If someone has ever told you that you estás de toma pan y moja (to take bread and dip), congratulations! That is actually a compliment. Another version of the same saying is estás para mojar pan.

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This expression is used in Spain to positively value someone’s physical appearance. In other words, you are a beauty!

To better understand the origin of this expression, we must look at gastronomy. Bread is such a basic food for Spaniards that they even use it in their sayings.

Have you ever tasted a dish so delicious that you wish it was never over?

In these cases, it is almost a sin to miss a drop of it. To leave the dish completely clean, we have our eternal ally: bread.

All in all, dipping a piece of bread in the dish indicates that food has an amazing flavor.

This is not the only case in which we use expressions related to food to describe different kinds of people. For example, ser más bueno que el pan (being better than bread) means being a very good person.

If something is pan comido (or eaten bread), then it’s very easy. In order to earn your bread (ganarse el pan), however, you will have to work very hard. In Spanish, babies come with a bread under their arm (un pan debajo del brazo). That is to say, they are a blessing.

Another example of using food to comment on someone’s good looks is the expression estar como un queso (be like cheese). This culinary synergy between beauty and food runs deep in the Spanish culture.

Discover more common Spanish expressions with bread by watching our video:

 

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Have you ever tried the famous Spanish ham croquettes?

Why not make them yourself?

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Today, we’re going to put on our aprons and start cooking!

First, we’ll need to get the ingredients together:

To make the croquettes

• 200 g Serrano ham (Spanish cured ham or jamón)
• 1 onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 100 g flour
• 100 ml olive oil (or 100 g butter)
• 1 L warm milk

To batter and fry them

• Flour
• 3 eggs, beaten
• Breadcrumbs
• Olive oil

Is everything ready?

Before we begin, I’ll tell you that in Spain we usually use olive oil to coat the pan, but if you can’t find any or prefer not to use it, you can use butter as a substitute.

Let’s get to work!

We’ll start by making the croquette dough.

Mince the onion and garlic and cut the Serrano ham into small pieces. Heat the oil (or melt the butter) in a frying pan and add the onion and garlic. Cook until golden, then add the Serrano ham.

After a few minutes have passed and the ham takes on the flavor of the onion and garlic, add all the flour and sauté everything together. Be careful! It’s easy for the flour to burn, so you’ll have to stir the mixture constantly to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Shortly after you add the flour, slowly and gradually pour the warm milk into the pan. Keep stirring! It’s very important to stir constantly as you add the milk to prevent lumps from forming. Once you’ve added all the milk, let the mixture cook until it forms a thick paste (keep stirring this whole time!).

When the dough is ready, transfer it to a flat dish and let it cool.

(If you want your croquettes to come out as good as a Spanish grandmother’s, spread a bit of olive oil over the surface of the dough, just to prevent a crust from forming.)

When the dough is cool enough to handle, cut it into pieces and roll them into even-sized log shapes.

Once you’ve made all the croquettes, prepare a plate with flour, a bowl with the beaten eggs, and a plate with breadcrumbs.

Roll each croquette in the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs (in that order), then fry them in hot oil.

When the croquettes are golden brown, take them out of the frying pan and…it’s time to eat!

Hats off to the chef! 

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What’s the most typical Spanish food?

Tortilla de patatas!

Today we’re sharing a recipe to help you bring Spanish flavors to your table. So get ready, step into the kitchen, and…it’s tortilla time!

Read this article in Spanish

Before we begin, let’s run through the ingredients we’re going to need:

• 700 g (about 25 oz) potatoes
• 1 medium onion
• 6 medium/large eggs
• Olive oil
• Salt

 

Now that we have the ingredients handy, we can get started.

First, peel and wash the onion and potatoes. Dice the onion and cut the potatoes into thin slices.

When you’ve got that ready, pour a thick layer of oil into a frying pan and heat it up on the stove. Once the oil is hot, turn the heat down to low and fry the potatoes with a bit of salt. This way they will get cooked all the way through without burning. Be patient, this may take 25-30 minutes, depending on how thick you cut the potato slices.

Before the potatoes are done, when they’re just starting to turn golden, add the onion to the frying pan. That way you can cook everything at the same time without burning the onion.

After you add the onion and everything is frying, crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, add a pinch of salt, and beat the eggs.

When the potatoes and onion are done frying, take them out of the oil, let the excess oil drain off, and add them to the bowl with the eggs, along with a bit more salt.

Mix everything together and let the mixture sit for a few minutes to give the potatoes time to absorb the eggs.

