Have you ever wondered about the Spanish word ojalá and where it comes from? This beautiful expression is one of the most commonly used words in Spanish to express hopes and wishes, but its fascinating origins might surprise you. Today, we'll explore what ojalá means, how to use it correctly, and discover its amazing journey from Arabic to modern Spanish.

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

What Does Ojalá Mean in Spanish?

According to the Diccionario de la lengua española, ojalá is an interjection that expresses a strong desire for something to happen. Simply put, it means "I hope," "I wish" or "hopefully" in English, and it's used to express wishes, hopes, and desires.

¡Ojalá! ¿No?

I wish! Right?

Caption 15, Escuela BCNLIP Clase con Javi: el futuro - Part 21

 Play Caption

But here's what makes this word truly special: every time you say ojalá, you're actually using a word that has traveled through centuries and cultures to reach modern Spanish.

The Fascinating Arabic Origins of Ojalá

The word ojalá has an incredible history that takes us back to medieval Spain. It originated from the Arabic Hispanic expression "wa šá lláh," meaning "and God has willed it." Through centuries of linguistic evolution, this Arabic phrase gradually transformed into the Spanish ojalá we use today.

Originally, this expression carried strong religious significance, directly invoking divine will. However, as Spanish developed and the word became fully integrated into the language, most speakers today use ojalá without any awareness of its religious roots. In modern Spanish, it simply serves as a way to express hopes and wishes, regardless of the speaker's religious beliefs or background.

Interestingly, Spanish also has the expression si Dios quiere (God willing), which maintains its obvious religious meaning, making ojalá unique as a hope-expressing word whose divine origins have become invisible to most speakers.

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

How to Use Ojalá in Spanish: Grammar Rules and Examples

Understanding how to use ojalá correctly is essential for expressing hopes and wishes in Spanish. Let's look at the different ways you can use this versatile word.

Using Ojalá Alone as a Response

You can use ojalá by itself as a complete response to express hope or agreement:

¡Ojalá! ¡Dios te oiga!

I hope so! May God hear you!

Caption 79, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 4 - Part 2

 Play Caption

Ojalá + Subjunctive (Most Common Usage)

The most common way to use ojalá is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. This construction allows you to express specific hopes and wishes:

y ojalá disfruten del aprendizaje de nuestro idioma.

and I hope you enjoy learning our language.

Caption 56, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Manuel y El barrilito

 Play Caption

Ojalá + que + Subjunctive

You can optionally add que between ojalá and the subjunctive verb. Both forms are correct and widely used:

Ay, ojalá que sea un buen muchacho, ¿no?

Oh, I hope that he's a good guy, right?

Caption 12, Muñeca Brava 39 Verdades - Part 1

 Play Caption

Regional Variation: Ojalá y

In Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, you'll often hear ojalá y followed by the subjunctive:

Ojalá y pudiéramos llevarlos a un tribunal

I wish we could take them to court

Caption 12, Los casos de Yabla Errores gramaticales - Part 1

 Play Caption

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Ojalá

When learning how to use ojalá in Spanish, it's important to avoid this common error: never use ojalá with an infinitive verb. This is grammatically incorrect in Spanish.

❌ Incorrect: Ojalá encontrar trabajo pronto (This is grammatically wrong - don't use infinitives with ojalá)

✅ Correct: Ojalá encuentre trabajo pronto (I hope I find a job soon)

✅ Correct: Ojalá pueda encontrar trabajo pronto (I hope I can find a job soon)

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Putting It All Together: Ojalá in Everyday Spanish

Now that you understand the origins and grammar rules, you can confidently use ojalá to express your hopes and wishes in Spanish. Remember that this word connects you to centuries of linguistic history, from its Arabic roots to its modern Spanish usage.

Whether you're hoping for good weather, wishing someone luck, or expressing a deep desire, ojalá is an essential word that will make your Spanish sound more natural and expressive.

We hope this lesson has helped you understand the fascinating origins and proper usage of ojalá in Spanish. Feel free to share your thoughts and let us know if you have any questions about this beautiful expression!

Are you struggling with Spanish despite studying diligently? You're not alone. Common Spanish mistakes plague learners at all levels, from beginners to nearly-fluent speakers. In this comprehensive guide, we'll examine 13 of the most frequent errors English speakers make when learning Spanish, with clear examples of incorrect and correct usage. By understanding these common Spanish mistakes, you'll avoid embarrassing situations and sound more like a native speaker.

Common Spanish Mistakes with Verbs

Mistake #1: Using Ser Instead of Tener for Age

One of the most frequent Spanish grammar mistakes is directly translating "I am 30 years old" to Spanish. While in English we use the verb "to be" to express age, in Spanish we use the verb tener (to have).

❌ Incorrect: Yo soy 30 años. ["I am 30 years old." (literally: "I am 30 years.")]

✅ Correct: Yo tengo 30 años. ["I am 30 years old." (literally: "I have 30 years.")]

This mistake happens because in English we say "I am [age]," but in Spanish, you literally say "I have [age] years."

Hola, yo me llamo Miguel. Tengo veinte años y estudio composición.

Hi, my name is Miguel. I'm twenty years old and I study composition.

Captions 5-6, Amigos D.F. Consejos para la calle

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Todo sobre los cumpleaños (All About Birthdays) in Spanish"

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

Mistake #2: Using "Estar + Gerund" Instead of "Haber + Participle" for Ongoing Actions That Started in the Past

English speakers often use the present continuous tense to describe ongoing situations that started in the past. This is one of the common Spanish mistakes with tenses.

❌ Incorrect: Estoy viviendo aquí por 3 años. ["I am living here for 3 years."]

✅ Correct: He vivido aquí por 3 años. / Vivo aquí desde hace 3 años. ["I have lived here for 3 years." / "I have been living here for 3 years."]

When referring to an action that began in the past and continues into the present, Spanish prefers the present perfect ("he vivido") or a present tense construction with "desde hace."

Soy mariachi, soy papá, soy músico y vivo aquí desde hace veinte años en Alemania,

I'm a mariachi musician, I'm a dad, I'm a musician, and I've lived here in Germany for twenty years,

Captions 3-4, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Fernando y el mariachi

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "The Present Perfect In Spanish"

Mistake #3: Using Plural Verb Son Instead of Singular Es with Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like gente (people) are singular in Spanish, even though they refer to multiple individuals.

❌ Incorrect: La gente son amables. ["The people are nice." (incorrectly using plural verb with singular collective noun)]

✅ Correct: La gente es amable. ["The people are nice." (literally: "The people is nice.")]

Remember that agreement must be maintained both with the verb and any adjectives that follow.

la gente es superhospitalaria,

the people are super hospitable,

Caption 72, Adriana y Laura Mijas

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Grammatical Agreement in Spanish"

Mistake #4: Using Me Recuerdo Instead of Me Acuerdo or Recuerdo

This is a frequent error made by English speakers because of the way we think about remembering in English.

❌ Incorrect: Me recuerdo de mi infancia. ["I remember myself of my childhood." (incorrect reflexive usage)]

✅ Correct: Me acuerdo de mi infancia. / Recuerdo mi infancia. ["I remember my childhood." (two correct ways to express remembering)]

The confusion stems from the fact that in English, we say "I remember," which might lead learners to translate it directly as me recuerdo. However, in Spanish, there are two distinct verbs: acordarse (reflexive, requiring "me acuerdo de") and recordar (non-reflexive, simply recuerdo). The incorrect form "me recuerdo" combines elements of both verbs incorrectly.

Pero ya no recuerdo cuándo fue la última vez que estuvimos juntos viendo un partido.

But now I don't remember when the last time was that we were together watching a game.

Captions 6-7, Fermín y Manuel El pasado - Part 1

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "35 Spanish Phrasal Verbs"

Mistake #5: Using Incorrect Past Participles

Many Spanish learners struggle with irregular past participles, often applying regular verb patterns to irregular verbs.

❌ Incorrect: He ponido mis llaves en la mesa. ["I have putted my keys on the table." (incorrect participle)]

✅ Correct: He puesto mis llaves en la mesa. ["I have put my keys on the table." (correct participle)]

Spanish has many irregular past participles that don't follow the standard -ado/-ido pattern. Common mistakes include saying ponido instead of puesto (to put), hacido instead of hecho (to do/make), abrido instead of abierto (to open), and escribido instead of escrito (to write).

Entonces, a las chicas les hemos puesto una flor,

So, we've put a flower on the girls,

Caption 98, Amaya Evento

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "The Different Uses of the Word Hecho in Spanish"

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Preposition Errors English Speakers Make in Spanish

Mistake #6: Using En Instead of A for Movement

Prepositions rarely translate directly between languages, creating common Spanish mistakes for English speakers.

❌ Incorrect: Voy en España. ["I'm going in Spain." (incorrect preposition)]

✅ Correct: Voy a España. ["I'm going to Spain."]

In Spanish, en indicates location (being in a place), while a indicates movement or direction (going to a place).

Pues, me voy a Barcelona.

Well, I'm going to Barcelona.

Caption 7, El Aula Azul Conversación: Planes de fin de semana

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "The Preposition a in Spanish"

Mistake #7: Using Por Instead of Para (and Vice Versa)

This is perhaps one of the most notorious common Spanish mistakes that English speakers make. Both por and para can be translated as "for" in English, but they have different uses in Spanish.

❌ Incorrect: Gracias para la cena. (When thanking someone) ["Thanks by the dinner." (incorrect preposition)]

✅ Correct: Gracias por la cena. ["Thanks for the dinner."]

The correct preposition to use when expressing gratitude in Spanish is por, not para. This is because por is used to indicate reason or cause - you're thanking someone because of the dinner they provided. Por expresses the reason behind your gratitude, while para would incorrectly suggest purpose or destination. In Spanish, we always say "gracias por..." when expressing thanks for something someone has done or given.

Gracias por la toalla.

Thank you for the towel.

Caption 12, Mónica El baño

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Por vs. Para: How and When to Use These Spanish Prepositions"

Mistake #8: Using Sobre Instead of En After Pensar (to Think)

Another common preposition mistake involves thinking "about" something.

❌ Incorrect: Estoy pensando sobre mi futuro. ["I am thinking on/about my future." (incorrect preposition)]

✅ Correct: Estoy pensando en mi futuro. ["I am thinking about my future."]

While sobre does mean about in some contexts, with verbs like pensar, the correct preposition is en.

Yo "estaba en las nubes", pensando en la tortilla que me iba a comer después.

I "was in the clouds" thinking about the tortilla that I was going to eat later.

Captions 48-49, Beatriz Expresiones relacionadas con el clima

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "The Preposition en in Spanish"

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

False Friends That Lead to Common Spanish Mistakes

Mistake #9: Using Embarazada Instead of Avergonzada for "Embarrassed"

False friends (or falsos amigos) are words that look similar in both languages but have different meanings, causing frequent Spanish language errors.

❌ Incorrect: Estoy embarazada por tu pregunta. ["I am pregnant because of your question." (false friend mix-up)]

✅ Correct: Estoy avergonzada por tu pregunta. ["I am embarrassed by your question."]

Embarazada means "pregnant," not "embarrassed"! The correct word for feeling embarrassed is avergonzado/a.

✏️ Related lesson: "Top 10 False Cognates in Spanish"

Mistake #10: Using Realizar Instead of "Darse Cuenta De" for "To Realize"

This is a classic false cognate trap that English speakers often fall into when speaking Spanish.

❌ Incorrect: Realizé mi error. ["I carried out/fulfilled my error." (false cognate mistake)]
✅ Correct: Me di cuenta de mi error. ["I realized my error." (correct expression for becoming aware)]

The Spanish verb realizar means "to carry out," "to fulfill," or "to make real," not "to realize" in the sense of becoming aware of something. When you want to express that you've realized or become aware of something, use "darse cuenta de" instead.

Mire, yo me di cuenta de algo muy importante,

Look, I realized something very important,

Caption 13, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 5 - Part 11

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Darse Cuenta: The Real "Realize""

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Other Common Spanish Mistakes To Avoid

Mistake #11: Using Muy Instead of Mucho (and Vice Versa)

English speakers often mix up these two words for expressing "very" and "much" in Spanish, creating common Spanish grammar mistakes.

❌ Incorrect: Tengo muy calor. / Estoy mucho cansado. ["I have very heat." (incorrect intensifier) / "I am much tired." (incorrect intensifier)]

✅ Correct: Tengo mucho calor. / Estoy muy cansado. ["I'm very hot" / "I am very tired"]

Remember that muy modifies adjectives and adverbs (muy cansado), while mucho can be an adjective itself (mucho calor) or can modify verbs (estudia mucho).

