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spanishskulduggery · 24 hours

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My Spanish course has started using the phrase '¿Qué quiere decir ...?'. For example, one of our current weekly questions is: '¿Qué quiere decir la frase “si nuestros hijos aprenden quechua van a continuar viviendo en un país sin ser parte de él”?'.

From what I've seen online, both '¿Qué quiere decir ...?' and '¿Qué significa ...?' have been translated to 'What does ... mean?'. Am I right to assume that although they both translate to the same English phrase, they aren't entirely interchangeable? My first instinct is that '¿Qué significa ...?' is more about the literal meaning of a word or sentence (e.g. '¿Qué significa "el hijo" en inglés?'), whereas '¿Qué quiere decir ...?' is asking about the underlying meaning something is trying to communicate.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question!!

This is a little difficult to explain since some of it is based on feeling

But basically significar is usually more impersonal and said of things not people - at least in this context

You're basically talking about "what does this mean?" and "what is its meaning?" if that makes sense

querer decir as "to mean" is "what is trying to be expressed" and it is more often spoken of in terms of language, what someone says or does, or what something is trying to communicate

significar is talking about "meaning/significance"

...

If you saw a sign on the wall and it didn't make sense you could easily use ¿qué quiere decir? and ¿qué significa esto? for "what does it mean?"

If you were talking to someone though you would say ¿qué quieres decir? "what do you mean?"; using significar would be done in 3rd person like "what does that mean?" or asking about a certain word, more impersonal

...

The other issue is that when significar is used with people it means "to hold significance" like significas mucho is "you mean a lot" like "you are important (to someone)"

...

Otherwise I typically use significar for definitions/meaning; and I use querer decir for intentions/meaning

As in if you're specifically looking for understanding ¿qué significa? can sometimes be ¿cuál es el significado? "what is the meaning?" - more so said of things and concepts

And if I want to know specifically what someone is trying to say or what they mean by their words it's more ¿qué quieres decir? or sometimes ¿qué pretendes decir? "what are you attempting to say?" [which can sometimes be a bit spicy in context like "oh what's THAT supposed to mean???"]

#asks #spanish #learning spanish #langblr #learn spanish #spanish grammar #spanish language #long post

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andhumanslovedstories · 1 month

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Does anyone have advice for getting over the embarrassment of speaking a language you aren’t good at with other people? I’ve studied Spanish, I know a little bit of Spanish, I am trying to learn more Spanish specifically for healthcare providers, but when I’m faced with an actual primarily Spanish speaking patient at my job, I get so nervous and tongue tied I’m like “maybe ‘buenos noches actually means I’m gonna kill you with morphine….i better stick entirely to English.” I know it’s the embarrassment! I don’t wanna sound stupid! And because so many of my patients understand a little English, I can usually muddle thru basic conversations relying on them. Which sucks! I feel bad about that! I’m like “I don’t want to talk in a language I’m not fluent in, so I’ll make them talk in a language I’m not fluent in.”

Also to be clear, this is all for stuff like “do you need the bathroom” or “do you want a pepsi from the kitchen.” I will always use an interpreter for anything more complicated than basic needs. But it’s a pain in the ass to use the interpreter ipad, and no one likes it, including the patients. It’d be nice to use it less and to be able to have more of a rapport with my patients. The foundation of my whole nursing practice is casual small talk with patients to learn more about them and their needs, and my Spanish speaking patients don’t get that.

(Neither do my patients who speak Russian or Taishanese or Vietnamese or but like. I don’t expect myself to learn every language in the world. Right now I just want to learn the language I theoretically kinda learned.)

I’ve been really working on pushing myself to try to speak more Spanish, at least a little bit, but I just have this mental block that I can’t push thru. It’s like all the social anxiety I’ve learned to otherwise cope with or moved on from settled entirely in my insecurity about my language skills. It’s nuts. Then I feel guilty about it which makes the block bigger which I feel guilty about, do you see the pattern here. Has anyone have any advice or resources? Not just for learning the language—I would also really appreciate those—but specifically dealing with this language embarrassment?

