Tag Archives: Venezuela
Spanish Words that Defined 2019 Posted by Karoly Molina on Feb 20, 2020
As I was looking around the website of the Real Academia Española or RAE, I came across a very interesting news item about the Spanish words that defined 2019. In this post, I will explore some of the words and include information as to why these were picked. La selección The words that defined 2019 were…
Amarillo, azul y rojo: The Meaning Behind Three South American Flags Posted by Anais on Apr 22, 2019
Have you ever wondered why the banderas (flags) of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela are so alike? In this blog I’ll dust off the history books to tell you why. Back in the 18th century, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela (as well as certain parts of today’s Peru, Guyana, and Brazil) were unificados into one huge nation…
Venezuelan Spanish and the Plethora of Colloquialisms Posted by Anais on Mar 18, 2019
Languages are much more than what books teach us. For example, English offers a more picturesque repertoire than just OK, no problem, or the well-known “f-word”. Similarly, Spanish—and Venezuelan Spanish in this case—has a colorful lexicon that, if used by a non-native, makes you sound more natural and closer to other speakers. In that sense…
The creepiest Venezuelan horror folktales Posted by Anais on Feb 11, 2019
Horror stories abound in our world. And Venezuela seethes with peculiar tales that form part of its folklore for frightening all kind of listeners, no matter their age. In this post you’ll read Venezuela’s most popular folktales that will certainly give you chills. Although there are different versions of each legend, in this post I’ll…
One country, two presidents: an uncertain future ahead for Venezuela Posted by Anais on Jan 28, 2019
Venezuela is going through the harshest political, social, and economic crisis of its history. The once rich nación petrolera (oil country) is now drowning in a deep ocean of misfortune and uncertainty. The current situation dates back to 1999, when Hugo Chávez took power and implemented the so-called socialismo del siglo XXI (21st-century socialism) in…
5 Telenovelas That Were Way Better in Spanish Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Aug 8, 2016
Latin American telenovelas are famous for their face-slapping and hay dios mío-evoking dramatics, but they’re also the inspiration for many American and international hit series. For Spanish learners who love comedy, suspense, and yes, drama, give your listening comprehension and cultural fluency a tune-up with these Spanish-language originals. From Netflix originals to prime time hits…
5 Current Events Spanish Speakers Need to Follow, from Argentina to Zika Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Jun 29, 2016
With uprisings, people’s movements, peace processes, and game-changing political shifts, there’s no better way to practice your Spanish this summer than by turning on the news or reading the paper. Real life in the Spanish-speaking world is more dramatic than a telenovela right now. If you thought the US was the only country in political turmoil right now…