"Llevo un mes durmiendo fatal y estoy muy cansado".

"I've been sleeping horribly for a month, and I'm very tired."

Caption 47, Fermín y Manuel El verbo "llevar" - Part 2

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Muy vs. Mucho in Spanish"

Mistake #12: Using "Estar + Adjective" Instead of "Tener + Noun" for Sensations

Some basic expressions in Spanish are constructed completely differently than in English.

❌ Incorrect: Estoy caliente. ["I am hot." (but with sexual connotations)]

✅  Correct: Tengo calor. ["I have heat." (meaning "I am hot" temperature-wise)]

In Spanish, you "have" sensations rather than "being" them. "Estoy caliente" would be understood as "I'm aroused," not "I'm hot temperature-wise."

Tenemos mucho calor.

We are very hot.

Caption 26, El Aula Azul Estados de ánimo

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Idiomatic Expressions with The Verb Tener"

Mistake #13: Using Ser Instead of Estar for Temporary States

The distinction between ser and estar remains one of the most challenging aspects of Spanish, even for advanced learners.

❌ Incorrect: Soy aburrido. ["I am boring." (permanent characteristic)]

✅  Correct: Estoy aburrido. ["I am bored." (temporary state)]

Ser refers to permanent characteristics, while estar refers to temporary states or conditions.

Yo estoy aburrido y usted es... como tener una carga encima.

I'm tired of you, and you are... like having a weight on my shoulders.

Captions 66-67, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 7

 Play Caption

✏️ Related lesson: "Ser vs. Estar: An Easy Trick for Using These Verbs"

How to Avoid Making Common Spanish Mistakes

Being aware of these common Spanish mistakes will help you sound more natural and fluent in Spanish. Remember that making errors is a natural part of the language learning process – even native speakers sometimes make these mistakes! The key is to recognize them and gradually incorporate the correct forms into your speech and writing.

Practice identifying these errors in your own Spanish, and don't be afraid to ask native speakers for feedback. With time and attention, you'll avoid these common Spanish mistakes and develop more authentic, confident Spanish communication skills.

Which common mistake are you making when speaking in Spanish? Please, send us your comments and suggestions!

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Whether you're planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country or visiting a local Spanish restaurant, knowing how to order food in Spanish is an essential skill. This comprehensive guide covers everything from making a reservation to paying the bill.

1. How to Make Spanish Restaurant Reservations: Essential Phrases

When calling to make a reservation, here's what you'll need:

¿En qué puedo ayudarle? A continuación debes indicar el número de personas que iréis a cenar, a qué hora iréis y en ocasiones podéis decir qué mesa preferís. Quería hacer una reserva para dos esta noche a las nueve.

How can I help you? Next, you must indicate the number of people who will go to dine, at what time you will go and, on [certain] occasions, you can say which table you prefer. I wanted to make a reservation for two tonight at nine.

Captions 7-12, Raquel Reserva de Restaurante

 Play Caption

Basic reservation phrases:

- Hola, quisiera hacer una reserva/reservación (Hello, I would like to make a reservation)

- Para esta noche (For tonight)

- Para dos/tres/cuatro personas (For two/three/four people)

- ¿Tienen mesa libre? (Do you have a table available?)

- La reserva/reservación está a nombre de... (The reservation is under the name...)

More specific requests:

- ¿Tienen disponibilidad entre las ocho y las nueve? (Do you have availability between eight and nine?)

- Preferiblemente una mesa junto a la ventana (Preferably a table by the window)

- ¿Es necesario dejar un depósito? (Is a deposit necessary?)

- Necesito modificar/cancelar mi reserva/reservación (I need to modify/cancel my reservation)

- ¿Tienen algún menú especial esta noche? (Do you have any special menu tonight?)

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

2. Spanish Restaurant Greetings: First Words with Restaurant Staff

When you first arrive, you'll need these greeting phrases:

Muy buenas tardes, ¿mesa para uno? Sí, por favor. Tome asiento por favor. Gracias.

[Very] good afternoon, [a] table for one? Yes, please. Take a seat please. Thanks.

Captions 8-11, Cata y Cleer En el restaurante

 Play Caption

Simple arrival phrases:

- Buenos días/tardes/noches (Good morning/afternoon/evening)

- Tengo una reserva/reservación (I have a reservation)

- Mesa para dos/tres/cuatro (Table for two/three/four)

- Sin reserva/reservación (Without reservation)

More specific situations:

- Disculpe, tengo una reserva/reservación a nombre de... (Excuse me, I have a reservation under...)

- ¿Hay mucha espera? (Is there a long wait?)

- Somos parte del grupo de... (We're part of the group of...)

- ¿Podemos esperar en el bar? (Can we wait at the bar?)

- ¿Está el restaurante completo? (Is the restaurant full?)

3. Spanish Seating Vocabulary: Getting the Right Table

Once they're showing you to your table:

Eh... ¿Me puede traer agua por favor? Claro, ¿embotellada o de la llave? De la llave está bien. Entonces, eh... la voy a dejar un momento para que mire el menú

Um... Can you bring me water please? Of course, bottled or tap? Tap is fine. So, um... I am going to leave you for a moment so that you can look at the menu

Captions 15-19, Cata y Cleer En el restaurante

 Play Caption

Basic seating preferences:

- ¿Podemos sentarnos allí? (Can we sit there?)

- Aquí está bien (Here is fine)

- Mesa para no fumadores (Non-smoking table)

- Junto a la ventana (By the window)

Additional requests:

- ¿Podría traernos una silla alta para el bebé? (Could you bring us a high chair for the baby?)

- Necesitamos más espacio (We need more space)

- ¿Tienen una mesa más tranquila? (Do you have a quieter table?)

- Preferiríamos una mesa interior/exterior (We would prefer an indoor/outdoor table)

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

4. Spanish Menu Vocabulary: Understanding Restaurant Menus

Time to review the menu options:

¿Puedo ver el menú por favor? Claro, por supuesto. Aquí lo tiene.

Can I see the menu please? Sure, of course. Here you have it.

Captions 12-13, Cata y Cleer En el restaurante

 Play Caption

Simple menu requests:

- La carta, por favor (The menu, please)

- ¿Tienen menú del día? (Do you have a daily menu?)

- ¿Cuál es el especial? (What's the special?)

- Necesito unos minutos (I need a few minutes)

More detailed inquiries:

- ¿Tienen el menú en inglés? (Do you have the menu in English?)

- ¿Qué incluye el menú completo? (What does the complete menu include?)

- ¿Me puede explicar este plato? (Could you explain this dish?)

- ¿Tienen sugerencias del chef? (Do you have chef's suggestions?)

- ¿Cuál es la especialidad de la casa? (What's the house specialty?)

5. Spanish Restaurant Conversations: How to Discuss Food Choices

Here's how to have a natural conversation about food choices with your dining companions:

¿Sabes? Antes de pensar en los postres, deberíamos pensar en la entrada. ¿Qué te gustaría comer? Ah... No sé, me encantan los aros de cebolla. ¿A ti? A mí los deditos de pescado y también los deditos de mantequilla; son deliciosos. Sí, son muy ricos.

You know? Before thinking about the desserts, we should think about the appetizer. What would you like to eat? Oh... I don't know, I love onion rings. You? I love fish sticks and also butter fingers [a type of pastry]; they are delicious. Yes, they are very delicious.

Captions 54-60, Sofy y Caro Comida en un restaurante

 Play Caption

Starting the Food Discussion:

- ¿Qué tienes ganas de comer? (What do you feel like eating?)

- ¿Ya sabes qué vas a pedir? (Do you know what you're going to order?)

- ¿Qué te apetece? (What appeals to you?)

- ¿Quieres compartir algo? (Do you want to share something?)

Discussing Drinks and Wine:

- ¿Te gustaría pedir un poco de vino? (Would you like to order some wine?)

- ¿Qué quieres tomar? (What would you like to drink?)

- ¿Pedimos una botella para compartir? (Shall we order a bottle to share?)

- ¿Prefieres tinto o blanco? (Do you prefer red or white?)

Making Suggestions:

- ¿Qué tal si probamos...? (How about we try...?)

- He escuchado que aquí... (I've heard that here...)

- ¿Te parece si pedimos...? (What do you think about ordering...?)

- Podríamos compartir... (We could share...)

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

6. Spanish Food Questions: How to Ask About Menu Items

Don't hesitate to ask about unfamiliar dishes:

¿Está lista? ¿Ya sabe lo que le gustaría ordenar? Todavía estoy tratando de decidir. ¿Tiene alguna pregunta? Sí, ehm... ¿La lasaña tiene carne? Sí, tiene carne de res.

Are you ready? Do you know what you would like to order yet? I'm still trying to decide. Do you have any questions? Yes, um... Does the lasagna have meat? Yes, it has beef.

Captions 25-30, Cata y Cleer En el restaurante

 Play Caption

Basic questions:

- ¿Qué lleva este plato? (What's in this dish?)

- ¿Es picante? (Is it spicy?)

- ¿Es grande la porción? (Is the portion big?)

- ¿Qué acompañamientos tiene? (What sides does it come with?)

Dietary and preparation questions:

- Soy alérgico/a a... (I'm allergic to...)

- ¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas/veganas? (Do you have vegetarian/vegan options?)

- ¿Cómo está preparado? (How is it prepared?)

- ¿Se puede hacer sin...? (Can it be made without...?)

- ¿Los mariscos son frescos? (Is the seafood fresh?)

7. How to Order Food in Spanish: Essential Restaurant Phrases

Now it's time to order:

¿Tiene algún platillo con pollo bajo en calorías? Sí, tenemos una ensalada del chef que tiene pollo. Mmm... Eso suena muy bien. ¿Puedo ordenarla sin cebolla y con el aderezo aparte? Por supuesto.

Do you have any low-calorie chicken dish? Yes, we have a chef's salad that has chicken. Mmm... That sounds great. Can I order it without onions and with the dressing on the side? Of course.

Captions 41-45, Cata y Cleer En el restaurante

 Play Caption

Basic ordering phrases:

- Para mí... (For me...)

- Quiero... (I want...)

- Para beber... (To drink...)

- De postre... (For dessert...)

Specific ordering requests:

- ¿Me puede traer la carne poco/muy hecha? (Can you bring the meat rare/well done?)

- Sin/Con... (Without/With...)

- El aderezo/la salsa aparte (Dressing/sauce on the side)

- Primero queremos compartir... (First we want to share...)

- ¿Puede recomendar un vino? (Can you recommend a wine?)

8. Spanish Restaurant Payment: How to Pay and Tip

When you're ready to finish:

Mesera, ¿puede traerme la cuenta por favor? Gracias.

Waitress, can you bring me the check, please? Thank you.

Captions 49-50, Natalia de Ecuador Ordenar en un restaurante

 Play Caption

Basic payment phrases:

- La cuenta, por favor (The check, please)

- ¿Aceptan tarjetas? (Do you accept cards?)

- ¿Pueden dividir la cuenta? (Can you split the check?)

- Gracias, estuvo delicioso (Thank you, it was delicious)

More specific situations:

- ¿Está incluido el servicio? (Is service included?)

- ¿Me puede explicar la cuenta? (Can you explain the bill?)

- Hay un error en la cuenta (There's an error in the bill)

- ¿Puedo pagar en efectivo/con tarjeta? (Can I pay in cash/with card?)

- Quédese con el cambio (Keep the change)

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Complete Guide: Essential Spanish Restaurant Phrases and Translations

Making a Reservation

- ¿Puedo hacer una reserva? - Can I make a reservation?
- Quisiera reservar una mesa - I would like to reserve/book a table
- Para esta noche/mañana - For tonight/tomorrow
- ¿A qué hora tienen disponibilidad? - What time do you have availability?
- Mesa para [número] personas - Table for [number] of people
- A nombre de... - Under the name of...
- ¿Tienen mesas disponibles? - Do you have tables available?
- ¿Hay que hacer reserva? - Do we need to make a reservation?

Arriving at the Restaurant

- Buenos días/tardes/noches - Good morning/afternoon/evening
- Tengo una reserva a nombre de... - I have a reservation under...
- Sin reserva - Without reservation
- ¿Hay mucha espera? - Is there a long wait?
- ¿Podemos esperar en el bar? - Can we wait at the bar?
- ¿Está el restaurante completo? - Is the restaurant full?
- Somos parte del grupo de... - We're part of the group of...

