FREE SPANISH QUIZZES
Practice your Spanish with our customise quiz
Luis
How easy is to learn Spanish?
Published May 9, 2012 | 
Spanish or Castilian is a Romance language within Iberian group. It is one of the six official UN languages, and is the second most spoken language in the world by the number of people who are native speakers, after Mandarin Chinese. It is also an official language in several major international political and economic organizations (EU, AU OAS, OEI, NAFTA UNASUR, Caricom, and the Antarctic Treaty, among others). It is spoken as a first and second language by more than 450 million people and over 500 million people if you count those who have learned as a foreign language can be the third most spoken language by total speakers. on the other hand, Spanish is the second most studied language in the world after English, with more than 20 million students although other sources indicate that surpass the 46 million students in 90 countries, and the third most used language on the Internet (7.8% of total).
But how easy is to learn Spanish? How many words or expressions are there meaning different things in different regions or countries?
The beauty of this language is that there are many words or expressions which the meaning may vary depending on the country or the region. For a person that is learning Spanish through college or university at a high level, and then decide to travel around the different Spanish speaking countries, can be confusing and some time frustrating. For instance if you have studied Spanish in Spain an you go to Argentina you will notice that many words will mean different of what you have learned. For example “plata” in Spain means silver and in Argentina is the word used for money. You also will find that the way they conjugate the verbs differs from all those verb drills you learned at uni or collage. This happens all though South America and Spain.
To overcome this, my advice will be to talk however you learned in the country you studied and if you talk to someone speaking in a different way than you, you should be patient and learn from them by asking the meaning of the different words the using.
Here is fun video from two “colobianos” who have composed a very decrypting song about the problems of learning Spanish.
As always leave your comments.
Enjoy it
Spanish Video Quiz 3
Published April 18, 2012 | 
Watch this video and answer the questions. This exercise will help you with you Spanish skills.
Practica con otro video de EXTRA
Spanish accents
Published April 6, 2012 | There are four types of Spanish words that determinate where the stress of the word goes. Below, you can see the different types and when we put a written accent over the word (tilde)
Agudas: When we put the emphasis at the end of the word.
We write accents if they end in a vowel, in n or s.
Examples:
Ratón, melón, reloj, Caridad,
If you wish to write accent (tíldes) with a English keyboard, read this article
Llanas o Graves: When we put the emphasis on the second to last (penultimate) syllable.
We put and accent on the word if it does not end in a vowel, or n, or s.
Examples:
Árbol, cama, Cárcel, queso.
Esdrújulas: When the stressed syllable is in the third from last (antepenultimate) syllable of the word.
These words always use written accents.
Examples:
lámpara, teléfono, índice,
Sobreesdrújulas: take the accent on a syllable preceding the antepenultimate. The words within this type have all written accents.
Examples:
Evidéntemente, dígamelo.
If you wish to write accent (tíldes) with a English keyboard, read this article.
sinvergüenza
Published April 1, 2012 | Sinvergüenza (Agjetivo masculino y femenino)
English:
Scoundrel, shameless, cad, blackguard, miscreant, bounder, rotter, shocker, blighter.
Spanish:
Dicho de él que no tiene vergüenza, Pícaro, Bribón. Se dice de una persona que comente actos ilegales de provecho propio. Alguien que hace inmoralidades.
Examples:
Los que robaron el dinero son unos sinvergüenzas, Muchos políticos son unos sinvergüenzas.
Spanish Video Quiz 2
Published April 1, 2012 |
Practice your Spanish with this video.
Practice your Spanish with this video quiz, watch the video as many time as you need the click start and complete the questions of the quiz. Good luck.
Practica tu Español con este video de EXTRA
Platicar
Published February 11, 2012 | Platicar (verbo)
English
To tal, to tell, to chat, to convers.
Spanish
Conversar, hablar, Conferir o tratar un negocio o materia.
Examples:
Me gusta platicar con mi amigo Paco, los politico siempre platican pero nunca hacen nada, Si platicas en clase la profesora se enoja.
This word is used in some Southamerican countries such us Mexico, Chile, etc.
Orilla
Published February 10, 2012 | English:
Shore, bank, edge, side, border, shoreline, riverside, brink
Spanish:
Faja de tierra que está más inmediata al agua. Término, límite o extremo de la extensión superficial de algunas cosas. Límite de la tierra que la separa del mar, de un lago, de un río, Senda que en las calles se toma para poder andar por ella, arrimado a las casas. Límite, término o fin de algo no material.
Examples:
Simón intentó nadar a la orilla del mar pero nunca llegó. Cuidado con los coches vete por la orilla de la carretera. Los pescadores pescan en las orillas de los ríos.
Próximo
Published January 22, 2012 | English:
Nest, near, close
Spanish:
Cercano,que dista poco en el espacio o en el tiempo. Inmediatamente posterior,siguiente.
Examples
Las vacaciones están próximas. El próximo año será el 2013. El banco está próximo a la oficina de correos.
Chingar
Published January 16, 2012 | Chingar (verbo)
English
To screw, to annoy, to drink, to fail
Spanish:
Importunar, molestar. Practicar el coito. Beber con frecuencia vino o licores. No acertar, fracasar, frustrarse, fallar.
Other meaning and expressions
te lo dijo para chingar nada más – he only said it to annoy you;
¡deja dechingar! - stop being such a pain in the ass!
¡no chingues! – you’re kidding!
si no lo haces te van a chingar – if you don’t do it, they’ll screw you
¡la chingué! – I really put my foot in it.
creyó que ganaría pero se chingó – he thought he’d win but he got a shock;
se chingó el motor - the engine’s had it (colloq);
estamos chingados - we’re in deep shit o up shit creek
si no te gusta, te chingas – if you don’t like it, tough
- The verb chingar has lots of uses in Mexico there is a book dedicated to this verb called “El Chingonario”, it is presented in dictionary form and if you are interested in this fantastic verb I strongly recommend it
- post dedicated to my Mexican friend Paco
Las Lentejas
Published December 20, 2011 | Spanish lentil soup
Have a look at my delicious recipe for Spanish lentil soup. This recipe can have many variants so feel free to use other ingredients and your imagination. Also if you wish to share you version of Spanish lentil soup please do leave a comment or send me and email.
If you want the Spanish lentil soup recipe in English let me know and I will send it to you
Las lentejas
Ingredientes
- 350 gr de lentejas aprox
- Un pimiento verde
- Una zanahoria
- Un tomate
- Un puerro
- Un poco de pimentón
- Aceite de oliva
- Un diente de ajo
Elaboración
Usando una hoya a presión o hoya exprés, ponemos las lentejas, el pimiento, la zanahoria, el tomate y el puerro a cocer durante 10 minutos. Si no usas olla a presión debes poner las lentejas a remojo durante 4-5 horas y luego a la hora de cocer los ingredientes los debes cocer durante unos 20 minutos.
Una vez cocido los ingredientes saca el pimiento, la zanahoria, el tomate y el puerro y los pones en un bol y con una batidora los hace puré. Una vez que está hecho puré lo echas en la olla de nuevo con el agua y las lentejas (si ha sobrado demasiada agua quita un poco).
Con el aceite el ajo y el pimento haces un sofrito en una sartén y lo añades al contenido de la olla. Lo puedes dar un calentón removiéndolo y servir.
Como siempre si tenéis alguna duda o sugerencia deja tu comentario gracias.
Posted in Spanish Food & Drink | 
Las lentejas, Spanish lentil soup, Spanish Recipe | 
Leave a comment
Most Commented Post