Meanwhile, prepare a frying pan to continue with the second part of the tortilla making process. You can use the same pan as before, just pour out almost all of the olive oil. If you prefer, you can use a clean frying pan and add a tablespoon of oil, moving the pan around so the bottom is completely coated.

Put the frying pan on low heat and pour in the mixture of eggs, potatoes, and onion.

Little by little, you’ll see the egg start to cook and the tortilla will begin to take shape. Make sure it doesn’t stick to the pan by using a spatula around the edges and base of the tortilla. It will probably start sticking to the pan.

Before the egg cooks completely, put a large, flat plate (big enough to cover all or almost all of the frying pan) over the tortilla and flip the pan upside down with the plate underneath. Lift the frying pan off the plate and put it back on the stove, then slide the tortilla (cooked-side up) off the plate and into the frying pan to let the other side cook a few more minutes.

When the tortilla is as cooked or as runny as you like it, turn off the burner and flip the tortilla out of the frying pan once more.

Your tortilla de patatas is ready!

 

 

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Has anyone ever said to you, “No tienes ni un pelo de tonto” (you don’t have even one foolish hair)?

Don’t worry. It’s kind of a strange thing to say, but it’s not an insult.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite!

If you don’t have even one foolish hair, that means you’re a smart person with your wits about you, someone who’s difficult to trick or fool.

Read this article in Spanish

No tener ni un pelo de tonto is just one of many Spanish sayings that talk about hair.

When used in colloquial expressions, pelo (hair) usually refers to a small quantity of something or to something that just barely happens.

A hair is one of the smallest and finest (but still visible) parts of the body. In fact, we lose hair from our head every day, often without realizing it.

That’s why when we use the word pelo as part of an expression, we’re referring to a small amount of something.

So, if someone says, “No tienes ni un pelo de tonto,” what do they mean? Well, just the opposite of what it might seem.

They are trying to say that you’re not the least bit foolish.

This means they’re paying you a compliment!

If you want to keep free of “foolish hairs” and learn more Spanish expressions with pelo, watch our video and find out all you have left to learn!

 

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Beginning in the late 1700s, a mixture of historical events and intellectual currents lay the groundwork for a push for independence from Spain in the different corners of Latin America. The revolutions in France and the United States and the ideas of the Enlightenment, Spain’s declining international power, and the resentment harbored by the criollos (people of Spanish descent born in the Americas) against the privileges enjoyed by the peninsulares (people born in Spain living in the Americas) all factored into a tumultuous atmosphere in the Spanish colonies. This was fuel for the fire that was finally sparked in 1808 with Napoleon’s invasion of Spain and the dethroning of Spanish King Ferdinand VII.

Read this article in Spanish

On August 10, 1809, known today as the First Cry of Independence, a group of criollos in Quito, Ecuador led an uprising against the government, now ruled by the French under Napoleon, declaring their support for the Spanish monarchy. This movement was short-lived, but it is considered an important milestone in the struggle for independence across Latin America.

By 1820, Latin America was undergoing a complete transformation. In the north, General Simón Bolívar had won important victories in both Venezuela and in New Granada (now Colombia), while to the south, General José de San Martín had made impressive military advances in Argentina and Chile and was moving on to Peru.

Less than a decade before, three important men, José de Antepara, José de Villamil, and José Joaquín de Olmedo, had each come to the coastal city of Guayaquil, Ecuador and had been spreading new political ideas of independence, freedom, and democracy. By 1820, the revolutionaries in Guayaquil felt that the time was ripe to put their ideas into action. In secret meetings, they aligned with military forces that supported the independence movement. On October 9, 1820, Guayaquil declared independence. Other cities throughout Ecuador quickly followed suit in the days, weeks, and months that followed (including Cuenca on November 3, 1820), but it wasn’t until May 24, 1822, after the armies of Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre had come to the aid of the Ecuadoran rebels, that Sucre won the Battle of Pichincha (fought on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano near Quito), cementing the independence of Ecuador.

Today, the country celebrates four national holidays in connection with independence: May 24 (The Battle of Pinchincha), August 10 (Independence Day), October 9 (Independence of Guayaquil), and November 3 (Independence of Cuenca). Simón Bolívar’s birthday, July 24, is also a public holiday in Ecuador.

If you’re currently taking one of our Spanish courses in Quito, expect most businesses to be closed this coming Tuesday, October 9 — everyone will be busy celebrating! 

