Tag Archives: Spanish Tip of the Month

Cosas de la Casa

This month’s Spanish tip is about things related around, in and of the house.

Mi Casa es Su Casa: My house is your house (make yourself at home).

House: Casa
Mansion: Mansión
Home: Hogar
Bedroom: Cuarto, Recámara
Bathroom: Baño
Kitchen: Cocina
Living Room: Sala
Dining Room: Comedor
Room (in general): Salón
Porch: Patio
Garage: Garaje
Rent: Aquilar, Rentar
Mortgage: Hipoteca

Things in the house: Cosas en la casa
Furniture: Muebles
Table: Mesa
Lamp: Lámpara
Bed: Cama
Carpet: Alfombra (sometimes people say carpeta, but this really means “folder”)
Walls: Paredes
Roof: Techo
Sink: Fregadero
Refrigerator: Refrigeradora (sometimes shortened to “refri” like in English “fridge”)
Stove: Estufa
Oven: Horno

Welcome to my house! ¡Bienvenidos a mi casa!

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Los Sentimientos

This month’s Spanish tip is about Los Sentimientos or Feelings. The biggest difference in feelings in Spanish versus English is that in English a person is  his or her eeling, whereas in Spanish many times a person has his or her feeling or state of being. For instance:

Tengo sed =I am thirsty (literally translated it means, I have thirst)
Tengo hambre =I am hungry
Tengo sueño =I am sleepy
Tengo ganas de…=I have an urge to/want to…
Tengo anxiedad =I am anxious/have anxiety
Tengo miedo =I’m afraid/fearful

On the other hand, there are quite a few feelings that follow the same English pattern of “I am“:

Estoy contento/a =I’m content
Estoy triste =I’m sad
Estoy enojado/a =I’m angry
Estoy frustrado =I’m frustrated
Estoy asustado =I’m scared/frightened/startled
Estoy entusiasmado/animado =I’m excited

Other feelings are verbs unto themselves:

Querer =To want
Desear =To desire
Esperar =To wait AND to hope for
Preocuparse =Worry (oneself)

And of course the most important verb for feelings is:

Sentirse =To feel

For example:
Me siento mal =I feel bad
Me siento tranquilo =I feel fine/relaxed
Me siento deprimido =I feel depressed

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El Viaje -A Spanish Tip

For this month’s Spanish tip, I would like to talk about traveling. When you travel to Spanish-speaking areas, there are a few key words and phrases that can help you out.

airplane –el avión
train- el tren
bus- el autobus, el camión (in Puerto Rico I think it’s “gua-gua“)
car –el carro, el coche
ferry –la barca, la lancha
taxi- el taxi
ticket- el boleto
fare –la tarifa, el boleto
hotel- el hotel
luggage- equipaje
departure- salida, embarque
arrival- la llegada
itinerary-el itinerario
to travel –viajar
trip –el viaje
vacation- vacación, feriado
to rest- descansar
to relax- relajarse
tourism-turismo
points of interest- puntos de interes
sunglasses –gafas de sol, lentes
bathing suit –traje de baño
the ocean- el mar
the beach- la playa
the mountains –las montañas
the countryside –el campo
photograph/picture –la foto

Some phrases:
Let’s go to the beach! – ¡Vamos a la playa!
Where is the departure lounge? -¿Dónde esta la sala de embarque?
How much is the airplane ticket/air fare? ¿Cuánto cuesta el boleto de avión?
Excuse me, can you please take our picture? ¿Perdón, nos puede usted sacar una foto, por favor?
Are there any taxis available? ¿Hay algunos taxis disponibles?

Happy Trails!  ¡Buen Viaje!

 

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Días Feriados

Since the holidays (días feriados) are upon us, I thought some vocabulary for them would be appropriate for the Spanish Tip of the Month.

Common Holidays

New Year: Año Nuevo

Valentine’s Day: Día de San Valentín

Easter: Pascua

Independence Day: Día de Independencia

Day of the Dead: Día de los Muertos (instead of Halloween)

Thanksgiving: Día de Acción de Gracias

Christmas: Navidad

Some associated words and phrases:

Turkey: Pavo
Presents: Regalos
Tree: Arbol
Ghosts: Fantasmas
Monsters: Monstruos
Tomb/Grave: Tumba
Skeleton: Esqueleto
Pumpkins: Calabazas
Santa Claus: Papa Noel (often just Americanized as Santa Claus though)
Star: Estrella
Songs: Canciones

You scared me!: ¡Me asustaste!
What a great party! ¡Qué gran fiesta!
The food is wonderful: ¡La comida es deliciosa! or simply ¡Qué sabrosa!
I ate too much/I’m full: Comí demasiado. Estoy lleno/a.
Thanks for the present: Gracias por el regalo
Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad
Happy New Year: Feliz Año Nuevo

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