Are you thinking of learning Spanish from scratch? If so, you've come to the right place. Learning the Spanish language will not only allow you to communicate with millions of people around the world, but it will also open the doors to the vibrant and diverse culture that Spanish-speaking countries enjoy.

That's why you'll need some basic tips for learning Spanish for beginners and don Quijote teaches you everything you need to know.

But first, you can try our Spanish level test and find out what level you have. Then, if you prefer, you can read this article in Spanish.

Start with the alphabet and pronunciation

Before diving into advanced Spanish classes with grammar and vocabulary, it is crucial to master the alphabet and its pronunciation. Fortunately, the Spanish alphabet is quite similar to the English alphabet, with a few exceptions.

Make sure you know the basic letters and sounds, such as the vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and special letters like “ñ” and “ll”. Another advantage of Spanish over other languages is that it is read as it is written, so it will be easy to learn to pronounce the alphabet for beginners.

For example, the pronunciation of the vowels:

• The letter A sounds like “ah” as in “apple”. Example: casa (house).
• The letter E is pronounced like “eh” as in “pet”. Example: esperanza (hope).
• The vowel I sounds like “ee” as in “seen”, but shorter. Example: invierno (winter).
• The letter O is pronounced like “oh” as in “orange”. Example: orangután (orangutan).
• The vowel U is pronounced like “oo” as in “food”, but shorter. Example: universo (universe).

Continue with basic phrases and expressions

One of the best ways to learn Spanish fast is to start with everyday phrases and expressions. These will help you communicate in common, everyday situations, for example, if you go shopping in a supermarket or need to ask where the toilet is.

Here are some examples:

• ¡Hola! (Hello!)
• Buenos días (Good morning)
• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
• Encantado/a de conocerte (Nice to meet you)
• ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)
• ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much does it cost?)

Immerse yourself in the culture

Without a doubt, an excellent way to learn Spanish for beginners is through culture. Music, for example, is a great tool for learning Spanish for beginners. You can listen to different accents and enjoy the Spanish language while learning new vocabulary.

Spain is known for its rich cultural heritage, from flamenco to Gaudi's architecture. Watching Spanish series or films, listen to Spanish music and immerse yourself in the culture. You will learn not only the language, but also the history and passion of a country like Spain.

You can listen to a popular Spanish song and read the lyrics. This way, you can see how the words are said, how they are pronounced and understand the meaning of the song. Singing is fun and will help you improve your pronunciation!

Take Spanish classes

Another more academic and common approach is face-to-face Spanish classes. A native teacher or tutor will help you internalise the main keys to learning Spanish for beginners or from scratch and establish a foundation for speaking the language.

You can also look for language exchange groups in your area to practice your conversational skills with native speakers. Or even take online classes to lay the groundwork and practice your Spanish language skills.

Total immersion: travel to Spain

If you have the opportunity, there is nothing better than a total immersion in a country like Spain. The perfect destination to learn Spanish is Spain without a doubt. Imagine walking through the narrow streets of Barcelona, enjoying tapas in Madrid or relaxing on the beaches of Valencia, while practising your Spanish in real-life situations.

In addition, Spain offers a wide variety of accents and dialects, which will further enrich your experience. Sign up for an intensive Spanish course in Spain with don Quijote to improve your language skills.

Keep a positive attitude

Learning a new language can be challenging, but the key is to keep a positive attitude and persevere. A necessary factor in learning Spanish for beginners is to practice and not be afraid of making mistakes.

Don't be discouraged by the mistakes you may make; they are part of the learning process. Celebrate your achievements too and keep practising to improve your Spanish skills.

Live an enriching experience that will open many doors and allow you to connect with an exciting culture such as the Spanish one. Also consider the possibility of learning the Spanish language in Spain, where you can enjoy the culture, history and beauty of this wonderful country.

At don Quijote we offer you the possibility of learning Spanish for beginners in 11 different destinations in Spain. In our schools you can take courses adapted to your level and age to achieve an admirable level of Spanish.

The seasons change every year, so let's take a look at a very appropriate topic: the seasons of the year in Spanish. The seasons of the year not only influence the weather, but also have a significant impact on our daily lives, because depending on the month, the season changes.

So why not to learn a bit more about it all in Spanish? After learning the vocabulary for weekend in Spanish, it is now the turn of the seasons and the months in Spanish. Each season has its own characteristics, and, depending on the month, it will change.

In this post you will learn the four seasons of the year in Spanish, as well as the 12 months of the year. You will be able to manage much better when talking about the seasons in Spanish and your vocabulary will increase.

You can find this article in Spanish if you want to practice the language, just click here.

