Surely you've heard the word hecho in Spanish. But did you know that this Spanish word can function as a noun, a verb, or an adjective, as well as being a part of countless fixed expressions? Let's look into the many uses of the word hecho in Spanish!
The masculine noun el hecho in Spanish can mean "the fact," "the incident," or "the event." Let's see some examples:
El hecho es que a mí Vargas me asignó ese caso
The fact is that Vargas assigned me that case
Caption 22, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 2 - Part 3
Play Caption
el microrrelato tenía que estar basado en un hecho o personajes históricos.
the flash fiction story had to be based on a historical event or figures.
Caption 15, Aprendiendo con Carlos El microrrelato - Part 3
Play Caption
Hecho is the participle form of the verb hacer, which means "to do" or "to make." Since participles are used with the auxiliary verb haber to form the perfect tenses (the equivalent of English sentences like "I have spoken," "I had eaten," etc.), the translations for hecho in this context would be "done" or "made." Let's listen to two examples where hecho accompanies haber as part of the present perfect tense:
Pero, ya he hecho un montón de cosas.
But, I've already done a ton of things.
Caption 22, Clase Aula Azul La segunda condicional - Part 1
Play Caption
Han hecho un viaje bastante largo.
They've made quite a long journey.
Caption 6, Amaya Mis burras Lola y Canija
Play Caption
The Spanish word hecho can also be an adjective that means "done" or "made." Let's take a look:
Pero todo hecho con el material o tejidos andinos.
But all made with Andean material or fabrics.
Caption 31, Otavalo Zapatos andinos
Play Caption
Remember that adjectives in Spanish must agree with the nouns they modify in terms of number and gender. Therefore, alternative forms of the masculine singular adjective hecho include the singular feminine hecha and the masculine/feminine plural forms hechos and hechas. Let's listen to two of these:
Es una masa redonda, hecha con harina,
It's some round dough made of flour,
Captions 5-6, El Aula Azul Adivinanzas de comidas - Part 3
Play Caption
Quesos especiales hechos aquí en la región.
Special cheeses made here in the region.
Caption 32, Desayuno Puerto Escondido Frijoles Refritos
Play Caption
The Spanish word hecho should not be confused with echo, which is the first person singular form of the verb echar (to throw, throw away, put in, etc.), as we hear in the following caption:
Primero echo casi más de la mitad.
First, I put in almost more than half [of the package].
Caption 45, Recetas de cocina Papa a la Huancaína
Play Caption
Because the "h" in hecho is silent, the identical pronunciation of these two words lead even native Spanish speakers to confuse them. However, bear in mind that as there is no such verb as hechar in Spanish, echo in this context should always be spelled without an "h."
In its various incarnations, the word hecho also appears in too many Spanish fixed expressions to name! Below you will find a smattering of these, with lots of examples from our Yabla Spanish video library. Can you figure out how the word hecho, or one of its variants, is functioning in each of them?
dar por hecho: to presume, to be a given, to take for granted
puesto que se da por hecho que cuando lo comunicamos es porque nos gusta
since it's presumed that when we communicate it it's because we like it
Captions 39-40, Raquel y Marisa Español Para Negocios - Introducción
Play Caption
de hecho: in fact
De hecho, es un sitio bastante tranquilo y pintoresco que vale la pena visitar.
In fact, it's a quite calm and picturesque place that's worth visiting.
Caption 23, Aprendiendo con Carlos América precolombina - El Dorado
Play Caption
quiero recalcar el hecho de que todo pasa,
I want to emphasize the fact that everything passes,
Captions 74-75, Soledad Refranes - Part 2
Play Caption
estar hecho polvo: to be exhausted (literally "to be made into dust")
"yo ya estoy hecho polvo.
"I'm exhausted already.
Caption 24, Pigueldito y Federico El cielo
Play Caption
hecho a mano: handmade
son todas hechas a mano; bordados hechos a mano,
they're all handmade, handmade embroidery,
Captions 40-41, Málaga Lourdes y la talabartería en Mijas Pueblo
Play Caption
hechos reales: a true story
basada en hechos reales.
based on a true story.
Caption 12, Aprendiendo con Silvia Nacionalidades y adjetivos - Part 1
Play Caption
trato hecho: it's a deal, done deal
Trato hecho, ¿sí o no? -¡Trato hecho!
It's a deal, yes or no? -It's a deal!
Caption 60, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 5
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped to give you a sense of the many ways that the word hecho can be used in Spanish, as well as the the one way in which it should not be. Don't forget to write us with your questions or comments.