Seating Preferences

- ¿Podemos sentarnos allí? - Can we sit there?
- Junto a la ventana, por favor - By the window, please
- En la terraza/al aire libre - On the terrace/outside
- Mesa para no fumadores - Non-smoking table
- ¿Tienen una mesa más tranquila? - Do you have a quieter table?
- Necesitamos una silla alta para el bebé - We need a high chair for the baby
- Preferiríamos una mesa interior - We would prefer an indoor table

Ordering Drinks

- Para beber quisiera... - To drink I would like...
- ¿Qué vinos tienen? - What wines do you have?
- Una botella de... - A bottle of...
- Agua con/sin gas - Sparkling/still water
- ¿Tienen bebidas sin alcohol? - Do you have non-alcoholic drinks?
- Un café solo/con leche - Black coffee/coffee with milk
- ¿Me puede traer más agua? - Can you bring me more water?

Looking at the Menu

- ¿Puedo ver la carta/el menú? - Can I see the menu?
- ¿Tienen menú del día? - Do you have a daily menu?
- ¿Cuál es el especial de hoy? - What's today's special?
- ¿Qué me recomienda? - What do you recommend?
- ¿Tienen el menú en inglés? - Do you have the menu in English?
- Necesito unos minutos más - I need a few more minutes
- ¿Cuál es la especialidad de la casa? - What's the house specialty?

Asking About Dishes

- ¿Qué contiene este plato? - What does this dish contain?
- ¿Es picante? - Is it spicy?
- ¿Cómo está preparado? - How is it prepared?
- ¿Es grande la porción? - Is the portion big?
- ¿Qué acompañamientos tiene? - What sides does it come with?
- ¿Los mariscos son frescos? - Is the seafood fresh?
- ¿Se puede hacer sin...? - Can it be made without...?

Dietary Restrictions

- Soy alérgico/a a... - I'm allergic to...
- No como... - I don't eat...
- Soy vegetariano/a - I'm vegetarian
- Soy vegano/a - I'm vegan
- Sin gluten, por favor - Gluten-free, please
- ¿Tienen opciones sin lácteos? - Do you have dairy-free options?
- ¿Pueden prepararlo sin...? - Can you prepare it without...?

Placing the Order

- Estoy listo/a para ordenar - I'm ready to order
- Para empezar... - To start...
- De primer plato... - For the first course...
- De segundo... - For the second course...
- Para mí... - For me...
- Quisiera... - I would like...
- Lo mismo para mí - The same for me

Special Requests

- Sin cebolla/ajo - Without onion/garlic
- La carne poco/muy hecha - The meat rare/well done
- El aderezo/la salsa aparte - Dressing/sauce on the side
- Con extra... - With extra...
- ¿Puede cambiarse la guarnición? - Can the side dish be changed?
- Sin sal/azúcar - Without salt/sugar
- Tibio/caliente, por favor - Warm/hot, please

During the Meal

- ¿Me puede traer...? - Can you bring me...?
- Falta... - We're missing...
- Necesitamos más... - We need more...
- ¿Pueden rellenar los vasos? - Can you refill the glasses?
- La comida está fría/caliente - The food is cold/hot
- Esto no es lo que pedí - This isn't what I ordered
- Está delicioso - It's delicious

Asking for the Bill

- La cuenta, por favor - The check, please
- ¿Puede traerme la cuenta? - Can you bring me the bill?
- ¿Aceptan tarjetas? - Do you accept cards?
- ¿Pueden dividir la cuenta? - Can you split the check?
- ¿Está incluido el servicio? - Is service included?
- Hay un error en la cuenta - There's an error in the bill
- Quédese con el cambio - Keep the change

Common Courtesies

- Gracias - Thank you
- Por favor - Please
- Con permiso - Excuse me
- Disculpe - Excuse me (to get attention)
- Buen provecho - Enjoy your meal
- Estuvo delicioso - It was delicious
- Hasta luego - See you later

That's it for today's complete guide on how to order food in Spanish! Whether you're dining in Spain or Latin America, these essential Spanish restaurant phrases will help you handle any dining situation with confidence. Practice these expressions before your next visit to a Spanish-speaking restaurant - they're your key to a smooth dining experience. Remember, learning how to order food in Spanish takes practice, so don't be afraid to use these phrases whenever you can. Don't forget to write us with your questions and comments!

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Welcome to our beginner-friendly guide to the parts of the house in Spanish! Whether you’re a new learner or brushing up on your vocabulary, this lesson will teach you the Spanish words for different rooms and areas in a house. Plus, you’ll learn how to pronounce each term clearly and naturally.

Why Learning the Parts of the House in Spanish Is Useful

Knowing the names of the rooms and parts of the house in Spanish is essential for describing your daily life, discussing where things are located, or even giving a house tour. This vocabulary is practical, especially if you’re traveling, living abroad, or interacting with Spanish-speaking friends and family.

But before we dive into all the different parts of the house, let's start with the most important word - do you know how to say "house" in Spanish?

House | la casa (lah KAH-sah)

Todo el mundo tiene afán de llegar a la casa por lo del toque de queda.

Everyone is eager to get home because of the curfew thing.

Caption 3, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 3 - Part 9

 Play Caption

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

Vocabulary for the Parts of the House in Spanish

Let’s start with the basics! Below is a list of key rooms and parts of the house in Spanish, along with video clips for each term. Listen carefully to each clip, then try saying the word out loud to get comfortable with the pronunciation.

Living room | la sala (lah SAH-lah)

Mire, joven, esta es la sala,

Look, young man, this is the living room,

Caption 18, Otavalo Departamento

 Play Caption

Kitchen | la cocina (lah koh-SEE-nah)

Ay, pues, mija, déjesela ahí en la cocina.

Oh, well, dear, leave them there for him in the kitchen.

Caption 27, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 1 - Part 6

 Play Caption

Bathroom | el baño (el BAH-nyoh)

En este vehículo en concreto, el baño es muy característico

In this particular vehicle, the bathroom is very distinctive

Caption 46, Viajando con Fermín Caravaning - Part 3

 Play Caption

Bedroom | el dormitorio (el dor-mee-TOH-ree-oh)

"Usa el dormitorio exclusivamente para dormir.

"Use the bedroom exclusively for sleeping.

Caption 27, Aprendiendo con Silvia Consejos para dormir mejor - Part 1

 Play Caption

Dining Room | el comedor (el koh-meh-DOR)

Aquí tenemos el comedor;

Here we have the dining room;

Caption 55, Otavalo Proyecto Hayni - Part 2

 Play Caption

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Additional Parts of the House in Spanish

Below are additional important parts of the house in Spanish, each accompanied by a video clip to help you learn the correct pronunciation.

House Structure and Outdoor Areas

Yard/Garden | el jardín (el har-DEEN)

Hábleme de ese dinero que tiene usted enterrado en el jardín.

Talk to me about that money you have buried in the garden.

Caption 93, Los casos de Yabla El examen - Part 3

 Play Caption

Balcony | el balcón (el bal-KOHN)

Tomo unos mates en el balcón

I have some servings of mate on the balcony

Caption 10, GoSpanish La rutina diaria de Sol

 Play Caption

Garage | el garaje (el gah-RAH-heh)

se quedaba en el garaje de la casa de él.

was staying in the garage at his house.

Caption 27, Tu Voz Estéreo Embalsamado - Part 5

 Play Caption

Roof | el tejado (el teh-HAH-doh) or el techo (el TEH-cho)

Please, keep in mind that tejado refers to the exterior roof, especially in Spain, while techo generally means ceiling or roof, commonly used across Latin America.

Entonces, toda, eh... las ventanas, las escaleras, el tejado

So, all, um... the windows, the staircases, the roof

Caption 22, Sevilla, España Hotel Kivir - Part 1

 Play Caption

Ahorita, bueno, le faltó el techo...

Right now, well, the roof is missing...

Caption 75, Playa Adícora Francisco - Part 6

 Play Caption

Basement | el sótano (el SOH-tah-noh)

y ni siquiera sabía porqué estaba entrando en el sótano.

and I didn't even know why I was entering the basement.

Caption 11, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 7 - Part 1

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Key Parts Inside the House

Wall | la pared (lah pah-RED)

solo por culpa de una humedad en la pared.

just because of a damp patch on the wall.

Caption 45, Tu Voz Estéreo Feliz Navidad - Part 6

 Play Caption

Floor | el suelo (el SWEH-lo) or el piso (el PEE-soh)

In Spain, "floor" (of a house) is typically referred to as suelo. In Latin America, while suelo is also used for floor surfaces, piso is often the preferred term to describe the floor of a house or a building.

"El que tiene muchas sillas para sentarse acaba sentándose en el suelo".

"He who has many chairs to sit on ends up sitting on the floor."

Captions 8-9, Soledad Refranes - Part 2

 Play Caption

Había una cantidad de fotos en el piso

There were a bunch pictures on the floor

Caption 5, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 2 - Part 8

 Play Caption

Window | la ventana (lah ven-TAH-nah)

Y mi hermana y yo corríamos a la ventana

And my sister and I would run to the window

Caption 27, Aprendiendo con Silvia Recuerdos de infancia - Part 1

 Play Caption

Door | la puerta (lah PWEHR-tah)

No. -Ni pa abrir la puerta. Hm!

No. -Not even to open the door. Hmm!

Caption 8, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 1 - Part 6

 Play Caption

Stairs | las escaleras (lahs eh-skah-LEH-rahs)

ya que las escaleras interiores son muy estrechas y empinadas.

since the interior stairs are very narrow and steep.

Caption 21, Viajando con Fermín Ámsterdam - Part 3

 Play Caption

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Using Parts of the House Vocabulary in Sentences

Here are some common ways to talk about different parts of the house in Spanish. Practice these sentences for everyday conversation:

Mi cocina es grande.

My kitchen is big.

La sala tiene un sofá.

The living room has a sofa.

El jardín está detrás de la casa.

The garden is behind the house.

El balcón tiene una vista hermosa.

The balcony has a beautiful view.

El baño está al final del pasillo. 

The bathroom is at the end of the hallway.

El comedor es perfecto para cenas familiares. 

The dining room is perfect for family dinners.

Mi dormitorio tiene una cama cómoda. 

My bedroom has a comfortable bed.

Congratulations! You now know the vocabulary for different parts of the house in Spanish and how to pronounce each word naturally. Practice using these terms in daily conversations to reinforce what you’ve learned. Remember, every time you use these words, you’ll sound more confident and fluent! And don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

In Spanish, vowels play a key role in how syllables and words are formed, especially when multiple vowels appear together. Today, we will explore three key concepts related to vowel interaction: diphthongs, triphthongs, and hiatuses.

1. Diphthongs (Diptongos)

A diphthong occurs when two vowels are combined within the same syllable. In Spanish, these vowels can either be both closed vowels (i.e., "i" and "u"), or one open vowel (like "a," "e," or "o") paired with a closed vowel.

Example: Italia and Florencia

"Cuando fuimos a Italia nos quedamos una semana en Florencia".

"When we went to Italy, we stayed for a week in Florence."

Caption 21, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 3

 Play Caption

Both Italia and Florencia end with a diphthong, combining the closed vowel "i" and the open vowel "a" in the last syllable.

Example: Ciudad

Popayán es una ciudad que está ubicada en el sudoeste de Colombia,

Popayan is a city that is located in the southwest of Colombia,

Caption 3, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 1

 Play Caption

In the word ciudad, the diphthong is found in the second-to-last syllable, formed by the two closed vowels "i" and "u."

These vowel combinations create fluid sounds within a single syllable, a common feature in many Spanish words.

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

2. Triphthongs (Triptongos)

A triphthong is when three vowels are pronounced together in a single syllable. For a triphthong to occur, there must be an open vowel (like "a," "e," or "o") sandwiched between two closed vowels (like "i" and "u").

Example: Estudiáis

como por ejemplo, en "vosotros estudiáis".

like for example, in "vosotros estudiáis" ["you guys study"].

Caption 24, Carlos explica Acentuación Cap. 5: Diptongo, triptongo, hiato

 Play Caption

This word is a great example of a triphthong. The open vowel "a" is surrounded by the two closed vowels "i," creating a single syllable where all three vowels are pronounced together.

Example: Uruguay

Fermín también me preguntaba quién toma más mate, si Uruguay o Argentina.

Fermín was also asking me who drinks more mate, whether Uruguay or Argentina.

Captions 49-50, Viajando con Fermín La Feria Internacional de los Países de Fuengirola - Part 2

 Play Caption

The "y" at the end of Uruguay acts like the vowel "i," forming a triphthong along with the "u" and the "a" earlier in the word.

Triphthongs are less common than diphthongs but are often found in verbs conjugated for the second-person plural form in Spain.

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

3. Hiatuses (Hiatos)

A hiatus occurs when two vowels appear together but belong to different syllables. This can happen when the two vowels are both open or when there is an emphasis on a closed vowel next to an open vowel.