Months of the year in Spanish

The months of the year are divided into twelve and, unlike in other languages, in Spanish they are not written in capital letters. Let's start by naming each of them:

• Enero (January)
• Febrero (February)
• Marzo (March)
• Abril (April)
• Mayo (May)
• Junio (June)
• Julio (July)
• Agosto (August)
• Septiembre (September)
• Octubre (October)
• Noviembre (November)
• Diciembre (December)

Depending on the month of the year, the season will change. And not only that, depending on the country, the seasons also vary. For example, when in Spain it is summer, in countries like Argentina, Chile or Peru it is winter.

Primavera (spring)

Spring is one of the most eagerly awaited seasons in many parts of the world, as it marks the beginning of good weather. This season in Spanish is called “primavera” and runs from March to June in the northern hemisphere, in countries such as Spain. In the southern hemisphere, however, it runs from September to December, in countries such as Argentina.

Here are some useful phrases to talk about this Spanish season:

• “Me encanta ver las flores en primavera” (“I love to see the flowers in spring”).
• “Me relaja escuchar a los pájaros cantar en primavera” (“It relaxes me to listen to the birds sing in spring”).
• “Me gusta el clima templado de la primavera” (“I like the mild weather in spring”).

Verano (summer)

Summer is almost everyone's favourite season. It is eagerly awaited during the rest of the year because it means enjoying the sun, the beach and holidays. It is called “verano” in Spanish; and this season of the year lasts from June to September. In contrast, in some Latin American countries, summer starts in December and ends in March.

Here are some useful phrases with the word “verano” in it:

• “Voy a la playa cada verano” (“I go to the beach every summer”).
• “Este verano viajaré a una playa paradisiaca” (“This summer I will travel to a paradisiacal beach”).
• “Necesito protector solar porque el sol brilla fuerte en verano” (“'I need sunscreen because the sun shines brightly in summer”).
• “Hace tanto calor en verano que a veces no puedo dormir” (“'It's so hot in summer that sometimes I can't sleep”).

Otoño (autumn or fall)

Autumn or fall is a season full of warm colours and fallen leaves. This season in Spanish is called “otoño” and lasts from September to December in Spain. And, as in the previous cases, in countries like Argentina, it runs from March to June.

Here are some useful phrases to talk about this Spanish season:

• “Me encanta el sonido de las hojas al caer en otoño” (“I love the sound of the leaves falling in autumn”).
• “Es bonito ver cómo los árboles cambian de color en otoño” (“It's nice to see the trees change colour in autumn”).
• “Necesito un suéter porque hace fresco en otoño” (“I need a jumper because it's cool in autumn”).

Invierno (winter)

Winter brings with it cold, snow and Christmas festivities. The name of this season in Spanish is “invierno”. In Spain, winter starts in December and ends in March. In Bolivia or Paraguay, on the other hand, winter lasts from June to September.

These examples to talk about winter in Spanish will be useful:

• “Me encanta hacer muñecos de nieve en invierno” (“I love making snowmen in winter”).
• “El invierno es mi época favorita del año porque es Navidad” (“Winter is my favourite time of the year because it’s Christmas”).
• “Necesito mi abrigo y bufanda para salir en invierno” (“I need my coat and scarf to go out in winter”).

These phrases will help you understand and talk about the seasons and months of the year in Spanish. Remember that constant practice is key to improving your Spanish vocabulary and fluency.

But if you want to learn surrounded by culture, good atmosphere and with native teachers, don't hesitate to come and learn Spanish in Spain. Don Quijote offers intensive Spanish courses for any level and for all ages. Improve your level of Spanish with don Quijote's courses and live a unique experience in a Spanish-speaking country.

Expressing your emotions in Spanish is one of the first challenges you face when you start learning the language. Asking how someone is feeling or answering that you are having a very boring day are common expressions and phrases. In this post we are going to talk about how to express emotions in Spanish.

If you have already immersed yourself in learning Spanish and have done a bit of research into its culture and common expressions, you may have noticed that native Spanish speakers tend to be very expressive when it comes to their emotions. So, if you want to learn how to express effectively in this language, mastering emotions in Spanish is essential.

If you prefer to read this article in Spanish, click here.

Difference between emotions and feelings

Before we start with emotions in Spanish, let's differentiate them from feelings. It is a topic that generates a lot of confusion, since both concepts are related.

Emotions are automatic and universal responses of the organism to stimuli. While feelings are conscious and subjective experiences that derive in emotions.

For example, an emotion would be surprised, fear or joy, which you feel at a given moment because of an external stimulus. On the other hand, a feeling is sadness, nostalgia, love, or envy, which are influenced by past events and can last in time.

Therefore, feelings tend to be longer lasting and are influenced by cultural and personal factors. Although both are important aspects of human emotional experience and play a crucial role in everyday life and interpersonal relationships.

