SpanishDict Blog

SpanishDict Releases Free iPhone App

Tue, 29 September 2009 11:04:06

Now you can take SpanishDict with you anywhere in the world! No need to be connected to the internet to have access to our complete dictionary, a talking phrasebook, an interactive vocabulary game, the word of the day, and your very own favorites list. And of course, it’s all free!

Browse the full version of our Spanish-English dictionary with the same features you love on the web: multiple definitions, auto-suggest as you type, and audio pronunciations without ever having to be connected to the internet.

The phrasebook includes over 700 phrases and words with audio pronunciations by native Spanish-speakers and both the English and Spanish translations. This is a priceless tool when you are traveling and need to know how to ask “Do you have double rooms?” at a hotel or “Would you like to dance?” to that cutie at the dance club.

The word game is surprisingly addictive for Spanish-speakers of all levels, from beginner to native. The game gives you the word and the pronunciation by a native speaker, and you just have to choose the correct translation. The more words you get right, the harder they become. See if you can get all the way to level 15!

And don’t worry about missing the word of the day if you are away from the internet either. There is a complete set of word of the day entries right there in the app! You can even add your favorite words to your “Favorites” to remember for later or simply to email to yourself.

We are super excited about this new app and how it give you so many more resources for learning and practicing Spanish. You can download it from the iTunes app store. We hope you enjoy it and if you do, please tell your friends and leave positive feedback on the app page in iTunes.

Check out the New SpanishDict Mobile

Tue, 18 August 2009 12:02:08

You can now access SpanishDict from your cell phone! SpanishDict Mobile’s slimmed down interface packs a lot of punch: you can lookup words in the dictionary, translate phrases, and conjugate verbs—all from a single search box. Whether you’re at the supermarket and want to translate Spanish ingredients, or you want to tell your girlfriend’s Spanish-speaking mother what a lovely home she has, you can use SpanishDict Mobile for your Spanish translation needs wherever you are.

SpanishDict Mobile is optimized for your cell phone to present Spanish translations in the clearest, fastest format possible. Here are some of the SpanishDict features you know and love that you can now find on SpanishDict Mobile:

Word definitions, phrase translations, and verb conjugations that are all available by searching in one single bar
Quick translations are available for thousands of words
Jump-to conjugations for any verb that appears on the same page as its definition, so there’s no need to click to another page
Super fast phrase translations
The ability to return to the full version of SpanishDict by clicking the link on the bottom of our mobile homepage, just in case you still can’t find what you’re looking for

We hope that SpanishDict Mobile helps make Spanish learning and translation more convenient than ever. Simply visit SpanishDict.com from your cell phone to check it out.

Welcome to the New SpanishDict!

Thu, 06 August 2009 00:00:00

Welcome to the new SpanishDict.com! We are delighted to announce the release of the new SpanishDict.com. With over 100 improvements to the site, we are breaking down the barriers to learning Spanish. It is now easier than ever to translate words in our comprehensive dictionary, practice vocabulary with our multimedia flashcards, get answers to your questions in the Answers section, and actually learn Spanish with our full-length, professional video courses. Check out the video for a tour of some of the new features.

We hope you enjoy the site and good luck with your Spanish!

New Feature Highlights

Dictionary

Find conjugated verbs - If you enter the word like “fuiste” we will point you to the verb “ir”
Did You Mean? - a powerful algorithm for suggesting the correct spelling of misspelled words
Quick dictionary translations – bold, easy-to-find translations are included right at the top of the page for the most common words
Integrated forum search on the dictionary page – easily find answers relating to your search term
Intelligent auto suggest - dictionary auto suggestions are sorted by popularity making it more likely that your word is suggested

Answers Forum

All new answers forum that is faster, prettier, and more helpful
Auto preview your question as you type
Auto-suggested answers as you ask a question
Thumbs up for good questions and answers
Flagging of spam, commercial, and inaccurate posts
Reputation system that unlocks more features as you earn more reputation
Badges system that recognizes great contributions to the site and makes participation more engaging

Chat

One-on-one video and text chat that matches you with other users who are looking to practice
Sample conversations that you can use to practice your Spanish
Quick translation tool that translates words and phrases without leaving the page

Flashcards

Popular flashcard sets are previewed directly on the front page
Creating flashcards is easier than ever with one-click auto translations
Challenge a friend to score a higher score than you with the challenge a friend link
Print flashcards in a pre-formatted flashcard layout

Learn Spanish

Compare your writing and speaking responses with new model answer responses
Check the spelling of your response on the Write section of the lessons

Reference

Reference articles are intelligently linked to dictionary search results: search for “ser” and we will show you a quick link to the “ser verses estar” article in the reference
Reference articles will improve and expand over time as the top contributors to the site will now have the ability to create and edit articles

There is really a lot more to show off, but I will leave a few surprises for you to discover. Hope you like the new features. Leave your feedback in the comments.

Variants in Spanish Food Vocabulary

Tue, 30 June 2009 09:34:16

You know when you are traveling abroad, feeling all confident after taking all those lessons and studying all those flashcards, and you walk into a little cafe or restaurant, ask for some peach juice, and the waiter just stares at you? You know you formed your question correctly, you studied so hard and even consulted the phrase book before asking! Well, did you ask for “zumo de melocotón” or “jugo de durazno”? It makes all the difference.

