Learn Spanish

« January 2007 | Main | March 2007 »

February 21, 2007

Spanish nouns that change meaning according to gender

Following are a few nouns that change meaning altogether according to their gender. Study and memorize this chart:

 

Masculine nouns		Feminine nouns
el capital	capital (money)	la capital	capital (city)
el coma	coma	la coma	comma
el corte	cut	la corte	court
el cura	priest	la cura	cure
el orden	order (sequence, arrangement)	la orden	order (command, religious order)
el papa	Pope	la papa	potato
el policía	police officer	la policía	police department

PDF download: Spanish nouns that change meaning according to gender

Posted by lubw00 at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)

February 20, 2007

The Most Common Spanish Words

In this post we are going to go over the most common Spanish words. These include Spanish articles, Spanish conjunctions, Spanish prepositions, Spanish adverbs, and Spanish adjectives. We are going to visit the bigger pieces (pronouns, nouns, verb, and more adjectives/adverbs) in later posts.

ARTICLES
el m. the la f. the los m. the las f. the a to, at al to the, at the (= a el) de of, from, by del of the, from the, by the (= de al) un m. a, an, one una f. a, an, one uno m. a, an, one unos m. some, a few unas f. some, a few cada each

CONJUNCTIONS
que that, than y and o or como as, like pero but si if porque because cuando when ni nor, neither donde where e and aunque although, even though sino but, except mientras while
PREPOSITIONS
en in, on, into sobre about, above, on top of entre between, among por through, for (means), along, by para in order to, for (ends) con with sin without hasta until desde from, since durante during, for (time) contra against hacia toward según according to

ADVERBS
sí yes no no, not más more menos less ya already, now, soon todavía still, yet antes before, earlier ahora now después after, later muy very bien well sólo (solamente) only además besides, in addition casi almost así so tan so entonces then luego then, later aquí here allí there hoy today ayer yesterday mañana tomorrow siempre always nunca never también also, too tampoco neither, not either

ADJECTIVES
este m. this esta f. this estos m. pl. these estas f. pl. these esto [neutral] this ese m. that esa f. that esos m. pl. those esas f. pl. those eso [neutral] that todo m. all toda f. all todos m. all, everyone todas f. all, everyone otro other, another otra other, another otros other, others otras other, others mismo same tanto so much, as much mejor better mayor bigger, older poco little (not much) mucho much bueno good gran great general general tal such, such a primera first alguno some, something algunos some ninguno no, none

PDF download: The Most Common Spanish Words

Posted by lubw00 at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)

February 14, 2007

Spanish Words for Love

"Love" as a Spanish noun

* afición (enthusiasm): Tiene afición por las cosas de su tierra. She has a love for the things of her land.
* amado (sweetheart)
* amante (sweetheart)
* amistad (friendship)
* amor (pure love, romantic love)
* caridad (charity)
* cariño/cariña (sweetheart)
* cero (score in tennis): Cero a cero. Love all.
* pasión (passion, not necessarily romantic)
* querido (sweetheart)
* recuerdos (regards): Mándale recuerdos míos. Send him my love.

"Love" as a Spanish verb

* amar (to love, to love romantically): Te amo. I love you.
* encantar (indicating strong like): Me encanto escribir. I love to write.
* gustar mucho (indicating strong like): Me gusta mucho este sofá. I love this sofa.
* querer (to love romantically, to want): Te quiero. I love you.
 

PDF download: Spanish Words for love

Posted by lubw00 at 01:28 PM | Comments (0)

Spanish Negation and Negative Spanish Pronouns

Spanish negation can be made by placing "no" in front of the verb. For example:
Me gusta el cuarto. (I like the room.)
No me gusta el cuarto. ( I don't like the room.)

Following are some affirmative Spanish words and their usual negative counterparts.

si (yes)
no (no)

algo (something)
nada (nothing)

alguien (somebody)
nadie (nobody)

alguno (some, something)
ninguno (no, none)

siempre (always)
nunca (never)

tambien (also, too)
tampoco (neither, not either)

o ... o ... (either... or ...)
ni ... ni ... (neithr ... nor ...)