Emotions in Spanish

Let's start by learning the vocabulary of the most basic emotions in Spanish. Here are some very common emotions with their examples:

• Alegre (Happy). "Estoy muy feliz hoy”. (“I'm very happy today”)
• Triste (Sad). “Me siento triste porque no pude ir al concierto”. (“I feel sad because I couldn't go to the concert”)
• Enfado (Angry). “¡Estoy enfadado contigo!” (“I’m angry with you!”)
• Miedo (Fear). “Me dan miedo las arañas”. (“I’m afraid of spiders”)
• Sorprendido (Surprised). “Luis estaba sorprendido de ver a su equipo en directo” (“Luis was surprised to see his team live”)
• Emocionado (Excited). “Estoy emocionado por mi próximo viaje”. (“I'm excited about my upcoming trip”)
• Nervioso (Nervious). “Estoy nervioso porque tengo una entrevista de trabajo mañana”. (“I'm nervous because I have a job interview tomorrow.”)
• Aburrido (Bored). “Me he aburrido durante la conferencia”. (“I got bored during the conference”)
• Encantado (Delighted). “Estoy encantado de conocerte”. (“I'm delighted to meet you”)
• Enamorado (In love). “Estoy completamente enamorado de mi pareja”. (“I'm completely in love with my partner”)
• Orgulloso (Proud). “Me siento muy orgulloso de mi último proyecto”. (“I'm very proud of my last project”)
• Relajado (Relaxed). “Después de las vacaciones, me siento relajado y renovado”. (“After holydays, I feel relaxed and refreshed”)
• Aliviado (Relieved). “Estoy aliviado después de aprobar el examen”. (“I’m relieved after passing the exam")
• Satisfecho (Satisfied). “Estoy satisfecho con mi rendimiento en el proyecto”. (“I'm satisfied with my performance on the project”)
• Asustado (Frightened or Scared). “Me asusté cuando vi una sombra en la oscuridad”. (“I got scared when I saw a shadow in the dark”)
• Celoso (Jealous). “Estoy celoso de su éxito en el trabajo”. (“I am jealous of her success at work”)
• Envidioso (Envious). “Me siento envidioso de su talento musical”. (“I feel envious of his musical talent”)
• Estresado (Stressed). “Estoy muy estresado por la carga de trabajo”. (“I'm very stressed due to my workload”)
• Preocupado (Worried). “Me siento preocupado por la salud de mi abuela”. (“I feel worried about my grandmother's health”)

What should you know about emotions in Spanish?

One important thing to keep in mind is that, in Spanish, emotions are often expressed more effusively than in English. For example, when someone is happy, it is common to hear expressions like “¡Estoy super feliz!” (“I am super happy”) or “¡Estoy contentísimo!” (“I am very pleased”). This shows that emotions in Spanish can be very intense.

Another interesting aspect of emotions in Spanish is that sometimes they must agree with gender and number. For example: “Ella está contenta por haber aprobado el examen” (“She is happy that she passed the exam”); “Estoy orgullosa de tu trabajo” (“I am proud of your work”) or “Nos asustamos mucho cuando vimos aquella araña” (“We were so scared when we saw that spider”). 

On the other hand, the use of reflexive pronouns when talking about emotions in Spanish is very frequent. For example, instead of simply saying “Carlos está cansado” (“He is tired”), you can say “Carlos se cansa de estudiar tanto” (“Carlos gets tired of studing so much”) to express a more intense emotion.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to express your emotions in Spanish. And if you really want to learn the language, we recommend that you listen to Spanish music and watch Spanish-language movies or series. But if you want to improve your level in a relaxed, comfortable environment with native Spanish speakers, sign up for the intensive Spanish courses we have at don Quijote.

Do you want to improve your Spanish vocabulary? In this post we tell you everything you need to learn to talk about the days of the week and the weekend in Spanish.

Learn the vocabulary related to the days of the week and the weekends to be able to manage in Spanish and ask your friends. So, get ready to learn some very useful words for your day-to-day life and be able to immerse yourself in Spanish customs.

Click here if you want to read this article in Spanish.

Days of the week in Spanish

Let's start with the simplest, the days of the week from Monday to Friday. Do you know any of them already?

Lunes (Monday). We start with the first day of the week: “lunes”. It's like that first sip of coffee in the morning: sometimes it can be hard to swallow, but then you wake up!

Martes (Tuesday). After Monday, comes “martes”. It's like Monday's little brother, but it's a bit easier to handle.

Miércoles (Wednesday). It's Wednesday - the middle of the week! Also known as "hump day" in some places. It means the halfway point of the week and, its literal translation refers to going up a hill, which once you pass it, it's downhill!

Jueves (Thursday). It's almost the end of the week! It's like a preview of what's to come.

Viernes (Friday): Finally, we get to Friday! This word sounds like music to the ears. It is the day everyone looks forward to because it means the beginning of the weekend (fin de semana).

