Spanish mistakes | Common Spanish mistakes

Submitted by analitica2 on Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:02
Spanish mistakes

Spanish mistakes. Do you make any common grammar mistakes in Spanish as a student of the language? Here's a complete guide to help you avoid them.

spanish mistakes

Spanish mistakes are common, especially if you are studying a second language like Spanish. Many of these mistakes can help you improve and understand the language so you can speak it fluently and communicate with all Spanish speakers. That's why don Quijote wants to help you in this article so you can learn what common Spanish mistakes students make and how to avoid them.

This article is also available in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

Common Spanish mistakes

Learning a language from scratch is not easy, and Spanish, in particular, has a grammar and Spanish verbs tenses that are not easy at first. Spanish students often make several Spanish grammatical errors when they start out. Among the most common are:

  • Pronunciation errors
  • Confusion between gender and number of words
  • Unnecessary use of pronouns
  • Use of prepositions
  • Grammatical errors in the use of verbs
  • Changing the order of words
  • Adding indefinite articles before professions
  • Confusing homonymous words
  • Not knowing the rules of capitalization
  • False friends
  • Forgetting the rules of accentuation
  • Not differentiating between tú and usted

Below, don Quijote will break down some of these Spanish mistakes, why and how they are usually made, and how to avoid them so that your journey to learn Spanish in Spain is a success.

Pronunciation errors

Many students make mistakes in Spanish when pronouncing certain words because there is no similar or identical sound in their native language. The most difficult sounds for students to pronounce are “r”, “ll” and “j”, and sometimes the general intonation of the language.

The phonetic system of Spanish is very different from that of other languages, so many sounds do not exist in other languages. These Spanish mistakes are common when reading aloud or speaking quickly. Words with “r” such as ratón, guitarra, perro, or arroyo are quite difficult for many students to pronounce.

To try to avoid these types of mistakes in Spanish, you can listen to songs, podcasts, or programs in native Spanish and pay attention to the pronunciation of words with these sounds. You can also improve by repeating the words aloud at the same time and recording your voice to compare the sounds later.

Confusion in the gender and number of words

The use of nouns or adjectives with the incorrect gender and number is also one of the most common grammatical errors among Spanish learners. That's why don Quijote has several articles that can help you better understand the feminine and masculine gender of words, as well as the gender and number of adjectives in Spanish.

Why does this mistake occur in Spanish? Because in many languages, such as English, nouns do not have gender. Thus, students must learn the rules and how to use Spanish nouns.

How can you avoid this mistake? Learn Spanish nouns with their corresponding articles from the beginning. For example: el problema, la mano, el barco, el cuaderno, la galleta.

Unnecessary use of pronouns

In Spanish, it is often unnecessary to use a pronoun as the subject, as the meaning of the sentence does not change. For example, in the sentence: “Yo hablo español cada día” (I speak Spanish every day), the subject “yo” can be omitted and the sentence will sound more natural if you say: “Hablo español cada día”.

This grammatical Spanish mistake occurs because in other languages, such as English, pronouns are always required. If you translate literally, you may make this mistake.

To avoid it, remember that the conjugated verb already contains the subject in the previous sentence: hablo = yo. And, if you want, you can use pronouns only to emphasize or contrast a sentence.

Use of prepositions

Spanish learners can misuse Spanish prepositions, especially when they accompany a verb.

These Spanish mistakes occur because prepositions do not follow an exact logic and are different from those in the learner's native language. Thus, these types of errors occur when translating word for word.

You can avoid this by learning verbs together with their prepositions, for example, pensar en or soñar con. You can also make a list of real examples to help you understand and see how to use prepositions in Spanish.

Grammatical errors in the use of verbs

The misuse of verb tenses or conjugations is very common among Spanish learners. This is because the Spanish verbal system is very complex due to the tenses, modes, and conjugations of irregular verbs.

For example:

  • Error: Ayer caminaba al parque
  • Correct: Ayer caminé al parque

These types of grammatical errors occur when talking about past, future, or conditional actions. We recommend practicing verbs a lot, using online tools that can help you, or signing up for one of our intensive Spanish courses so that our teachers can help you with all your questions.

Changing word order

The word order can sometimes change the meaning of a sentence or make the sentence structure sound strange in Spanish. If the word order of adjectives has rules in your native language, this may influence your learning, especially if you translate a sentence literally.

For example, in Spanish “El coche rojo y grande” (The big red car) is correct. However, it is incorrect to say, “El coche rojo grande.”

Learn the common structure of a sentence in Spanish: subject + verb + predicate. And remember that adjectives in Spanish come after nouns. Example: coche rojo.

Adding indefinite articles before professions

Translating literally from your native language can lead to mistakes, especially when talking about professions in Spanish. When talking about professions in Spanish, the indefinite article is not used; instead, the verb is simply used followed by the profession.

In English, the article is used when talking about professions or identities. For example:

  • Soy doctor --> I’m a doctor
  • Soy artista --> I am an artist
  • Eres profesora --> She is a teacher
  • Tú eres jardinero --> You’re a gardener

Remember that in Spanish, you don't use an article with professions after the verb ser, unless it is modified, for example: “Es un excelente medico” (he is an excellent doctor).

In addition to all these, there are also common grammatical errors such as:

Confusing homonyms in Spanish because they are pronounced the same as other words but have different meanings. In our article on homonyms in Spanish, you will find examples and more details about this type of word.

Not knowing the rules of capitalization is another grammatical error, as Spanish and English do not follow the same rules. You can learn the capitalization rules in Spanish in our article.

Many false friends can lead you to misunderstand a word that looks similar in two different languages. For example: “exit” and “éxito” (English and Spanish); or “bizarre” and “bizarro”, which do not mean the same thing in French and Spanish.

Forgetting the rules of accentuation in Spanish and not putting accents on words written is a common mistake among international students. Another mistake is not knowing the difference between tú and usted and when to use each one in conversation.

These are some of the most common grammatical mistakes made by Spanish learners, but with practice and lots of follow-up, you'll be able to master them all and become fluent in the language. Come to don Quijote schools and explore cities in Spain with us while you learn all the tricks to speaking Spanish fluently.

Practical Spanish Spanish mistakes. Do you make any common grammar mistakes in Spanish as a student of the language? Here's a complete guide to help you avoid them. spanish mistakes, common spanish mistakes, common spanish mistakes for english speaker Off Marta Díaz

Spanish Language: Practical Spanish | donQuijote

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 16:41
Learn more about practical Spanish. Discover numbers, greetings, proverbs, expressions... to improve your Spanish Spanish Language: Practical Spanish If you want to speak like a true Spaniard, you need more than just grammar. Dive in this section for practical Spanish language tips and lessons, including Spanish sayings and everyday expressions. practica spanish language
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Typical phrases in Spanish | Common Spanish phrases

Submitted by analitica2 on Thu, 07/10/2025 - 15:33
Typical phrases in Spanish

Typical phrases in Spanish. These typical phrases from Spain will help you on your vacation. Discover the most used everyday Spanish phrases.

Typical phrases in Spanish

If you are thinking about traveling to learn Spanish in Spain, let us tell you that it is an ideal opportunity to discover typical phrases in Spanish, experience the culture, delicious food, varied landscapes, and improve your language skills.

If you are planning your vacation in Spain to try jamón serrano and tapas, here are some typical phrases in Spanish to make your stay more enjoyable. In addition, in Spain you will learn many expressions that do not appear in textbooks and vocabulary that is perfect Spanish for travelers.