#nursing tag #language learning #spanish #it’d be cool to be fluent in Spanish and to use it for things besides basic questions at my job #but bare bare minimum I want to be able to be like te duele la cabeza?#learning spanish

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dontmindmyunicorn · 8 months

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both of these prompts were in the same lesson

#duolingo #duo #falstaff #oscar #Spanish #learning spanish #learning #me #mary talks about stuff #shitpost #my posts

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er-cryptid · 9 months

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Emotions (Spanish)

love = amor

worried = preocupado

angry = enojado

sad = triste

embarassed = avergonzada

afraid = asustado

kind = tipo

happy = feliz

amazed = asombrado

delighted = encantado

bored = perforado

tired = cansado

sensitive = doloroso

hate = odio

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adhd-languages · 2 months

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Keeping up your Languages when you’re Busy

Confession: I’ve been slacking on Japanese recently because my life has been so hectic recently. So here are some of the ways I’ve been trying to keep it in my brain when I can’t dedicate a lot of time to studying.

CHANGE YOUR PHONE LANGUAGE

This applies to computers as well! This is the easiest way to ensure you see at least some of your target language every day. It’s good for any level, even beginners.

If you haven’t already done this, do it now. I understand that some things are important and you need to be sure you understand them — in that case, you can always change individual apps to have different languages, just look up the app name in settings.

Podcasts/Music

Find some podcasts in your target language and listen to them before bed, during your commute, whatever. There are lots of podcasts made specifically for learners, or you can look up topics in your target language to find a podcast you might enjoy.

Music is also an amazing way to hear your target language being used. If you find an artist you like, that’s another good way to study your TL! Follow them on socials, look up interviews with them, etc.

Talk to Yourself

Any spare minute you have, talk to yourself in your target language. It doesn’t need to be out loud. You can have a conversation with yourself, try to express how you’re feeling, make up stories, or just describe the things around you in your target language. This is also a good way to see what kind of vocabulary you’re missing.

Apps

Duolingo has fired a ton of translators and started using crappy AI translations — so they’re probably not the best choice.

I’d recommend dictionary app that has some sort of flash card feature is also good, or an anki deck. Drops is good, and has a lot of languages, but keep in mind you’ll need audio. Anything that’s easy to get out and do for even just a few minutes is perfect.

Apps won’t teach you a language on their own, but doing a little every day helps remind me the language exists and keeps it in my mind.

Texting/Writing/Posting

Whether your friends know your TL or not, force them to experience it by randomly messaging in Japanese! Or, if you feel fancy, download an app like “HelloTalk”, “Tandem”, “Speaky”, “Tabee”…there are a lot.

If you keep a digital journal (like I do…inconsistently), try to write some entries in your TL.

If you have a blog, which I assume you do, post in your TL. Even if you’re a beginner, you can make a sideblog dedicated to saying stuff like “I’m hungry” and “Green is my favourite colour” in your target language.

Open your notes app and just write random words you can remember or sentences you can string together.

I know it’s really difficult, and don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t studying as hard. A language can be a lifelong companion — you’ll have phases of studying constantly, and sometimes it’ll take the back seat, but there’s no rush to learn it. Have a great day :)!

#language #language learning #langblr #languages #learning japanese #learning Spanish #learning French #Quinn posts #language learning apps #language learning resources #language learning advice #language tips #foreign languages #language resources #studyblr #100

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abbyofthecosmos · 1 year

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My favourite (free!) language learning apps

General:

Duolingo - everyone's heard of this one (and is familiar with its slightly threatening owl mascot). This has been my favourite language learning app ever since I started using it; it allows so much practice, with none of the actual content being stuck behind a paywall, unlike a lot of popular learning apps.

Drops - this is a vocab learning app with many different languages available. The free version offers 5 minutes of learning a day, which doesn't sound like much but is great if you have a busy schedule.

For Spanish learners:

SpanishDict - Primarily a Spanish dictionary, this app also has grammar lessons, vocab lists and conjugation practice. A really great app that I make use of on a daily basis!

For Japanese learners:

Ringotan - a kanji learning app that uses spaced repition learning. You can choose what order to learn the kanji (for example in the order they are introduced in a certain textbook, or following JLPT)

Kanji Tree - similar to Ringotan, but you can choose between recognition, reading and writing practice (so if you only want to be able to read Japanese and don't care about writing, this is probably a better option)

Infinite Japanese - a great app for beginners, this teaches basic vocab such as colours and animals while feeling more like a game rather than study.

