In part 1 of this series, we looked at common (and funny) mistakes people make when learning Spanish due to two Spanish words sounding similar. For example, people might mix-up dolor and dolar (pain and dollar) or pesado and pedoso (heavy and farty)! In part 2 of this series on common Spanish language errors we will look at ‘false friends’. This is when you think a word will mean something due to it sounding very similar to a word in your language, in the cases we are going to look at:...
Probablemente habrás oÃdo hablar del acento y particularidades del español de los andaluces, gallegos o catalanes, pero seguro que nadie te ha dicho que en Madrid también existen particularidades en la pronunciación, en la gramática o en el vocabulario que se usa. Por ejemplo, si oyes a alguien diciendo Madrid, con la /d/ final ¡seguro que no es madrileño! Ya que ellos pronuncian Madriz, sÃ, con zeta y similar con el resto de palabras que acaban en d. Una de la particularidades por lo...
How to celebrate in Madrid: The traditional opening speech in Plaza de la Villa, Saturday the 9thof February at 18.00, marks the beginning of the 2013’s Spanish Festival. This grand festival will fill the city of Madrid with a joyful mood, party and fantasy. Just as previous years the festival contains events such as: The Big Parade, where fancy dressed professionals take the streets of Madrid, the Masquerade Dance, which is a program specifically dedicated to children, and much,...
Are you learning Spanish in Spain? Do you find that the Spanish spoken in the street isn’t quite the same as the Spanish you learn in the classroom? Sometimes it’s good know a few common slang terms that you can throw into conversation to impress locals you meet in plazas or at the shops or even to impress your Spanish teacher with. Here are some of my favourites with an example of how to use them: 1.     Cabezota : Stubborn This word is more commonly used as an adjective but...
Madrid, just like New York, never sleeps. It has everything: stunning architecture, nightlife, scenery, celebrations, weather, flamenco, great food and wines. Most of all, Madrid is steeped in history. One week will not be enough time to see everything but that will just give you more reasons to want to keep coming back. To make it easier for you to discover some specifics for the Madrileñan winter, we have put together a small list of things you might want to try out while spending the winter...
Spain is known worldwide for its crazy festivals and abundance of local traditions but what Spaniards tend to do (and celebrate) during the time of reflection over the Advent season beats it all! If you want to know some of the strangest Christmas traditions in Spain, keep on reading: Searching for the Caganer This little porcelain figure is found with its pants down pooping somewhere in the nativity scene. What sounds like an invention from Kenny & Co. from South Park is an old...
Spain is famous for its delicious Mediterranean cuisine based on fish and seafood, olive oil and plenty of fresh fruits. Food in Spain is more than just eating, it’s a lifestyle. Spanish people can spend hours over a meal and drinks with their family or gathering in bars to enjoy tapas with friends after work. If you want to know what food to try when you’re in Spain then you should have a look at our list of the 5 essential dishes in Spain: Tortilla de Patatas One of the best-known...
Para conocer un barrio hay que empezar por su mercado. Los mercados de Barcelona revelan la manera de ser de los barceloneses. ¡Nada mejor para conocer sus costumbres que ir al mercado! Ten en cuenta que hay cuarenta mercados para escoger, asà que lo más adecuado serÃa empezar por el mercado que te quede más cerca del lugar donde te alojes. En cada barrio, el mercado tiene su propia personalidad; darte una vuelta y descubre los detalles escondidos de las costumbres gastronómicas y las...
I have discovered in the two years I have been living in Spain that sometimes the Spanish do very weird things. My (very British) idea of a festival or celebration involves drink, music, possibly dancing and often a speech. The Spanish like to throw fireworks, build towers out of humans, get carried around in coffins and jump over babies (all things that actually happen in yearly festivals). I have also discovered that a very large number of Spanish festivals involve throwing things. I have no...
La Tomatina is a food fight festival held every year on the last Wednesday of August in Buñol, a small town close to Valencia. The festival attracts over 40,000 people and is known as the biggest food fight in the world. Over 125 tons of ripe tomatoes provided by the town hall are thrown in the streets where people, locals and tourists alike, are allowed to fight for exactly one hour on that day. What happens in Buñol on that day? The festivities begin at around 11 a.m. on the main square of...
Common (& very funny) mistakes when learning Spanish (pt2)
May 17, 2013
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TERRAZAS DE VERANO EN MADRID
May 10, 2013
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Common (& very funny) mistakes when learning Spanish (pt1)
May 06, 2013
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Madrid’s Secrets – Secretos de Madrid
Apr 19, 2013
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WIN a Kindle with the Babylon Idiomas 10year Anniversary Competition
Apr 17, 2013
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