Español for Gringos

Know your Spanish 'verbos'.

What's the difference between coser, toser y toser a?

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coser = to sew

toser = to cough

toser a = to bully

Nadie tose a Juanita. Se defiende de maravilla.

Nobody bullies Juanita. She defends herself brilliantly.

Know your Spanish nouns.

What's the difference between barandilla,

mantequilla y maravilla?

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barandilla = handrail or bannister

mantequilla = butter

In some parts of Latin America, manteca

is the more popular word for butter.

maravilla = wonder or beauty

El espectáculo del amanecer es una maravilla.

The spectacle of the sunrise is a wonder.

Six words or phrases often related to matrimony.

English is on the left, translation on the right...

in love                     enamorado/a

engagement          noviazgo     

the vows                 los votos

to live together     convivir

pregnant                 embarasada

mother-in-law        suegra

Know your Spanish 'verbos'.

What's the difference between

aterrizar y aterrorizarse?

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aterrizar  =  to land or touch down

aterrorizarse  =  to be terrified

El Águila ha aterrizado.

The Eagle has landed.

El bravucón me aterrorizó.

The bully terrified me.

Pronouncer... AH-ghee-lah.

Know your Spanish nouns.

What's the difference between

calefón, calamar y calabaza?

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calefón = water heater

calamar = squid

calabaza =  pumpkin

Know your nouns and pronouns.

What's the difference between

todo, toldo y toalla?

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todo = everything

toldo  = awning

toalla = towel

Pronouncer... toh-AH-yah

How's your 'mojo' today?

What's the difference between the words

mojo, mojado y mojón?

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mojo is a Spanish noun meaning

garlic sauce.

mojado is an adjective meaning 'wet'.

The female form of the word is 'mojada'.

mojón is a noun meaning milestone or

boundary stone/marker.

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In English slang, 'mojo' can mean a

magical charm, hex or power.

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Note that in Spanish, the syllable

'jo' is pronounced similarly

to the English word 'hoe'.

Know your Spanish nouns.

What's the difference between

mostaza, mostrador y mosto?

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mostaza = mustard or mustard greens

mostrador  =  countertop .. or bar (in tavern)

mosto  =  grape juice

The 'illa' nouns.

What's the difference between

mantequilla, mascarilla y marisquería?

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mantequilla = butter

mascarilla = face mask

marisqueria =  seafood restaurant

A common word for seafood is mariscos.

Out of this world.

English on left, Spanish on right.

the sun                el sol

a planet                un planeta

the moon             la luna

two moons          dos lunas

Earth                     La Tierra

Mars                       Marte

rotation                   rotación

the Solar System   El Sistema Solar

La Tierra realiza una rotación una vez

cada veinticuatro horas aproximadamente.

Earth completes a rotation approximately

every 24 hours.

Note that the words planeta and sistema

are masculine words despite ending with 'a'.

Know your 'verbos'.

What's the difference between

descartar, descubrir y descargar?

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descartar   =  discard

descubrir =  discover

descargar  =   unload or download