Weekend in Spanish

Finally, we come to the “fin de semana” (the weekend). Two days that are eagerly awaited by almost the entire population: Saturday and Sunday.

Sábado (Saturday). It is the first day of the weekend! It's a perfect day to sleep in, have brunch and enjoy the social or nightlife.

Domingo (Sunday). And then comes Sunday, the last day of the weekend. It is a day to relax or, perhaps, to do a bit of preparation for the week ahead. In short, a day to relax and enjoy.

Remember that in Spanish, both the days of the weeks and the months of the year are written in lower case.

In addition, here are some additional words related to the weekend that you may find useful. With them you will be able to express your weekend plans more concretely in Spanish.

Descansar (to rest). A weekend is a perfect time to relax and take a well-deserved rest. This word is perfect to indicate that you are going to spend the weekend relaxing and without any set plans.

For example: “Voy a descansar, llevo toda la semana trabajando sin parar” ("I'm going to rest, I've been working non-stop all week").

Entretenerse (entertain). During the weekend, you can enjoy various forms of entertainment, such as watching films, going to concerts or visiting museums.

You can say: “Este fin de semana tengo un concierto y voy a ver un partido de baloncesto.Voy a estar entretenido todos los días” ("This weekend I have a concert and I'm going to watch a basketball game. I'm going to be entertained every day").

Salir (go out). You can go out on the weekend to explore the city, dinner at a new restaurant or enjoy the nightlife.

Example: “Este viernes voy a salir con mis amigos por el centro de la ciudad” (“This Friday I'm going out with my friends in the city centre”).

Relajarse (relax). The weekend is a time for relaxation, where you can forget the worries of work and enjoy yourself.

For example: “Este sábado voy a relajarme a un spa con mi pareja” ("This sábado I am going to relax at a spa with my partner").

This vocabulary will help you to be ready to talk about the days of the week and your plans for the weekend in Spanish. Have fun exploring and enjoying your days off!

Examples of how to use this vocabulary

Here are some useful phrases to use with the above weekend vocabulary that can help you understand these concepts in Spanish:

• “¿Qué día es hoy?” (“What day is today?”). Ask what day of the week it is.
• “¡Que pases un buen fin de semana!” (“Have a good weekend!”) Wish someone a good weekend.
• “¡Es viernes!” (“It's Friday!”). Express your excitement for the weekend.
• “¿Qué haces el domingo?” (“What are you doing on Sunday?”). Ask about Sunday plans.
• “Voy a salir el sábado” (“I'm going out on Saturday”) or “Este domingo voy a visitar un museo” (“This Sunday I’m going to visit a museum”). Indicate your weekend plans.
• “¿Cómo ha ido tu fin de semana?” (“How was your weekend?”) Ask about the weekend.

There you have it: basic vocabulary for the days of the week and the weekend in Spanish. Now you can start planning your weekend getaways or just chat about your plans for the week with your friends and with a little more style.

Are you ready to take your Spanish vocabulary to the next level? Learn Spanish in Spain with don Quijote. We are a leading language school with a wide range of immersion programmes, whether you are a beginner or advanced learner, at don Quijote we offer courses tailored to your needs.

Have you ever heard a Spanish expression that sounded strange? "Esto es pan comido" or "He metido la pata hasta el fondo". Well, these are colloquial Spanish expressions that will help you master the language.

The importance of understanding and using colloquial language is effective in gaining a deeper understanding of Spanish culture. We will show you some of the most common expressions, their meaning and some examples that will clear up any doubts of their context. And if you want to read this article in Spanish and practice your reading skills, just click here.

What is colloquial language?

Colloquial language is a form of verbal communication used in informal and everyday situations. It is a more relaxed, familiar language that reflects the way people speak in their daily lives. Therefore, it is based on a more natural vocabulary, gestures and intonation gain more importance and, of course, expressions and idioms specific to each place or region are used.

The use of colloquial language is a natural way of communicating and it is important for interacting in informal situations. It is also very useful for understanding a language such as Spanish, as you can integrate yourself more into its culture. So, if you are learning Spanish, these colloquial expressions may help you to understand the language better.

Colloquial expressions in Spanish and their meanings

These are some of the most used colloquial expressions in the Spanish language. Have you heard any of them before?

1.Estar en las nubes or Estar en la luna (To be in the clouds or To be over the moon)

It means to be distracted or thinking about something other than what is happening at the moment. For example: "Hoy estuve en las nubes en clase y no entendí nada" ("Today I was in the clouds in class, and I didn't understand anything").

2. Meter la pata (Screwed up)

It is used when someone inadvertently makes a mistake or says something inappropriate in a peculiar or sensitive situation. Example: "Ayer metí la pata al decirle a mi compañero que su idea no me gustaba" ("Yesterday I screwed up when I told my classmate that I didn't like his idea").