#language learning #language study #learning spanish #learning japanese #langblr #studyblr

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meoem-blog · 4 months

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highly recommend Roxxem for learning Spanish. you learn through music and lyrics.

#spanish #learning spanish #langblr #duolingo

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nonstopfandomposts · 7 months

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Spanish comprehensible input for beginners-

(On a scale of absolute to intermediate beginner)

Muzzy in gondoland (spanish)- old, really weird. But you will learn if you watch it. Introductions, numbers, basic vocab. Very easy.

Mi vida loca BBC- more phrases than vocab. A little tougher

Señor wooly music- has a ton of free stuff on his yt that's really good. Fan made student covers fill in the gaps in his content after he pay walled some of it. You can buy a website subscription but it's expensive

Dreaming spanish- a gold mine of stories and vlogs for people of all levels, especially beginners.

Bluey in spanish- I mean, need I say more? It's really good. Ccs in spanish too, for Latin American or castillian spanish.

Spanish after hours- LAURA MI AMOR this woman genuinely seems like the nicest person. Posts mostly in spanish but has some good explanation videos in English that will really help boost your vocab. Has videos for absolute beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced learners. She's amazing. She also has authentic conversations sometimes with people.

#langblr #spanish #learning spanish #spanish language #learning languages #language learning #comprehensible input

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logaron · 1 month

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It's been a while — I honestly don't remember if I've posted on here before lol but I've been lurking on langblr for a couple of years and now I'm here !!

× going by logan online (for now) for anonymity :)

× they/he

× native 🇬🇧 (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)

× a2 🇪🇸

× dabbling 🇩🇪 🇧🇻 🇯🇵

× interested in 🇨🇵 🇷🇺 🇵🇹 (also bsl & minority/indigenous langs)

× english student — interested in linguistics, languages, different alphabets/writing systems, learning, translation, research

#languages #langblr #language learning #learning spanish #learning norwegian #learning japanese #one day logan will be multilingual!!

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michaelgetsalife · 8 months

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Hello langblr

I'm trying get more practice in language learning and wanting to make more friends with similar goals. I'm trying practice speech and writing.

Currently A2 French, A1 Spanish

Also looking for people with similar interests:

Art

Books/reading*

Language learning*

LGBTQ+*

Comic books maybe?

Latin American Spanish

France French or Quebec French

Literally any other language

Horror genre

Video games*

Pokemon

Dungeons and Dragons

You don't need all those requirements but it'd be appreciated!! Would very much prefer people around 20-30 as well. (Sorry kiddos)

So anyone that wants to pair up with French or Spanish dm me for my discord.

#langblr #language learning #french #spanish #studyblr #penpal #language practice #making friends #looking for friends #mexican spanish #language #learning spanish #learning french #michael is looking

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spanishskulduggery · 24 hours

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I'm doing Duolingo, but something that confuses me is when to use things like "yo ducho" and "me ducho". When translated, they both end up as "I shower" but I feel like contextually, there's something more. I've even come across something like "yo me ducho", which screws me up more.

HELP??!?!!?!?!?

Multiple things happening here so I'll break them down

First, duchar "to shower" is understood as "to shower (someone else)" or occasionally it's "to spray with water" like with a hose - though less common in my experience because there are other words like regar is "to water (plants/flowers)" etc.

What you're seeing is a reflexive verb - ducharse "to take a shower"

A reflexive verb is when the subject and the object are the same - the first one you typically learn is llamarse for "to be called" as in your name

So it's me llamo literally "I call myself"; rather than llamar which is "to call someone (else)" like to call the police, or to make a call

Another standard one is lavar "to wash" where you could wash dishes, but lavarse las manos is "to wash one's hands" literally "to wash oneself the hands"

...You COULD technically say lavar las manos (a alguien) as in you're washing someone else's hands though

This is also the difference between something like cepillar el pelo/cabello "to brush someone's hair" rather than cepillarse el pelo/cabello "to brush one's own hair"

-

I can't say I typically see ducho by itself; it's usually the reflexive me ducho

ducho by itself is like "I shower (someone/something else)", while me ducho is "I shower" or "I take a shower"

You can see this more as bañar "to bathe (someone else)" like giving kids a bath or giving a pet a bath; then bañarse is "to take a bath"... generally more difficult to "shower someone else", which is why you see ducharse or me ducho more

...