Example: Leer

Sobre todo para aprender idiomas es fundamental leer.

Especially to learn languages, it's essential to read.

Caption 5, Adriana La lectura - Part 2

 Play Caption

In leer, the two "e"s are pronounced separately, each belonging to a different syllable: le-er. This breaks up what could have been a diphthong.

Example: Egoísta

Es que ahí está pintado el egoísta ese.

It's just that that's exactly like that selfish guy.

Caption 55, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 10

 Play Caption

In the word egoísta, we see a hiatus between the vowels "o" and "í." The closed vowel "í" is stressed, creating a break between "o" and "í" and making them part of separate syllables: e-go-ís-ta.

Example: Día

Es decir, estás teniendo un buen día,

In other words, you're having a good day,

Caption 20, Soledad Personas tóxicas

 Play Caption

In the word día, the closed vowel "i" is emphasized, creating a break between the "i" and the open vowel "a," resulting in two syllables.

Example: Búho

"¿Quién eres tú?", preguntó Ada al ver a un búho que bajaba volando.

"Who are you?" Ada asked when she saw an owl that was flying down.

Captions 4-6, Silvia nos cuenta El bosque encantado y las emociones mágicas - Part 3

 Play Caption

Even though the "h" is silent in Spanish, it doesn’t interfere with the vowel interaction. In búho, the two vowels "u" and "o" are part of different syllables, forming a hiatus.

Understanding diphthongs, triphthongs, and hiatuses is essential for mastering Spanish pronunciation and accentuation. Diphthongs and triphthongs allow vowels to merge into smooth sounds within syllables, while hiatuses create a clear division between syllables, even when vowels are side by side.

By recognizing these patterns, learners can improve their fluency and pronunciation accuracy in Spanish. This concludes our lesson on vowel interaction in Spanish. Hopefully, this has helped clarify how vowels work together in different ways, and don't forget to write us with your questions and suggestions.

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

How do you say thank you and you're welcome in Spanish? Even most non-Spanish speakers know that gracias is the common, standard way to say "thank you" in Spanish, while the most common response is de nada (you're welcome). Today's lesson will help you spice up your spoken Spanish by learning some additional ways to say thank you and you're welcome in Spanish. 

How Do You Say Thank You in Spanish?

Before going any further, let's hear the Spanish word gracias pronounced, paying particular attention to the way that Spanish speakers pronounce the vowels (it should not sound like "grassy a--"). Then, we suggest you practice it yourself!

Gracias.

Thank you.

Caption 39, Cristina Primeros auxilios

 Play Caption

Note that if you want to say what you are thanking someone "for" in Spanish, you should use the Spanish preposition por (rather than para) as we see here:

Así que gracias por su atención

So, thank you for your attention,

Caption 68, Carlos comenta La sucursal del cielo - Part 1

 Play Caption

This brings us to another common Spanish expression, which is equivalent to the English "Thanks for everything":

Gracias por todo.

Thank you for everything.

Caption 86, Tu Música El Ensamble Latino - Part 3

 Play Caption

Thank You Very Much in Spanish

Now, let's hear a common way to say "Thank you very much" in Spanish:

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much.

Caption 96, Casabermeja Gastronomía - Part 2

 Play Caption

If you wish to say "Thank you very much" in Spanish even more emphatically, you might choose the following expression, which includes the augmentative form of muchas, muchísimas:

Muchísimas gracias

Thank you very much

Caption 63, Venezolanos por el mundo Karina en Barcelona - Part 3

 Play Caption

Yet another rough equivalent of "thank you very much" or "thanks so much" is the common Spanish expression mil gracias, which literally means "a thousand thanks":

Mm... no, no, mil gracias. No me gusta el café.

Um... No, no, thanks so much [literally "a thousand thanks"]. I don't like coffee.

Caption 3, Tu Voz Estéreo Embalsamado - Part 8

 Play Caption

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

Thankful Verbs

In addition to the expressions we just learned, certain verbs or verb phrases can be used to convey gratitude. Below, you'll find several, with examples from our Yabla Spanish library.

Agradecer (to thank/be grateful)

Así que, te agradezco, Fredy,

So, I thank you, Fredy,

Caption 49, Viajando con Carlos El año viejo en Colombia - Part 2

 Play Caption

The direct object pronoun lo is often included in the fixed expression te lo agradezco (I appreciate it, I thank you for it, I'm grateful to you for it) when referring to a specific thing or situation:

Y te lo agradezco, pero la verdad,

And I thank you for it, but honestly,

Caption 17, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 8 - Part 8

 Play Caption

Dar las gracias (to thank/give thanks)

Te vengo a dar las gracias.

I'm coming to thank you.

Caption 7, Club 10 Capítulo 2 - Part 7

 Play Caption

Apreciar  (to appreciate)

Bueno... pues le aprecio mucho gobernador que me haya contestado.

Well... I really appreciate you, Governor, for answering me.

Caption 17, ¡Tierra, Sí! Atenco - Part 1

 Play Caption

Estar agradecido (to be grateful)

estoy contenta, estoy agradecida,

I'm happy, I'm grateful,

Caption 64, Amaya Recordando - Part 1

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

How to Say Thank You in Formal Spanish

If you wish to say thank you in a more formal setting, you could choose to address the person you are thanking with usted instead of tú or vos, the more formal of the different Spanish ways to say "you." The expression te lo agradezco would hence change as follows:

Bueno, se lo agradezco.

Well, I thank you for it.

Caption 84, Muñeca Brava 48 - Soluciones - Part 3

 Play Caption

The abbreviated Muy agradecido can also function as an alternative to "Thank you very much" in more formal settings:

Muy agradecido, Don Kevin.

Very grateful, Mister Kevin.

Caption 34, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 3 - Part 7

 Play Caption

Finally, the expression Muy amable (literally "very kind") is often used in place of or along with another way of saying "thank you," as we see in the following two captions: 

Eh... Sí, señorita, ya voy para allá. Muy amable.

Um... Yes, miss, I'm going there now. [You're] very kind.

Captions 44-45, Tu Voz Estéreo Laura - Part 15

 Play Caption

Bueno, muchas gracias. Muy amable.

Well, thank you very much. [You're] very kind.

Caption 19, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 4 - Part 10

 Play Caption

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

How Do You Say You're Welcome in Spanish?

As we mentioned in the introduction, de nada (literally "of nothing") is the standard equivalent of "you're welcome" in Spanish. Let's hear it a caption that includes both thank you and you're welcome in Spanish: 

¡Ay, muchísimas gracias por tu amabilidad! ¡De nada!

Oh, thank you so much for your kindness! You're welcome!

Captions 37-38, Cleer y Carolina En la estación de buses

 Play Caption

Note that an alternative, albeit less common way to say de nada is por nada.

Alternative Ways to Say "You're Welcome" in Spanish

Let's explore a few different ways to say something similar to "you're welcome" in Spanish, starting with one that literally means something along the lines of "There's no reason (to thank me)."

Yo también. Muchas gracias por admitirme. No hay de qué. Es un placer tenerla con nosotros.

Me too. Thank you very much for accepting me. You're welcome. It's a pleasure to have you with us.

Captions 10-11, Negocios Empezar en un nuevo trabajo - Part 2

 Play Caption

Like in English, "My pleasure" is also a suitable response to someone thanking you, as is simply (it's) "a pleasure":

El placer es mío, Adolfo.

The pleasure is mine, Adolfo.

Caption 39, Yago 6 Mentiras - Part 4

 Play Caption

Gracias por venir, Luis. Un placer, Mónica,

Thank you for coming, Luis. A pleasure, Monica,

Captions 2-3, Escribiendo un libro Algunos consejos sobre cómo comenzar - Part 1

 Play Caption

And, finally, as in English, we could thank the person right back!

Muchas gracias. Gracias a ti.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Captions 50-51, El Aula Azul Los profesores de la escuela - Part 1

 Play Caption

With this in mind, we hope that this lesson has given you a lot of ideas about ways to say thank you and you're welcome in Spanish, beyond just gracias and de nada. Muchísimas gracias por su atención... and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Do you know how to use the definite article el in Spanish? It's one of the most common words in the language, but its usage can sometimes be tricky for learners. In this lesson, we will explore how and when to use el correctly, including its rules and exceptions. Let's dive into the world of definite articles in the language of Cervantes.

Understanding the Definite Article El

Let's start with the basics of the definite article el.

banner6 PLACEHOLDER

What is a Definite Article?

A definite article is used to indicate a specific noun that is known to the reader or listener. In English, the definite article is "the." In Spanish, the masculine singular form of the definite article is el.

When to Use El

We use el with masculine singular nouns. Here are some examples:

el libro (the book)
el perro (the dog)
el coche (the car)

Let's hear how to pronounce this article:

Sin duda, en la actualidad el perro es el animal que más se utiliza como apoyo en este tipo de intervenciones.

Without a doubt, nowadays the dog is the animal that is used the most for support in this type of intervention.

Captions 40-41, Isabel Lavesa Terapia asistida con animales

 Play Caption

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Special Cases and Exceptions

1. Nouns Starting with a Stressed 'A' or 'HA' Sound
When a feminine noun starts with a stressed "a" or "ha" sound, el is used instead of la to avoid a cacophony. However, the noun remains feminine. For example:

el agua (the water)

el águila (the eagle)

el hacha (the axe)

Note that in the plural form, "las" is used:

las aguas (the waters)

las águilas (the eagles)

las hachas (the axes)

2. Nouns That Are Always Masculine
Some nouns are always masculine, even though they might end in "a" or have other endings that might suggest they are feminine. For example:

el mapa (the map)

el día (the day)

el sofá (the sofa)

3. Compound Nouns
Many compound nouns that end in "-a" but are formed by combining two words are masculine. For example:
   

el sacapuntas (the pencil sharpener)

el paraguas (the umbrella)

el abrelatas (the can opener)

banner PLACEHOLDER

Let's Practice Using El

Let's watch the following clip where you can listen to our friend Fermín using the definite article "el" with various words:

La parte delantera del vehículo se llama capó y es donde se encuentran el motor, la batería, el agua, el líquido de frenos y el aceite,

The front of the vehicle is called the hood and is where the engine, the battery, the water, the brake fluid, and the oil are located,

Captions 48-49, Fermín Vocabulario del coche y la conducción - Part 1

 Play Caption

Now, let's practice a little bit more with some examples.

Sentences with El

El libro es tan bueno como la película.

The book is as good as the movie.

Caption 20, Karla e Isabel Comparativos

 Play Caption

como: el mapa y el planeta.

like: the map and the planet.

Caption 47, Fundamentos del Español 2 - Nombres y Género

 Play Caption

Sentences with Special Cases

¡Muy bien! El águila.

Very good! The eagle.

Caption 73, El Aula Azul Adivinanzas de animales - Part 2

 Play Caption

Dejemos a un lado el hacha de guerra

Let's leave aside the axe of war

Caption 22, Bebé Kiéreme

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mixing Up Gender Agreement

Remember that el is only for masculine singular nouns. Don't use el with feminine nouns that don't start with a stressed "a" or "ha" sound. For example:

Incorrect: el casa
Correct: la casa (the house)

2. Forgetting Plural Forms

When the noun is plural, use los for masculine nouns and las for feminine nouns. For example:

el libro → los libros
el agua → las aguas

That's it for today. We hope this lesson helped you understand how to use the definite article el in Spanish. Do you have any questions or comments? Please let us know!

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Do you know the names of the shapes in Spanish? Today's lesson will teach you what the most basic Spanish shapes are called as well as the words for more advanced Spanish shapes and figures. Let's get started! 

How Do You Say "Shape" in Spanish?

Let's start with the basics! Listen to the following caption from the Yabla Spanish video library to hear how to say "shapes" in Spanish:

Puedes jugar con diferentes formas y colores

You can play with different shapes and colors

Caption 76, Manos a la obra Papel picado para Día de muertos

 Play Caption

Now, let's hear the Spanish word for the similar concept of "figures":

como los números o las figuras geométricas,

like numbers or geometric figures,

Caption 16, Carlos explica Vocabulario de las matemáticas - Part 1

 Play Caption

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

Basic Spanish Shapes

Next, we'll learn the Spanish names for the most classic shapes, including their definite articles, and hear them in context:

El círculo (the circle)

Vamos a marcar el círculo

We're going to mark the circle,

Caption 47, Maoli Calabaza de Halloween

 Play Caption

El cuadrado (the square)

se presenta como un cuadrado de ocho por ocho

appears as an eight by eight square

Caption 18, Aprendiendo con Carlos El ajedrez - Part 1

 Play Caption

El rectángulo (the rectangle)

Puede ser un cuadrado, un rectángulo.