Everyday Spanish phrases

When you arrive in Spain, if you are not used to it, you may find that the way the locals speak is very fast. Many use nuances and expressions that are not learned in intensive Spanish courses. That's why we've put together a list of phrases you're likely to hear while traveling around Spain:

  • Perdona, una cosa (Excuse me, just one thing): This typical Spanish phrase is used to get someone's attention before asking a question. It's more natural and informal than saying “excuse me”.
  • ¿Sabes si por aquí hay un cajero? (Do you know if there's an ATM around here?): An informal and very typical way to ask for an ATM or directions.
  • Esto está petado (This is crazy): this common Spanish phrase means that there are a lot of people in a place. You'll hear it in different contexts, such as at the beach or in a bar.
  • Voy tirando: if you ask someone how they are, this is a common response that means “I'm getting by.” You may also hear “voy tirando yo,” which in this context means that someone is going ahead or continuing their own.

In bars and restaurants

In Spain, eating out or having a drink on a terrace is part of the culture, especially in the summer. Here are some common phrases in Spanish that will make you sound more local in casual conversation with friends or colleagues:

  • Una caña, por favor (A beer, please): used to order a small draft of beer from waiters.
  • ¿Tenéis algo fuera de carta? (Do you have anything off the menu?): to ask if they have any dishes of the day that aren't on the menu.
  • Vamos a hacer el café aquí (Let's take coffee here): means that you're going to stay and drink it there, rather than taking it away.
  • ¡Está de muerte! (It’s awesome): if something is delicious, this is a very typical way of saying so.

In shops and markets

If you like shopping or visiting local markets, Spain has a wide variety in all its cities and towns. Enjoy a fun experience among the locals, where you can hear typical Spanish phrases such as:

  • ¿Esto cómo va de precio? (How much does this cost?): a very colloquial way of asking the price of something.
  • ¡Venga, va! Me lo llevo (Come on! I'll take it): An informal way of saying that you've decided to buy something.
  • ¿No tendrás algo más apañado? (Will you have something more suitable?): Ask for something cheaper than the item you're interested in.
  • ¿Me haces precio? (Can you give me a price?): A friendly way of asking for a small discount, typical in street markets.

Common Spanish phrases

In addition to all the common Spanish phrases you have learned so far, Spaniards use many colorful expressions. Some very common ones that you can hear and use if you dare are:

  • Está tirado (It’s very cheap): refers to something that is very easy or cheap.
  • Menuda pasada (What a blast): used in many contexts to indicate that something is impressive or great.
  • Ni fu ni fa (It makes no difference): an expression used for something that is neither good nor bad, but completely neutral.
  • Me estoy quedando sopa (To conk out or To drop off): when you are tired and falling asleep anywhere, you can use this expression, which means you are very sleepy.
  • No me rayes (Don't bother me or Don't annoy me): a very popular expression used to say, “don't bother me” or “don't make things difficult for me.”
  • Estoy hecho polvo (I'm exhausted): means to be very tired.

To meet up or make plans

If you make friends or meet someone during your stay in Spain, these Spanish typical phrases will be very useful:

  • Nos vemos en un rato (See you in a little while): informal way of saying that you will meet up soon.
  • Quedamos donde siempre (Let's meet where we always do): very common among locals; it implies that both of you already know the place.
  • Vamos a tomar algo (Let's go for a drink): an open invitation that can mean anything from a coffee to a few drinks.
  • ¿Nos vamos de terraceo? (Shall we go out to a terrace bar?): this expression is very colloquial and means to have a drink, usually in the afternoon, at a terrace.

However, not all phrases are typical expressions. There are many pet words and phrases that are used in every conversation and are very common. Learning them will help you fit in better:

  • ¡Vaya tela! (What a mess): expresses surprise or resignation during a conversation.
  • ¡No me digas! (No way!): used when someone tells you something surprising.
  • ¡Madre mía! (Oh my god!): another expression of surprise, annoyance, or enthusiasm, depending on the context.
  • En plan...: a very commonly used filler to explain something with examples.
  • Tú verás: used in a warning tone or to leave the decision to someone else.

Of course, to end any conversation, there are thousands of ways that are more familiar than a simple “adiós”:

  • Venga, ¡nos vemos! (Come on, see you later!)
  • ¡Cuídate mucho! (Take care!)
  • ¡Un abrazo! (Hugs!)
  • ¡Dale recuerdos de mi parte! (Say hi to everyone for me!)
  • Chao, hasta mañana (Bye, see you tomorrow)
  • Te veo mañana, cuídate (See you tomorrow, take care)

Examples with typical phrases

Here are some examples to clarify the typical phrases in Spanish that we have explained above:

  1. Hola, perdona, ¿sabes si por aquí hay un cajero que no cobre comisión? (Hello, excuse me, do you know if there is an ATM around here that doesn't charge a fee?)
  2. ¡Buah, esto está petado! No hay ni sitio para sentarse (Wow, this place is packed! There's nowhere to sit!)
  3. ¿Qué tal vas con el curro? Bueno, voy tirando, no me puedo quejar (How's work going? It's okay, I'm getting by, I can’t complain)
  4. Me apetece pescado. ¿Tenéis algo fuera de carta hoy? (I feel like eating fish. Do you have anything special today?)
  5. ¿Te apetece moverte o hacemos el café aquí? (Do you want to go somewhere or have coffee here?)
  6. Prueba esta tarta... ¡está de muerte! (Try this cake... it's awesome!)
  7. Me gusta, pero se me va un poco de precio... ¿no tendrás algo más apañado? (I like it, but it's a little pricey... Do you have anything else that's more affordable?)
  8. Si me llevo dos, ¿me haces precio? (If I take two, can you give me a discount?)
  9. ¡Oye, este vuelo a Mallorca está tirado! Solo 20 euros (Hey, this flight to Mallorca is very cheap! Only €20)
  10. ¿Te ha gustado la peli? Sí, pero ni fu ni fa. Esperaba más (Did you like the movie? Yeah, but it was okay. I was expecting more)
  11. Necesito un café, me estoy quedando sopa (I need a coffee, I'm falling asleep)
  12. No salgo hoy, estoy hecho polvo después de la caminata (I'm not going out today, I'm exhausted after the walk)
  13. ¿Te parece a las 8? Quedamos donde siempre (How about 8 o'clock? Same place as usual)
  14. Hace un día espectacular... ¿nos vamos de terraceo? (It's a beautiful day... shall we go to a terrace?)
  15. Madre mía, cómo ha crecido tu hijo (Oh my goodness, your son has grown!)

Although you don't need to master all these phrases before getting on the plane, we do recommend that you at least familiarize yourself with some of them. You're sure to hear many of these typical Spanish phrases and even use them during your time in Spain. What's more, using these expressions will open doors, bring smiles to people's faces, and make you feel like a local, even if it's only for a few days.

Practical Spanish Typical phrases in Spanish. These typical phrases from Spain will help you on your vacation. Discover the most used everyday Spanish phrases. typical phrases in spanish, common Spanish phrases, everyday spanish phrases Off Marta Díaz

How many words are in Spanish? | don Quijote

Submitted by analitica2 on Wed, 05/07/2025 - 16:12
How many words are in Spanish?

How many words are there in Spanish? If the question how many words are in the Spanish language is on your mind, don Quijote has the answer for you.

how many words are in spanish

Have you ever wondered how many words are there in the Spanish language? As a student of this language, curiosity has surely struck you during your classes. And one of the most frequently asked questions by students, beyond vocabulary and grammar, is how many words there are in Spanish. Discover it with don Quijote!

You can read this article in Spanish too.

Is it difficult to find out how many words are in Spanish?

The answer is simple: yes. It can be difficult to establish an exact number of words in Spanish, as there are many variants of the language in different countries, and each one has its own expressions, idioms, and vocabulary. In addition, new words are constantly being created due to technological advances, social media, and cultural adaptations. Not to mention that there are words in Spanish that are no longer in use but can still be found in dictionaries and ancient texts, even though they are no longer used daily.