3. Echar una mano (Give a hand)

It means to help someone or have a person help you with a specific task. Example: "¿Puedes echarme una mano con este ensayo de ciencia?" ("Can you give me a hand with this science essay?").

4. Costar un ojo de la cara (Cost an arm and a leg)

It is often used when something is extremely expensive. For example: "Este nuevo smartphone cuesta un ojo de la cara" ("This new smartphone costs an arm and a leg").

5. Estar hecho polvo (To be knackered or To be exhausted)

This expression is very useful to say that you are tired. For example: “Nos estamos mudando, así que estamos hechos polvo” (“We are moving house, so we are kanckered”).

6. Ponerse las pilas (Pull your socks up)

This expression in Spanish means to get into action or to put more effort into something. For example: "Si quieres aprobar el siguiente examen, debes ponerte las pilas y estudiar más" ("If you want to pass the next exam, you have to pull your socks up and study harder").

7. Tener mala leche (Have a bad temper)

This is an expression used when someone is angry. It can also mean to be malicious or to have bad intentions. Example: "No discutas hoy con Juan, tiene mala leche" ("Don't argue with Juan today, he's got a bad temper").

8. Hablar por los codos (Talk too much)

It is used when a person talks a lot and non-stop. For example: "Mi prima habla por los codos, no puedo entender cómo tiene tanto que decir" ("My cousin talks too much, I don’t understand how she has so much to say").

9. Tener buena o mala pinta (To look good or bad)

This is a very common phrase and is used to say that something looks good or bad. For example, when you are in a restaurant, and you say: "La comida tiene muy buena pinta" ("The food looks very good").

10. Es pan comido (It is a piece of cake)

Means that something is very easy to do, for example: "El examen fue pan comido, no tuve problemas para responder las preguntas" ("The exam was a piece of cake, I had no trouble answering the questions").

11. Dar la lata (Bother or Badger/Hassle)

Another very common expression used to say that a person is annoying us is "dar la lata". For example: "María no ha parado de dar la lata todo el día con el mismo tema" ("Maria has been bothering us all day with the same subject").

12. Estar hasta las narices (Tired as hell)

It means to be tired or fed up with something or someone, for example: "Estoy hasta las narices del ruido que hace el vecino con el piano" ("I'm tired as hell of the noise the neighbour makes with the piano").

Have you heard any of these expressions? Have you heard a different one that is not in this article? What colloquial expressions does your language have? Tell us in the comments!

It is important to note that colloquial language can vary according to region and culture; what is colloquial in one place may not be colloquial in another. In addition, colloquial language is appropriate in informal contexts, such as conversations between friends. However, it may not be appropriate in more formal situations, such as job interviews or academic presentations.

If you want to learn Spanish in Spain or in a Spanish-speaking country such as Mexico, don Quijote schools are waiting for you. Our immersive courses and native teachers will help you learn Spanish and understand all these colloquial expressions.

One of the most common questions when you want to start studying a language is: how long will it take to learn it? Spanish is one of the top 5 most spoken languages in the world, which is why this question is often asked by students.

How long does it take to learn Spanish? This question is a recurring concern among people who want to study the Spanish language and is very present during the learning process. Here, you will find the answer and discover how long does it take to learn Spanish fluently. Click here if you prefer reading the article in Spanish.

Factors that influence when learning Spanish

The process of learning Spanish can be very complex. The hours you dedicate to study it, the objectives you have or the resources you use are some of the determining factors to become a Spanish speaker.

The mother tongue is another factor that influences the speed with which a language is learned, as it can make the process more difficult or the Spanish easy to learn. Romance languages such as Italian, Portuguese or French have more similarities with Spanish, as they all come from Latin. Therefore, if your mother tongue is one of these, the structures and the words will be more similar, and the process will be easier.

On the other hand, if your mother tongue is English, German, Dutch, Arabic or comes from Asia, such as Chinese or Japanese, you may find it more difficult, for example, to learn Spanish grammar or phonetics.

However, this does not have to be a problem, since in Spanish, the pronunciation is identical to how the words are spelled. For this reason, some students which their mother tongue is English find it very easy to learn Spanish.

Another factor that influences the process of learning Spanish is the amount of time you invest in it. Spending an hour or three hours a day will vary the level, as well as the materials you use. Native teachers, books, Spanish movies, or music can help you improve your pronunciation or understanding of the language.

Even the objective you set for yourself is fundamental to learning Spanish. Because reaching an A2 level does not require the same effort as achieving a C1. Thus, it also depends on what you want to achieve: understanding yourself in a foreign country, reading a classic novel or speaking fluently with native people.

How many hours it takes to learn Spanish?