It can be a square, a rectangle.

Caption 41, María Fernanda Hacer un turbante

 Play Caption

El triángulo (the triangle)

Obtendrás un triángulo.

You will get a triangle.

Caption 39, Manos a la obra Separadores de libros: Charmander

 Play Caption

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Advanced Spanish Shapes

Let's move on to the Spanish words for some slightly more sophisticated shapes and hear them pronounced: 

El óvalo (the oval)

—podríamos decir que es un óvalo— 

we could say that it's an oval—

Caption 49, Con Marta por Madrid La Plaza del Sol - Part 2

 Play Caption

El rombo (the diamond/rhombus)

Lograrás un rombo como éste.

You will get a diamond like this one.

Caption 45, Manos a la obra Separadores de libros: Charmander

 Play Caption

El trapecio (the trapezoid)

Interestingly, this word also means "trapezius" (the muscle) in Spanish as well as "trapeze," as in the following example, which we've included for pronunciation purposes:

como un número de trapecio,

as a trapeze act,

Caption 18, Circo Berlín Jose - Part 2

 Play Caption

El semicírculo (the semicircle)

"semicírculo",

"semicírculo" [semicircle],

Caption 74, Carlos explica Los prefijos en español - Part 7

 Play Caption

Polygons in Spanish

Figures with at least three but typically five or more sides and angles are called los polígonos (the polygons) in Spanish. Let's learn their Spanish names along with their respective numbers of lados (sides) and ángulos (angles):

El pentágono (the pentagon): 5 

 

El hexágono (the hexagon): 6

 

El hectágono (the hectagon): 7 

 

El octógono (the octagon): 8 

 

El nonógono (the nonagon): 9

 

El decágono (the decagon): 10 

banner PLACEHOLDER

Bonus Spanish Shapes

While not "official" geometric shapes, figures like the heart, cross, star, etc., are recognized universally as shapes and/or symbols. Let's learn how to say them in Spanish!

El corazón (the heart)

a hacer pancitos de corazón, pancitos decorados y este tipo de, de...

into making heart rolls, decorated rolls, and this kind of, of...

Caption 18, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Luis y el pan de muerto

 Play Caption

La cruz (the cross)

es la cruz de piedra.

is the stone cross.

Caption 16, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 2

 Play Caption

La estrella (the star)

y la estrella.

and the star.

Caption 27, Ana Carolina Símbolos de Navidad

 Play Caption

La flecha (the arrow)

con la punta bien afilada en forma de flecha,

with a well-sharpened tip in the shape of an arrow

Caption 32, Isabel Lavesa Dibujo en acuarela

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

3-D Spanish Shapes

Do you know how to say 3-D in Spanish? You could say tridimensional (three-dimensional) or simply use the Spanish pronuncation of 3-D, as we hear here: 

Y las obras están sacadas de modelos 3-D del programa Google Earth.

And the works are taken from 3-D models from the Google Earth program.

Caption 24, El estudio De Julio Sarramián

 Play Caption

That said, we'll conclude this lesson with the names of several of the most common formas tridimensionales (3-D shapes):

La esfera (sphere)

El cilindro (the cylinder)

El cubo (the cube)

El cono (the cone)

¿podría ponerme un cono de chocolate por favor?

can you give me a chocolate cone please?

Caption 36, Málaga Calle Larios

 Play Caption

La pirámide (the pyramid)

en forma de pirámide invertida.

in the shape of an inverted pyramid.

Caption 14, Víctor en Caracas Centro comercial

 Play Caption

El prisma rectangular (the rectangular prism)

That's all for today. We hope that you have found this lesson on the names of the shapes in Spanish useful, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments. ¡Hasta pronto!

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Have you ever noticed that there are several types of words that are capitalized in English but not in Spanish? Today's lesson will point out nine such categories where there is a discrepancy in capitalization between English and Spanish. 

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

1. The Days of the Week

While the names of the days of the week must be capitalized in English, the same is not so of the days of the week in Spanish, whose first letters are lowercase. Let's take a look:

Voy a una academia de baile los martes y los jueves.

I go to a dance academy on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Caption 15, Ariana Mi Semana

 Play Caption

2. The Months

The same can be said for the names of the months in Spanish, which are written in all lowercase letters in contrast to their capitalized English counterparts. This is demonstrated in the following clip:

sobre todo en los meses de diciembre, enero, febrero e incluso en mayo.

especially in the months of December, January, February, and even in May.

Caption 27, Mercado de San Miguel Misael

 Play Caption

3. Languages

Although English capitalizes the names of languages, Spanish does not:

Bueno, yo hablo español, inglés y estoy aprendiendo alemán.

Well, I speak Spanish, English, and I'm learning German.

Captions 19-20, Cleer y Lida ¿Qué idiomas hablas?

 Play Caption

4. Nationality

Words that refer to someone or something's nationality do not start with a capital letter in Spanish as they do in English. Included in this category are both demonyms, or Spanish adjectives of nationality, and Spanish nouns that refer to the inhabitants of a particular nation. Let's see examples of each:

y puedas decir, "Este artista es colombiano, este es un artista brasilero", es decir,

and can say, "This artist is Colombian, this is a Brazilian artist," I mean,

Captions 69-70, Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori Una vida como pintor - Part 5

 Play Caption

Antes de la llegada de los españoles, existían cientos de diferentes culturas.

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, there were hundreds of different cultures.

Caption 8, Historia mexicana Cultura y la unión de dos mundos

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

5. Religious Words

As we see below, this group includes the names of religions, their respective adjectives, and the nouns that describe their adherents.

y que se utilizó para simbolizar el triunfo del cristianismo sobre la fe musulmana.

and was employed as a symbol of the triumph of Christianity over the Muslim faith.

Captions 61-62, Viajando con Fermín Sevilla - Part 2

 Play Caption

España recibió más de treinta y cinco mil judíos,

Spain received more than thirty-five thousand Jews,

Caption 27, Víctor en España El Hotel Palace de Barcelona

 Play Caption

6. Personal Titles

When preceding a last name and/or addressing a specific person, English words like "mister" or "doctor" must be capitalized. The equivalent titles in Spanish, however, are written in all lowercase letters, as we see here:

Vamos a escuchar a la doctora Consejos y a su paciente Adrián

Let's listen to Doctor Advice and her patient Adrián

Caption 2, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: Por y para

 Play Caption

Por supuesto, señora Castaño.

Of course, Ms. Castaño.

Caption 24, Cleer y Lida Recepción de hotel

 Play Caption

7. Titles

In English, most of the words of the titles of original compositions like books, films, songs, articles, or works of art are capitalized, with the notable exceptions of words like prepositions and coordinating conjunctions. In Spanish, on the other hand, only the first word of a title is capitalized, for example, the famed novel Cien años de soledad, which is written in English "One Hundred Years of Solitude." Let's see one more:

Para ello, el artista pintó un gran fresco titulado "El juicio final",

To do so, the artist painted a large fresco called "The Last Judgment,"

Caption 32, Aprendiendo con Carlos El microrrelato - Part 4

 Play Caption

8. The First Words of Geographical Place Names

All of the words of proper nouns for specific geographical place names in English, like the Andes Mountains or Lake Titicaca, must be capitalized. In Spanish, however, the first words of these proper nouns are lowercase, e.g., la cordillera de los Andes and el lago Titicaca. Let's look at more examples:

y es atravesada por el río Cauca.

and is crossed by the Cauca River.

Caption 17, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 1

 Play Caption

en el océano Pacífico y en el mar Caribe.

in the Pacific Ocean and in the Caribbean Sea.

Caption 46, Instinto de conservación Parque Tayrona - Part 4

 Play Caption

9. The First Person Singular Personal Pronoun 

Although the first person singular personal pronoun "I" is always written with a capital letter in English, its Spanish equivalent yo is not, as we can see here:

No, pueden llorar, pero yo tengo que trabajar.

No, you can cry, but I have to work.

Caption 9, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 8

 Play Caption

That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped to clarify several of the classes of words that should not be capitalized in Spanish, some of which might seem a bit counterintuitive to English speakers. Can you think of any additional cases in which Spanish and English capitalization are different? Feel free to write us with any questions or comments.

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Are you familiar with the concept of grammatical agreement in Spanish? There are two main types of agreement in Spanish: noun agreement and verb agreement. Today's lesson will provide an introduction to each. 

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Noun Agreement in Spanish 

The concept of noun agreement is the following: Since Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine and singular or plural, their definite or indefinite articles, adjectives, and other grammatical elements must correspond in terms of these attributes. Let's take a look at a chart that demonstrates this concept with masculine and feminine singular and plural nouns and their corresponding definite and indefinite articles. 

The chart shows us the various ways to say "the" (el, los, la, las) and "a/an" (un, unos, una, unas), depending upon whether a noun is masculine or feminine and singular or plural. That said, let's keep a couple of additional points in mind regarding recognizing the number and gender of Spanish nouns and/or modifying them to achieve noun agreement.

1. Although many Spanish masculine singular nouns end in -o and many Spanish feminine nouns end in -a, this is not always the case. Therefore, less obvious nouns (e.g. el avión (the airplane) or la nube (the cloud)) require simply memorizing the gender of the noun, especially nouns that refer to inanimate objects. For this reason, Spanish students typically learn new nouns and their respective masculine or feminine definite articles simultaneously. 

2. As a general rule, many nouns that end in a vowel require the addition of an -s to make them plural, while many nouns that end in a consonant become plural by adding -es. Applying this to the abovementioned nouns, el avión becomes los aviones while la nube changes to las nubes.

Adjective Noun Agreement in Spanish

In addition to their articles, Spanish adjectives must also agree in terms of number and gender with the nouns they modify, with the same general spelling guidelines that we mentioned for pluralizing nouns. Let's hear how this works via some examples from our Yabla Spanish library:

Un coche bonito, unos coches bonitos. Una casa roja, las casas rojas.

A nice car, some nice cars. A red house, the red houses.

Captions 28-29, Fundamentos del Español 3 - Le Estructura de las Frases

 Play Caption

unos ojos azules, inmensos...

some huge, blue eyes...

Caption 24, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 6: El día de la Primitiva - Part 2

 Play Caption

As you delve further into more complex Spanish grammar such as direct object pronouns, you will see how the number and gender of Spanish nouns continue to exert their influence. 

banner PLACEHOLDER

Verb Agreement in Spanish 

Verb agreement in Spanish refers to the fact that Spanish verbs need to be conjugated in accordance with their respective subjects or subject pronouns, agreeing in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). Although this concept exists in English, it is much simpler due to the fact that there are less subject pronouns in English (seven vs. thirteen in Spanish) and far less verb forms. For example, for all of the seven English subject pronouns, there are only two verb forms, as we see below:

Subject Pronoun:

I: speak

you: speak

he: speaks

she: speaks

we: speak

they: speak

it: speaks 

In Spanish, on the other hand, there are thirteen subject pronouns and many corresponding conjugations. Additionally, the manner in which each verb is conjugated depends upon which of the three common verb categories (-ar, -er, and -ir) it falls into, and many verbs are irregular, making verb agreement in Spanish significantly more complex. With this in mind, let's take a look at a chart with the conjugations of three common regular verbs, one from each category, in the present indicative tense:

If that doesn't seem nuanced enough, keep in mind that that was just one of the sixteen Spanish verb tenses, each of which has its own specific manner of conjugating verbs in order to ensure verb agreement. 

We hope that these explanations have given you a better idea about the concept of noun and verb agreement in Spanish, which are essential to understanding Spanish sentences and constructing your own. Don't forget to write us with your questions and comments. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Do you know the difference between the Spanish prepositions por and para? Although both can be translated as "for" in certain instances, these two oft-confused words have different uses in Spanish and a wide variety of translations in different contexts. In the most general terms, por is used to indicate a cause or reason while para indicates a goal or purpose. If you need to learn or review the uses of por and para in greater detail, we recommend that you peruse Yabla's lesson entitled Por vs. Para: How to Use These Spanish Prepositions. Then, when you're ready, test your knowledge with this quiz!

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Por vs. Para: Fill in the Blank

In the following sentences, choose the preposition por or para that correctly completes each sentence. 