So, although it is not easy to determine exactly how many words are there in the Spanish language, it is possible to make a very rough estimate. It should be borne in mind that Spanish as a language is constantly evolving, with new words being added to the dictionary every year and many others becoming obsolete.

According to the Royal Spanish Academy (Real Academia Española or RAE), the Dictionary of the Spanish Language (DLE) currently includes more than 93,000 words. However, this figure does not represent the entire vocabulary, as it does not include regionalisms, technical terms, Spanish slang, and neologisms that are not officially accepted.

Therefore, Spanish is one of the richest languages in terms of vocabulary, with thousands of words recorded in the dictionary. Even so, you may wonder if all these more than 93,000 words are used in everyday Spanish. Here is the answer.

How many words do Spanish speakers use?

Although Spanish has tens of thousands of words, the average person actively uses between 3,000 and 5,000 words in their daily life. This is called active vocabulary, as it refers to the set of words that speakers regularly use when speaking or writing. On the other hand, there is passive vocabulary, which refers to words that a person understands but does not use frequently. This set of words can reach 20,000 or more.

Likewise, speakers who specialize in specific fields, such as doctors, engineers, or writers, tend to have a broader lexicon due to their professional field. Thus, depending on the speaker's level of education, reading, age, and sociocultural environment, passive vocabulary can be broader, up to 25,000 words.

For example, a university student usually has a richer and more extensive vocabulary than a primary school child. Meanwhile, someone who regularly reads novels, newspapers, or essays will enrich their vocabulary more than someone who does not read daily. Professionals in specific fields also use additional technical vocabulary that is not part of everyday language.

In addition, it is important to note that many speakers know regional words or localisms, which can vary between countries or regions. For example, the word “computadora” in Mexico and “ordenador” in Spain. These are two different words, but they have the same meaning, and their use varies only according to the geographical area of the speaker. These differences further enrich the global vocabulary of Spanish as a language and make the number of words in Spanish increasingly broad and extensive.

Although not all words available in Spanish are used, each speaker has a significant command of the language sufficient to speak, communicate, and develop in different contexts. The good news is that with practice and constant reading, vocabulary can be expanded throughout life, whether you are a native speaker or about to learn Spanish in Spain.

A language that will serve you well in the future

Considering that Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages, with more than 590 million speakers worldwide, the number of words in Spanish is constantly growing. It is also the official language of 21 countries and one of the most widely used languages in business, tourism, media, and diplomacy. Mastering and studying Spanish will allow you to communicate with millions of people, but it will also open doors for you in the workplace and in cultural settings.

Without a doubt, it is a language that will serve you well in your professional and personal life, so don't think twice and take the plunge with an intensive Spanish course to discover Spain and everything this country has to offer: culture, history, gastronomy, internationally renowned festivals... Come and discover it for yourself!

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House words in Spanish | Spanish house vocabulary

Submitted by analitica2 on Thu, 04/10/2025 - 10:28
House words in Spanish

House words in Spanish. Spanish house vocabulary of the parts of a house in Spanish that you need to learn to master the language. Find out at don Quijote.

house words in spanish

Do you need to expand your Spanish vocabulary related to the home? You've come to the right place. In this article by don Quijote you will learn all the house words in Spanish that you need to know to master Spanish vocabulary.

It doesn't matter whether you live in a house, an apartment or a villa; even a studio, shared flat or terraced house. Although the rooms may vary, in some houses there will be more space than in others and more rooms to use, the vocabulary is the same for all of them.

You can also read this article in Spanish, French or Italian and learn Spanish in Spain at one of our schools.

Below, you will find all the house words in Spanish divided by rooms, so you know where to find each one.

Parts of a house in Spanish

A house can be made up of several rooms, these are house words in Spanish including:

  • Habitación (Room)
  • Dormitorio (Bedroom)
  • Salón (Living room)
  • Comedor (Dining room)
  • Cocina (Kitchen)
  • Cuarto de baño (Bathroom)
  • Pasillo (Hallway)
  • Sótano (Basement)
  • Ático or Desván (Attic)
  • Despensa (Pantry)
  • Despacho (Office)
  • Garaje (Garage)
  • Trastero (Storage room)
  • Escaleras (Stairs)
  • Jardín (Garden)
  • Piscina (Swimming pool)
  • Terraza (Terrace)

Although it doesn't matter what type of house you live in, they usually all have rooms, bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and living room. Therefore, we will now teach you the house words in Spanish you need to know about each of these rooms:

Elements of the bedroom in Spanish

House words in Spanish for a bedroom:

  • Cama (Bed)
  • Lámpara (Lamp)
  • Mesilla de noche (Bedside table)
  • Cómoda (Chest of drawers)
  • Armario (Wardrobe)
  • Sábanas (Sheets)
  • Edredón (Duvet)
  • Cortinas (Curtains)
  • Almohada (Pillow)
  • Cajones (Drawers)
  • Estantería (Bookshelf)
  • Radiador (Radiator)
  • Interruptor de la luz (Light switch)
  • Cabecero (Headboard)
  • Enchufe (Socket)
  • Despertador (Alarm clock)
  • Colchón (Mattress)
  • Joyero (Jewelry box)
  • Baúl (Trunk)
  • Escritorio (Desk)
  • Perchero (Coat rack)

Living room items in Spanish

Spanish house vocabulary for the living room:

  • Sofá (Sofa)
  • Sillón (Armchair)
  • Cojines (Cushions)
  • Mesa (Table)
  • Sillas (Chairs)
  • Aparador (Sideboard)
  • Chimenea (Fireplace)
  • Reloj de pared (Wall clock)
  • Repisa (Shelf)
  • Florero (Vase)
  • Televisión (Television)
  • Fotografías (Photographs)
  • Cuadros (Paintings)
  • Mantas (Blankets)
  • Teléfono fijo (Landline telephone)
  • Aire acondicionado (Air conditioning)
  • Ventilador (Fan)
  • Alfombra (Carpet)

Bathroom items in Spanish

House words in Spanish in a bathroom:

  • Lavabo (Washbasin)
  • Ducha / Bañera (Shower / Bathtub)
  • Váter (Toilet)
  • Espejo (Mirror)
  • Alfombrilla para los pies (Foot mat)
  • Peine (Comb)
  • Cepillo de dientes (Toothbrush)
  • Pasta de dientes (Toothpaste)
  • Grifos (Taps)
  • Secador de pelo (Hairdryer)
  • Enjuague bucal (Mouthwash)
  • Toallas (Towels)
  • Albornoz (Bathrobe)
  • Papel higiénico (Toilet paper)
  • Jabón (Soap)

Kitchen items in Spanish

Spanish house vocabulary in a kitchen:

  • Mesa (Table)
  • Sillas (Chairs)
  • Encimera (Worktop)
  • Mantel (Tablecloth)
  • Cafetera (Coffee maker)
  • Vitrocerámica (Ceramic hob)
  • Horno (Oven)
  • Microondas (Microwave)
  • Lavavajillas (Dishwasher)
  • Lavadora (Washing machine)
  • Nevera / Frigorífico (Fridge)
  • Vajilla (Crockery)
  • Cubiertos (Cutlery)
  • Tazas (Cups)
  • Vasos (Glasses)
  • Copas (Drinking glasses)
  • Cuchillo (Knife)
  • Tenedor (Fork)
  • Cucharas (Spoons)
  • Cubo de basura (Rubbish bin)
  • Campana extractora (Extractor hood)

Are there any words or household items that you miss that are not on this list? Let us know! This Spanish house vocabulary is very useful if you are doing an intensive Spanish course and need to ask your host family for a towel for the bathroom, another pillow for the bed or to tell them that an appliance in the kitchen is broken.