Depending on where you are, Spanish food vocabulary can be completely different from what you may have learned. And while this may be frustrating at times, it is also one of the greatest things about Spanish and it’s ability to adapt and evolve with the people who are speaking it. I mean, think about all the different ways English-speakers have come up with to say bathroom: toilet, water closet, loo, restroom, etc. So I say take this chance to learn a few extra words that all mean the exact same thing! That way when you are traveling in Argentina, you won’t get that disappointed look from that cute waiter or waitress. Take a look at a few more examples I found below and study hard!

Popcorn: palomitas (Mexico, Spain), cabritas (Chile), crispeta (Colombia), pochoclo (Argentina, Uruguay), cotufas (Venezuela), rositas (Cuba), popororo (Guatemala)

Catfish: siluro (Spain), bagre (Latin America)

Tortilla: tortilla (Mexico and central America), omelete-like egg dish (Spain)

Strawberry: frutilla (Argentina), fresa (Spain, Latin America, South America)

Avocado: palta (Bolivia, Peru, Southern Cone*), aguacate (Spain, Latin America, Northern South America)

Sweetcorn: maíz (understood everywhere), tierno, elote (Mexico), choclo (South America), jojoto (Venezuela)

Bean: poroto (Argentina), alubia, judía (Southern Cone*), frijol (Spain), caraota (Venezuela)

Pepper: pimiento (Spain), ají (Argentina, Uruguay, Peru), pimentón (South America), chile (Mexico)Variants in Spanish Food Vocabulary

How to Say “Thank You” in Spanish

Tue, 02 June 2009 09:33:01

When I am traveling, I find that many of the people I meet are so wonderful and open to helping out a traveler who just wants to learn a little more about their culture, country, or town. I also find that I am saying “gracias” about a hundred times a day! So in an effort to expand my daily vocabulary, which is always a good idea anyway, I sought out some new and maybe even poetic ways to give thanks for all the little, and big, things total strangers do for me when I need it the most.

I find that saying Te agradezco la ayuda/la información/etc. is a great way to communicate a deep thankfulness and appreciation for whatever the person just gave you. A couple other similar phrases are Estoy agradecido por…(or of course Estoy agradecida if you are a woman) and Siento agradecido/a por…They all mean about the same thing, being thankful and appreciative of whatever the person has given you.

Another of my favorite ways to be thankful is to relate to the person just how much they have helped me. Me ha ayudado mucho/muchísimo (You have helped me so much) or Me ayudará la información, etc. (This information will really help me.) It’s always a good idea to let the person know that not only do you appreciate what they he or she has given you but that you will be using it in the future. You just have to remember your future tense, right?

Last of all, if I find I have exhausted these other thank yous and I am really looking to impress, I might try something a little more formal. Te doy gracias por… is always a winner. It may be a little old fashioned and formal, but you know some people are really into all the pomp and circumstance.

So, there is a thank you for each and every situation, and I can promise that a well thought out thank you can take a long way when you happen to be a long way from home. So try a few of these newfangled terms of appreciation, you’ll thank me!

Paella: The Star of Spain

Tue, 19 May 2009 09:31:53

Every country has its dish to boast about, but has there ever been a dish a country fights over more often? It seems that every region in Spain has a claim on the “correct” way to make a paella, just like they each claim to have the “correct” way to speak Spanish. But that’s another article. And I have to say, after trying every paella I could get my hands on, I think they are all right! Whether they are traditional Valencian, seafood, or mixed, give me a properly prepared paella and I am one happy lady.

Now where paella originated is a matter of debate with stories ranging from a cheap king serving his leftovers with rice to try to skimp on a feast bill to the Moorish influence of rice and fish casseroles. But the truth is probably that field workers would prepare a rice dish in a pan over the fire and add whatever ingredients they happened to have around, which usually included snails, rabbits, and vegetables. Once the main populace caught on, things got a little more involved.

The key to correct preparation, so I have been told my many a Spaniard, is the paellera. Also just called a paella itself, this pan has two looped handles and my dip slightly in the middle to hold the oil for sauteing. But the main importance is the fact that it is big, and I mean very big. The rice should be only as thick as “un ditet,” or the width of one finger, so about 1/2 an inch. You want as much rice touching the bottom of the pan as possible so you get that delicious, crispy layer called the socarrat. So if you don’t have a paellera hanging around, just grab the biggest stainless-steel or other all metal skillet you can find. Cast-iron isn’t the best choice since the sides are so deep and non-stick pans aren’t the best at creating that crispy bottom.

Next is the sofrito and this is where the debate begins. Sofrito is a combination of tomato, onion, garlic and a variety of spices, herbs, and peppers. It’s a little like the salsa we love so much with tortilla chips here in the US, but is cooked instead of raw and a good bit less chunky too.

The meat is of course the next big item on the big debate. For a traditional Valencian paella, you start sauteing rabbit, chicken, and/or snails, as well as beans and artichokes. This is the most famous paella recipe, and ask anyone from Valencia and they’ll tell you it’s the only correct way to eat a paella. There are also the seafood recipes that are more popular along the coast which include mussles, squid, octopus, fish, and all other delicious sea foods. Then there is the mixed paella, probably the most well-known throught the world as your standard paella. This is a delicious combination of the seafood and the Valencian paella with some spicy chorizo sausage probably thrown in there as well.

No matter what kind of paella you are eating you can know it tells a little bit about the cook. To make a great paella takes love, care, and attention to detail that you may not find in every restaurant out there boasting “traditional paella.” But don’t let that stop you! It sure doesn’t stop me from dipping my fork in the paellera for one last bite of the socarrat!