1. Las tijeras son ____ cortar. 

a. por

b. para

2.  Vamos a viajar  _____ Europa este verano.  

a. por

b. para

3. Yo voy al gimnasio cuatro veces _____ semana.

a. por

b. para

4. Noel tiene que entregar su trabajo  ______ el lunes. 

5. Lo hice ____ amor. 

a. por

b. para

6. Ellos prepararon una cena espectacular _______ mi familia. 

a. por

b. para

7.  ____ mí, Daniel es el mejor restaurante de Nueva York. 

a. por

b. para

8. A Guillermo le encanta caminar _____ la ribera. 

a. por

b. para

9. Mi mamá vino ____ visitarme. 

a. por 

b. para

10. Nosotros solemos estar de muy mal humor _____ la mañana.

a. por

b. para

11. Juan esperó _____ cuatro horas en una fila para comprar las entradas. 

a. por

b. para

12. Orlando compró un auto nuevo ____ mucho dinero. 

a. por

b. para

13. Carla trabaja  ______ una empresa muy famosa. 

a. por

b. para

14. Hay que subir ____ las escaleras para llegar al segundo piso. 

a. por

b. para

15. El edificio fue construido ____ un arquitecto muy reconocido. 

a. por

b. para

16. Los estudiantes van ____ la escuela. 

a. por

b. para

17.  _____ lo que veo, ella está enferma y no va a poder venir.

a. por

b. para

banner PLACEHOLDER

BONUS ROUND

Choose the correct combination of the prepositions por and para to make the sentences grammatically correct.

18. Liliana está estudiando cinco horas ____ día ____ su examen. 

a. por, para

b. para, por

c. para, para

d. por, por

19. El libro que compré ____ mi mamá fue escrito ____ su autor favorito. 

a. por, para

b. para, por

c. para, para

d. por, por

20.  ____ la noche, me gusta caminar ____ mi barrio ____ relajarme. 

a. Por, por, por

b. Para, para, para

c. Por, para, para

d. Por, por, para

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Por vs. Para Quiz: The Answers

The following are the answers to all of the questions in this Por vs. Para Quiz as well as the translations and grammatical reasons for each. 

The por vs. para dilemma is one of the biggest headaches for English speakers learning Spanish, especially since both are sometimes translated as "for." If you are still confused about the Spanish prepositions por and para, this lesson will explain how and when to use each. We hope that by the end of it, you will understand the difference between these two words and be able to use them with confidence. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Por vs. Para: The Key Difference

Before we examine some specific uses of por and para in Spanish, we would like to invite you to think about these prepositions as opposites in the following terms:

Por: Indicates a cause or reason.

Para: Indicates a purpose, objective, or goal.

In a video from his series about the prepositions por and para, Carlos explains this difference by contrasting two sentences. Let's hear the first:

Estoy preocupado por el examen.

I'm worried about the exam.

Caption 35, Carlos explica Las preposiciones 'por' y 'para' - Part 1

 Play Caption

In this sentence, the preposition por indicates that the exam is the cause or reason for Carlos' concern. Now, let's look at the other sentence:

María estudió tres días para el examen.

Maria studied for the exam for three days.

Caption 39, Carlos explica Las preposiciones 'por' y 'para' - Part 1

 Play Caption

In this case, the preposition para indicates that the exam was María's goal and/or purpose for studying, most likely to try to achieve the best possible grade. 

Now that we have highlighted this overarching difference between the prepositions por and para, let's explore a variety of more nuanced uses of each of these Spanish words.  

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

How and When to Use the Preposition Por in Spanish

Let's take a look at many of the most common uses of the preposition por in Spanish.

To Indicate the Reason for Something

Si ese tipo vino aquí por dinero, pues... eso es lo único que quiere.

If that guy came here for money, well... that's the only thing he wants.

Captions 49-50, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 3 - Part 8

 Play Caption

Before Place Names to Denote a Course of Movement Within That Location

Pero ¿sabéis lo que le gusta hacer a Lukas? Ir a correr por la playa.

But, do you know what does Lukas like to do? Go running on the beach.

Captions 58-59, Amaya Mi camper van

 Play Caption

To Indicate Approximate Location 

Hoy he decidido hacer unas compras por el centro de la ciudad.

Today I've decided to do some shopping in the city's downtown.

Caption 2, Raquel Haciendo compras

 Play Caption

To Talk About the Time of Day

Las clases son normalmente por la tarde;

The classes are usually in the afternoon;

Caption 6, El Aula Azul Las actividades de la escuela - Part 2

 Play Caption

To Express Duration

Fui jugador amateur por mucho tiempo,

I was an amateur player for a long time,

Caption 22, Víctor en Caracas El fútbol con Tony Carrasco

 Play Caption

To Indicate the Frequency of an Action

Es de vital importancia que la tienda online se actualice. Deberíamos actualizar al menos dos veces por semana.

It's of vital importance that the online store is updated. We should update at least twice a week.

Captions 6-7, Raquel y Marisa Español Para Negocios - Nuestra tienda online

 Play Caption

To Indicate the Means Used To Do Something

Ayer llamé a mi cuñada por teléfono

Yesterday, I called my sister-in-law on the phone

Caption 5, Aprendiendo con Silvia Frases hechas - Part 3

 Play Caption

To Talk About Purchases and Transactions

¿Por cuánto lo has comprado?

For how much have you bought it?

Caption 17, 75 minutos Del campo a la mesa - Part 16

 Play Caption

In Passive Sentences to Indicate Who or What Performs the Action

O: "El edificio ha sido diseñado por la arquitecta".

Or: "The building has been designed by the [female] architect."

Caption 34, Lecciones con Carolina La voz pasiva - Part 3

 Play Caption

To Provide Evidence Used To Form a Conclusion

Por lo que se ve, pues, no está quemado, no está dañado,

From what you [can] see, well, it's not burned, it's not damaged,

Captions 39-40, Aprendiendo con Priscilla Vocabulario de taller mecánico

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

How and When to Use the Preposition Para in Spanish

Now that we know how to use the preposition por in Spanish, let's see how to use the preposition para.

To Express the Purpose for Something

El veterinario vino ayer para comprobar que el bebé que lleva dentro está en buen estado,

The veterinarian came yesterday to check that the baby she's carrying is in good shape,

Captions 66-67, Amaya Apertura del refugio

 Play Caption

To Name a Recipient

Este libro es para ti.

This book is for you.

Caption 47, Carlos y Cyndy Uso del Voseo en Argentina

 Play Caption

To Indicate a Time Limit or Point in the Future 

Tengo que terminar el trabajo para mañana.

I have to finish this work by tomorrow.

Caption 39, Carlos explica Las preposiciones 'por' y 'para' - Part 2

 Play Caption

To Indicate the Direction or Destination of a Movement

Eh... voy para la casa. Si quiere, vamos juntos.

Um... I'm going home. If you want, we can go together.

Captions 7-8, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 14 - Part 9

 Play Caption

To Indicate the Use of Something

Tengo que tomar un medicamento para el dolor y otro para bajar la fiebre.

I have to take a medication for the pain and another one to lower the fever.

Captions 30-31, Ariana Cita médica

 Play Caption

To Talk About Employment

Trabajo para una empresa francesa de electrónica

I work for a French electronics company

Caption 13, Carlos y Xavi Part 2 Ustedes y Vosotros

 Play Caption

To Express Personal Opinions

porque es una ciudad que, para mí, lo tiene todo.

because it's a city that, for me, has it all.

Caption 7, San Sebastián El rompeolas

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Por vs Para: Understanding the Main Differences

Now that we have learned how to use the Spanish prepositions por and para, we would like to take a moment to summarize the main differences between them in the following chart.

Before we go, we would like to highlight a very common mistake among non-native Spanish speakers. Although your inclination might be to use the word para, remember that in order to express gratitude in Spanish, the preposition por should always be used, as in the sentence "Gracias por el regalo" (Thanks for the gift).

That's all for today. Although we know that this lesson did not touch on all of the possible uses of the prepositions por and para, we hope that it has helped you to better understand how and when to use each of them, and don't forget to send us your comments and suggestions. ¡Hasta la próxima!

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Surely "you're" familiar with "contractions" in English, or shorter words formed by combining two or more words, dropping one or more letter, and adding an apostrophe (for example, "you're" from "you are" in this sentence). But do you know about contractions in Spanish? Interestingly, while there are close to 100 contractions in English, in Spanish, there are only two (and no apostrophes are required!). Let's learn what they are and how to use them. 

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

The Spanish Contraction Al

In short, the Spanish contraction al is used whenever the preposition a (at, to, etc.) is followed by the masculine definite article el (the). While the scenarios in which this takes place are too numerous to name, let's take a look at several of the most common ones with examples from our Yabla Spanish video library. 

When Heading Toward a Place

Al in this case is usually translated as "to the" in English. 

Siempre voy al mercado cuando no tengo ingredientes.

I always go to the market when I don't have ingredients.

Caption 10, Ariana Cena especial

 Play Caption

When Describing Location

This is the equivalent of the English "at the."

Puede tomar el ascensor que está al final del pasillo a la izquierda

You can take the elevator that is at the end of the hall on the left

Caption 57, Cleer y Lida Recepción de hotel

 Play Caption

With Certain Verbs That Require the Preposition a

Since the preposition a is an essential part of certain verbs such as acostumbrarse a (to get used to), asistir a (to attend), jugar a ("to play" something), and many more, a becomes al when a masculine definite article follows.

Los viernes, juego al fútbol con mis amigas. 

On Fridays, I play soccer with my friends.

Caption 21, Ariana Mi Semana

 Play Caption

Following the Personal a

As the preposition a is required prior to people who function as the objects of sentences in Spanish, a likewise becomes al in the presence of the masculine definite article. 

y ya le pedí al chef que la comida fuese vegetariana

and I already asked the chef for the food to be vegetarian

Caption 55, Programación de oficina El dictado del jefe

 Play Caption

When Describing a Limit 

In this usage, al is typically employed with the other Spanish contraction del (from the) to describe the end point of something, for example, a range.

Estos son los números del uno al cien.

These are the numbers from one to a hundred.

Caption 44, El Aula Azul Los Números del 1-100

 Play Caption

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

The Spanish Contraction Del 

This second Spanish contraction is formed by combining the preposition de (of, from, about, by, etc.) with the masculine singular definite article el when one follows another in a sentence. Let's see some of the many common situations in which you might find it.

When Heading Away From a Place

This describes the point of origin from which something leaves.

También para cuando salimos del agua, eh...

[It's] also for when we come out of the water, um...

Caption 36, Ana Teresa Yoga y surf

 Play Caption

When Describing Origin

This describes where someone or something originates or comes from.

La mayoría de la gente viene del Pacífico

Most of the people come from the Pacific,

Caption 2, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 4

 Play Caption

When Describing Possession

This is used like 's in English to indicate ownership when what is owned is preceded by el. 

Yago, pero ese caballo es del patrón. Se va a calentar, ¡Yago!

Yago, but that's the master's horse. He's going to get mad, Yago!

Caption 35, Yago 1 La llegada - Part 1

 Play Caption

With Certain Verbs That Include the Preposition De

Like a, de is a part of certain Spanish verbs like acordarse de (to remember), olvidarse de (to forget), and depender de (to depend on) and thus changes to del when el is present.

¿Te acuerdas del atraco en el banco?

Do you remember the stickup at the bank?

Caption 54, Los casos de Yabla El examen - Part 1

 Play Caption

With Prepositional Phrases That Contain De

The contraction del might be used when el follows any of the numerous prepositional phrases that contain the word de (e.g. después de, antes de, a partir de, etc.).

El contrato empieza a correr a partir del próximo mes.

The lease starts to run starting from next month.

Caption 26, Ricardo La compañera de casa - Part 2

 Play Caption

When Indicating the Beginning of a Range

As we mentioned in the section regarding al, al and del are often used together when describing a range, with del indicating its beginning. 

Cogí unos días libres del veinte al veintiséis de abril".

I took a few days off from April twentieth to twenty-sixth."

Caption 26, Aprendiendo con Silvia Horas, fechas y períodos de tiempo - Part 3

 Play Caption

When Not to Use Contractions in Spanish 

Now that you have learned a plethora of situations in which you should employ the Spanish contractions al and del, you should be aware of some others in which you should not use them.

1. With Definite Articles Other Than El

Note that when any other definite article (la, las, or los) comes after the word a or de, no contraction is formed.

el corazón envía más sangre a las piernas

the heart sends more blood to the legs

Caption 31, Aprendiendo con Silvia Las emociones - Part 12

 Play Caption

2. When El Is Part of a Proper Noun

Don't use a Spanish contraction when the word el is part of a proper noun. Carlos sums this up perfectly:

No decimos "el Presidente del Salvador", sino "el Presidente de El Salvador".

We don't say "el Presidente del Salvador," but rather "el Presidente de El Salvador" [the President of El Salvador].

