A consejo is “a piece of advice” and the verb aconsejar is “to advise.” Here in the Don Quijote classroom, we take a look at the grammar and language involved when doling out recommendations, suggestions, and the like, in Spanish.

Sometimes when we give advice it seems a little presumptious to tell people outright what we think they should do. It’s a little smoother to instead say what we would do if we were in their place, “I would watch more Spanish videos (if I were you).” Let’s have a look at how we do this in Spanish.

Although one language unites the people from all Spanish-speaking countries, it is useful- and fun- to become familiar with the different vocabulary and expressions utilized by Spanish speakers from various nations.

In a very amusing manner, Marina and Sol teach us some common greetings in Spanish. Study live with Marina, Sol and other great teachers at GoSpanish.Com. Your first five days are free and no credit card is needed.

With examples, Marina and Sol teach us the numbers in Spanish from one to one hundred. You can study live online with Marina, Sol and other excellent teachers any time at GoSpanish.Com. 5 day free trial, no credit card necessary.

Demonstrative pronouns such as "this ," "that," "these" and "those" can help us to indicate specific things. This video teaches us several demonstrative pronouns in Spanish. You can study live online with Marina, Sol and other excellent teachers any time at GoSpanish.Com. 5 day free trial, no credit card necessary.

Marina offers to help Sol with her lesson on telling time. Tarde can be translated as either "afternoon" or "evening," depending upon the hour. Tarde encompasses a longer period of time from many English speakers' notions of "afternoon" or "evening." Note that "Buenas noches" [literally "Good night"] may be used when many English speakers might use "Good evening" to greet someone at a later hour, whereas "Good night" in English tends to be used mainly at bedtime or to say goodbye. GoSpanish.Com

Vela, a word often used for “candle,” or “sail,” can also mean “wakefulness,” as in “vigilance.” It’s related to the verb velar, “to stand watch.” The name of the port city of La Vela de Coro refers not to the “sails” of merchant ships (as many assume) but rather to this town’s role as a “lookout” point for marauding pirates. One-eyed peg-legs are now less common, but the carnivalesque annual festival of Los Locos continues on.

Most English speakers have at some time in their lives heard Donovan sing “The Hurdy Gurdy Man,” but how many knew what such a man did? The woman in this video talks about a musical family that used to play the sinfonía, and indeed this is the Spanish name for the hand-crank organ known as a “hurdy gurdy.”

It’s quite possible that El Día de Los Locos, as celebrated in La Vela de Coro, has its roots as far back as the Roman Empire, which celebrated Saturnalia at the same time of year. Both festivals, historically, involve turning the social order on its head, with slaves dressing like their masters.