What is Cinco de Mayo All About?

Tue, 05 May 2009 09:30:17

If you’re like me, then you are definitely excited about the festivities of Cinco de Mayo, when everyone in the U.S. gets together and stands in long lines at mexican restaurants to enjoy fajitas, nachos, tacos, and their favorite drinks, all in celebration of Mexico’s independence…or not.

The idea that Cinco de Mayo is all about Mexican independence is a wide misconception in the U.S. Even many college Spanish majors don’t know the real reason they set aside May 5th for piñatas and lime flavored drinks, so read along and maybe you can win the big prize for Cinco de Mayo trivia.

Americans are sometimes a little disappointed to learn that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independece Day, but rather a commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It was an important battle because the French outnumbered the Mexicans 2 to 1 and had not been defeated in almost 50 years, yet the Mexican army under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín was victorious. Unfortunately, with money on the mind (France was trying to occupy Mexico to make them pay their debts), France deployed another 30,000 troops within a year and won Mexico City, installing Archduke Maximilian of Austria as ruler of Mexico. The story gets better when, after ending the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln helped Mexico to expel the French and assassinate Maximilian, thus restoring the Mexicans to power in their own country.

So even if the French did end up ruling Mexico for a while, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated to commemorate the bravery and victory of Zaragoza’s outnumbered army at the Battle of Puebla. So, during your festivities with friends and family, why not toast to the bravery of Mexico and maybe educate some of your fellow Americans on the real reason they are celebrating on the 5th of May.

Why Don’t I Understand Spoken Spanish?

Tue, 28 April 2009 09:29:06

Your heart rate increases, the room seems smaller and stuffier, maybe you start to sweat a little too because it is time for the listening portion of the exam or you are alone with only Spanish-speakers for the very first time. You have studied so hard and you know all kinds of great vocabulary from all those flash-cards. You can talk about your family members and where you want to travel on vacation. You even know how to use the subjunctive correctly to describe your doubt and dreams.

So how is it that when you hear someone speaking Spanish to you at a normal speed, it all sounds like one word? The answer is elision, the omission of sounds when individual words are combined into phrases and sentences, and you do it all the time in English as well. When asking someone “How are you doing?”, you don’t usually pronounce each word separately with pauses between each word, right? Instead it sounds more like “howeryodoin?” This is a very common practice for informal, regular speech in almost any language. It just seems more apparent in Spanish because you have learned each word individually instead of in phrases and regular context like your native language. While you learned “¿Có-mo es-tah us-ted?” is the correct way to ask someone how he or she is doing, the more common pronunciation is more like “¿Cómwestáusté?”. And it can get even more complicated when you have to differentiate between “helado” and “el lado” or “ha alquilado” and “alquilado,” but this is where context really comes to the rescue.

Now for a few solutions to the problem that plagues almost all students of a new language. I have always found watching movies and television shows with the Spanish subtitles on to be extremely helpful. This way, you can hear what the speakers are saying and at the same time connect it to the individual words you are more familiar with through reading. Also, if you are using DVR or watching a DVD you can pause, rewind, and play as many times as you like, you can listen to tricky phrases over and over until you are more familiar with them. I also suggest listening to newscasts since the newscasters are usually professionally trained public speakers and will enunciate a little more clearly for a more dramatic effect. Listening to your favorite Spanish songs while reading the lyrics may be a little more fun, but I have always found it to be a little difficult since pronunciation is really not a priority when rhyming and following the beat are involved.

In conclusion, listening is just plain hard at first. But just like learning how to conjugate a verb in a new tense is hard for the first few (hundred) times, it gets easier with practice. Focus on getting the general idea of the conversation and not so much translating each individual word and the rest will come in time. Until then, “¡Háslwégo!”

Tapas - Delicious Snack or Drink Cover?

Fri, 17 April 2009 09:27:41

Tapas, those delicious little snacks you can get in any bar in Spain, have recently been making quite a splash in the United States. In the past 3 years, I have seen 4 tapas bars pop up in my neighborhood alone. And people are crazy about them! The thing is, other than serving tiny bits of expensive food and over-priced drinks, these trendy American tapas bars have almost nothing in common with your traditional Spanish tapas bar.

In many places in Spain, dinner is not served until 9 or 10 o’clock at night. So many people like to “tapear” or go out and eat tapas at a few different bars to meet up with friends, discuss the day, and in general just relax in a fun social atmosphere. In a lot of the major cities and in most parts of Adalucía, when you order a drink, often you get a tapa for free. Or sometimes it is the other way around; if you order a tapa, you get a free drink.

Now, how this tradition came about is debated among a few popular theories. First, it is important to know what “la tapa” means. Literally, it means “cover” or “top,” so it is important to keep this in mind when thinking about its history.

Some say that some sneaky tavern owners from Castilla-La Mancha found that a strong smelling and tasting cheese could “cover” the flavor of cheap wine. This way, they could sell the not so great wine for a higher price by including a free piece of cheese.

Others say that when King Alfonso XII was visiting Cádiz on the south west coast, he ordered a cup of sherry, which is famous in this region. In order to protect the wine from the blowing beach sands, the waiter covered the wine glass with a slice of cured ham. King Alfonso apparently enjoyed it and asked for another glass of sherry with a “tapa” just like the first.