Captions 46-47, Carlos explica Geografía y gentilicios

 Play Caption

3. With the Word él (with an accent)

The Spanish contractions al and del must not be used when what follows a or de is the accented form, or Spanish subject pronoun él (which means "he," "him," or "it" rather than "the").

Ahora, Lukas, todo el mundo se enamora de él.

Now, Lukas, everybody falls in love with him.

Caption 51, Amaya La historia de Lukas

 Play Caption

That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to know when and when not to use the two Spanish contractions al and del, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

You are surely familiar with the Spanish pronoun nada with the meaning of "nothing." But are you aware that it can have several additional meanings and translations? Let's explore many of them!

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Nada Meaning "Nothing"

Before we learn several of the lesser-known meanings of the Spanish word nada, let's look at its most common usage. Like "nothing" in English, the pronoun nada in Spanish can mean an absence or lack of anything, as we see here:

Es una palabra que define todo y nada al mismo tiempo

It's a word that defines everything and nothing at the same time

Caption 55, Carlos comenta Confidencial - Jerga típica colombiana

 Play Caption

Alternative Meanings of Nada

Now, let's move on to our 7 additional meanings of the Spanish word nada that may not initially come to mind. 

1. Anything:

When used with a double negative, the English equivalent of the pronoun nada in Spanish changes to "anything":

No, hoy no tengo nada qué hacer.

No, today I don't have anything to do.

Caption 42, Conversaciones en el parque Cap. 5: Me gusta mucho este parque.

 Play Caption

For a more in depth explanation of this topic, check out Yabla's lesson entitled Nada: Nothing or Anything?

2. None:

When the pronoun nada in Spanish is used to mean "none," it is typically accompanied by the preposition de, as we see below:

¿Por qué hace como si nada de esto estuviera pasando?

Why are you acting as if none of this were happening?

Caption 25, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 4 - Part 8

 Play Caption

3. Any:

Similarly to the manner in which nada can mean either "nothing," or "anything," its meaning also changes from "none" to "any" when used with the preposition de in a double negative sentence:

¡No, no... no! -No tiene que hacer nada de esto. -¡No, no, no, no, no!

No, no... no! -You don't have to do any of this. -No, no, no, no, no!

Caption 16, Tu Voz Estéreo Embalsamado - Part 17

 Play Caption

4. At All:

In this usage, nada functions as an adverb that can be translated with the English phrase "at all":

pero como no lo hago nada bien,

but since I don't do it well at all,

Caption 5, Beatriz Expresiones con colores

 Play Caption

5. Nowhere:

Moving on to some uses of the Spanish word nada as a noun, let's see how la nada can mean "nowhere":

"¿La gente cómo puede vivir en medio de la nada, no?",

"How can people live in the middle of nowhere, right?"

Caption 3, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Irwin y la acuarela - Part 3

 Play Caption

6. Nothingness:

Like the pronoun nada, the noun la nada can describe a complete lack of anything:

Era el frío de la nada

It was the cold of nothingness

Caption 41, Acercándonos a la Literatura José Asunción Silva - "Nocturno III"

 Play Caption

7. Void:

The Spanish noun la nada can additionally be translated as "the void" when referring either to empty space in a physical sense or one's feeling of emptiness:

Y mi papá miraba hacia la nada con una rabia feroz de la que no era muy consciente.

And my dad stared into the void with a ferocious rage he wasn't very conscious.

Caption 54, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 2 - Part 1

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

Expressions With Nada in Spanish

Now that you have learned 7 alternative English translations for the Spanish word nada, let's look at some common Spanish fixed expressions that include it, noting their English equivalents:

1. Antes de nada:

Antes de nada, vamos a repasar algunos conceptos e información necesaria

Before anything else, we're going to review some concepts and necessary information

Caption 1, Raquel y Marisa Aprender a conducir - Part 1

 Play Caption

2. Antes que nada:

Pero antes que nada, lo básico:

But first of all, the basics:

Caption 2, Conversaciones con Luis Astrología

 Play Caption

3. Como si nada:

y que anda por ahí como si nada, entonces.

and that he's out there as if it were nothing then.

Caption 20, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 2 - Part 4

 Play Caption

4. De nada:

De nada. Estoy para servirle. Permiso.

You're welcome. I'm at your service. Excuse me.

Caption 61, Programación de oficina El dictado del jefe

 Play Caption

5. Más que nada:

Bueno, ahora estoy haciendo, más que nada, un trabajo con los niños

Well, now, I'm doing, above all else, a project with children

Caption 28, Cleer Entrevista con Jacky

 Play Caption

6. Nada más:

no le importa nada más.

nothing else matters to them.

Caption 34, Aprendiendo con Silvia Frases hechas - Part 1

 Play Caption

7. No tener nada que ver con:

pero que no tiene nada que ver con temas religiosos.

but which has nothing to do with religious themes.

Caption 25, Viajando con Fermín La Feria de Santo Tomás

 Play Caption

8. Para nada:

¿Entonces no importa si la llamo? Para nada. -¡Para nada! 

Then it doesn't matter if I call her? Not at all. -Not at all!

Captions 43-44, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 5 - Part 7

 Play Caption

9. Primero que nada:

Primero que nada, pedirte perdón por lo de ayer.

First of all, to apologize for yesterday.

Caption 12, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 5 - Part 4

 Play Caption

10. Pues nada:

Pues nada, espero que... hayáis conocido un poquito este deporte, esta escuela, a mí,

Anyway, I hope that... you've learned a little bit about this sport, this school, myself,

Captions 80-81, Escuela de Pádel Albacete Hablamos con José Luis

 Play Caption

That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to understand many of the meanings of the Spanish word nada beyond simply "nothing," and don't forget to write us with your questions and suggestions. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Are you familiar with the word entonces in Spanish? While the Spanish word entonces is commonly translated as "then" or "so" in English, its meanings are actually quite nuanced. Let's explore several of them.

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

1. At That Time, Moment, or Occasion

Like the English word "then," in this usage, the Spanish word entonces could generally be replaced with the English phrase "at that moment" to refer to an occurrence at a specific point in time. Let's see some examples.

At a Specific Point in the Past

Y entonces se escaparon. 

And then you guys escaped.

Caption 35, Guillermina y Candelario El mundo de los juguetes perdidos - Part 2

 Play Caption

When talking about the past, it is common to use some of the following expressions, which are usually translated as "at that time" or  "back then":

en aquel entonces

por aquel entonces

en ese entonces

por ese entonces 

Let's listen to some of these in context:

Lo que vivió Colombia en aquel entonces era realmente aterrador. 

What Colombia experienced at that time was really terrifying.

Caption 50, Los Tiempos de Pablo Escobar Capítulo 1 - Part 14

 Play Caption

En aquel entonces los niños todavía podían salir solos 

Back then children could still go out alone

Caption 2, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 1 - Part 9

 Play Caption

En mi urbanización, junto a la piscina, vive una amiga que por aquel entonces tenía una gata totalmente blanca y con un pelo precioso. 

In my housing complex, next to the pool, a female friend lives who back then, had a totally white cat with beautiful fur.

Captions 26-27, Fermín y los gatos Mi gata Poeska

 Play Caption

At a Specific Point in the Future

entonces sabremos que hemos hecho un buen trabajo. 

then we'll know that we've done a good job.

Caption 77, Ana Carolina La meditación

 Play Caption

Notably, entonces may be used along with the preposition solo (only) to describe a moment in time as the equivalent of the English expression "only then":

Solo entonces se sabrá quiénes son los mejores. 

Only then it will be known who are the best ones.

Caption 76, Región mundo Paso a paso - Part 5

 Play Caption

2. That Time, Moment, or Occasion

In this second usage, entonces is placed right after some preposition to refer to a period of time in the past. Let's examine how entonces can be used with a couple of prepositions. 

"Back Then"

In the following example, we see the preposition de  combined with entonces to mean "(from) back then":

Yo me imagino que los artistas de entonces 

I imagine that the artists back then

Caption 40, Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori Una vida como pintor - Part 5

 Play Caption

"Ever Since"

The preposition desde can be combined with entonces to form the expression desde entonces, or "ever since" in English:

y esa es la razón por la cual resido aquí desde entonces. 

and that's the reason I've been living here ever since.

Caption 19, Adriana Mi historia con el café

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

3. In That Case, Therefore, or Being So

Let's explore how the Spanish word entonces can also be used similarly to the English words "then" and "so" with various, more specific meanings.

With Conditional Sentences

In this scenario, entonces is used to describe what might happen if something else takes place first. 

Si vienes, entonces te invito a comer. 

If you come, then I'll treat you to a meal.

Caption 22, Ana Carolina Condicionales

 Play Caption

To Conclude What Was Previously Said

Eh... No tenía muchos órganos, no estaban desarrollados, porque había tenido poco espacio en el útero de la madre. Entonces, fue un bebé prematuro, 

Um... He didn't have a lot of organs, they weren't developed because he had had little space in the mother's womb. So, he was a premature baby,

Captions 46-48, Amaya El burrito Luz - Part 2

 Play Caption

To Elaborate on Something That Was Previously Introduced

Yo voy a decir unas frases, y... utilizando ustedes, y tú vas a decir la misma frase utilizando vosotros. ¿OK? Entonces comenzamos con la primera frase. 

I'm going to say some sentences, and... using "ustedes," and you are going to say the same sentence using "vosotros." OK? So, let's start with the first sentence.

Captions 52-54, Carlos y Xavi Part 2 Ustedes y Vosotros

 Play Caption

To Introduce a Question That Asks for Clarification

¿no es cierto? -No, tampoco es lugar para mí. Entonces ¿por qué vas? Porque estoy loco. 

isn't that right? -No, it's not a place for me either. Then, why do you go? Because I'm crazy.

Captions 63-65, Muñeca Brava 47 Esperanzas - Part 1

 Play Caption

To Make an Obvious Conclusion 

In this usage, the word entonces often appears within the expression pues entonces (well then). 

"¡Esto está superfrío y de todas formas no sé nadar". "Pues entonces no podemos ir allí, donde comienza el cielo", 

"This is super cold, and anyway, I don't know how to swim." "Well then, we can't go there, where the sky begins,"

Captions 40-42, Pigueldito y Federico El cielo

 Play Caption

With this use of the Spanish word entonces, we have reached the end of this lesson. We hope that you now feel more confident about using the word entonces in Spanish, and don't forget to send us your comments and suggestions. ¡Hasta la próxima!

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

What a difference an accent makes! Did you know that the meanings of several Spanish words vary depending upon whether or not they have a written accent? Today, we'll learn ten such pairs of words, providing examples of each in context. Are you ready?!

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

1. Aun vs. Aún 

Aun:

The adverb aun in Spanish, without an accent, is the equivalent of the English word "even":

Aun así, me hubiera gustado tener algo más de luz.

Even so, I'd have liked to have had a bit more light.

Caption 63, Viajando con Fermín La Cueva de Nerja - Part 2

 Play Caption

Aún:

The adverb aún, on the other hand, with an accent, means "yet" or "still" in Spanish:

Aún no tengo hijos, eh...

I don't have kids yet, um...

Caption 29, La Sub30 Familias - Part 9

 Play Caption

2. De vs. Dé​

De:

The preposition de in Spanish is an extremely common word that can mean "of" or "from":

Yo soy de Barcelona, nací aquí,

I'm from Barcelona, I was born here,

Caption 23, Carlos y Xavi Diferencia de pronunciación entre España y Colombia - Part 1

 Play Caption

Dé:

The word dé with an accent, however, is a conjugated form of the verb dar (to give) in Spanish. It could be either the present subjunctive form that corresponds to the subject pronouns él (he), ella (she), or usted (formal "you") or the formal imperative. Let's look at an example of each:

Present Subjunctive:

que me dé una explicación.

for him to give me an explanation.

Caption 60, Yago 13 La verdad - Part 5

 Play Caption

Formal Imperative:

Démela, no se va a dar cuenta.

Give it to me, she won't realize.

Caption 42, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 7 - Part 2

 Play Caption

3. Esta vs. Está

Esta:

Without an accent, esta is the singular feminine demonstrative adjective that means "this":

Esta pasión empezó cuando yo era muy pequeña

This passion started when I was really little,

Caption 5, Adriana La lectura

 Play Caption

Está

With an accent, está is the third person singular and formal second person singular conjugation of the verb estar (to be).

y el mar está muy agitado.

and the sea is very choppy.