Therefore, knowing this Spanish house vocabulary will help you to communicate better if you are learning the language, if you live in a Spanish-speaking country or if you are studying for Spanish exams such as the DELE. House words in Spanish are perfect for expanding your oral and written comprehension in everyday situations, since talking about your home is one of the most common conversations.

Practical Spanish House words in Spanish. Spanish house vocabulary of the parts of a house in Spanish that you need to learn to master the language. Find out at don Quijote. house words in spanish, spanish house vocabulary, house vocabulary in spanish, spanish house vocabulary list, household words in spanish, spanish vocabulary house and furniture, spanish home vocabulary Off Spanish house vocabulary Marta Díaz

Untranslatable Spanish words | Spanish words with no translation

Submitted by analitica2 on Thu, 04/03/2025 - 11:53
Untranslatable Spanish words

Discover the untranslatable Spanish words in this don Quijote article. Do you know how many Spanish words with no English translation have the language?

untranslatable spanish words

Among the more than 93,000 words in the Spanish language, there are several that are unique and have no English translation. Therefore, it is not surprising that, if you are learning Spanish, you hear or read words that you don't know what they mean and that, in addition, have no English translation.

In this don Quijote article we are going to show you more than 20 Spanish words with no English translation. Get into the language and learn Spanish in Spain now, you can discover words that only exist in this language.

Spanish words with no English translation

Puente: you probably think that this Spanish word does have an English translation, bridge. However, puente also refers to a long weekend, with an additional non-working day joining the weekend. Therefore, a longer break of more than two days is formed.

  • For example: “Este viernes es festivo, así que tendremos un puente de tres días” (This Friday is a holiday, so we will have a three-day long weekend).
  • The meaning of puente would be “long weekend”.

Sobremesa: a very common practice in Spain is to make sobremesa. This term refers to the time spent chatting after a meal at the table where the meal was eaten.

  • Example: “Nos quedamos en el restaurante de sobremesa hablando durante horas” (We stayed at the restaurant talking for hours)
  • It could be translated as 'table talk' or 'after-dinner conversation'.

Consuegro/a: the relationship between the parents of a married couple, i.e., they are the in-laws of a person's child.

  • “Mis consuegros vienen a cenar esta noche” (My in-laws are coming to dinner tonight).
  • There is no exact term in English, but it can be described as “co-in-laws”.

Estrenar: means to use something for the first time, it could be clothes, shoes, kitchen utensils, a car...

  • “Hoy voy a estrenar mis zapatos nuevos” (Today I am going to use my new shoes for the first time).
  • It could be translated as “to use or wear for the first time”.

Anteayer: refers to the day before yesterday.

  • “Anteayer fui al cine con mis primos” (The day before yesterday I went to the movies with my cousins).
  • The English translation would be “the day before yesterday”. In this case, there is a translation, but not as a single concrete word.

Chapuza: means a job that is poorly done or improvised.

  • “El arreglo que hizo en la puerta fue una chapuza” (The repair he did on the door was a botch job)
  • It could be translated as “botched job” or “shoddy work”.

Entrecejo: the space between the eyebrows is so called.

  • For example: “Frida Kahlo era conocida por su famoso entrecejo” (Frida Kahlo was known for her famous frown)
  • It translates as “the space between the eyebrows”.

Tocayo: this term is used to refer to a person who has the same name as someone else.

  • Él es mi tocayo, también se llama Luis (He is my namesake, his name is also Luis)
  • The translation is “namesake”

Madrugar: it means getting up very early.

  • Mañana tengo que madrugar para ir al trabajo (I must get up early tomorrow to go to work).
  • A translation for this word in English would be “to wake up early”.

Merendar: means to eat something light in the afternoon.

  • Example: Voy a merendar un bocadillo de jamón y queso (I'm going to have a lunch break and eat a ham and cheese sandwich).
  • It could be translated as “to have an afternoon snack”.

Trasnochar: is the action of going to sleep very late or not sleeping all night.

  • For example: Anoche trasnoché viendo películas (Last night I stayed up watching films).
  • It would be translated as “to stay up late”.

Tutear: when you address someone informally instead of using the formal “usted”. It is an informal way of speaking to others, instead of using the usted in Spanish to address someone cordially.

  • Puedes tutearme, no hace falta que me hables de usted (You can call me by my name, you don't have to use the formal form to talk with me).
  • Translation: “to address someone informally”.

Friolero: a person who easily feels cold or is always very cold, regardless of the time of year or the place where they are.

  • Example: No olvides tu bufanda y tus guantes para la nieve, que eres muy friolera (Don't forget your scarf and gloves for the snow, you are very sensitive to cold).
  • It could be translated as “sensible to cold”.

Quincena: period of time of 15 days.

  • Example: Mi empresa paga cada quincena (My company pays every fortnight)
  • The most accurate translation would be “fortnight”.

Aturdir: means to be or to leave confused or bewildered.

  • For example: El ruido me aturde y no puedo concentrarme (The noise makes me dizzy and I can't concentrate).
  • Translation: 'to stun' or 'to bewilder'.

Enmadrarse: said of a child who becomes excessively attached to his mother or is very fond of her. It usually has a negative connotation.

  • Este niño está muy enmadrado, no quiere separarse de su madre (This child is very attached to her mother, he doesn't want to be separated from her).
  • It doesn't have an exact equivalent, but it could be “to be overly attached to one's mother”.

Mimoso/a: said of a person who likes to receive affection.

  • Example: Es un niño muy mimoso, siempre quiere abrazos (He is a very cuddly child, he always wants hugs).
  • It could say that a translation is “affectionate”.

Pavonearse: to show off something with excessive pride.

  • Se pavonea de su coche nuevo (He is prancing around in his new car).
  • A rough translation would be “to strut”.

Soler: means to do something habitually.

  • Example: Suele ir al gimnasio por las mañanas (He usually goes to the gym in the mornings).
  • Its closest translation would be “to usually do something”.

Picotear: is a very common word in Spain and means to eat small portions of different foods.

  • No tengo hambre, pero picotearé algo (I'm not hungry, but I'll have a bite to eat).
  • A very close translation is “to have a snack” or “to nibble”.

Manco: said of a person without a hand or with limited mobility in it.

  • Es manco, pero juega muy bien al fútbol (He is one-armed, but he plays football very well).
  • It could be translated as “one-armed”.

Tuerto: said of a person with vision in only one eye.

  • Mi primo es tuerto del ojo derecho (My cousin is blind in his right eye).
  • It translates as “one-eyed”.

Duende: a fantastic spirit, with the figure of an old man or a child in traditional stories, who lives in some houses and causes disorder and uproar in them.

  • En mi cuento popular favorito de la infancia aparecía un duende mágico (In my favorite Spanish folk tale from my childhood there was a magical elf).
  • It could be translated as “goblin” or “elf”.

Desvelado: said of a person who has not slept or has found it difficult to sleep.

  • Me desvelé anoche y no conseguí dormir hasta las 4 de la mañana (I was up last night and couldn't sleep until 4 in the morning).
  • The most accurate translation would be “sleep-deprived” or “wide awake”.

Morriña: means nostalgia or sadness caused by being far from home or one's homeland. It is a word with Galician origin.

  • Desde que se mudó al extranjero, tiene morriña de su pueblo (Since he went to live abroad, he has missed his village).
  • It could be translated as “homesickness”.

These are just a few Spanish words that have no translation in English, but there are probably many more. Do you know any? Tell us! It can also happen that you want to say a word in your language that has no translation in Spanish.