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• Hey, Juan.
• What’s up, Luis? Is everything okay?
• Yeah, everything’s fine. I just want to talk to you for a second. Do you have a minute?
• Sure, what’s going on?
• Well, look. For a while now I’ve been trying to think of a way to surprise my mom for her birthday. I haven’t had much luck, but today I had the idea of taking her on a tour of the theaters downtown, I’m sure she’ll love it.
• Good idea!
• But hey, you can’t tell anyone, okay? I don’t want her to find out before her birthday.
• Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.
• Thanks!

 

If after this conversation Luis’s mom comes along and starts to pester Juan, asking him what her son said, what he’s going to give her, saying not to worry because she won’t say anything, and things of that nature, what Luis’s mom is doing is tirar de la lengua (pulling on someone’s tongue… in this case, Juan’s.)

Read this article in Spanish

If you insist that someone tells you something you know they’re not supposed to, in Spanish we say that you’re pulling their tongue (le estás tirando de la lengua).

Why do we say that?

The origins of this saying aren’t clear, but the truth is, it’s easy to visualize.

Metaphorically speaking, your words and everything you say comes from your tongue. Therefore, continuing with the metaphor, if someone could pull on your tongue, they could see all the words you don’t want to say written all over it.

Of course, since that’s not actually possible, the expression tirar de la lengua is used to say that a person is being very insistent, perhaps overly insistent, to try to get someone to tell them what they want to hear.

If you want to know and discover more expressions with lengua, take a look at this video and you’ll be able to speak in Spanish whenever you want.

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The tongue — the muscle that allows us to speak Spanish whenever we want. It’s also a recurring theme in several common Spanish expressions.

It’s a word that causes a lot of headaches. Why in Spanish do we say morderse la lengua (bite your tongue) when you’re not really going to bite it?

Read this article in Spanish

And what in the world are people with lengua de trapo (rag tongue)? It must be impossible for someone to talk with a rag in their mouth…

These are just a couple of the many Spanish sayings that use the word lengua, or tongue. Today we’re going to take a closer look at these two expressions: morderse la lengua and lengua de trapo.

Surely this has happened to you at some point in your life…

Someone you know comes up to you and tells you something extremely personal. It’s something very important, so they ask you to please not tell anyone. You tell them not to worry, you won’t.

Then, if someone else comes and asks you what the person said, you’ll have to morderte la lengua (bite your tongue) to make sure you don’t repeat a single word of what was said.

You can also use this expression in a different context. Imagine you’re at work and you’ve just finished a very important project. Suddenly, when you go to present it, your boss tells everyone that he was the one who did it. It‘s possible that to avoid having problems with your boss, you may decide to morderte la lengua and not say anything to anyone that would reveal the truth.

As you can see, morderse la lengua means that you don’t say anything, you resist the temptation to tell someone something that you have to keep quiet, whatever the reason.

On the other hand, tener lengua de trapo is completely different.

Have you ever heard a young child talk?

When children are around one and a half or two years old, they begin to speak their first intelligible words.

They try to express themselves by imitating what they’ve heard from their parents or other people around them. The problem is that most of the time, they’re not able to pronounce the words correctly, and adults can’t understand what they’re trying to say.

This way of speaking or babbling is what we’re referring to when we say someone has a lengua de trapo (rag tongue). It really sounds like they have a piece of rag in their mouth instead of a tongue.

You know what?

There are lots of other expressions with lengua, so if you want to learn even more, watch this video and we’ll tell you all about them.

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Six different Latin American countries will be celebrating their independence this weekend. Coincidence? We think not! Learn how the stories of Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador are intertwined and how independence is celebrated today.

Read this article in Spanish

First, let’s crack open our history books to understand how this all came about. As you may recall, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, landing in the Bahamas and beginning the Spanish colonization of Latin America.

In the years that followed, Spain established four viceroyalties to govern the vast territories it had conquered. The first, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, was officially established in 1535. Its capital was Mexico City, built on the ruins of a pre-Columbian city called Mexico-Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, which had fallen to the Spanish in 1521. Over time, New Spain came to include present-day Mexico, the U.S. states of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, parts of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, and parts of British Columbia, Canada. That’s not all — New Spain also encompassed Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the Central American countries of Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Mexico and Central America go their separate ways

Spain’s iron grip on the New World lasted almost 300 years, but when French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain in 1808 and the Spanish King Ferdinand VII abdicated the throne, the people of Latin America saw a chance to rebel against colonial power.

Mexico’s War of Independence began on the morning of September 16, 1810 with el grito de Dolores (the cry of Dolores), when priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bells in the town of Dolores (pictured below) and called on the townspeople to revolt against Spanish rule. This day, September 16, is celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day, although it took more than a decade of fighting before the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire was signed on September 18, 1821. 