The number of hours per week you spend in studying Spanish is the key factor in determining how fast you will learn the language. It is estimated that to speak and understand Spanish you need a minimum of 250 to 350 hours, that is, between 8 to 12 months. You can achieve this considering that you spend at least one hour a day studying and depending on the methods you choose.

However, the U.S. Foreign Service estimates that to learn Spanish fluently you need to spend between 600 and 700 hours, that is, 24 to 30 weeks.

All these data are subject to variations and to the characteristics of each person because everyone has a different ease in learning a language. And, as we have seen, it also depends on your mother tongue, the hours you invest and how you decide to learn it.

So, to the question, how long does it take to learn Spanish? The answer may vary depending on different factors: your mother tongue, the hours you dedicate to studying, your characteristics, your goals or your interests.

Although, learning Spanish in a country where it is the mother tongue and being able to practice daily with native speakers is one of the best options. Make a difference and immerse yourself in the culture, join Don Quijote to learn Spanish in Spain and live a unique experience in your Spanish easy learning.

“El alma que allí canta, que allí en el misterio de la creación poética se cela y a la par se descubre, no es el alma del poeta: es el alma de su Andalucía, es el alma de su España. ¡El alma de su España andaluza, gitana y romana, patente y densa, olor y luz aliviados en música en la poesía de García Lorca!”

“The soul that sings there, that there in the mystery of poetic creation is concealed and at the same time discovered, it is not the soul of the poet: it is the soul of his Andalusia, the soul of his Spain. The soul of his Andalusian, gypsy and Roman Spain, clear and dense, scent and light relieved by music in the poetry of García Lorca!”

Today, we leverage these words said by the great Spanish poet and philologist Dámaso Alonso about Federico García Lorca —the most international granaíno (localism to refer to people from Granada)— to pay homage to one of the most studied dialects of all the linguistic and cultural variants of the Spanish language: Andalusian Spanish. Why? Because today, February 28, is the Día de Andalucía, “Andalusia Day” in English, the day that commemorates the celebration of the referendum that marked the beginning of the process for the creation of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia in 1980.

Click here to switch to the Spanish version.

A first approach to Andalusian dialects of Spanish

Andalusian Spanish is a linguistic modality of the Spanish language spoken mainly in Andalusia, Ceuta, Melilla and the southern areas of the province of Badajoz. In addition, the Andalusian is a dialect used in the British territory of Gibraltar, in the Bay of Algeciras, and also coexists with the Portuguese in those locations bordering the province of Huelva.

It is not surprising that a language such as Spanish, with more than 400 million native speakers spread throughout the world, presents different and diverse dialect variants. This is the case of the Andalusian dialect or Andalusian dialects,  the rich and abundant subvariants that can be found internally. Andalusia is a vibrant region where we can discover different forms of expression which are unique and proper of each area.

Andalusian Spanish: prejudices and cultural imperialism

As we have already commented above, Andalusian Spanish is one of the most studied dialects of all the variants of the Spanish language. However, this mainly theoretical perspective has not made an impression on the social ground, giving rise to many topics and false myths. It is possible that you have ever heard someone, who is not a native speaker of Andalusian Spanish, imitating the accent, sometimes even making fun of it, as well as the peculiarities of this linguistic modality.

However, it is also true that mother tongues are not an exclusive property of native speakers, and it would be interesting that, just as we adopt Lorca's poetry as one of the most valuable elements of Spanish culture, we also considered Andalusian Spanish as an essential part of the standard variety. Andalusian Spanish is just another form of expression that enriches us all, since, in addition, languages ​​and their variants are not watertight compartments with rigidly established borders and limits.

Andalusian Spanish as an oral form of expression

As the Research Group called "The Spanish spoken in Andalusia", at University of Seville, say "Andalusian speech is the result of a long historical tradition, and arises from a development —from old Spanish— partially differentiated from the one experienced by other modalities of the Spanish Language.”

In other words, the Andalusian variety is another way of speaking Spanish, a variant of the standard that is the result of hundreds of years of development and evolution, a different speech that brings richness and diversity to oral ways of expression while providing other perspectives to understand and define the world around us. In fact, Andalusians —except some cases that can be found in poetry*— write like any other users of the Spain Spanish, leaving aside their most characteristic features.

* At the beginning of the 20th century, Andalusian Spanish was about to be considered a regional and cultural variant also on a written level. One of the Andalusians that contributed to this development was the great Federico García Lorca. He knew that Andalusian Spanish was a language full of joy and musicality, something reflected in all his poetic and theatrical production. There is also a version of the literary work The Little Prince —written by Antoine Marie de Saint-Exupéry— in Andalusian Spanish.