Languages are complex and each one has its peculiarities, but if you want to master Spanish like a native, don't hesitate to sign up for our intensive Spanish courses to continue practicing, improving and mastering the language and all its words, with or without English translation.

Practical Spanish Discover the untranslatable Spanish words in this don Quijote article. Do you know how many Spanish words with no English translation have the language? untranslatable spanish words, spanish words with no english translation, spanish words without english translation, spanish words with no translation, spanish words without translation Off Marta Díaz

Spanish questions | Basic Spanish questions

Submitted by analitica2 on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 16:50
Spanish questions

Spanish questions. How are Spanish questions formulated? At don Quijote we will give you the keys to asking questions in Spanish like a native.

spanish questions

You have probably heard the saying that “ask and you shall learn” or that “if you don’t ask, you don’t get”. These popular Spanish sayings refer to the fact that, if you have any questions, the best thing to do is to ask and learn from them.

So, if you've ever wanted to ask a question in Spanish but didn't know how to structure it or how to start a conversation, don Quijote has the perfect article for you. Discover how to ask questions in Spanish, how to ask and answer Spanish questions, the most basic and easy questions you should master in the language, and much more!

You can also read this article in Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

Interrogative pronouns in Spanish

Asking questions in Spanish is essential for communicating on the street, in class or in a supermarket. So, you need to master how to ask questions in Spanish in order to talk to native speakers, answer questions from your teacher in class or simply give directions in Spanish.

Before you start asking questions, you need to know the interrogative pronouns in Spanish used for asking questions:

  • Qué (what): used to ask about things or general information.
  • Quién (who): used to ask about people.
  • Cuándo (when): used to ask about time.
  • Por qué (why): used to ask about reasons or causes.
  • Dónde (where): used to ask about places.
  • Cómo (how): used to ask about states, forms or manners.
  • Cuánto (how much/many): used to ask about quantity.

Most Spanish questions begin with these Spanish interrogative pronouns, which allow you to formulate questions depending on the context. These 7 particles are essential for formulating questions in Spanish, and they always have a tilde to differentiate them from Spanish relative pronouns.

However, Spanish is such a flexible language that it also allows you to ask questions without having to use them. Here are the types of questions that can be asked in Spanish.

Basic Spanish questions

Not all questions in Spanish require an interrogative pronoun. Therefore, we can distinguish two main types of questions in Spanish:

Open questions in Spanish

Open Spanish questions require more detailed answers and cannot be answered with yes or no. In addition, this type of Spanish questions usually uses interrogative pronouns, and the answers vary depending on the information needed:

  • ¿Qué haces el fin de semana? (What do you do on the weekend?)
  • ¿Cómo se llama tu madre? (What is your mother's name?)
  • ¿Dónde vives?) (Where do you live?)

Closed questions in Spanish

On the other hand, closed Spanish questions do not use interrogative pronouns and short answers are expected. These questions can be answered with yes or no and are formed by simply adding the question marks to the sentence:

  • ¿Te gusta el chocolate? (Do you like chocolate?)
  • ¿Está ocupado este asiento? (Is this seat taken?)
  • ¿Vives en Madrid? (Do you live in Madrid?)

Ask a question in Spanish

Knowing how to formulate questions in Spanish correctly will help you obtain information, clarify doubts and maintain fluent conversations, which is why it is an essential skill in any language.

If you want to learn Spanish in Spain it is useful to start with simple questions that will help you in everyday life. Here are some phrases with an answer as an example:

  • ¿Cómo te llamas? or ¿Cuál es tu nombre? – Mi nombre es María (What is your name? - My name is María)
  • ¿Cuántos años tienes? – Tengo 28 años (How old are you? - I am 28 years old)
  • ¿De dónde eres? – Soy de Asturias (Where are you from? - I'm from Asturias)
  • ¿Dónde está el baño? – Al fondo a la izquierda (Where is the bathroom? - At the back left)
  • ¿Qué es eso? – Un regalo de cumpleaños (What is that? - A birthday present)
  • ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? – Mi cumpleaños es el 3 de octubre (When is your birthday? - My birthday is October 3rd)
  • ¿Dónde vives? – Vivo en Guadalajara (Where do you live? - I live in Guadalajara)
  • ¿En qué trabajas? – Trabajo de camarero (What do you do for a living? - I work as a waiter)
  • ¿Dónde aprendiste español? – Aprendí español con don Quijote (Where did you learn Spanish? - I learned Spanish with don Quijote)
  • ¿Te gusta la comida española? – Me encanta, sobre todo las croquetas (Do you like Spanish food? - I love it, especially croquettes)
  • ¿Qué hora es? – Son las 23:45pm (What time is it? - It's 11:45pm)
  • ¿Puedo ayudarte? – Si, ¿puedes decirme cuánto cuesta esta camiseta? (Can I help you? - Yes, can you tell me how much this T-shirt costs?)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? – Son 20 euros (How much is this? - It's 20 euros)
  • ¿A qué te dedicas? – Soy traductor (What do you do? - I'm a translator)
  • ¿Qué día es hoy? – Hoy es martes (What day is it today? - Today is Tuesday)
  • ¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor? – Si, claro (Can you speak more slowly, please? - Yes, of course)
  • ¿Qué has dicho? – Decía que si te gusta la pizza (What did you say? - I said: Do you like pizza?)
  • Puedes repetir eso último, ¿por favor? – Por supuesto. ¿Me pasa la sal? (Can you repeat that last one, please? - Of course. Can you pass on the salt?)

Learning to formulate questions in Spanish is fundamental to improve your communication. Using interrogative pronouns correctly and practicing open and closed questions will help you speak fluently.

With don Quijote you will find it easy to ask basic questions and increase in complexity over time. Remember that the key is to practice and not be afraid to ask questions.

Practical Spanish Spanish questions. How are Spanish questions formulated? At don Quijote we will give you the keys to asking questions in Spanish like a native. spanish questions, basic spanish questions, ask a question in spanish, common questions in spanish, easy questions in spanish, interrogative pronouns in spanish, spanish conversation questions and answers Off Marta Díaz

Spanish sports vocabulary | donQuijote

Submitted by analitica2 on Fri, 03/14/2025 - 09:35
Spanish sports vocabulary

Spanish sports vocabulary. The list of sports in Spanish and specific vocabulary for each sport in Spanish. Spanish sports words: football, basketball, tennis...

spanish sports vocabulary

Learning a language is hard work, but it's more enjoyable if you decide to start by mastering the vocabulary of your hobbies or interests. So, if you're passionate about sports, it's essential that you know how to have a conversation about your favorite team.

At don Quijote we want to help you with that and bring you the definitive list of sports vocabulary in Spanish you need. Soccer? Basketball? Tennis? Learn all the terms used to talk about sports in Spanish with us.

You can also read this article in Spanish here.

List of sports in Spanish

Before we get fully into the vocabulary, you need to know the name of your favorite sport in Spanish. Here is a very complete list of sports in Spanish so you can find yours:

  • Fútbol – Soccer or Football
  • Baloncesto - Basketball
  • Tenis - Tennis
  • Pádel - Paddle tennis
  • Natación - Swimming
  • Waterpolo - Water polo
  • Voleibol - Volleyball
  • Hockey
  • Balonmano - Handball
  • Fórmula 1 - Formula 1
  • MotoGP
  • Atletismo - Athletics
  • Ciclismo - Cycling
  • Golf
  • Béisbol - Baseball
  • Bádminton - Badminton
  • Rugby
  • Patinaje - Skating
  • Esquí - Skiing
  • Surf - Surfing
  • Equitación - Horse riding
  • Karate
  • Judo
  • Boxeo - Boxing
  • Artes marciales - Martial arts
  • Escalada - Climbing
  • Esgrima - Fencing
  • Piragüismo – Canoeing

These are just some of the best-known sports, but there are many more. Are you missing anything? Let us know!