These negative Spanish words can be used in front of the verb, just like the example we saw above for "no". Here are more examples:

Nunca estudio en la biblioteca. (I never study in that library.)
Nadie canta como ellos. (Nobody sings like them.)

These Spanish words can also follow the verb when used with "no". Note that unlike English, double negations are common in Spanish.

No vamos a comer nada. (We're not going to eat anything.)
No vi a nadie. (I didn't see anyone.)
No habla nadie. (Nobody speaks.)

PDF download: Spanish Negation and Negative Spanish Pronouns

Posted by lubw00 at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)

February 12, 2007

Spanish words that end in z

Spanish words that end in z are usually nouns or adjectives.

For Spanish nouns that end in z, the "z" will turn into a "c" and followed by "es" in plural forms. For example:
la vez - las veces     (many times)
la voz - las voces    (a lot of voices)
el lápiz - los lápices    (many pencils)
el avestruz - los avestruces  (many ostriches)

Remember Spanish adjectives also have plural forms. The same plural form rule applies for Spanish adjectives that end in z: the "z" will turn into a "c" and followed by "es" in plural forms. For example:
feliz - felices  (happy)
capaz - capaces (capable)
perspicaz - perspicaces (perspicacious)
precoz - precoces (precocious)

Two comprehensive lists of Spanish words that end in z are given below:
Spanish adjectives that end in z
Spanish nouns that end in z

Spanish adjectives that end in z

atroz	atrocious; appalling; tremendous; enormous; huge
audaz	daring; audacious; bold; impudent; cheeky
capaz	capable; able; competent; having room or capacity; capacious; roomy; capable
eficaz	efficient; efficacious; effective; effectual
falaz	false; deceitful; deceptive; fallacious
feliz	happy; fortunate; good; felicitous
feroz	ferocious; fierce; ravenous
fugaz	brief; fleeting; fugacious; fugitive; transitory; estrella fugaz: shooting star
incapaz	incapable; unable; unfit
ineficaz	ineffective; inefficient; ineffectual
infeliz	unhappy; unfortunate; wretched; wretch; simple; naive; good-natured
locuaz	talkative; loquacious; garrulous
montaraz	of the woods; wild; untamed; uncouth; rude; forester
mordaz	caustic; biting; sharp; acerbic; pungent; acrid; corrosive
perspicaz	perceptive; keen-sighted; perspicacious
pertinaz	stubborn; persistent; pertinacious
precoz	precocious; early
procaz	impudent; brazen; obscene
sagaz	astute; shrewd; sagacious; keen-scented
soez	obscene; rude; coarse; base; vile
suspicaz	suspicious; distrustful
tenaz	tenacious; determined; stubborn; hard to remove; persistent; difficult to get rid of; adhesive; tough
veloz	fast; quick; swift; fleet; rapid
veraz	truthful; veracious
vivaz	vivacious; lively; sharp; active; vigorous; keen; quick-witted; long-lived
voraz	voracious; greedy; ravenous; destructive; fierce