Less legendary is the thought that since you are most likely standing when you are out having drinks with friends, you would need to cover your drink with your plate in order to have a free hand to eat. Or that you would need to top your sherry, a very sweet wine, with bread or ham to keep the curious flies away.

Now what kind of tapa you get with your drink widely depends on the region, but the staples are olives, of which there can be many different varieties, bread with aioli, and some kind of fried seafood. It is also very common to see small slices of bread topped with Spain’s famous jamón serrano or slices of cheese. My favorite is tortilla española, which is very similar to an omelette with pieces of fried potato and onion inside instead of cheese.

There are thousands of tapa recipes out there and I encourage you to try a few on your own. Being all the fad right now in the US, your friends would definitely be impressed if you invited them all over for an early evening of tapas at your house. ¡Salud! and ¡Buen provecho!

Valentine’s Day in Spanish-Speaking Countries: For Love and Friendship

Fri, 13 February 2009 09:25:40

Chocolate, flowers, dinner, dancing, and most of all love. Everywhere you look on Valentine’s Day you can see love-birds holding hands and trading sweet poems and gifts and friends exchanging Valentine’s cards, balloons and hugs. Valentine’s Day can be celebrated by all and in many different ways, depending on where you are in the World.

In most of South America, Valentine’s Day is known as “El día del amor y la amistad,” or Love and Friendship Day. This special day is not just for lovers! Many groups of friends exchange Valentine’s cards and gifts and later go out for dinner, all in the name of friendship.

In Spain, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in much the same way as in the U.S. and the U.K. But many people also celebrate “El día del libro y la rosa” on April 23 in which men give their special lady a rose and she gives him a book in return.

This year in Venezuela, Valentine’s Day has been canceled! Or, rather, postponed until the 16th where it will be celebrated for a whole week. Hugo Chavez thought with such a big voter referendum coming up on February 15, that Valentine’s Day may be too distracting, so he just moved the celebration to the day after.

Colombia celebrates Valentine’s Day on September 20 where it is very popular to send gifts from secret admirers.

Bolivia also favors September for its day of love, celebrating el día del amor on September 21 in conjunction with Students’ Day, Day of Spring, and Children’s Day. It is common to give cards, flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears to friends, family, and loves.

No matter where you are, Valentine’s Day is a day for love and friendship and a great time to show those you love how you feel.

¡Feliz San Valentín! ¡Feliz día del amor y la amistad! ¡Feliz día de enamorados!

1,000 Words Is All You Need for Spanish

Tue, 27 January 2009 09:23:17

One of the most common questions I get from people learning a new language is this: “How many words do I need to know to be able to have a conversation?” The answer is different for everyone, and it definitely depends on what kind of things you want to talk about. If you are learning Spanish as part of your job and do business with Spanish speakers, then your minimum vocabulary will be a lot different than someone who is learning Spanish so they can surf off the coast of Peru or someone who wants to study classical Spanish poetry in Madrid.

How many does a person actually use?

The average person has a vocabulary of about 10,000 words, but it is possible that a person can understand many more words than he or she actually uses. This number is the same no matter what language the person speaks. However, the number of words that he or she actually uses on a day to day basis is much lower. Think of your total vocabulary number (including all those words you learned to take the SAT or the GRE) versus the words you use to chat with your friends or talk about your weekend. Pretty different, right?

Research shows that in an average day, we use about 1,000 different words. Day to day, the words we use do not vary too much either, meaning we tend to stick with about a basic daily vocabulary of around 1,000 words. Some research has even shown that young teens only have a daily vocabulary count of 240 words! And some experts say that 50% of all spoken language consists of the 100 most common words in that language.

So how many do I actually need?

So take your pick! You can probably get around a Spanish-speaking country if you know the 100 most common words, but the closer your daily vocabulary is to 1,000 or above the better. So get started! You know where the vocabulary lists are!

Try the all new Spanish Word of the Day

Sun, 16 November 2008 09:18:30

We are excited to release today a new (and improved) Spanish Word of the Day. We have added richer translations, pronunciations, parts of speech, example sentences, and idioms. Our hope is that the word of the day will give you enough information not just to translate the word, but to use it in your conversations. You can choose to receive the new Spanish Word of the Day by email by selecting the option in your account settings. ¡Ojalá que le guste!

New: Learn Spanish with Videos and Games on SpanishDict.com

Thu, 14 August 2008 09:08:15

SpanishDict.com announces today the release of a new video-based Spanish language course. The course offers professional grade videos, games, and exercises in a series of lessons that guide you step-by-step to speaking Spanish. The cost of the new course: free.

Interactive Language Learning

SpanishDict’s new course uses multimedia to make language learning engaging. The videos are lead by a professionally trained Spanish teacher and utilize images and questions to introduce new vocabulary and concepts. The lessons challenge people to earn points as they proceed through the course. The point system tracks performance, showing your progress as you continue to learn.

A Social Network of Support

The site also utilizes the “social” features of modern websites—including friends, forums, blogs, and comments—to allow you to connect with other as you learn Spanish. Languages are inherently social. The new course allows people not only to learn about a language, but to actually use it. A person in Oklahoma can get feedback on their Spanish from a person in Madrid right on the site.

Continuous Learning

New lessons are produced each week which allows participants to develop an ever-expanding vocabulary and grasp of grammar. Users who want additional vocabulary practice can utilize the fully customizable vocabulary list feature. Our hope is that you can start with the basics and proceed to develop a solid foundation in Spanish.