Spanish sports words

In addition to learning sports vocabulary in Spanish, you also need to know some general terms. In most sports, the people who attend the estadios or campos (stadiums or fields) are aficionados (fans) and they are also called afición (fandom). The songs to cheer on your favorite team are called cánticos, but you will also be able to hear the team's anthem before the game.

In a soccer or basketball game you need a árbitro (referee) to control and direct the fouls or collisions between the jugadores (players). And many sports have prórroga (extra time) after the end of regulation time.

Now that you know the main terms, let's look at the specific vocabulary of each sport. Come and learn Spanish in Spain will allow you to get to know, attend and experience first-hand matches of great teams or international players, as well as use all the relevant terms of your favorite sport in Spanish in context.

Football vocabulary in Spanish  

The sport par excellence in Spain and in most of the world is football. Football vocabulary in Spanish contains many words derived from English or directly in this language, so it can be easy.

Among the equipment used by players in a football match, you can find:

  • Balón - Ball
  • Portería - Goal
  • Red - Net
  • Espinilleras - Shin guards
  • Camiseta – T-shirt
  • Botas de fútbol Football boots

You should also know that the place where the game is played is a campo (field) or estadio (stadium), made up of líneas de banda (touchlines), área de penalti (penalty area) and banderines de córner (corner flags), among other elements.

The most common moves are regatear (dribbling), chutar (shooting), cabecear (heading), despejar (clearing), centrar (crossing), interceptar (intercepting), hacer un pase filtrado (playing a through ball), amagar (feinting) and recuperar el balón (winning the ball back). On the other hand, the positions of the players on a football pitch are delantero centro (center forward), extremo (winger), mediocampista defensivo/ofensivo (defensive/offensive midfielder), defensa central (center back), lateral (full back), portero (goalkeeper).

As for the key rules and terms of football:

  • Fuera de juego - Offside
  • Penalti - Penalty
  • Córner - Corner
  • Saque de banda - Throw-in
  • Falta - Foul
  • Tarjeta amarilla - Yellow card
  • Tarjeta roja - Red card
  • Tiempo añadido / Tiempo extra - Added time or extra time
  • Tiempo de descuento - Time remaining
  • VAR
  • Gol - Goal
  • Hat-trick
  • Chilena

Basketball vocabulary in Spanish

Another world-famous sport is basketball. Here you will find all the Spanish vocabulary for this sport that you might need during your intensive Spanish course or in conversations with your classmates.

The equipment and elements of the basketball court consist of a balón (ball), aro (hoop), canasta (basket), tablero (backboard), cancha (court), línea de tiro libre (free throw line), línea de tres puntos (three-point line), línea de fondo (baseline), línea de medio campo (half-court line), línea de banda (sideline), banquillo (bench), cronómetro (stopwatch), uniforme (uniform) and zapatillas (sneakers).

Not forgetting the movements characteristic of this sport: driblar or regatear (dribbling), encestar (score a basket), bloquear (blocking), asistir (assisting), pivotar (pivoting), fintar (feinting), hacer un mate (dunking), tiro en suspension (jump shots), tiro libre (free throws), alley-oop, robo de balón (steals) and tapón (blocks).

The positions of the players on a basketball court are base (point guard), escolta (shooting guard), alero (forward), ala-pívot (power forward) and pivot (center).

In addition, these words will be useful to you and are used in basketball:

  • Cancha or pista de baloncesto - Basketball court
  • Asistencia - Attendance
  • Punto - Point
  • Tiro - Shot
  • Rebote - Rebound
  • Mate - Dunk
  • Finta - Fint
  • Falta personal – Personal foul
  • Doble drible – Double dribble
  • Zona – Zone
  • Tiempo muerto – Time out
  • Posesión - Possession
  • Rebote ofensivo - Offensive rebound
  • Rebote defensivo - Defensive rebound

Tennis vocabulary in Spanish

Tennis is a very popular sport in Spain thanks to players such as Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. It is not surprising that these names come up in conversation, so below you will find the most relevant tennis vocabulary in Spanish.

Tennis players use a raqueta (racket) and a ball to play matches. The tennis court is called pista de tenis and is made up of a red (net) that separates the two players or teams.

In terms of moves, you can identify el saque plano, cortado or liftado (flat serve, cut or topspin), la volea (volley), el golpe de derecha (drive), el revés (backhand), dejada (drop shot), smash, passing shot, slice and top spin

The scoring system in tennis is not like in other sports, the points are added up in a different way. That's why in a tennis match you'll see the scoreboard go through these numbers: 15-30-40; and it doesn't add up one by one like in soccer, nor are there triple points like in basketball.

Key rules and terms of tennis in Spanish:

  • Saque or servicio - Serve
  • Doble falta - Double fault
  • Punto de ruptura - Break point
  • Punto de partido - Match point
  • Ace
  • Let
  • Saque directo - Direct serve
  • Línea de fondo - Baseline
  • Empuñadura - Grip
  • Overgrip
  • Cordaje - String
  • Deuce
  • Tie-break
  • Set

As in soccer or basketball, tennis has many technical terms that have remained untranslated in English, so it is easy to remember them if it is your native language.

Vocabulary of other sports in Spanish

Boxing is not as famous as soccer, but if you are interested in this sport, you should learn these terms:

  • Guantes - Gloves
  • Protector bucal - Mouth guard
  • Vendajes - Bandages
  • Ring
  • Esquina - Corner
  • Saco de boxeo - P unching bag
  • Nocaut (KO) - Knockout
  • Nocaut técnico (TKO) - Technical knockout
  • Conteo de protección - Protective count
  • Asalto - Assault
  • Guardia alta or guardia baja - High guard or low guard
  • Juez - Judge
  • Decisión dividida/unánime - Split/Unanimous Decision

The movements of boxers in the ring are jab, gancho (hook), uppercut, crochet, cross, esquivar (dodge), clinch, fintar (feint), contragolpe (counter punch) and golpe al hígado (liver punch), among others.

Let’s continue with another sport: swimming. This sport has several styles, it can be team, individual or synchronized. However, the vocabulary of swimming in Spanish is simple.

Among the swimming strokes are crol (crawl), brazada (breaststroke), espalda (backstroke), mariposa (butterfly), estilo libre (freestyle), nado de supervivencia (survival swim). Other Spanish sport terms related to this sport are:

  • Piscina - Swimming pool
  • Gorro – Swimming cap
  • Gafas – Swimming goggles
  • Bañador - Swimsuit
  • Respiración - Breathing
  • Bucear or Sumergirse - Diving
  • Flotar - Floating
  • Trampolín - Trampoline
  • Carriles - Rails
  • Aletas - Fins
  • Viraje - Turning
  • Patada de delfín - Dolphin kick
  • Deslizamiento - Slide
  • Salida en flecha - Arrow exit
  • Volteo - Flipping
  • Respiración bilateral - Bilateral Breathing

Sports with cars and motorcycles are also popular in Spain, especially Formula 1 and MotoGP. The equipment of the pilotos (drivers) is similar, as they both wear cascos (helmets), are vehículos monoplazas (single-seater vehicles) and have neumáticos (tires).

The movements are adelantar (overtaking), acelerar (accelerating), derrapar (skidding), hacer una parada en boxes (making a pit stop), tomar una curva (cornering), apurar la frenada (braking) and hacer un undercut or overcut (undercutting or overcutting).

