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4 answers

¿Se pueden usar adjetivos como adverbios?

Hay algo que me ha molestado desde que empecé a aprender español. He notado que a veces los adjetivos pueden usarse como adverbios. El ejemplo más prominente de este fenómeno es el uso de “junto” en esta manera. Cuando decimos “trabajaremos juntos,”…
Aprendedor
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9
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9 answers

What does "ese" mean?

I keep hearing this word "ese" (also spelled "esé" or "ése") on TV used when parodying Spanish speakers. It's often used in a very funny way to indicate friend or homie but I can't tell what it means. Googling produced mixed results where some said…
Stan Shunpike
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9
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1 answer

Why use subjunctive form of a verb in this context?

Today when I was reading an article written in Spanish, I encountered the following sentense (source: ESPN.com in Argentina, titled Cerca un cambio por Josh Hamilton): Los Angelinos le debe a Hamilton $83 millones por las tres temporadas finales de…
Blaszard
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9
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1 answer

Difference between "luego" and "entonces"

What is the difference between 'Luego' and 'entonces'? I know they both mean "then". Do they mean other things as well?
Tia27
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9
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What is the difference between «pensar en» and just «pensar»?

I feel like I should know the answer to this by now, and/or that it should have been asked here, but I can't find it. I was recently looking at some example sentences (I think linked from another question here, which I also can't find now), which…
Flimzy
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9
votes
2 answers

Literal and metaphorical translation of "duende"

I have read that duende can mean both a mythical creature or, metaphorically, a kind of magical sensation to something. What exactly does duende refer to in both senses? How would both of these senses be best translated to English?
jrdioko
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9
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4 answers

Why do fruits seemingly have two genders?

Why fruits seemingly have two genders? (or maybe being bi-gender would be a better way to put it). I came across this phrase: "...frutas, verduras, cereales y frutos secos" So "la fruta" is pluralized "frutas" - that makes sense; but why is the…
9
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4 answers

What's the function of the letter h?

What's the function of the letter h in Spanish? Even though it's not pronounced there must be a reason of its existence. I mean the case when the letter h it's not accompanied by the c (ch).
Alfredo Osorio
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8
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Why is 'estoy' used when saying "I'm related to"

I understand I'm related to David, he's my grandad. translates as Estoy relacionado con David, él es mi abuelo. Why is estoy used and not soy? It seems to me that the relationship is permanent and defining, so I would expect soy to be used.
user261
8
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2 answers

Spanish etymology resources

Many questions on this site have been about the etymology of a particular word or phrase. For English, resources like the Oxford English Dictionary often give researched etymologies full of details and citations. Are there any similar resources in…
jrdioko
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8
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15 answers

Traducción de "Deal with it"

¿Cuáles serían las traducciones para la expresión Deal with it? También pregunto traducciones que sean coloquiales, propias de cada país.
David
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1 answer

¿Cuál es el origen de 'guácala'?

Según tengo entendido, la palabra guácala se usa para expresar asco: ¡Guácala! Hallaron partículas de excremento en agua mineral. ¿De dónde viene esa palabra? ¿Cuál es su origen?
kodkod
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8
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2 answers

Bien vs buen/bueno/buena to describe something good

I have encountered phrases like these: La buena comida. El buen hombre. Buenos días. However in none of these instances is it grammatically correct to substitute bien even though it also means good and it is also an adjective (at least as I…
gnarlybracket
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8
votes
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When and why is a "determiner" necessary for a subject?

This answer mentions that: In Spanish, for a number of reasons ... , a subject must have some sort of determiner attached to it. For cena that could be an article like una or la; a quantifier like toda, mucha, or poca (normally in plural though); a…
Flimzy
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8
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3 answers

¿Por qué se usa la forma "tú" en publicidades en vez de "usted"?

Muchas veces he encontrado publicidades que usan la forma tú como lo siguiente: Yo pienso que que estaría mejor usar la forma usted, porque es mas formal y profesional (en mi opinión). ¿Quizás no pienso correctamente? ¿Qué significa la forma tú?
gnarlybracket
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