You may have learned that the Spanish word que without an accent most commonly means "that," while its accented version qué tends to function like the English word "what" within questions. However, since both versions of que in Spanish can be employed as different parts of speech and within different constructions, with varying English translations, today's lesson will lay out many of these with plenty of examples from the Yabla Spanish library.
In this usage, que is used like "that" or "who" in English to introduce essential characteristics. Let's see some examples:
En esta aula tan solo había un chico que era español;
In this classroom, there was only one boy who was Spanish,
Caption 23, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Nacionalidades y adjetivos - Part 1
Play Caption
Se lo comen todo, hasta un aceite que huele a orégano.
They eat everything, even an oil that smells like oregano.
Caption 43, Amaya Burras a dieta
Play Caption
Sometimes, que functions like the English words "who," "that," or "which" to introduce additional, or nonessential, information, in which case it is typically set off by commas as in the following caption:
Así que Poeska, que es demasiado buena, optaba por irse
So Poeska, who is too nice, would choose to leave
Caption 64, Fermín y los gatos Mi gata Bimba
Play Caption
This less formal use of the word que could be translated with the English words "because" or "since":
Ay, no te quejés tanto, que mañana me tenés que llevar a hacer unas vuelticas.
Oh, don't complain so much since tomorrow, you have to take me to run some errands.
Caption 4, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 8
Play Caption
Que is often used as the Spanish equivalent of "than" for making comparisons in Spanish.
Eres más compleja que tu madre.
You're more complex than your mother.
Caption 60, Yago - 6 Mentiras - Part 5
Play Caption
In this case, the word que comes between a verb and a subsequent conjecture or statement. Let's take a look:
Recuerde que todo el país tiene los ojos en usted
Remember that the whole country has its eyes on you,
Caption 62, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 3 - Part 5
Play Caption
Y bueno, yo creo que Lukas se nos ha quedado dormido.
And well, I think Lukas has fallen asleep on us.
Caption 57, Amaya Mi camper van
Play Caption
Note that while, in the first example, the word que has been translated as "that," in the second example, it has not been translated at all. This is because, although the word que is necessary in such constructions in Spanish, its English equivalent is often optional (the word "that" could also be left out of the first example). Furthermore, remember that if what follows que is a wish or desire, the next verb must be conjugated in a subjunctive tense, as follows:
No queremos que nuestra ley parezca demasiado blanda.
We don't want our law to look too lenient.
Caption 25, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 2 - Part 14
Play Caption
And speaking of the subjunctive, the word que can be used along with a subjunctive verb to give the idea that one "hopes" or desires something, or in the way that English speakers use "May..."
Que descanses. -Gracias.
[I hope you] sleep well. -Thanks.
Caption 12, Yago 8 Descubrimiento - Part 3
Play Caption
¡Que suenen las voces del himno nacional,
May the voices of the national anthem sound,
Caption 39, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 5 - Part 8
Play Caption
There are two main uses of the word qué in Spanish with a tilde, or written accent. Let's find out what they are.
The word qué in Spanish with a written accent is the equivalent of "what" in English and appears in both direct and indirect questions, or statements that include unknown information. Let's see an example of each:
¿Y tú, Cleer, qué idiomas hablas?
And you, Cleer, what languages do you speak?
Caption 18, Cleer y Lida ¿Qué idiomas hablas?
Play Caption
porque todavía no se sabe de qué rincón o de qué carta se está hablando.
because it's still not known what corner or what letter is being spoken about.
Captions 46-47, Carlos explica Los artículos en español - Part 3
Play Caption
Qué with an accent can also mean "how" or "what" within exclamations or interjections like the following:
¡Ah, qué rico!
Oh, how tasty!
Caption 40, Cleer y Lida Juego de preguntas y respuestas - Part 2
Play Caption
¡Pero qué chica más inteligente!
But what a smart girl!
Caption 27, Muñeca Brava 43 La reunión - Part 5
Play Caption
That's all for today. Although the many uses of the Spanish word que can feel a bit overwhelming, we hope that this lesson has clarified for you many of the major ones, and don't forget to write us with your questions or comments.
Are you familiar with the Spanish preposition entre? While the preposition entre in Spanish is most often a direct equivalent for the many uses of the English words "among" and "between," it can occasionally be utilized in slightly different ways and with different translations than its English counterparts. Today's lesson will explore many of its nuances.
According to the Dictionary of the Spanish language, the Spanish preposition entre "denotes the situation or state in between two or more things." Let's break up this definition into a few subcategories:
The Spanish preposition entre might describe the nature of a relationship "between" entities, whether talking about bloodlines or quality. Let's see an example of each:
La relación entre José y yo. ¿José es mi...? -Hermano.