Formula 1 vocabulary in Spanish:

  • Neumáticos pueden ser blandos, duros or intermedios - Tires can be soft, hard or intermediate
  • Alerón delantero y trasero - Front and rear wing
  • Volante – Steering wheel
  • DRS
  • Halo de seguridad - Safety halo
  • Pole position
  • Vuelta rápida - Fastest lap
  • Bandera roja o amarilla – Red or Yellow flag
  • Coche de seguridad - Safety car
  • Grip
  • Carga aerodinámica - Downforce
  • Estrategia de neumáticos - Tire strategy
  • Motor híbrido - Hybrid engine
  • Penalización en parrilla - Grid penalty

MotoGP vocabulary in Spanish:

  • Guantes - Gloves
  • Mono de cuero protector - Protective leather suit
  • Rodilleras - Knee pads
  • Botas - Boots
  • Deslizaderas - Sliders
  • Protector de espalda - Back protector
  • Pole position
  • Vuelta rápida - Fastest lap
  • Bandera roja - Red flag
  • Caídas en alta velocidad - High speed crashes
  • Box – Pit box
  • Setup de suspensión - Suspension setup

This sports vocabulary in Spanish will help you to improve and expand your knowledge about your favorite sport. So don't hesitate to come to Spain and discover all the matches you can watch live, with international and national players in world famous teams. Live the sport with don Quijote in one of our Spanish language schools!

Practical Spanish Spanish sports vocabulary. The list of sports in Spanish and specific vocabulary for each sport in Spanish. Spanish sports words. Spanish sports vocabulary, list of sports in Spanish, Spanish sports words, football vocabulary in Spanish, soccer vocabulary in Spanish Off Marta Díaz

Spanish weather. Weather words in Spanish | donQuijote

Submitted by analitica2 on Thu, 02/20/2025 - 16:17
Spanish weather words

Spanish weather. Learn all the Spanish weather words and vocabulary you need to know with don Quijote. Spanish weather expressions and vocabulary.

Spanish weather words

If there is one thing Spain is known for, it is its warm weather all year round, but did you know that not all cities and places in the country always have good weather? And the fact is that Spain has a pleasant climate most of the year, but its cities also know the cold and rain, especially in the north.

So, if you have ever wondered how to talk about the weather in Spanish, but you do not know what words or expressions to use or need to expand your vocabulary about the Spanish weather, this is your article! Get to know the most common expressions or the most colloquial ones, express if you are cold or hot and even how you see the sky today.

In this Don Quijote article, which you can also read in Spanish, you will find all the Spanish weather vocabulary you need.

Don't hesitate any longer and venture to learn Spanish in Spain with us!

Spanish weather terms

Start by learning the essential: basic weather words in Spanish. Below you will find a list of Spanish weather terms that will come in handy:

  • Sol (Sun)
  • Lluvia (Rain)
  • Gotas de Lluvia (Raindrops)
  • Nieve (Snow)
  • Viento (Wind)
  • Nubes (Clouds)
  • Brisa (Breeze)
  • Niebla (Fog)
  • Granizo (Hail)
  • Hielo (Ice)
  • Humedad (Moisture)
  • Arcoiris (Rainbow)
  • Aguanieve (Sleet)
  • Tormenta (Thunderstorm)
  • Chaparrón (Downpour)
  • Trueno (Thunder)
  • Rayo or Relámpago (Lightning)
  • Huracán (Hurricane)
  • Tornado (Tornado)
  • Inundación (Flood)
  • Ola de calor (Heat wave)
  • Sequía (Drought)

But, once you know these words, you need to know which Spanish verbs the right ones are to use. The main verbs used are tener, hacer, haber and estar, all conjugated in third or first person to talk about the weather in Spanish or one's own weather sensations.

These are some very common forms and weather expression in Spanish to talk about the climate:

  • Hace calor (It’s hot)
  • Hace frío (It's cold)
  • Hace fresco (It's cool)
  • Hace buen tiempo (It's good weather)
  • Hace mal tiempo (It's bad weather)
  • Está nublado (Cloudy)
  • Stá soelado (Sunny)
  • Está despejado (It is clear)
  • Está lloviendo (It is raining)
  • Hay humedad (It's humid)
  • Hay Niebla (It is foggy)

In addition to the verbs mentioned above to express Spanish weather words, there are other intrinsic verbs on the same topic. For example: llover (to rain), nevar (to snow), granizar (to hail), inunda(se) (to flood) or helar(se) (to freeze). But if there are some phrases you should know to ask about or talk about Spanish weather terms, they are undoubtedly these:

  • ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (What's the weather like today?)
  • ¿Qué temperatura hará hoy? (What temperature will it be today?)
  • ¿Cómo está el tiempo hoy? (How's the weather today?)
  • ¿Hace calor/frío afuera? (Is it hot/cold outside?)
  • ¿Crees que hoy va a hacer frío? (Do you think it's going to be cold today?)
  • ¿Cuál es el pronóstico para mañana? (What's the forecast for tomorrow?)
  • ¿Tienes frío/calor? (Are you hot/cold?)
  • ¿Va a llover? (Is it going to rain?)
  • ¿Está granizando? (Is it hailing?)

Weather expressions in Spanish

As you can see, describing or talking about the Spanish weather is not complicated, you simply must know the right vocabulary and know how to conjugate the verbs. Therefore, in the following sentences you have examples of how to form sentences with the Spanish weather words you learnt previously:

  1. Ayer llovió tanto que hubo inundaciones en toda la ciudad (It rained so much yesterday that there were floods all over the city)
  2. El pronóstico dice que va a llover y granizar toda la semana (The forecast says it's going to rain and hail all week)
  3. Durante la tormenta del otro día vi relámpagos y truenos en el cielo (During the storm the other day I saw lightning and thunder in the sky)
  4. Tengo tanto frío que no siento las manos (I'm so cold I can't feel my hands)
  5. Hay riesgo de granizo si la lluvia es tan fuerte como anoche (There is a risk of hail if the rain is as heavy as last night)
  6. Cuando nieva, hace mucho frío en la calle, es mejor quedarse en casa (When it snows, it's very cold outside, it's better to stay at home)
  7. Está granizando muy fuerte, mejor no salgamos ahora (It's hailing very hard; we'd better not go out now)
  8. Después de la tormenta, las calles estaban llenas de agua (After the storm, the streets were full of water)
  9. En primavera llueve mucho, pero también hay días soleados (In spring it rains a lot, but there are also sunny days)
  10. En el trabajo tengo calor porque la calefacción está muy alta (At work I'm hot because the heating is on full blast)
  11. Hacía tal viento que parecía que los árboles se iban a caer (It was so windy that it looked like the trees were going to fall)
  12. La niebla de ayer no nos dejaba ver nada al volante (Yesterday's fog didn't let us see anything from behind the wheel)
  13. El día está soleado y hace mucho calor, es mejor no salir en hora punta (It's sunny and very hot today, it's better not to go out at rush hour)
  14. Diluvió dos días seguidos en el pueblo de mis abuelos (It poured for two days in a row in my grandparents' village)
  15. Tienes las manos heladas, debes de estar helado de frío, ¿quieres que encienda la calefacción? (Your hands are freezing, you must be freezing cold, do you want me to turn up the heating?)

If there is one thing that characterizes the Spanish language, it is that it has thousands of colloquial expressions on any topic or subject, and the vocabulary related to the weather is no exception. Therefore, below we leave you with some of the most used colloquial phrases related to the aSpanish weather. Did you know any of them?

