Qué vs Cuál: When to use “qué” and “cuál” in Spanish
If you’ve ever tried to ask a question in Spanish and hesitated between using “qué” or “cuál”, you’re not alone. These two little interrogative words often translate to “what” or “which” in English, but their uses don’t map cleanly onto English equivalents. Below, we’ll break down exactly what each of these Spanish words means, and […]
How to use Spanish diminutives and sound more natural in Spain
If you’ve spent time in Spain or listened to Spanish speakers, you might have noticed slightly different endings attached to familiar words. These were likely Spanish diminutives. But what exactly are diminutives? Well, Spanish diminutives are special suffixes added to words to subtly modify their meanings. While the most common use in Spain is to […]
25 Spanish false friends that confuse English speakers
When studying a new language, it’s important to be aware of false friends, especially if the language you’re learning has some crossover with your native one. These false friends can cause confusion and, on occasion, lead to some silly mistakes. Fortunately, we have a long list of 25 Spanish-English false friends below, to help steer […]
Easy way to learn Spanish: Tips & tricks for beginners
Learning Spanish can seem like a big challenge at first, but there are several easy ways to learn Spanish that are fun, rewarding and effective. Millions of people around the world speak Spanish as a second language and they’ve picked it up through a variety of methods. Here, in this post, we’ll take a look […]
Complete guide to “ahí”, “ay” and “hay” in Spanish with examples
If you’re learning Spanish, you may have already noticed that some words sound exactly the same but have completely different meanings. A classic case is the trio of “ahí”, “ay”, and “hay”. For beginners, this can be confusing. But, once you practice “ahí”, “ay”, and “hay” in your in-person or online Spanish classes, you’ll quickly […]
Imperfect tense Spanish: Conjugation, when to use it, irregular verbs and examples
Learning Spanish can be a truly rewarding experience, but one of the more challenging aspects for many students is mastering the different past tenses, especially knowing when to use each one. Whether you’re taking online Spanish classes or attending a Spanish course in Madrid, getting a good grasp of the imperfect tense is key to […]
How do you say and write a date in Spanish?
If you decide to learn Spanish in Madrid, or even if you’re taking online Spanish classes, one of the most useful vocabulary lessons will be learning how to say the date in Spanish and how to write the date in Spanish. That’s what we’re going to break down in this guide, which has been written […]
Difference between “saber” and “conocer” in Spanish
If your mission is how to learn to speak Spanish fluently, it’s important to understand “saber” vs “conocer” and the differences between these two verbs. Both of these verbs can be translated as “to know” in English, but there are differences and nuances to each when it comes to the uses. If you’re taking Spanish […]
What are reflexive verbs in Spanish? Learn to use them correctly
Mastering reflexive verbs in Spanish is an important step when learning the language, as these types of verbs are very common in everyday language. The most basic answer to the question of “What is a reflexive verb in Spanish?” is that these are verbs in which the person or thing doing the action is also […]
The 15 Spanish idioms you should know: meanings and when to use them
Idioms are a crucial part of any language, adding color and personality to conversations. As you dive into Spanish, you’ll come across countless fun and intriguing expressions, especially if you’re learning the language while living in Spain. In this post, we’ll explore 15 fascinating Spanish idioms, breaking them down into four key points: their literal […]
Learn to say “thank you” in Spanish on any occasion
Learn to say “thank you” in Spanish on any occasion One of the very first pieces of vocabulary you’ll learn in almost any language is the word or words for “thank you”, and that’s certainly the case when studying Spanish too. Long before being able to speak Spanish fluently, you’ll want to at least be […]
Indirect vs direct object pronouns in Spanish
Mastering object pronouns in Spanish is an essential part of how to become fluent in Spanish, since this is an element that native speakers understand almost instinctively. Object pronouns are common and important because they streamline communication by replacing nouns to avoid repetition and there are two types in Spanish: direct and indirect. In this […]