The relationship between Jose and me. Jose is my...? -Brother.
Captions 19-20, Curso de español Vamos a hablar de la familia
Play Caption
La relación entre mi papá y mi abuela era tan amistosa como la que tenía Rusia con Estados Unidos.
The relationship between my dad and my grandma was as friendly as the one Russia had with the United States.
Captions 8-9, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 13 - Part 2
Play Caption
Now, let's look at an example where entre describes the "state" between two things:
encontréis ese equilibrio entre cuerpo y mente.
you find that balance between body and mind.
Caption 60, Ana Teresa 5 principios del yoga
Play Caption
And finally, like the English word "between," the Spanish preposition entre can be employed to compare things:
¿Y sabéis cuál es la diferencia entre la lava y el magma?
And do you know what the difference between lava and magma is?
Caption 24, Aprendiendo con Silvia Los volcanes
Play Caption
The preposition entre in Spanish also comes up in some situations in which an English speaker might use the word "in" or "within." Examining two different captions from the same video, note that while the first has been translated with the more literal "among," it could be substituted with the English word "in," while "in" is probably the only suitable choice in the second example.
Allí, se escondió entre los juncos.
There, he hid among the reeds.
Caption 29, Cleer El patito feo
Play Caption
Pero, afortunadamente, una viejita que lo había visto entre la nieve, lo recogió.
But, fortunately, an old woman who had seen him in the snow picked him up.
Caption 39, Cleer El patito feo
Play Caption
Another use of the Spanish preposition entre is to refer to an intermediate state between two or more things:
Granada produce al año entre quince y veinte millones de kilos de aguacate
Granada produces per year between fifteen and twenty million kilos of avocados
Captions 1-2, 75 minutos Del campo a la mesa - Part 16
Play Caption
Entonces los edificios tienen ese toque especial... de mezcla entre la arquitectura antigua y la moderna.
So the buildings have that special touch... from the mix between old and modern architecture.
Captions 20-21, Yabla en Buenos Aires Puerto Madero
Play Caption
This Spanish preposition can furthermore depict an intermediate physical location:
se sentaba siempre entre las dos únicas chicas de la clase,
always sat between the only two girls in the class,
Caption 33, Aprendiendo con Silvia Nacionalidades y adjetivos - Part 1
Play Caption
The word entre in Spanish can likewise entail the idea of inclusion, as in the following two examples, where it could be replaced by the English phrase "as one of":
No gané el concurso, pero quedé entre los finalistas
I didn't win the contest, but I placed among the finalists,
Captions 46-47, Aprendiendo con Carlos El microrrelato - Part 3
Play Caption
Entre ellos, tenemos estos burros de peluche que a la gente le gusta mucho.
Among them, we have these stuffed donkeys that people like a lot.
Captions 14-15, Santuario para burros Tienda solidaria
Play Caption
As we see in the following examples, the Spanish preposition entre might also evoke the idea of collaborative effort:
Si podemos imaginarlo, entre todos podemos lograrlo.
If we can imagine it, among all of us, we can achieve it.
Caption 9, Con ánimo de lucro Cortometraje - Part 1
Play Caption
El plato se llama "La Deli" y entre los tres le vamos a dar forma y la decoración.
The dish is called "The Deli," and between the three of us, we're going to give it shape and decorate it.
Caption 24, Misión Chef 2 - Pruebas - Part 7
Play Caption
If you wish to speak about what is done customarily "among" particular groups, the Spanish preposition entre could additionally come in handy:
"Hermano" es una palabra que se usa mucho entre amigos
"Brother" is a word that is used a lot among friends
Caption 35, Carlos comenta Confidencial - Jerga típica colombiana
Play Caption
una serie argentina que es muy popular entre nuestros usuarios.
an Argentine series that is very popular among our users.
Captions 3-4, Carlos y Cyndy Comentario sobre Muñeca Brava
Play Caption
And finally, the preposition entre in Spanish can suggest reciprocity, in which case it might be translated with the English "each other."
y cómo se apoyaban entre ellos.
and how they supported each other.
Caption 19, Aprendiendo con Silvia Nacionalidades y adjetivos - Part 2
Play Caption
se juntaban las españolas de ese pueblo para hablar entre ellas.
the Spanish women from that town would get together to talk to each other.
Captions 49-50, Soledad Amistades
Play Caption
We hope that this lesson has helped you to better understand the many uses of the Spanish preposition entre, especially those that are slightly different than the manners in which its English equivalents "among" and "between" are employed. Feel free to write us with your questions and suggestions.
French
German
Italian
Chinese
English
English 
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