  • Llover a mares (It's raining cats and dogs or It’s pouring rain). E.g. No pude salir de casa ayer porque llovía a mares (I couldn't leave the house yesterday because it was raining cats and dogs).
  • Hacer un frío que pela (It's freezing cold). E.g. Tengo la nariz roja, ¡hace un frío que pela! (My nose is red, it's freezing cold!)
  • Hacer un calor sofocante (It’s scorching hot or It’s scorching hot). g. Madrid en agosto es terrible. Hace un calor sofocante que no te deja moverte (Madrid in August is terrible. It's so stifling hot you can't move).
  • Hacer un viento que corta (It’s a biting wind). E.g. No te olvides la bufanda que hace un viento que corta (Don't forget your scarf, there's a cutting wind).
  • Hacer un tiempo de perros (The weather is awful). E.g. ¡Menudo día! Hace un tiempo de perros (What a day! It's terrible weather).
  • Caer un chaparrón (A heavy downpour). E.g. He llegado empapada al trabajo porque estaba cayendo un chaparrón horrible (I arrived at work soaking wet because it was pouring down with rain).
  • Hacer bochorno (It’s sweltering hot and humid). E.g. Tengo la piel pegajosa del calor, menudo bochorno hace hoy (My skin is clammy from the heat, what a sultry day today).

Easy and simple, the Spanish weather words for talking about the climate that you have learned in this article can now be put into practice. Don't forget to form meaningful sentences, use the verbs you've learned and practice as much as you can. And if you need a final push in your vocabulary, an intensive Spanish course is designed for you. Launch yourself into your Spanish adventure now and live it at DonQuijote!

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Spanish Christmas movies. Spanish Xmas films

Submitted by analitica2 on Wed, 12/18/2024 - 09:14
Spanish Christmas movies for this Christmas season

The list of Spanish Christmas movies you need to watch this holiday season to improve your language skills. Discover here the best Spanish Christmas films.

spanish christmas movies

Christmas is just around the corner and what better time of the year to watch movies at home, in good company and with a warm drink. Because Christmas is a time for cold weather, gifts and Spanish Christmas meal, but also to spend time with the family watching Spanish Christmas movies by the fire (if you are lucky and have a fireplace at home).

So, donQuijote brings you the best Christmas movies in Spanish, original from Spain or dubbed in Spanish, so you can improve your knowledge, vocabulary and, even if you are on vacation, you can continue learning Spanish in Spain.

You can read this article also in Spanish.

La leyenda de Klaus (The Legend of Klaus) (2019)

Let start with an innovative animated film directed by Sergio Pablos which, although it is also in English, you can practice and watch La Leyenda de Klaus in its Spanish version.

This Spanish Christmas movie reinvents the origin of Santa Claus and follows the story of a half-hearted letter carrier who is sent to a remote island. There, the letter carrier befriends a toymaker and, if you want to know how it ends… you'll have to watch it for yourself!

The Spanish version is intended for an intermediate level, but the quality of the animation and the emotional touch of the story will make you want to learn more Spanish. It is ideal for improving vocabulary related to values such as generosity, kindness and, of course, Christmas.

El Grinch (2018)

Another Christmas classic is El Grinch. Of this curious character, not at all fond of Christmas parties, there are many versions and different movies. Today we bring you two versions, so you can choose the one you like the most, both adaptations of the classic tale “How the Grinch stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss.

The first version is an animated Christmas movie in Spanish, from 2018 and produced by the same studio of movies such as Despicable Me or The Minions. This film is characterized by a vibrant and colorful animation, which follows the story of The Grinch and his mission to steal Christmas from a village, Whoville. A more emotional and humorous approach than previous versions of the story.

Its simple and clear language, its familiar and emotional dialogues, as well as the Christmas vocabulary and positive Spanish expressions you will learn with this movie, are perfect for this holiday season.

The 2000 version stars Jim Carrey as The Grinch, a green creature who hates Christmas and wants to steal all the presents to annoy the whole town. As in the animated version, Carrey's Grinch manages to steal Christmas but ends up discovering the true meaning of the holiday thanks to a kind-hearted little girl.

The light and funny tone of Jim Carrey's version will make you want to learn more about Christmas and Spanish vocabulary.

Operación regalo (Arthur Christmas) (2011)

The next Christmas movie in Spanish is Operación regalo (Arthur Christmas), an animated film that you can watch dubbed into Spanish, perfect for the little ones. The story tells the life of Arthur Claus, Santa's youngest son, whose mission is to deliver a forgotten gift before Christmas is over.

An exciting adventure, full of humor and fast-paced dialogues that will help you develop your listening comprehension in Spanish. The vocabulary in this movie is related to Christmas, presents and family values.

El expreso Polar (Polar Express) (2004)

A Christmas movie that has conquered everyone is El expreso Polar or Polar Express. This story is dubbed into Spanish and designed for an intermediate level. It tells the story of a skeptical boy who boards a magical train to the North Pole. There, he discovers the importance of believing in Christmas.

The vocabulary of this story is perfect for learning about travel, emotions and Christmas landscapes in Spanish.

Love Actually (2003)

Without a doubt, the quintessential Christmas film: Love Actually. This Christmas romantic comedy follows several love stories, which intertwine in London during the Christmas season. It shows different ways of experiencing love and connection during Christmas.

Although an advanced level of Spanish is required to watch this dubbed movie, you can always help yourself with subtitles in your language and enjoy it this Christmas. It is also ideal for learning colloquial phrases and emotional expressions in Spanish.

Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men) (2003)

A Spanish animated movie that tells the story of the Three Wise Men on their adventure to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. During their journey, the Three Wise Men will have to face challenges and adventures until they reach their destination.

This is an excellent original movie from Spain to learn about Christmas traditions. Its clear Spanish and historical-religious context enrich the cultural experience, so you will learn in all aspects during its viewing.

Pesadilla antes de Navidad (Nightmare Before Christmas) (1993)

A Christmas and Halloween classic directed by Tim Burton. You will need to pay close attention and an intermediate level of Spanish to follow the adventure of Jack Skellington, king of Halloween, and his discovery of Christmas. This skeleton's vision of Christmas jeopardizes the festivities in the real world.

A dark, funny adventure with songs and lots of humor that is dubbed into Spanish and is excellent for practicing pronunciation and learning vocabulary not only for Christmas, but also for Halloween in Spanish.

Solo en casa (Home Alone) (1990)

We couldn't miss the Christmas classic Home Alone in its Spanish dubbed version. Surely, you know this story: eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left home alone during Christmas and must defend himself from two burglars who want to break into his house.

In Spanish, this movie includes everyday phrases and funny situations, ideal for internalizing the domestic and colloquial vocabulary of the language.

Gremlins (1984)

An adorable little mogwai causes tremendous chaos in a town when the rules for taking care of him are not respected. I'm sure you're also familiar with the funny and terrifying Christmas movie in Spanish: The Gremlins, a Spielberg classic.

The mix of humor and light horror in this Spanish Christmas movie makes it entertaining with a varied vocabulary and situations that help to practice listening comprehension. You can help yourself with subtitles in your language if you need them, as this movie has an upper-intermediate level of Spanish.

Historias de Navidad (A Christmas Story) (1983)

Finally, another of the Christmas classics that could not be missing in this list: A Christmas Story. This family comedy has become a must-see. It tells the story of a 9-year-old boy who wants an air rifle as a Christmas present and tries to convince everyone that it is the perfect gift for him.

A clear and easy to understand style, a retro setting to learn the customs of Christmas past and a fun development throughout the film. Remember that it is dubbed into Spanish, so you can use subtitles to understand the whole story if necessary.

Did you know any of these Christmas movies in Spanish? If this Christmas you want to continue learning Spanish, enjoying funny, exciting or romantic stories, with these 10 Spanish Christmas movies you have a guaranteed success.

Practical Spanish The list of Spanish Christmas movies you need to watch this holiday season to improve your language skills. Discover here the best Spanish Christmas films. spanish christmas movies, spanish christmas films, spanish xmas movies, spanish christmas stories, best spanish christmas movies Off Marta Díaz
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