Learn When you Want, Where you Want

The lessons are available on iTunes as videos or podcasts so you can download them to your iPod and watch them on the go. The flashcards and games are contained in an embeddable widget that participants can place on their Facebook, MySpace, or custom start page. These new tools make it incredibly easy for to practice when and where it is convenient.

We hope you like the new lessons. Be sure to visit the learn Spanish page to check them out. And as always, let us know your feedback.

SpanishDict launches Internet’s largest Spanish-English dictionary

Thu, 31 July 2008 09:05:28

SpanishDict releases today an expansive new set of dictionaries to power its popular online Spanish-English dictionary. SpanishDict has licensed content from the trusted Spanish dictionary leaders Chambers Harrap and Velázquez Press to offer a new database of over 300,000 up-to-date translations, local variations, idioms, and example usages. The resulting dictionary represents the Internet’s largest Spanish-English dictionary. Key features of the new dictionary include:

Contextual Examples: Extensive examples of common usages are provided to ensure accurate translations.
Audio Pronunciations: Audio recordings for both English and Spanish words demonstrate the proper pronunciation.
Single Search Box: One simple search box to find both English and Spanish translations.
Auto-Suggest: Users typing in the search bar will automatically see suggested words relevant to the their query in a drop-down bar.

In addition to the new dictionaries, SpanishDict is now releasing a comprehensive Spanish reference section, which boasts over 60 pages of detailed grammar explanations, examples, and exercises. The Spanish Language Reference includes four sections to help people learn Spanish:

Grammar: Detailed, approachable explanations and exercises are provided for all major Spanish grammar topics.
Verbs: The Spanish verb reference features verb explanations, conjugations and exercises.
Vocabulary: The Spanish vocabulary section is comprised of over 3,000 words organized into categories including animals, business, travel, government and technology.
Media: the Media reference guide showcases Spanish newspapers, television, film and music clips creating a rich method of interacting with Spanish culture.

Visit SpanishDict.com to experience the new features.

$0.12 per Gallon of Gas in Venezuela!

Tue, 01 July 2008 09:02:02

American gas prices have never been so high and I, along with many other Americans, are stuck driving in a SUV with a twenty-some gallon tank that only takes premium gasoline.

Yesterday, I spent $4.29 per gallon. Let’s do the math: $4.29 a gallon multiplied by a twenty-three gallon tank equals $98.67 per tank of gas. I drive around 275 miles a week for work so I have to refuel weekly: multiply $98.67 by four and I get a sum too large to fathom. Sadly, I am more of an average case rather than a special exception. Americans make up less than five percent of the world’s population but own over one third of the automobiles. Thus, I have decided to move to Caracas, Venezuela-the world’s fifth largest oil exporter-where gas is a mere $0.12 a gallon.

Why So Low, Venezuela?

Think about paying only $.13 per gallon of gas! Unthinkable to Americans but a reality to the very few Venezuelans who own cars (around 53% of Venezuelans are poverty-stricken). But this cheap gas comes with a different kind of price. Latin American countries have been privatizing their petroleum industry since the early 1900’s–this is why the prices are so low. Through privatization, these countries hoped to attract much-needed investment capital, increase GDP and introduce free market economic reforms but much of the reforms have failed to live up to their promises. Many other Latin American countries that have a natural abundance of oil as well, including Ecuador and Bolivia. Together, these countries are affectionately referred to as “Petrocracies:” oil-rich countries inhabited by poor citizens.

Country	Price per gallon USD
Spain	$8.10
Peru	$6.09
Uruguay	$6.06
Chile	$4.81
Columbia	$4.05
Honduras	$4.05
Brazil	$3.12
Cuba	$3.03
Nicaragua	$2.61
Argentina	$2.40
Mexico	$2.35
Panama	$2.19
Puerto Rico	$1.74
Venezuela	$0.12

Note Spain’s high gasoline price. Although the price of raw gas is about the same for both the U.S. and European countries, the tax on gasoline is much higher in Europe (France leads with a 70% gas tax). Also, note the difference in gas price between Venezuela and another listed Latin American country. Oil barren Uruguay’s gas price is 5,050% greater than Venezuela’s gas price. Even Puerto Rico’s low $1.74 per gallon price is still 1,450% greater than Venezuela’s paltry $0.12!

Search SpanishDict From Your Browser’s Toolbar

Mon, 23 June 2008 09:00:21

SpanishDict has just added a search box that you can add to your web browser’s toolbar. You can find the tool on the SpanishDict Widgets page and add it to your tool bar for convenient Spanish definitions from anywhere on the internet! The toolbar search integrates with both Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2 and 3. Happy searching!

We Are Not Alone: Father’s Day in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Thu, 12 June 2008 08:52:09

Year after year we agonize over which tie, pair of socks or cologne to buy and give to the father, fathers or father-figure in our lives. Perhaps this year you will take comfort from the fact that Americans aren’t the only ones who must endure the torment and insecurity of picking out the “perfect” gift: most Spanish-speaking countries must do it as well!

Father’s Day (El Día de Los Padres) Dates in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Country	Date
Belize	Third Sunday in June
Costa Rica	Third Sunday in June
El Salvador	June 17th
Guatemala	June 17th
Honduras	March 19th
Nicaragua	June 23rd
Panama	Third Sunday in June
Argentina	Third Sunday in June
Bolivia	March 19th
Chile	Third Sunday in June
Colombia	Third Sunday in June
Ecuador	Third Sunday in June
Paraguay	Third Sunday in June
Peru	Third Sunday in June
Uruguay	July 19th
Venezuela	Third Sunday in June
Mexico	Third Sunday in June
Puerto Rico	Third Sunday in June

The majority of the Spanish-speaking countries featured above share the same Father’s Day date as the U.S.–the third Sunday of June. But while Father’s Day is an official holiday in the United States, for many of the these Spanish-speaking countries (Mexico and Costa Rica among them) Father’s Day is an unofficial holiday. Nevertheless, it is celebrated with the same fervor. I guess fathers in both the United States and Spanish-speaking countries are great pretenders: they always make us believe that what we buy them, however banal and boring it may be, is their favorite.

Happy Father’s Day!

¡Feliz Día del Padre!

Top 100 Spanish Words People Really Want to Know

Mon, 09 June 2008 08:47:37

Top Ten Words

As Shakespeare said, brevity is the soul of wit. It’s also the soul of the top 10 most searched for words on SpanishDict.com. People want to know the basics of the Spanish language, like how to say “to”, “you”, “a”, and “are”. These are the building blocks and appeared most frequently in the more than 10 million searches from SpanishDict.com analyzed for this post.

But what may be more surpising, is how frequently “love” is searched for. Not only does it come in as the number 3 most searched for term, it also makes an appearance at number 68 with the phrase “I love you”. Perhaps Spanish is the language of love?

Looking at the instances of profanity, however, maybe not. Numbers 28 and 44 reveal people’s desires to use the foul side of the Spanish language.

Friendly and complimentary words also appear on the list. People want to know how to say “fun” (#29) and “beautiful” (#35), “good” (#38) and “happy” (#49).

People also search for some of the essentials in life: “people” (#78), “food” (53), “work” (#58), “dog” (#79), and let’s not forget “sleep” (#98).

Take a look through the list below. What surprises you most about what people search for? You can share your thoughts in the comments.

English Word	Spanish Translation	Searches
1. to	1. a	25011
2. you	2. tú	19803
3. love	3. el amor	18171
4. a	4. un, una	15935
5. are	5. eres/estás	15069
6. was	6. fui, fue	13595
7. the	7. el, la, los, las	12737
8. have	8. tener	12297
9. is	9. es, está	11792
10. me	10. yo, mi, me	11591
11. on	11. en	11440
12. I	12. yo	11408
13. it	13. lo, la, le	11358
14. this	14. este, esto, esta	11140
15. do	15. hacer	11052
16. like	16. gustar	10840
17. that	17. ese, que	10808
18. my	18. mi, mis	10760
19. for	19. por, para	10602
20. from	20. de, desde	10045
21. about	21. acerca	9900
22. go	22. ir, marchar	9813
23. at	23. a, en, arroba	9679
24. will	24. voluntad	9438
25. what	25. qué	9401
26. of	26. de, ante	9350
27. get	27. conseguir, recibir	9335
28. fu**	28. joder	9297
29. fun	29. deversión	8973
30. so	30. así, tan	8917
31. your	31. su, tu, vuestro	8873
32. also	32. también	8676
33. want	33. querer	8582
34. take	34. tardar	8378
35. beautiful	35. bello, bonito	8289
36. with	36. con	8103
37. can	37. la lata, poder	8092
38. good	38. bueno	8092
39. there	39. allí, allá	8085
40. play	40. jugar, tocar	8069
41. hello	41. hola	8010
42. see	42. ver	7978
43. when	43. cuando	7862
44. b**ch	44. perra, chucha	7834
45. come	45. venir	7774
46. in	46. en	7761
47. how	47. cómo	7734
48. by	48. cerca	7688
49. happy	49. alegre, feliz	7392
50. help	50. la ayuda, ayudar	7098
51. leave	51. dejar, irse	7054
52. miss	52. errar, señorita, echar de menos, extrañar	7004
53. food	53. la comida, el alimiento	6931
54. after	54. después	6793
55. find	55. encontrar	6760
56. meet	56. encontrarse	6760
57. and	57. y, e	6667
58. work	58. trabajar	6627
59. become	59. llegar a, ser	6591
60. make	60. hacer	6573
61. son	61. el hijo	6500
62. know	62. conocer , saber	6413
63. then	63. duración, tiempo, hora	6391
64. time	64. el tiempo	6388
65. has	65. tiene	6180
66. nice	66. agradable	6175
67. need	67. la necesidad	6150
68. i love you	68. te quiero, te amo	6111
69. to try	69. intentar	6016
70. how are you?	70. cómo está usted, cómo estás	5985
71. some	71. algunos , algunas	5972
72. learn	72. aprender	5957
73. stop	73. ¡alto!, parar	5900
74. but	74. pero, sino	5876
75. as	75. como, si	5863
76. show	76. mostrar	5807
77. eat	77. comer	5806
78. people	78. la gente, el pueblo	5679
79. dog	79. el perro	5638
80. look	80. ver	5570
81. would	81. condicional	5520
82. watch	82. el reloj, mirar	5498
83. stay	83. quedarse	5468
84. hot	84. caliente	5463
85. only	85. sólo	5462
86. be	86. estar, ser	5426
87. next	87. próximo	5407
88. give	88. dar	5348
89. no	89. no	5311
90. sexy	90. sexual, atractivo	5237
91. think	91. pensar	5208
92. all	92. todo, todos	5206
93. because	93. porque	5121
94. enjoy	94. disfrutar	5023
95. still	95. todavía, aún	4932
96. we	96. nosotros	4932
97. where	97. donde	4882
98. sleep	98. dormir	4867
99. lunch	99. el almuerzo	4826
100. sorry	100. lo siento	4783

The following list was compiled from an analysis of over 10 million searches from the Spanish dictionary on SpanishDict.com.

9 Top Spanish-Speaking Travel Destinations

Thu, 05 June 2008 08:43:48

Spanish-speaking travel destinations vary from the extreme to the exquisite, the famous to the infamous. Perhaps you want to scale a mountain or maybe you desire the star treatment at a luxury resort. Maybe you want to spot celebrities on the riviera, or perhaps you just want some time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Think about what you love in your vacations and then check out these 9 top Spanish speaking destinations suited to match your travel personality.

Check out the spot for your travel personality:

* The Archaeologist
* The Fine Arts Lover
* The Cosmopolitan
* The Celebrity Gawker
* The Recluse
* The Outdoorsman
* The Rum Connoisseur
* The Deep Sea Adventurer
* The Party Animal

The Archaeologist: Chichen Itza, Mexico

You were the kid that anxiously awaited the ancient civilization section in social studies class. You still love to find “treasures” in nature even if it means finding some ear phones on the grass at your local park. You can pretend all you want but wouldn’t it be far more scientific if you were to actually discover something at the ruins of an ancient civilization? You can! In Chichen Itza, Mexico, you can explore Mayan civilization grounds like the Cenote Sagrado, a large sink hold that measures 198 feet in diameter. “Archaeologists” just like you have found jade, gold rings, necklaces and (gasp) even ancient human bones-the remains of young girls sacrificed to the Mayan rain god Chaac! If you can, you should schedule your trip during the next spring equinox. At the Pyramid of Kukulcan, or El Castillo, a natural phenomenon occurs where the sunlight creates a shadow image of a serpent descending down the pyramid’s stairs! Ooo..how eerie!

The Fine Arts Lover: Madrid, Spain

Pouring over your college art history books and hanging reprints of Diego Velaquez may pacify your desire to see the original but sometimes, you just have to go see it for yourself. Just a hop, skip and an airplane-fueled-jump away is Madrid, Spain in all its fine-arts glory. The Golden Triangle of Art refers to the three great art museums of this city: Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Reina Sofia. Walk the sprawling space of the grand Museo del Prado and see Diego Velaquez’s Las Meninas and Francisoco de Goya’s La Maja Vestida. Then over at Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, walk through eight centuries of European paintings including Renaissance and Baroque paintings by Titian, Sebastiano del Piombo, Caravaggio, Rubens, Van Dyck, Murillo, Rembrandt and Frans Hals. Finally at the Museo Reina Sofia, one can discover art exclusively by Spanish artists including two of 20th century’s greatest artists: Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Good thing these museos all have stores! Buy all the reprints you can carry on the airplane!

The Cosmopolitan: Buenos Aires, Argentina

You are the child of the World and you like to soak in every aspect of a culture. Welcome to Buenos Aires, Argentina–a city so unique, you’ll want to move here. Buenos Aires is known for steak, the tango, and the shopping so go ahead, dive right in! The steaks are grilled in the traditional Argentinian manner that propelled it to world-wide popularity. The steak is grilled on a parilla, an Argentinian traditional barbecue and coal grill. As famous as the steaks but perhaps a bit more lean is the tango. Tourists and locals alike congregate in tango clubs to dance the night away. Every hotel offer tango lessons and have a tango ballroom so do not fret about not finding a venue–not that you would. The shopping in Buenos Aires is among the best in the best in world. Buenos Aires boasts very fashionable streets paved in cobblestone that is a great departure from indoor malls associated with shopping in the US. Also, the great exchange rate does not hurt either!

The Celebrity Gawker: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

You check Perez and The Superficial compulsively. You have no clue what is happening in the world right now but you do know where Angelina and her brood are right this moment. Your TiVO is filled with E! celeb-reality shows and you can’t wait until you can binge on them the moment you leave work. If these statements apply to you, you are destined for Cabo San Lucas where celebrities vacation (it’s proximity to L.A. is unheard of!) and where you can gawk at them IN PERSON! The beaches are exclusive, pristine and so sunny that you will need to bring those Nicole Richie sunglasses that block out half your face (plus, sun and flashbulbs will destroy your retina and you need your retinas to see Jake and Reese on their vacay!). Other than gawking at the genetically gifted celebrities, you can book yourself in world class spas, swim laps in an infinite pool and dine at five star restaurants. Book that hotel or private villa in advanced, pack your bags and remember some binoculars…you are going to CABO!

The Recluse: Placencia, Belize

Placencia is a true tropical getaway destination. The sixteen miles of pristine beaches, the various areas to snorkel around the barrier reef and the relatively low tourist traffic makes one feel like they are alone on a beautiful island…with all modern amenities and great cuisine of course! The coral reef that surrounds the island is a great place to snorkel, even if you have never been before. There are a slew of different snorkeling spots to fit any experience level. Fishing and sailing is another great aspect of Placencia. The calm, warm waters lend itself to some big fish and if you are lucky enough to catch one, a personal chef will cook your catch according to your instructions! The various keys around the island make the Placencia even more beautiful. Divers often dive off these keys into the marine abyss.