Spanish nouns that end in z

acidez	sharpness; acidity; heartburn
actriz	actress
ajedrez	chess
albornoz	bathrobe; burnoose
alcatraz	gannet; cuckoopint; white pelican
altavoz	loudspeaker; speaker
altivez	haughtiness; arrogance; pride
altramuz	lupin; lupine
antifaz	mask; veil covering the face
aprendiz	trainee; apprentice
arroz	rice
avestruz	ostrich
avidez	eagerness; avidity; greed
barniz	varnish; glaze; veneer; smattering
beodez	drunkenness
cáliz	chalice; calyx; cup of sorrow
candidez	naturalness; simplicity; whiteness; naïvety
capataz	foreman; overseer; steward
cariz	aspect; look
cerviz	cervix; neck; nape of the neck
chochez	senility; dotage
cicatriz	scar; cicatrice
codorniz	quail
coz	kick from a beast; recoil; butt
cruz	cross; burden; tails; withers; dagger; crown
dejadez	carelessness; negligence; laziness; slovenliness; neglect
desfachatez	nerve; cheek; impudence; brazenness; effrontery
desliz	slip; blunder; false step; frailty; indiscretion; sliding; slipping
desnudez	nakedness; nudity; bareness
disfraz	disguise; fancy dress; costume; dissimulation; dissembling
doblez	fold; crease; ply; cuff; duplicity; deceitfulness
embriaguez	intoxication; drunkenness; inebriation
emperatriz	empress
esbeltez	slenderness
escasez	shortage; scarcity; dearth; shortness; stinginess; want; poverty
esplendidez	magnificence; splendour; generosity; lavishness
esquivez	disdain; coldness; gruffness; shyness
estrechez	narrowness; hardship; tightness; strictness; pressure; closeness; intimacy; jam; predicament; penury; poverty
estupidez	stupidity; stupid thing
exquisitez	exquisiteness; delicacy; excellence
faz	face; visage; aspect; obverse
flaccidez	flaccidity; flabbiness
fluidez	fluidity; fluency; fluidness; flowingness
frigidez	frigidity
generatriz	generatrix
haz	bundle; sheaf; faggot; gavel; beam; pencil; fascicle; face; visage; hacer
hez	sediment; dregs; scum
honradez	honesty; probity; integrity; uprightness
hoz	sickle; gorge; ravine
idiotez	idiocy
inmadurez	immaturity
insensatez	foolishness; stupidity; folly
institutriz	governess
invalidez	disability; invalidity
jerez	sherry
juez	judge; justice; official; juez de línea: linesman
languidez	listlessness; disinterest; languor; languidness
lápiz	pencil; crayon; lápiz de labios: lipstick; lápiz de labios: lipstick
liquidez	liquidity; liquidness
locomotriz	locomotive
lombriz	earthworm; lombriz intestinal: roundworm
lucidez	lucidity
luz	light; span; luces de cruce: dimmer; dipped headlights
madurez	maturity; ripeness; adulthood; wisdom; prudence
maíz	maize; corn; maíz dulce: sweetcorn
matiz	shade; tint; nuance; hue
matraz	flask; matrass
matriz	womb; mould; mold; matrix; stub; counterfoil; stencil; first; main; chief; mother
memez	stupid act or remark; silliness; stupidity
meretriz	harlot; strumpet
motriz	motor; engine; dynamic force; driving
mudez	dumbness
nariz	nose; nostril; bouquet; nose-shaped catch for a latch
niñez	childhood; infancy
nitidez	clearness; sharpness; neatness; clarity; lack of ambiguity
nuez	walnut; nut; Adam's apple; nuez moscada: nutmeg
ñoñez	insipidness; spinelessness; shyness; bashfulness; fussiness; senility; dotage; inanity; stupid thing; endearment; flattery; whining
ordinariez	vulgarity; grossness; coarseness; ordinariness; inferior quality; rude remark
palidez	pallor; paleness; wanness
paloduz	liquorice; licorice
parteluz	mullion
peladez	poverty; vulgarity; rude word; obscenity
pequeñez	smallness; littleness; childhood; pettiness; meanness; trifle; triviality
perdiz	partridge; perdiz blanca: ptamirgan
pesadez	heaviness; burdensomeness; tiresomeness; irksomeness; drowsiness; sultriness; slowness; clumsiness; gravity; fullness; bore; pain
pez	fish; pitch; tar; pez de colores: goldfish; pez gordo: big shot
placidez	placidness; placidity
pómez	piedra pómez: pumice stone
portavoz	megaphone; mouthpiece; spokesman
precoz	precocious; early
preñez	pregnancy; fullness
putridez	putridity
quibutz	kibbutz
raíz	root; stem
rapidez	speed; rapidity; quickness; swiftness
regaliz	liquorice; licorice
ridiculez	ridiculousness; oddity; eccentricity; pittance; trifle
rigidez	rigidity; intolerance
rodríguez	grass widower
rojez	redness; reddishness; ruddiness
sandez	stupidity; silliness; inanity; foolish or stupid act or remark; piece of nonsense
secuaz	minion; henchman; follower
sencillez	simplicity; easiness; plainness; unpretentiousness; naturalness
sensatez	good sense; sense; wisdom
solaz	form of entertainment; form of relaxation; solace; comfort; relief; recreation
solidez	solidity; firmness; strength; soundness; fastness
sordidez	squalor; dirtiness; squalidity; sordidness
tamiz	sieve; bolter
tapiz	tapestry
tartamudez	stammer; stutter
tez	skin; complexion
timidez	shyness; timidness; timorousness
tirantez	tightness; tautness; tenseness; tension; strained condition
tozudez	stubbornness; obstinacy
tragaluz	skylight
trasluz	light seen through a translucent body; gleam; glint; al trasluz: against the light
Túnez	Tunisia; Tunis
validez	validity
variz	varicose vein
vejez	old age; oldness; peevishness of old age; platitude; old history
veloz	fast; quick; swift; fleet; rapid
vez	time; turn; stead; place; una vez: once; dos veces: twice; en vez de: instead of
viudez	widowhood
voz	voice; shout; rumour; rumor; word; term; vote; rumour; public opinion

