Category: Odds & Ends

Diphthongs -diptongos en español- (A2)

DiphthongsDiphthongs (diptongos en español) are a combination of one strong (a, e, o) and one weak vowel (i, u), or of two weak vowels. Diphthongs are counted as one syllable. It may not be separated unless the weak vowel bears a written accent called “tilde”:

   ai, ay aire, hay pronounce like “eye”
    ei, ey reino, ley pronounce like “may”
   oi, oy oigo, hoy pronounce like “toy”
   iu triunfo, ciudad pronounce like “you”
   ui, uy cuidar, muy pronounce like “Louie”
   ue hueso, muerte pronounce like “west”
   au jaula, Paula pronounce like “now”
   eu feudal, reuma pronounce like “eh + oo”
   ia estudiamos pronounce like “yacht”
   ie miel, quiero pronounce like “ye”
   ua cuatro, mensual pronounce like “watt”
   uo cuota, antiguo pronounce like “quota”

The combination of a stressed strong vowel between two weak vowels that forms a single syllable is a triphthong. In Spanish, only four exist.

   iai estudiáis pronounce like “yipe”
   iei estudiéis pronounce like “yea”
   uai (uay) continuáis, Paraguay pronounce like “wine”
   uei (uey) continuéis, buey pronounce like “wade”

 

If the weak vowel is stressed, there is a separation called hiato, these are not diphthongs: ca-í-da, dí-a, rí-en, Ma-rí-a, tí-os, re-í-mos, re-ú-ne…

It also an hiato when the combination of two strong vowels is separated: ca-e-mos,re-a-li-dad, le-en, em-ple-o, a-e-ro-pla-no..

Diphthongs and hiatosLearning about diphthongs and hiatos will help you to pronounce better.

Remember you can contact your tutor with any question you have about diphthongs. Don’t you have a Spanish personal tutor yet? Just click on the link to practice the diphthongs with our quizzes.

 

12 tips to learn Spanish

12 tips to learn Spanish, now we are back to School. If you are full of enthusiasm to sit down and learn español (Spanish) at one go—¡relájate!—stop and relax. Learning a language is not like crash dieting; it’s a gradual process that requires planning and concentration. Here is what you should know as you incorporate learning Spanish into your everyday life.

12 tips to learn Spanish

1. Avoid negative thinking—that you can never master a foreign language, or that it’s impossible for you to pronounce certain words correctly. Relax, and concentrate on what you do know and can do, and then keep adding on to that. If you can’t think of a particular word, choose another one to help you explain yourself. If you can’t understand what someone is saying to you, ask him to repeat.

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Basic Spanish grammar updated

¡Feliz Viernes a todos! We have updated our Basic Spanish Grammar with six new units:

All of them have clear grammar explanations, many examples, quizzes to practices and they are free.  Don´t hesitate to contact us, or directly to your tutor, to suggest new topics.

¡Buen fin de semana y hasta pronto!

Saber vs Conocer

Saber vs Conocer: differences and conjugation

saber vs conocer, differences

Very often, students of Spanish as a foreign language have difficulties with these to verbs. Both saber and conocer can be translated as to know, but there are not interchangeable most of the times. Let´s see how they work and their differences.

1. Saber expresses knowing how to do something or knowing a fact. Check saber conjugation.

Sabe de fútbol más que nadie. (He knows football better than anyone.)

2. Conocer expresses knowing in the sense of being acquainted with a person, place, thing, or idea. Check conocer conjugation.

¿Conoces a Julia? (Do you know Julie?)

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RAIN CATS AND DOGS IN SPANISH: IDIOMS

Rain cats and dogs in Spanish is CAER CHUZOS DE PUNTA (to fall sharp spears). Look to these Spanish English phrases to understand better how this Spanish idiom works.

rain cats and dog in Spanish CAER CHUZOS DE PUNTA.¡No pudes marcharte ahora! Están cayendo chuzos de punta y no tienes paraguas (You can’t leave just now! It is raining cats and dogs and you don’t have an umbrella).

 En los meses de julio y agosto caen chuzos de punta en India, porque es cuando viene el Monzón (In July and August months it rains cats and dog because is when the Monsoon comes).

Cuando regresabamos de la fiesta, caían chuzos de punta (When we were returning after the party, it was raining cats and dogs).

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Talk Spanish: ¡ME GUSTA MUCHO! (A1)

Me gustan los helados.

In this new section we are going to compile a few posts that are related to the same topic and, if you look at them together, they will help you learn to communicate in this very specific situation. Also, we give you the possibility to practice what you have learned in a FREE 30 MINUTES MINI CONVERSATION LESSON IN A GROUP.

Today you will learn how to say what you like and dislike and show agreement.

Continue reading Talk Spanish: ¡ME GUSTA MUCHO! (A1)

Talk Spanish: ¿QUÉ HACES CADA DÍA? (A1)

In this new section we are going to compile a few posts that are related to the same topic and, if you look at them together, they will help you learn to communicate in this very specific situation. Also, we give you the possibility to practice what you have learned in a FREE 30 MINUTES MINI CONVERSATION LESSON IN A GROUP.

Today you will learn how to talk about your daily routine and say how often do you do things. Continue reading Talk Spanish: ¿QUÉ HACES CADA DÍA? (A1)