Caption 40, Aprendiendo con Silvia Las emociones - Part 8

 Play Caption

4. El vs. Él

El:

The word el in Spanish is the masculine singular definite article that means "the":

En el parque hay árboles,

At the park there are trees,

Caption 15, El Aula Azul Mi Barrio

 Play Caption

Él:

Él with an accent is a subject pronoun that means "he" or "it": 

Él tiene una responsabilidad con ustedes,

He has a responsibility to you guys,

Caption 41, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 13 - Part 4

 Play Caption

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

5. Mas vs. Más

Mas:

The Spanish word mas without an accent is a conjunction that is used similarly to the word pero in Spanish and also means "but":

"Te dije que me hicieras caso, mas no escuchaste".

"I told you to pay attention to me, but you didn't listen."

Caption 21, Aprendiendo con Priscilla La palabra "más"

 Play Caption

Más:

Meanwhile, the word más with an accent is the Spanish equivalent of the word "more":

"Necesito comprar más carros".

"I need to buy more cars."

Caption 15, Aprendiendo con Priscilla La palabra "más"

 Play Caption

For more on the difference between these two words, take a look the video from which these two examples were taken: Aprendiendo con Priscilla- La palabra "más."

6. Mi vs. Mí

Mi:

The non-accented word mi in Spanish is a short form possessive adjective that means "my" when referring to singular nouns:

Mi casa es pequeña.

My house is small.

Caption 10, Ariana Mi Casa

 Play Caption

Mí:

The accented version of this word is a prepositional pronoun that can be used after any  preposition (except the preposition con) to mean "me":

Para mí, el mejor jugador de fútbol es Leo Messi.

For me, the best soccer player is Leo Messi.

Caption 52, Carlos explica Las preposiciones 'por' y 'para' - Part 3

 Play Caption

7. Se vs. Sé

Se:

The pronoun se in Spanish has many uses, including in impersonal and passive se constructions, in the no fault construction, to say "each other" in phrases like se abrazaron (they hugged each other), and as the reflexive pronoun that accompanies reflexive verbs with él, ella, usted, and ustedes. The following example includes se in both an impersonal and a reflexive construction.

y, como se dice en España: "Hay que saberse bañar

and, as they say in Spain: "You have to know how to bathe yourself

Caption 77, Soledad Amistades

 Play Caption

Sé:

The accented version of the word sé is the first person conjugation of the verb saber (to know) in the present indicative:

yo sé que Ríos está aquí, hermano.

I know that Rios is here, brother.

Caption 58, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 4 - Part 6

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

8. Si vs. Sí​

Si:

Si without an accent in Spanish means "if":

Si vienes, entonces te invito a comer.

If you come, then I'll treat you to a meal.

Caption 22, Ana Carolina Condicionales

 Play Caption

And, as you surely already know, sí with an accent in Spanish means "yes":

Sí. -Sí, señor.

Yes. -Yes, sir.

Caption 94, Muñeca Brava 43 La reunión - Part 1

 Play Caption

Carolina sums up this difference well:

Entonces, "sí" es una palabra afirmativa cuando queremos algo, mientras que "si" es una palabra condicional.

So, "sí" is an affirmative word when we want something, while "si" is a conditional word.

Captions 38-40, Lecciones con Carolina Haber vs. A Ver / Si vs. Sí

 Play Caption

9. Te vs. Té

Te:

Te with no accent can be either a direct or indirect object pronoun or a reflexive pronoun that corresponds to the informal second person singular subject pronoun tú. Let's see it in use as a direct object pronoun:

Te voy a llevar a los mejores restaurantes.

I am going to take you to the best restaurants.

Caption 23, Clara y Cristina Hablan de actividades

 Play Caption

Té:

The accented version of té refers to the beverage "tea":

Si querés tomar té tomalo en tu escritorio... -Ah, está bien...

If you want to have tea, have it at your desk... -Oh, OK...

Caption 29, Muñeca Brava 3 Nueva Casa - Part 7

 Play Caption

10. Tu vs. Tú

Tu:

Tu (no accent!) is the informal second person singular possessive adjective that means "your":

¿Cómo se llama tu mamá?

What's your mom's name?

Caption 26, Ana Carolina Preguntas básicas con su hijo

 Play Caption

Tú:

As we mentioned previously, tú with an accent is a subject pronoun that informally means "you" in Spanish. 

¿Y tú? Que tampoco me has vuelto a llamar.

And you? You haven't called me again either.

Caption 18, Cleer y Lida Conversación telefónica - Part 1

 Play Caption

That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has clarified the difference between words in Spanish that, while pronounced identically, have different meanings depending upon whether or not they have an accent. Don't hesitate to write us with any questions, suggestions, or comments.

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Generally speaking, there are three main meals that many people eat each day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Do you know how to say the names of those three meals in Spanish? Let's see how the answer to that question depends upon where you happen to be in the Spanish-speaking world.

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

The Meals of the Day in Spain and Mexico

If you are in Spain or Mexico, the following are the names of the three main daily meals:

el desayuno (breakfast)

es la hora del desayuno

it's breakfast time,

Caption 7, Clase Aula Azul Acciones habituales y en este momento - Part 1

 Play Caption

la comida (lunch)

Todos los días, hago la comida a mediodía

Every day, I make lunch at midday

Caption 24, Ariana Mi Casa

 Play Caption

la cena (dinner)

y normalmente cuando llego a casa, me hago la cena,

and usually when I get home, I make myself dinner,

Caption 30, El Aula Azul Actividades Diarias

 Play Caption

In the following clip, our Mexican friend Karla mentions all three of these daily meals as she tells us how, in her country, tacos can be eaten at any time of the day!

Eh... Puedes encontrar tacos en todas las esquinas, en todas las ciudades de todo México y puedes comerlo, en realidad, de desayuno, de comida o de cena,

Um... You can find tacos on every corner, in every city throughout Mexico, and you can eat it, actually, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner,

Captions 37-39, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y los tacos - Part 2

 Play Caption

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

The Meals of the Day in Other Latin American Countries

In contrast, in most Latin American countries, the names of the three main meals are as follows:

el desayuno (breakfast)

Hoy es domingo y vamos a hacer el desayuno.

Today is Sunday, and we're going to make breakfast.

Captions 6-7, Quito Desayuno con Julia

 Play Caption

el almuerzo (lunch)

Al mediodía, preparo el almuerzo.

At noon, I make lunch.

Caption 14, GoSpanish La rutina diaria de Maru

 Play Caption

la comida or la cena (dinner)

While some places use the word comida (e.g. Colombia), others use the term cena (e.g. Argentina). Let's hear a couple of clips:

¿Qué es la comida?

What's for dinner?

Caption 9, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 1 - Part 3

 Play Caption

Bueno, espero que lleguemos justo para la cena porque tengo un hambre que me muero.

Well, I hope that we are arriving just [in time] for dinner because I am dying of hunger.

Caption 49, Muñeca Brava 44 El encuentro - Part 6

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

The Word Almuerzo in Spain

As we have just seen, the main difference between the meals of the day in Spain and Mexico vs. other Latin American countries is the term people use to talk about lunch. However, if you happen to hear the word almuerzo in Spain, you should be aware that, in that country, almuerzo refers to a mid-morning snack. In addition, it is very common for Spanish people to enjoy an afternoon snack called la merienda. Let's hear Raquel and Marisa explain this in detail:

El almuerzo es lo que tomamos entre el desayuno y la comida. Pero además tenemos la merienda y la cena. La merienda suele ser a las seis de la tarde. Y la cena es la última comida del día.

The mid-morning snack is what we have between breakfast and lunch. But in addition, we have the afternoon snack and dinner. The afternoon snack is usually at six in the afternoon. And dinner is the last meal of the day.

Captions 30-33, Raquel Presentaciones

 Play Caption

That's all for this lesson. We hope you learned some new words today, and don't forget to send us your suggestions and comments.

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Do you know how to say "there" in Spanish? There are three different ways: ahí, allí and allá. Today's lesson will explore the differences and similarities between them in both pronunciation and usage. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Pronunciation of the Words for "There" in Spanish

Let's learn how to pronounce the three ways to say "there" in Spanish.

Ahí

When listening to this word, keep in mind that the letter h in Spanish is silent (see Spanish Alphabet: Letters and Pronunciation to review this and more). Let's hear it in context:

Ahí está.

There it is.

Caption 10, Animales en familia La operación de Yaki - Part 1

 Play Caption

Allí

Although the word allí in Spanish is often confused with words like hay, ay, and ahí, its pronunciation is actually different from ahí due to the double L (ll) sound in Spanish, which is equivalent to the letter y. Let's listen to it:

Allí, los productos son muy frescos.

There, the products are very fresh.

Caption 11, Ariana Cena especial

 Play Caption

Hence, the pronunciation difference between the words ahí and allí can be broken down as follows:

ahí = ah-ee

allí = ah-yee

That said, this difference can be very hard to hear for non-native speakers, especially with accents from Spain or other regions where the ll/y sound is quite subtle. This sound is, however, more distinct in other regions like the Dominican Republic, where it sounds like a soft g or j, and Argentina and Uruguay, where it sounds like "sh," as we hear in this caption:

Por allí, están los botones "hide".

Over there are the "hide" buttons.

Caption 34, Julieta Promo

 Play Caption

Allá

The difference in the final letter makes the word allá stand out even more from its predecessors. Let's hear it pronounced:

Aha... allá.

Uh-huh... there.

Caption 55, Aprendiendo con Priscilla Juego de palabras

 Play Caption

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Using the Words for "There" in Spanish

Now let's explore the difference in meaning between the different words for "there" in Spanish. 

Ahí

The RAE (Real Academia Española) defines the word ahí as "en" or "a ese lugar" ("in" or "to that place") or simply "ese lugar" (that place). Having said that, remember that ese in Spanish is the "nearer" version of "that" with definitions ranging from "near the speaker," "far from the speaker but near to the listener" or "close but not within reach." With this in mind, let's see a couple of examples of the word ahí in context.

¿Me puedo sentar ahí? -Claro.

Can I sit there? -Of course.

Caption 27, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 1 - Part 8

 Play Caption

Allí

While the English translation of the definition for allí is the same as for ahí ("in" or "to that place" or "that place"), the difference lies in the replacement of the word ese with aquel, which also means "that" but constitutes a further distance (as explained in this lesson on demonstrative adjectives) that might be thought of as "far from both the speaker and the listener." Its translation can thus be either "there" or "over there." Let's see two examples where the speakers refer to locations far from where they currently are:

Y allí existe una de las mayores huertas de España,

And there, there is one of the biggest vegetable gardens in Spain,

Caption 41, Soledad Ensaladilla de brócoli

 Play Caption

y allí estuve durante diez años;

And I was there for ten years,

Caption 23, Luis Guitarra Influencias musicales - Part 1

 Play Caption

Allá

According to the RAE, one definition of allá, which can also be translated as "there" or "over there," is "en aquel lugar o sus proximidades" (in that place or its vicinity), making the term a bit more vague. Let's see an example:

Sin embargo, uno de los ecosistemas más importantes de la zona está allá. En el mar.

However, one of the most important ecosystems of the area is over there. In the sea.

Caption 65, Instinto de conservación Parque Tayrona - Part 2

 Play Caption

Allá can also be used in lieu of allí to emphasize the distance of a particular place:

Y pues entré a hacer mi maestría allá en Moscú, de... de imagen.

And well, I went to do my master's degree there in Moscow in... in photography.

Caption 40, Bogotá Fotógrafo José Segundo Quinche Pérez

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

Ahí, Allí and Allá: Overlap in Usage 

Although we have explored the primary definitions for the Spanish terms ahí, allí and allá, note that if you scroll further down in the entry for ahí, the RAE actually lists allí and allá as synonyms! This is because, like the words for "here" in Spanish (aquí and acá), the use of the words for "there" varies vastly from region to region and person to person, leading many speakers to use these terms differently or interchangeably. Let's see a couple of examples that deviate from the parameters we have learned:

Y ahí, no es como Madrid que sales cuando te da la gana, es que allí, no paras. 

And there, it's not like in Madrid where you go out when you feel like it, it's just that there, you never stop.

Captions 18-20, Arume Barcelona

 Play Caption

 Ahí, Allí and Allá: The Takeaway

To conclude today's lesson, let's concisely sum up what we have learned:

1. Generally speaking, ahí describes something relatively close to the speaker and/or listener. It is most typically translated as "there."

 

2. Allí usually describes something further away from both the speaker and listener. It is most typically translated as "there" or "over there."

 

3. Allá is similar to allí, but less specific, and can also be employed to emphasize distance. Its translations are "there" or "over there."

 

4. There is a great deal of overlap in the manner in which these words for "there" are used in spoken Spanish, which is often influenced more by the individual or region than any strict parameter of distance or grammatical rule.

That's all for this lesson. We hope that it has helped you to understand the differences and similarities among the three different ways to say "there" in Spanish, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER