unfortunately, there is also the risk of future generations […]
The Best Book for Learning Spanish Vocabulary
The Best Book for Learning Spanish Vocabulary: Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish First Publish date: 1951 Pages: 496 Author: Margarita Madrigal Over 60 years after it’s first publication, Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal still may be the best book for learning Spanish vocabulary ever published. The premise of Madrigal’s book is that […]
10 Easy English-Spanish Words You Can Add to Your Vocabulary Today
When I was reading the book Spanish Word Histories and Mysteries: English Words That Come From Spanish I learned the following fact about English-Spanish words: After French, Latin and Old English, “Spanish is one of the most important ingredients in English vocabulary.” I knew that there were Spanish words in the English language, but I […]
41 Examples of Spanish Slang Words for GIRL
How many words for girl in Spanish? Check the Spanish slang for girl list used in Latin America & Spain that will give you the examples you are looking for. Spanish slang for girl is the fifth suggestion that Google gives you when you type in the phrase “Spanish slang for” in the search box. In English and in Spanish making reference to “a girl” can range from a newborn baby up to a women in her twenties.
Spanish Slang Words for COOL: 85 Words and Phrases
Learn the Spanish slang for cool with a list of words and expressions divided by different Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish has equivalents for “cool” and they vary among countries. Here I have grouped a couple of examples from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain and Venezuela.
18 Shades of White: Spanish Slang Words for WHITE PERSON
Spanish slang for white person is the third suggestion that Google gives you when you type in the phrase “Spanish slang for” in the search box. That makes it one of the most popular Spanish slang requests and here are some examples and the countries that use them.
Spanish Slang Words for WEED: 26 Names for MARIJUANA
A list of 26 examples of Spanish slang for weed or marijuana, plus 16 additional terms in Spanish for joint. In this particular case weed can have an innocent Spanish translation or be the slang for marijuana. In this article I am going to give you the list of words for both meanings.
53 Spanish Slang Words for FRIEND
If you want to blend with locals, you should check this list of examples of Spanish slang for friend and the countries that use them. Here is a list of a good amount of Spanish words used in Latin America to refer to a close friend or dude. All in one place!
What is JETA in Spanish? You might get punched or kissed – watch out!
There are two quick answers to “What is Jeta in Spanish?” It means someone’s face. It’s an insult of some kind. The insult depends on the country where you hear the word or related term. The Spanish slang word jeta is commonly known and used throughout Latin America. But you need to pay attention where […]
11 Videos of Alphabet Sign Language in Spanish
Sign language varies geographically and therefore there is no universal sign language. This means that mute people around the world learn different sign languages to communicate. In the case of the sign language in Spanish, it also varies by country which is the exact same thing that happens with spoken and written Spanish. Each country […]
The Spanish Sign Language Alphabet
Origin of the Spanish Sign Language Alphabet According to a document published by Cultura Sorda.eu, author Alejandro Oviedo indicates that “in most of the countries whose official languages are written with the Latin alphabet, deaf communities use the same manual alphabet. Although there are some differences between them, most manual settings used to represent the […]
7 Terms to Define Spanish Slang And Their Meanings
I started collecting and translating Spanish slang in 2003. I had already lived in Mexico, Chile and Argentina as well as traveled to other Spanish-speaking countries. When I arrived in Puerto Rico it amazed me how different the language was from the other countries I knew, even with the country changes I had already experienced. […]
All about Latina Barbie Dolls
Recently, Mattel honored the late and legendary Mexican actress María Félix with a special new Barbie. The Mária Félix Barbie doll celebrates her legacy, contribution to Mexican cinema and cultural betterment, and her advocacy for women’s equality and indigenous groups. It seems that this time around, critics think Mattel finally landed on a more accepted […]
Are You Really Fluent in Spanish? Only If You Know These 8 Spanish Language Words
Are You Really Fluent in Spanish? If you are interested in being, appearing or faking that you are fluent in Spanish, here’s a quick tip. I’ve been speaking Spanish now, at varying levels for 18 years (holy crap!). In that time, my speaking experiences have crossed country borders and generations, as well as education and […]
Avoid These 4 Mistakes in Spanish: Language Learning Videos
The following set of videos were created by the Fundación de Español Urgente (Fundéu) and represent some common basic Spanish mistakes. Inglaterra, Reino Unido y Gran Bretaña no son lo mismo (England, United Kingdom and Great Britain are not the same) Estar «al norte» de un lugar no es estar «en el norte» (The difference […]
4 Short Spanish Language Learning Videos About Confusing Words
Today I will continue sharing more Spanish language learning videos from the Fundación de Español Urgente (Fundéu). The first set of videos that I shared recently were about numbers and numerals in Spanish. Now I have selected four videos of confusing Spanish words that can be tricky to even native speakers. In Spanish there are […]
5 Quick Spanish Language Learning Videos About Numbers
Spanish can be confusing, even for native speakers. When you have mastered counting in Spanish you will need to pay attention to other basic Spanish expression for fractions, numerals, percents, etc. The Fundación de Español Urgente (Fundéu) is a non-profit organization whose “main objective is to promote the proper use of Spanish in the media.” […]
The 8 Most Clever Spanish Slang Dictionary and Book Titles
Jared and I recently conducted a ton of research about Spanish slang books to put together our Resource Pages by Country and other projects that are coming soon. In the process of evaluating the content included there, I stumbled upon a couple of clever Spanish slang book titles that I think are worth sharing. The […]
Just Kidding! 25 Joke Related Spanish Words You Should Know
Broma or chiste is how to say joke in Spanish – these two words are often used interchangeably when talking about jokes or joking around and the laughing emoji means the same thing in every language. Latinos love to kid around and laugh as much as any other people and they have plenty of words […]
Learn Spanish by Country: For Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Speakers
Are you feeling confident in your beginner level Spanish skills? Ready to take the next step? Excellent! The next step for you is to learn Spanish slang that is specific to certain regions and countries. Did you know that Spanish changes significantly from one country to another? If not, you’re in for a surprise. Not […]
Spanish Slang Video: A Song that Exposes the Frustration of Learning Spanish
So to some degree Spanish is in fact easier than most languages. Except for one major component that people do not discuss. Spanish changes significantly from one country to the next. And after 15 years of Spanish study, it still baffles me why NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THIS. As a foreigner learning Spanish you are not […]