The great diversity of Andalusian Spanish

As we said at the beginning of this blogpost, rather than talking about the Andalusian speech, we should talk about Andalusian speeches. The characteristics and attributes of the Spanish spoken in southern Spain occur differently depending on the region, province or town, giving rise to very different traits both in pronunciation and the lexicon: ceceo versus seseo , loss or aspiration of the final -s, illo vs pisha or mi alma (different terms used in Andalusia to refer to men or boys in a colloquial way), and a long etcetera.

In the same way that the Spanish spoken in the interior or northern areas of the Iberian Peninsula show clear signs of diversity, we can discover a melting pot of different shapes and colors within each of the subvariants of Andalusian Spanish. In fact, not all Andalusians speak what we colloquially call Andalusian Spanish, since not all areas of Andalusia manifest the same characteristics nor the signs that we usually classify as Andalusians. For example, in northern areas of Huelva and Seville, the variant is closer to the Spanish spoken in Extremadura, in the same way that the Spanish used in Granada is more similar to the one used in Murcia. Thus, we return to the idea that languages ​​and their dialectical variants are not fixed nor respond to established limits, but rather behave as a continuum whose elements occur without spatial interruption, flowing through the different areas where there is social interaction.

The art of Andalusian Spanish: pronunciation, grammar and lexicon

The Andalusian accent is probably one of the most representative features of the Spanish spoken in southern Spain. Researchers have long pointed out three general characteristics of Andalusian speech:

• A faster and more varied rhythm in terms of the tone used, which, in comparison to general Spanish, produces great contrasts due to the rather monochromatic tone of the Spanish used in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula.
• Certain ways of articulating sounds that have a different distribution, so that certain phonemes are produced in a more relaxed way and others in a more tense way.
• A set of pronunciation features – shared with other areas - that occur more frequently in Andalusia, reaching a high concentration and social relevance.

We cannot say that there is a proper grammar of Andalusian Spanish, since the grammar used in the south is the same as that one used in the rest of the country. However, we can observe certain variations in the way personal pronouns are used, for example, the use of ustedes instead of vosotros —although this is not a regular issue. We can also find some archaic uses in certain verbs, such as the use of the verb ser as an auxiliary instead of haber. E.g. Si me fuera dado cuenta instead of si me hubiera dado cuenta.

Lexicon: Andalusian Spanish vocabulary

The types of meaning refer to specific cases of study from the University of Seville:

Rural and related voices

• Instruments: capacho (basket), barcina (esparto net), almocafre (escardillo), calabozo (pruning ax)

• Rural machinery: alfarje (millstone), atarjea (pipe, ditch), almatriche (id.)

• Land: campiña, marisma, pago (vineyard or olive groves), cortijo, balate (ditch / wall)

• Plants and fruits: alhucema, gurumelo (mushroom), jinjolero (deciduos shrub), alcaucil (artichoke), durazno (peach), papa, pero (apple), habichuela, cañaduz (sugar cane); casco (orange slice); puyar (grow tree guide)

• Agricultural activities: ablentar (throw), esmuir (milking)

Seafaring voices

• Fish: albures (river fish), safio or zafío (conger), breca, lula (coarse squid), cardume (n) (school of fish), brótola, chanquete (two different autochthonous fish).

• Boats: traíña, boliche (a type of boat)

Food

• Human: chícharo (chickpea / pea / bean), alboronia (vegetable stew), hallulla / -o (cake), calentitos y tejeringos (churros), hochío (cake), repápalo (round muffin, donut), pipirrana (Andalusian salad)

• Cattle: afrecho (bran), arvejón (staple crops)

Home

• Soberado y doblado (upper part of the house), sardiné, sardinel, and rebate (entrance step), casalicio (large house), alacena (pantry), falsa (attic).

Weather

• Hacer buena (/mala) orilla, llampo (lightning), boria (fog), claras del día (sunrise), harinear (to drizzle) and harinilla (drizzle), flama (burning heat)

Descriptions

• About people (positive connotations): (d)espelotado (healthy, robust), jirocho (satisfied), marchoso (brave)

• About people (negative connotations): majareta and majarón (crazy), charrán (rascal), chalado and pirado (crazy), gilí (dumb), (d)esabori(d)o, chuchurri(d)o (withered, cracked ), falto (dumb), frangollón (who does things late and badly), parguela (dumb)

• Positive feelings: camelar (want)

• Negative feelings: achares (shame, jealousy), canguelo (fear), coraje (anger, irritation)

As any other language, Andalusian Spanish is linked to people and cultures. Andalusian is the Spanish of Andalusia and the language used by great geniuses like Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Pablo Picasso or Federico García Lorca.

At don Quijote, we hope you enjoy this article and that it helps you to expand your knowledge of the Spanish varieties spoken in cities such as Malaga, Seville or Cádiz.

Let’s talk about machine translation. Often abbreviated as MT, it refers to automated software that can translate text inputs from one language to another. Google Translate or DeepL are some of the most popular machine translation services on the Internet.