Only a few days before, on September 15, 1821, the Provincial Council of the Province of Guatemala declared the independence of Central America (not including Panama, which was part of Colombia) from Spain. There was no bloodshed. This day, September 15, is celebrated as Independence Day in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. 

Mexico and Central America briefly reunite before a permanent separation

Shortly after declaring independence in 1821, Central America joined the First Mexican Empire. However, the deal was short-lived: just two years later, in 1823, the Mexican Empire became a republic and the United Provinces of Central America was formed, completely independent from Spain and Mexico. This union didn’t last long either; it was completely dissolved by 1841, with Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador becoming their own independent countries.

Today, Mexican Independence Day celebrations begin on the night of September 15, when the President of Mexico stands on the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, rings the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810 (it’s been moved to the capital from Dolores), and recites the Grito Mexicano, based on the Grito de Dolores. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in the capital’s main plaza or Zócalo to watch, chanting back “¡Viva!” at the appropriate moments. Local politicians also re-enact the cry of Dolores in public squares throughout the country. The following day, September 16, is a national holiday with parades, live concerts, typical dress and dances, fireworks, and lots of delicious Mexican food.

In case you were wondering, May 5 has nothing to do with Mexican Independence: Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla during the French-Mexican War in 1862.

Costa Rica celebrates its Independence Day a bit differently. First, a burning torch is carried by runners in a relay through five countries, from Guatemala to Costa Rica, symbolizing the route the news of independence traveled in 1821. In that year, the news took a month to reach Costa Rica — although independence was declared on September 15, Costa Rica didn’t know it was independent until October. After the torch arrives, the whole country stops to celebrate by dressing in typical Costa Rican attire and attending or participating in festive parades complete with live bands and dancing.

If you’re studying Spanish at don Quijote in Mexico or Costa Rica this September, expect the streets and plazas to be alive with traditional celebrations and bursting with local colors and flavors.

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Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, and Antoine Griezmann have kicked off the new soccer season in Spain. Every year around this time, as the ball rolls through the fields of every team and the tensions become palpable, fans don the jerseys of their beloved teams and the stands are filled with colors and flags.

Read this article in Spanish

We’re sure you already know a lot about La Liga, but do you know what each team is called and why? Let’s find out!

Athletic de Bilbao – leones (lions): this team’s stadium is called San Mamés. According to legend, Saint Mammes was thrown to the lions of the Roman circus after refusing to renounce his Christian faith. The funny thing was, not only did the lions not eat him, they sat at his feet. That’s why the stadium is called San Mamés and the players are called lions.

Atlético de Madrid – colchoneros (mattress-makers): following the Spanish Civil War, mattresses were sold with a cover sporting red and white stripes — just like the jerseys of this team.

Barcelona – culés (rear ends): in the early 20th century, FC Barcelona’s stadium only had two rows of seats for the fans, so those who arrived late had to sit on top of the walls surrounding the field. From the street, all you could see were the peoples’ rear ends sticking out.

Málaga – boquerones (white anchovies): perhaps the greatest of Malaga’s many wonders are its white anchovies, brought in fresh from the sea. They’re so good that the players and fans of this team couldn’t be called anything else.

Real Madrid – merengues (meringues): meringues are little desserts made of eggs and sugar. What color are they? White, just like Real Madrid’s jerseys. That’s why Real Madrid fans are called merengues.

Sevilla – palanganas (washbowls): some say it’s because of a long story involving one manager giving the other a washbowl. Others say it’s because of the shape of the stadium. For whatever reason, Sevilla supporters are known as palanganas.

Valencia – chés (heys): if you listen to the way Valencians talk, you’ll realize that they often use the interjection “¡ché!”, which is kind of like “¡oye!” or “¡ey!” in Spanish, or “hey” in English.

Villareal – submarino amarillo (yellow submarine): in 1967, The Beatles were constantly playing on every radio. Around that time, a Spanish group did a version of the famous song Yellow Submarine (in Spanish, Submarino Amarillo). Shortly thereafter, Villareal moved up a division and celebrated by blasting the Spanish version of the song as loud as they could. They’ve been called submarine amarillo ever since.

Spain not only has top-notch soccer, its teams also have a lot of history behind them! These are some of the little secrets only Spanish-speakers know about. Let the games begin!  

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Everybody is well aware that each household has its own customs.

When we visit a friend or family member in their home, things usually aren’t exactly as we’d like them; there tend to be things we’d do differently. This is also true on a bigger scale: even when cities are close together, they often have different customs or traditions because of each city’s history and the events that have happened there.