As for yo me ducho this reads as very emphatic as if it's "I'm the one who showers"

Because both me and ducho imply a yo, it's not considered strictly necessary and it reads as more emphatic than normal - this is also common without reflexives too like "I do this, but you don't"

In proper context it could make sense like - yo siempre me ducho después de nadar en la piscina pero ellos no "I always take a shower after swimming in the pool but they don't"

.......Typically though out of context yo me ducho sounds like an English speaker, where we are used to using subjects in every sentence, while Spanish grammar often makes use of sujeto tácito [silent subject; aka omitting the subject unless it's needed for clearing up vagueness, or for emphasis]

Which is to say that contextually yo me ducho is correct; but everyday Spanish will have you saying me ducho without the yo

*Note: As far as ambiguity or vagueness you often see this with 3rd person, singular or plural, where multiple subjects could be talked about - like ella lee todo pero su amiga no lee nada "she reads everything but her friend doesn't read anything"

In reflexive it could be like mis padres se levantan muy temprano pero mis abuelos se levantan tarde "my parents get up very early but my grandparents wake up late"

In these sorts of situations the conjugation doesn't give you enough information, so adding the subjects creates more distinction and clarity - you see this a lot with changing subjects. You might see a string of sentences with no subject if you're talking about someone, but then if you start talking about someone else you add that subject in so the listener knows who you're talking about; like Elena es muy alta e inteligente, y Ana es artísta y también sabe tocar el piano "Elena is very tall and smart, and Ana is artistic and also knows how to play the piano"

#asks #spanish #languages #learning spanish #learn spanish #spanish grammar #spanish language #long post

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geminiagentgreen · 3 months

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#spanish #learning spanish #lunes soy lo...uh...right?

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confessionsofalanguagenerd · 10 months

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Me: “wow, I’m glad I’m at a place in my Spanish where I can mostly guess the grammatical gender of a noun just by looking at it, and if I don’t I can always use WordReference!”

Me: *has to say which Pokémon is my favourite*

“��”

can I just assume most loan words are masculine or what

#langblr #language #learning spanish #spanish

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er-cryptid · 5 months

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Arriba 8.2 Vocabulary

la farmacia = pharmacy

la perfumería = beauty supply shop

el acondicionador = conditioner

el cepillo de dientes = toothbrush

la colonia = cologne

la crema hidratante = facial cream

la crema de afeitar = shaving cream

el desodorante = deodorant

la pasta de dientes = toothpaste

el perfume = perfume

el talco = talcum power

la joyería = jewelry store

el anillo = ring

los aretes = earrings

la cadena = chain

el collar = necklace

los pendientes = earrings

la pulsera = bracelet

el reloj inteligente = smartwatch

el reloj de pulsera = wristwatch

descripciones = descriptions

de diamantes = diamond

de oro = gold

de perlos = pearl

de plata = silver

más tiendos = more shops

la carnicería = butcher shop

la florería = flower shop

la heladería = ice cream shop

la panadería = bakery

la papelería = stationary shop

la pastelería = pastry shop

la quesería = cheese shop

la zapatería = shoe shop

devolver = to return something

gastar = to spend

hacer juego = to match

la nevería = nieve shop

la paletería = paleta shop

la floristería = flower shop

.

Patreon

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classicliteratureprincess · 1 month

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Need to start disciplining myself & learn Spanish & other languages!

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necessitoescribir · 1 year

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¡Los expletivos/insultos*!

Carajo — Shit/Goddamn it/Fuck; also a way to intensify regular sentences

“Dónde carajo está mi celular?” — “Where the fuck is my phone?”

Chucha (de tu) madre — Shit/Goddamn it/Fuck

¿Qué chucha? — What the fuck?

Cojudo — Stupid person

Quiero (culear/cachar) tu madre — I want to fuck your mom

Necesitas ser castrad(o/a) — You need to be castrated

Traga leche — Cum swallower

*I’m pretty focused on learning South American (particularly Peruvian/Ecuadorian) vocabulary, so this list does not include Caribbean, Central American, or Peninsular Spanish

#Spanish #spanish vocab #spanish phrases #learning spanish #spanish language #spanish vocabulary #vocabulary #vocab #langblr #spanish langblr #bad words #spanish curses #curses #spanish swears #swears

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