The Outdoorsman: Puebla, Mexico

If nature is your best friend, then Puebla will become your family. Indulge yourself by visiting the many national parks including the Izta-Popo National Park, La Malinche National Park and the valle de Tehuacan Biosphere Reserve (which is the largest reserve in the world). You can go hiking, biking and see animals in their natural habitat! For those of you aspiring to be a outdoorsman, don’t worry: Guided tours are available too. Back in the town, you can roam around the market and find town artisans selling handmade crafts, Talavera pottery, el arbol de la vida (the tree of life) figurines and one-of-a-kind onyx and marble sculptures.

The Rum Connoisseur: Ponce, Puerto Rico

If you are the type of person that can smell Rum when thinking about the Caribbeans while sitting at your desk at work in December, then you must travel to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Wait, you haven’t heard of it? Ponce is less touristy than San Juan but if you think this city is inferior in quality, then you thought wrong. This is the home of the Serralles family and their historic distillery which produces Don Q authentic Puerto Rican Rum (Bacardi and Captain Morgans are not distilled in Puerto Rico). You can take a tour of their former mansion, soak in the Serralles family story and drink Don Q all around the city (evidently, this is the only Rum Ponce carries). Remember, when you’re lounging on the beach sipping on some Don Q, do not put it down. The many different types of exotic birds that fly around the pristine beaches are known to snatch things from patrons!

The Deep Sea Adventurer: Isla del Cano, Costa Rica

For those who like diving, beware…you may never want to leave Isla del Cano! Isla del Cano (Cano Island) is rated as one of the best diving locations in the world by Skin Diver magazine. Are you a diver-wannabe? It’s okay becauseIsla del Cano has dives to fit any skill level. Located off the southwest coast of Costa Rica, Isla del Cano’s coral formation ranges from 15 feet all the way to 80 feet “walls.” Marine animals that are prevalent in this area are sharks (ranging in size from six to ten feet), sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, morays and huge snapper and grouper fish! This life aquatic is untouched due to its status as a Biological Reserve so all dives are regulated (only five dive locations are open to the public at a time under federal regulations!). You will probably want to pick up a commemorative shell while you are near the ocean floor but sadly, it is against the Costa Rican law to remove any marine object from the ocean, dead or alive, so remember that before get caught for being a shell smuggler!

The Party Animal: Barcelona, Spain

After a day of strolling around historic Barcelona, looking at Gaudi architecture and feigning happiness in touristy pictures, all you want to do is go out. You’re in luck because Barcelona is one of the greatest nightlife cities in all of Europe. The nightlife doesn’t start until after 12AM so make sure to start your night at the myriad of bars and cafes before hitting the clubs. Keep away from the touristy Barri Gòtic & Las Ramblas and head over to The Village People or Barrio Alto neighborhood. If you partied too hard the other night and just want to listen to music and lounge, there are so many places for you to go! The music club scene is eclectic in this city, offering daily shows in all music styles including jazz, blues, classical and, oh course, flamenco.

How to say ‘I love you' in Spanish

Thu, 05 June 2008 08:31:57

Love is complicated. Some say that it is a cultural phenomenon while others say it is based on individual chemical makeup while yet others say it is God-sent, divine. Confusion adds to complication when love ventures into other languages–especially Spanish. Love in Spanish need not be so complicated, amigo! Master the different ways to say ‘I love you’ and you will be well equipped to say it to anyone, anywhere…in Spanish.

The Battle Between Te Quiero and Te Amo

Te quiero - Te quiero is simple. It literally translates to ‘I want you’ but is translated to ‘I love you.’ It can be used towards your family, friends, and spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend. This is the safest way to say ‘I love you’ to anyone you want to express your love towards.

Te amo - Te amo means ‘I love you’ as well but it cannot be used when in reference to your family and friends. This term is rarely used in general but when it is, it is reserved for your lover/true love. You might see ‘Te amo‘ in classic Spanish literature and poems too.

Other Love-ly Phrases

Te extraño - I miss you
Me gustas - A romantic kind of like that implies desires, wants, sexuality and lust
Te quiero para me or Quiero que seas mio-a - I want you
un par de tortolitos - a pair of lovebirds
enamorarse de alguien - to fall in love with someone
estar enamorado(a) de alguien - to be in love with someone
el amor de mi vida - the love of my life
fue un flechazo - it was love at first sight
amante - a lover

New Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool

Tue, 03 June 2008 08:30:19

Today we are happy add to SpanishDict, drum roll please, a Spanish verb conjugator! The tool will conjugate any Spanish verb, including over 1,000 irregular verbs. We’ve tried to make it as easy to use as possible. You can receive all the conjugations on a single page when you are on the conjugation tool. We also setup a nifty feature that will show you simple verb conjugations directly on the dictionary search results when you search for a verb (see here: tener) .

Try kicking the tires on the new tool by putting in a few Spanish verbs and let us know what you think. Post your suggestions and feedback in the comments below.

Hope you like it!
Christopher

Welcome to the New SpanishDict Blog!

Tue, 03 June 2008 08:28:03

SpanishDict is excited to present a new addition to the website: The SpanishDict Blog. The blog will feature announcements on new SpanishDict features, articles on the Spanish language, and fun and interesting stories for those learning Spanish. You can subscribe to the RSS feed or email list and stay connected to the latest happenings here at SpanishDict. As always, let us know if you have any feedback. We hope you enjoy the new blog.