If customs change from home to home and city to city, imagine the differences between countries!

Read this article in Spanish

There’s an expression in Spanish that says, “Allá donde fueras, haz lo que vieras” (Wherever you go, do what you see). In English we have a similar saying: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In both cases, the idea is that when you travel somewhere, you should follow the customs of the people who live there.

With this in mind, today we’re going to talk about some of the most widespread customs in Spain. They may seem a bit strange to you when you arrive, but don’t worry — they’re easy to get used to.

1. We’re used to sunny weather

If there’s one thing visitors notice when they come to Spain, it’s all the hours of sunshine we have each day. We’re so used to it that we find it very strange if it rains for more than two or three days in a row and we don’t get to see the sun, or if we have a whole week of cloudy skies in winter.

Enjoy the sunshine, but don’t forget your sunscreen!

2. We put blinds on every window

Thanks to all that sun, almost every Spanish home has persianas or Persian blinds.

A Persian blind is a set of horizontal slates linked together by a cord. This cord is placed inside the room and can be used to raise or lower the window blinds to our liking. This way we can control how much sunlight comes in. We’ll often lower the blinds before we go to bed so we don’t get woken up by the bright light when the sun comes up, or in the summertime to keep the heat out, especially around midday.

 

3. For hellos and goodbyes, a kiss on each cheek

In Spain, men usually greet other men with a handshake and women with two kisses, one on each cheek. Women, on the other hand, greet both men and other women with two kisses (except in very formal settings, in which they may greet someone with a handshake).

Between close friends and families, it’s also common for men to say hello and goodbye with cheek kissing. It’s such a deeply rooted custom that nobody thinks twice about kissing someone on both cheeks.

4. We get up early and stay up late

Yes, we know. In Spain we do most things later than usual. Our lunchtime is between 2 and 3 p.m., but it’s not at all uncommon for lunch to last until 4 p.m. We generally meet for dinner around 9 p.m., but the meal often doesn’t start until even later.

So, when you get to Spain, stop looking at your watch and worrying about the time. Remember, when you follow our schedule, you’ll be able to enjoy every last hour of sunshine!

5. The (famous) siesta

Since meals in Spain are usually abundant and long-lasting, sometimes it’s almost necessary to take a break so you can digest your food and rest for a little while. Even so, we’ve got to tell you something. Siestas (naps) aren’t as common as people outside of Spain might think.

With how busy life is these days, what with long work days and lots of daily activities, it’s very hard to find time to take a nap. On weekends, however, it’s a bit easier for everyone.

6. No, we’re not shouting

Spaniards often notice that when we travel to other countries, we recognize our compatriots by their slightly louder tone of voice. In Spain we’re used to it, but tourists and new arrivals are sometimes bothered by what they consider to be loud conversations.

Even if it seems like we’re speaking loudly or even shouting, it’s not because we’re angry or because people can’t hear us. Furthermore, when we use public transportation, even though we often speak with the person or group of people we’re traveling with, we do try to keep the volume down.

7. We don’t take our shoes off at the door

For Spaniards, it’s not a sign of disrespect to keep our shoes on when we enter someone’s home, whether they’re visiting us or we’re visiting them. The most we’ll do is wipe the bottom of our shoes on the welcome mat in front of the door before we go in.

However, when we arrive at our own home, we take off our shoes and change into slippers. We might even change into more comfortable clothes. But there’s no general rule about taking your shoes off in other people’s homes.

 

8. Punctuality… Spanish style

Although we don’t usually admit it, Spaniards know that we arrive late to most places. If there’s an important work meeting or a formal event, we make sure to be punctual… but there’s always someone who gets distracted and doesn’t make it on time. And if you’re casually meeting up with friends or family, you can be sure you’ll have to wait for at least one person.

Here’s a piece of advice. If someone tells you they’ll be there in 5 minutes, it’ll probably be more like 15 or 20.

 

9. Bread with every meal

A Spanish meal without bread is like a paella without rice — unthinkable!

Bread is good for pushing your food onto your fork or spoon; it’s great for picking up food and delivering it straight to your mouth; you can use it to clean your plate, to make breakfast, snacks, dinners, or whatever you want! You can eat it at home or take it on the go, eat it with meat, fish, or salad… Spaniards sometimes get offended when a restaurant charges extra for bread. It’s so ingrained in our culture that we assume it’s included in the price.

 

Now you know some of Spain’s most notable customs. It’s just a little heads-up so you’ll be more prepared and know what to expect when you come to Spain to learn Spanish.

Enjoy our customs!

 

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