PDF download: Spanish words that end in z

Posted by lubw00 at 05:13 AM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2007

Days of the Week in Spanish

Following are the days of the week in Spanish.

            lunes            Monday
            martes         Tuesday
            miércoles     Wednesday
            jueves          Thursday
            viernes         Friday
            sábado        Saturday
            domingo      Sunday

 Following are some observations and rules:

• Note that all these Spanish words are not capitalized.
• The days of the week are all masculine.
  el lunes
  el martes
  el miércoles
  el jueves
  el viernes
  el sábado
  el domingo
   
• When used with the days of the week, the definite article el, los has the special meaning "on."
  
  No trabajo el lunes.
  I don't work on Monday.
  
  No trabajo los lunes.
  I don't work on Mondays.
  
  Hay una reunión el miércoles.
  There is a meeting on Wednesday.
  
  Hay muchas reuniones los miércoles.
  There are many meetings on Wednesday.
   
• Days of the week ending in -s (Monday to Friday) do not change form in the plural. Only the article changes. Sábado (Saturday) and domingo (Sunday) do not end in -s and they follow the regular plural form of nouns.
  
  el lunes
  los lunes
  
  el viernes
  los viernes
  
  el sábado
  los sábados
  
  el domingo
  los domingos
   
• The verb ser is used to express the day.
  
  ¿Qué día es hoy?
  What day is today?
  
  Hoy es lunes.
  Today is Monday.
  
  Mañana es martes.
  Tomorrow is Tuesday.

 

PDF download: Days of the Week in Spanish

 

Posted by lubw00 at 06:36 AM | Comments (0)

February 09, 2007

Common Spanish Greetings

Señor          Sir
Señora        Madam 
Señorita      Miss

Hola           Hi, Hello

Buenos días             Good morning
Buenas tardes         Good afternoon
Buenas noches        Good evening, Good night

Adiós                      Good-bye
Hasta luego            See you later
Hasta la vista         See you later

Por favor                 Please
Perdón                    Sorry, Pardon, Excuse me
Gracias                   Thanks
De nada                  You're welcome
Con mucho gusto    Gladly, My pleasure

¿Cómo estás?           How are you? (informal)
¿Cómo está usted?   How are you? (formal)
¿Qué tal?                 How's going? (informal)

Estoy bien            I am good.
Estoy muy bien    I am great, I am very good

PDF download: Common Spanish Greetings

Posted by lubw00 at 05:13 AM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2007

1001 Most Useful Spanish Words

1001 Most Useful Spanish Words Rating: This is one of Seymour Resnick's 20 some books on learning Spanish and French (the author died on Jan 14, 2007 according to one post on Amazon.com). It is actually a small dictionary of commonly used Spanish words. It is a helpful librito for anyone trying to build up his/her Spanish vocabulary. There are 1001 Spanish words for this booklet, as the title says. Each Spanish word is followed by its concise English translation. An example Spanish sentence is then shown for the Spanish word. An English translation is then given for the Spanish sentence. In general, "1001 Most Useful Spanish Words" is a good book to have. Recommended.  Buy 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words         or Read More about "1001 Most Useful Spanish Words" Note: librito = libro (book) + ito (diminutive suffix) = booklet; Other examples: poco (little) + ito = pocito (a little bit); minuto (minute) + ito = minutito (a little while).

