Spanish SUPERWORDS !

eldeano · 30th March 2007, 03:18 PM

This subject has exercised me before but I was reading this morning and I came across a Spanish word which seems to do the job of lots of English words - so I call it a SUPERWORD.

The word was recordar and in the context in which it was used this morning it means 'to bring to mind' - the phrase was something like la casa recorda la casa de los Munsters. A single word that means so much more.

Another superword is saber. The number of times at beginners stage when I would write something like me gusta saber como hacer un video blog. Hands up if you've done it, too.

Any others you can think of?

karena · 30th March 2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldeano

This subject has exercised me before but I was reading this morning and I came across a Spanish word which seems to do the job of lots of English words - so I call it a SUPERWORD.

The word was recordar and in the context in which it was used this morning it means 'to bring to mind' - the phrase was something like la casa recorda la casa de los Munsters. A single word that means so much more.

Another superword is saber. The number of times at beginners stage when I would write something like me gusta saber como hacer un video blog. Hands up if you've done it, too.

Any others you can think of?

Tratar is a good one.

greytop · 30th March 2007, 05:28 PM

Echar and quedar seem to be well used

ValenciaSon · 30th March 2007, 05:46 PM

How about leche?

Margot · 31st March 2007, 04:30 AM

Quiero decir "quiero" porque ¡siempre quiero (o quisiera

) algo!

lumpsuckerpig · 22nd May 2007, 01:09 PM

Not sure if this is in your category of 'Superwords' but maybe you need to be a super person to pronounce this one

Otorrinolaringología

Phew thats a mouthful!

eldeano · 22nd May 2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpsuckerpig

Not sure if this is in your category of 'Superwords' but maybe you need to be a super person to pronounce this one

Otorrinolaringología

Phew thats a mouthful!

Sounds like something medical - and best avoided.

greytop · 22nd May 2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpsuckerpig

Not sure if this is in your category of 'Superwords' but maybe you need to be a super person to pronounce this one

Otorrinolaringología

Phew thats a mouthful!

No, a mouth doctor

ValenciaSon · 22nd May 2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greytop

No, a mouth doctor

Actually that's an ENT (ears nose & throat) doctor.

María Madrid · 22nd May 2007, 05:33 PM

I love gestiones and alta/baja (as in dar de alta o tener el alta). When translating them into English you always use a different word each time. Saludos,

tad · 24th May 2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpsuckerpig

Not sure if this is in your category of 'Superwords' but maybe you need to be a super person to pronounce this one

Otorrinolaringología

Phew thats a mouthful!

Well I wouldn't want it in my mouth

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldeano

Another superword is saber. The number of times at beginners stage when I would write something like me gusta saber como hacer un video blog. Hands up if you've done it, too.

Any others you can think of?

What do you mean?

eldeano · 24th May 2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tad

What do you mean?

jimsesl · 25th May 2007, 05:36 PM

I like the way "alma" is used in Spanish. Although it translates to "soul", when used in Spanish it seems like so much more. In songs, it's almost hard to translate a phrase that uses alma...it's more like a person's whole being. Well, that's about as poetic as I can get!

tad · 26th May 2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldeano

What do you mean?

I don't know what you mean.

eldeano · 27th May 2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tad

I don't know what you mean.

There's always a first for everything.

Don · 30th May 2007, 12:10 AM

How about Volver and Acabar?

You can use volver as "to return", "to do again", "to become or go (like crazy)".

You can use acabar as "to finish, "to have just..."

With regards to saber, it's super also because it's one of those verbs that changes meaning with tense. In the present, to know, in the preterite to find out.

Mario · 30th May 2007, 06:23 PM

Como quieres que te quiera si quien quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera

Volunteers for translation??

Cervecero · 30th May 2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario

Como quieres que te quiera si quien quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera

Volunteers for translation??

Close as I can get is:
How do you want me to love you if who I want to love me doesn't love me how I want them to love me.

Pretty poor translation. Who's next?

tad · 30th May 2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don

You can use acabar as "to finish, "to have just..."

o acabar con...'to finish off'

Ritmo Latino · 30th May 2007, 07:28 PM

Learning the word "hay" while studying in Mexico was an incredible revelation for me. I just couldn't believe how useful such a simple word could be while traveling.

Pairing it up with a noun, I could take on just about anything. In a store: Hay pilas? Restaurant: Qué hay? Guest house: Hay cuartos? Bus depot: Hay un bus? Directions: Dondé hay....?

And it didn't even matter if the noun was singular or plural. Holy cow. It should be the first word taught in any Spanish class.

I love "hay". And so should you.

30th March 2007, 03:18 PM	#1
eldeano He's the most tip top Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 3,892	Spanish SUPERWORDS ! This subject has exercised me before but I was reading this morning and I came across a Spanish word which seems to do the job of lots of English words - so I call it a SUPERWORD. The word was recordar and in the context in which it was used this morning it means 'to bring to mind' - the phrase was something like la casa recorda la casa de los Munsters. A single word that means so much more. Another superword is saber. The number of times at beginners stage when I would write something like me gusta saber como hacer un video blog. Hands up if you've done it, too. Any others you can think of?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

30th March 2007, 05:28 PM	#3
greytop Hero Forero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pego, Spain Posts: 3,370	Echar and quedar seem to be well used

30th March 2007, 05:46 PM	#4
ValenciaSon Hero Forero Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Posts: 4,923	How about leche?

31st March 2007, 04:30 AM	#5
Margot ViajeraVerdaderaVirtual Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,307	Quiero decir "quiero" porque ¡siempre quiero (o quisiera ) algo!

22nd May 2007, 01:09 PM	#6
lumpsuckerpig Forero Senior Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Burnley England Posts: 94	Not sure if this is in your category of 'Superwords' but maybe you need to be a super person to pronounce this one Otorrinolaringología Phew thats a mouthful!

22nd May 2007, 05:33 PM	#10
María Madrid María Madrid Join Date: May 2007 Location: Madrid Posts: 20	I love gestiones and alta/baja (as in dar de alta o tener el alta). When translating them into English you always use a different word each time. Saludos,

25th May 2007, 05:36 PM	#13
jimsesl Forero Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Posts: 17	I like the way "alma" is used in Spanish. Although it translates to "soul", when used in Spanish it seems like so much more. In songs, it's almost hard to translate a phrase that uses alma...it's more like a person's whole being. Well, that's about as poetic as I can get!

30th May 2007, 12:10 AM	#16
Don Forero Senior Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California, USA Posts: 63	How about Volver and Acabar? You can use volver as "to return", "to do again", "to become or go (like crazy)". You can use acabar as "to finish, "to have just..." With regards to saber, it's super also because it's one of those verbs that changes meaning with tense. In the present, to know, in the preterite to find out.

30th May 2007, 06:23 PM	#17
Mario Forero Join Date: May 2007 Location: Madrid Posts: 15	Como quieres que te quiera si quien quiero que me quiera no me quiere como quiero que me quiera Volunteers for translation??

30th May 2007, 07:28 PM	#20
Ritmo Latino Forero Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 15	Learning the word "hay" while studying in Mexico was an incredible revelation for me. I just couldn't believe how useful such a simple word could be while traveling. Pairing it up with a noun, I could take on just about anything. In a store: Hay pilas? Restaurant: Qué hay? Guest house: Hay cuartos? Bus depot: Hay un bus? Directions: Dondé hay....? And it didn't even matter if the noun was singular or plural. Holy cow. It should be the first word taught in any Spanish class. I love "hay". And so should you.