Although the machine translation market size is expected to grow worldwide in the next years, as Statista data shows, Google Translate will never achieve the efficiency of human-powered translation. Do you want to know why? Keep on reading to discover some of the funniest Google Translate Fails in Spanish and why they can’t (yet) be avoided.

Switch to the human-translated Spanish version of this post.

Polysemic Words: A Nightmare Scenario

Without the right context, polysemy can be a great challenge for translation machines, especially in short text strings. When a word has multiple meanings, Google Translate chooses one according to the information given in the rest of the sentence. But, as you can see in the example below, that doesn’t always work.

The word school refers not only to a teaching organization, like don Quijote Spanish schools, but also to a large number of fish swimming together in the same direction. However, Google Translate does not quite grasp the difference. The result? A target text stating that some fish spend most of their time being schooled.

Proper Nouns Hinder Proper Translations

Proper nouns should only be translated in very specific cases. For example, when a fictional character’s name defines something about his personality. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll know how important it is for Gandalf the Grey to become later Gandalf the White. That’s why, for once, Spanish movie translators did well in translating this character’s name for ‘Gandalf el Gris’ and ‘Gandalf el Blanco’.

However, in most cases we shouldn’t translate proper nouns. In the example below, Google Translate didn’t realize that Pink is (also) a proper noun and ended up saying a that a color went straight into the Billboard Hot 100 list.

Proverbs and Sayings: A Long Way to Go

Google is getting more and more efficient thanks to artificial intelligence. However, and even if English<>Spanish is one of the language pairs most human input, it makes mistakes. It can translate well-known sayings, like it’s raining cats and dogs, but it doesn’t work with the less common ones.

The equivalent Spanish saying in the following case would be mejor pájaro en mano mejor que ciento volando.

Cultural Differences: Guaranteed Failure

Even professional translators can sometimes overlook cultural differences… imagine how often machine translation does so. How many lives does a cat have in your language? In English it’s nine, but in Spanish it has seven, and in Arabic only six. And believe us, Google can’t tell the difference.

Final Thoughts

Automation is taking over the world, but there are some tasks that a machine will successfully perform on its own. Translating is one of them. If you work in an international environment, we strongly recommend you to take a business-oriented Spanish course so you don’t need to rely 100% on Google Translate for your emails and presentations.

Spoiler: same as ‘little’ vs ‘a little’

Our latest post about Spanish language talked about quantifiers such as mucho, bastante, demasiado and poco. In today’s article, we are going to go over the differences between poco and un poco when used with uncountable nouns.

If what we are saying is all Greek to you, switch to the Spanish version of this post and keep on reading.

Countable or Uncountable?

To better understand this blog post, you need to know first what countable and uncountable nouns are:

• Countable nouns are realities that ca be counted unit by unit. In other words, they can be assigned a number. For example, libro (book), niña (girl), casa (house), botella (bottle), or beso (kiss) are countable entities.

Tengo tres libros de terror

(I have three horror books)

En España es normal saludarse con dos besos

• However, uncountable nouns depict realities that, due to their nature, can’t be broken into units. Therefore, they can’t be counted. Substances, materials and abstract concepts usually fall into this category: leche (milk), agua (water), azúcar (sugar), paciencia (patience), miedo (fear)… For example:

En esta piscina hay mucha agua

(This pool has a lot of water)

Mi profesor tiene bastante paciencia

(My teacher has a lot of patience → is very patient)

In this case, it would be incorrect to say, for example, tres aguas* (three waters) or 20 paciencias* (20 patiences). The quantity of this kind of nouns is determined by quantifiers such as mucho (a lot of), bastante (quite some), demasiado (too much) and poco (too few), but not with numbers.

Poco vs un poco

The type of nouns we’ve just reviewed, uncountable nouns, can use the formula we introduced at the beginning of this post: un poco (a little). The difference between poco (little) and un poco (a little) depends mostly on the speaker and the message he or she wants to convey.

• Poco (little) highlights the idea that there is almost nothing. In other words, the word has a negative connotation. For example:

Hay poco café en casa. ¿Puedes ir al supermercado por favor?

(There is few coffee left at home. Can you please buy some more?)

• Un poco (a little) expresses that there is a bit of something, although not that much. In other words, the word has a positive connotation. For example:

Hay un poco de café en casa. No es necesario que vayas hoy al supermercado hoy

(There is little coffee left at home. You don’t need to go to the supermarket today)

In the first instance, the speaker considers that there is not enough coffee left, while in the second example he or she considers that there is few coffee left, but it is enough.

To summarize, with poco the glass is half empty and with un poco de the glass is half full.

Many thanks to Ignacio Sellés, from our Spanish school in Alicante, for writing this post. Keep on learning Spanish with don Quijote’s language resources!