Posted by lubw00 at 03:43 AM | Comments (0)

February 06, 2007

Ser vs Estar

There are two 'to be' verbs in Spanish, ser and estar. Ser is used to describe the nature and characteristics of something (permanent). Estar is used to describe the current state of something (temporal).

• La noche es oscura. Night is dark. (in general)
• El cuarto está oscuro. The room is dark. (For example, the lights aren't working).
   
• Ricardo es guapo. Richard is a handsome guy.
• Ricardo está guapo. Richard looks handsome. (Maybe he is dressing up)
   
• La falda es roja. The skirt is red.
• El semáforo está rojo. The traffic light is red. (for the time being)
   
• Helena es alegre. Helena is a happy person. (in general)
• Helena está alegre. Helena is happy (right now).

Estar is also used to to when describing location.

• Mi amigos están aqui. My friends are here.
• La salida está allá. The exit is there.

PDF download: Ser vs Estar

Posted by lubw00 at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2007

Plural forms of Spanish adjectives

In English adjectives have no plural forms. However, in Spanish it is different. Adjectives must be made plural when describing a plural noun. For example:

(singular) El muchacho es aplicado.(The boy is diligent.)
(plural) Los muchachos es aplicados. (The boys are diligent.)

(singular) La muchacha es simpática.(The girl is nice.)
(plural) Las muchachos es simpáticas. (The girls are nice.)

The plural of adjectives, like the plural of nouns, is formed by adding -s if the adjective ends in a vowel, or -es if the adjective ends in a consonant.

(singular) simpática (nice)
(plural) simpáticas (nice)

(singular) azul (blue)
(plural) azules (blue)

Related article: Plural forms of Spanish nouns

PDF download: Plural forms of Spanish adjectives

Posted by lubw00 at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)

February 04, 2007

Spanish Numbers from one to one million

Following are Spanish numbers from one to one million.

1     uno
2     dos
3     tres
4     cuatro
5     cinco
6     seis
7     siete
8     ocho
9     nueve
10     diez
11     once
12     doce
13     trece
14     catorce
15     quince
16     diez y seis (dieciséis)
17     diez y siete (diecisiete)
18     diez y ocho (dieciocho)
19     diez y nueve (diecinueve)
20     veinte
21    veinte y uno
22    veinte y dos
23    veintie y res
30    treinta
31    treinta y uno
32    treinta y dos
40    cuarenta
50    cincuenta
60    sesenta
70    setenta
80    ochenta
90    noventa
100    cien, ciento
101    ciento uno
102    ciento dos
200    doscientos
300    trescientos
400    cuatrocientos
500    quinientos
600    seiscientos
700    setecientos
800    ochocientos
900    novecientos
1000    mil
2000    dos mil
100,000    cien mil
1,000,000 un millón

Note that there are two forms for numbers from 16 to 19 (and 21 to 29, not shown here) have two written forms, however the pronunciations are the same for the two forms. The numbers above 30 are spelled as three words but pronounced as one word. The ay combination (treinta y uno) sounds like I sound as in "I like it".
 

PDF download: Spanish Numbers from one to one million

Posted by lubw00 at 02:25 AM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2007

Masculine vs Feminine Spanish Nouns II

Following are more rules that might help you determine the gender of some nouns:

1. Nouns ending in -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre, -ción and -sión are generally feminine:
   la ciudad (city)
   la universidad (university)
   
   la libertad (liberty)
   la dificultad (difficulty)
   
   la actitud (attitude)
   la gratitud (gratitude)
   
   la certidumbre (certainty)
   la muchedumbre (crowd)
   
   la nación (nation)
   la construcción (construction)
   
   la televisión (television)
   la decisión (decision)
    
2. Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a:
   el profesor - la profesora (teacher)
   el doctor - la doctora (doctor)
   el señor - la señora (Mr, Mrs)
    
3. Four of the nouns ending in -a are masculine and must be memorized.
   el día   (day)
   el mapa   (map)
   el planeta   (planet)
   el sofá  (sofa)
    
4. A few nouns ending in -o are feminine.
   la mano (hand)
   la radio (radio)

PDF download: Masculine vs Feminine Spanish Nouns II

Posted by lubw00 at 01:57 AM | Comments (0)