Archive by Author
Describing People Posted by Adir on Aug 20, 2009
We use the verbs ser (to be), tener (to have) and llevar (here, to wear) to describe what people look like in Spanish. Take a look at these examples: Es alto (tall), bajo (short), feo (ugly), guapo (handsome), delgado (thin), gordo (fat), tonto (stupid), inteligente (intelligent), simpático (friendly), rubio (blond), pelirrojo (red-haired). Tiene los ojos…
¡Adivinanzas! Posted by Adir on Aug 17, 2009
Let’s play a bit! What’s the answer to these guessing games? 1. Antonio se preguntaba que si el hijo de Pedro era el padre de su hijo, ¿qué era él de Pedro? 2. Carlos estaba mirando un retrato y alguien le preguntó: “¿De quién es esa fotografia?”; a lo que él contestó: “Ni hermanos ni…
El acento ortográfico en español Posted by Adir on Aug 13, 2009
Let’s review the use of accents in Spanish words, en español. 1 – Palabras esdrújulas – Son las que tienen como sílaba tónica la antepenúltima (la tercera contando desde el final de la palabra). Ejemplos: pájaro, fábrica, bolígrafo, plátano, música, hispánico … Llevan acento (´) TODAS las esdrújulas: cáscara, índice, plástico, séptimo, física 2 –…
Currencies in Spanish-speaking Countries Posted by Adir on Aug 10, 2009
Here are some currencies in Spanish-speaking countries. Check them out! Balboa – Panamá Bolívar – Venezuela Colón costarricense – Costa Rica Colón salvadoreño – El Salvador Guaraní – Uruguay Lempira – Honduras Oro Córdoba – Nicaragua Euro – España Peso argentino – Argentina Peso boliviano – Bolivia Peso chileno – Chile Peso colombiano – Colombia…
Mini Quiz Posted by Adir on Aug 7, 2009
OK, let’s see how much you know about the Spanish language itself. Take this little quiz and find out. 1 – Spanish and Castillian are: a) the same language; b) two very different languages; c) two very similar languages. 2 – Spanish is spoken as a first language in: a) only in Spain and America…
Pablo Neruda Posted by Adir on Aug 3, 2009
Pablo Neruda was born on July 12th 1904 in Parral, Chile and died on September 23rd 1973 in Santiago de Chile. His real name was Neftalí Reyes Basoalto and, besides being a poet, he was a translator and a diplomat. He won the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1971 and his writing has strongly influenced…
Gentilicios de España Posted by Adir on Jul 31, 2009
Here are some gentilicios (demonyms: name of the inhabitants of a country, state or city) from Spain. They are used very frequently, and they it is not always easy to figure out what the city of origin is. Check them out! Salmantino, de Salamanca. Vallisoletano, de Valladolid. Vizcaíno, de Vizcaya Riojano, de La Rioja Jiennense…