Say Maybe We Could Meet Again Sometime in Spanish
Have yous always wished there were a word to more accurately describe something you lot're feeling or doing?
There probably is 1–it just doesn't exist in English. There are even emotions we oasis't experienced considering we don't accept linguistic communication for them. Fascinating, isn't it?
Learning some other linguistic communication unlocks new means to express ourselves in these words-that-don't-quite-interpret. Information technology gives us a better understanding of the world, enriches our travel experiences, and brings greater depth to our ability to process and communicate ideas.While I'm non fluent in Spanish, I've ofttimes said that Spanglish is my favorite linguistic communication because in that location are merely some Spanish words that capture what I want to say and so much better. (Lucky for me, I tin can break out into it with my husband or in-laws anytime and they don't retrieve I'm crazy!)
Sometimes information technology takes a whole phrase to effort to translate the significant of these words, and other times, there are subtle nuances that are lost in translation. From the funny to the perfectly succinct, here are 25 Castilian words or phrases with no verbal English equivalent!
1. Verguenza Ajena / Pena Ajena
To feel embarrassed for someone even if they don't feel embarrassed themselves
These terms vary regionally but seem to carry the same connotation. If you've ever watched a stand-upwardly comedian bombing, you know the feeling this is describing. Y'all put your hand to your head to hide your face up, squeeze your fists, and brand a crazy cringing confront. The all-time we can practise in English language is say something is "awkward," but I don't call up that quite captures the depth of the awkwardness we sometimes experience at someone else'due south embarrassing moment. I love the idea of having a term specifically for those Michael Scott moments nosotros've all felt.
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two. Merendar
To take an afternoon snack, coffee, or tea
Having distinct words in Spanish meaning "to eat + specific meal" is pretty great (desayunar, almorzar, and cenar), and at present you can add together afternoon snacking to the mix! Still, information technology wouldn't exist Latin American Spanish without the word meaning something else entirely in some countries. At to the lowest degree in Ecuador,merendar means to have dinner.
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3. Empalagar
To be overly sweet, in reference to food or a person
Speaking of food…y'all know that feeling you get in your mouth when you scrape up all the brownie concoction while waiting for the brownies to melt and then proceed to make a hot fudge sundae once they're done? (No? But me?) We've all had moments where we've eaten something so sweet that our mouths experience weird and nosotros tin can't possibly take another bite. Castilian has a word for that!
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4. Sobremesa
After-dinner conversation, time spent leisurely chatting effectually the table later on a meal
This i isn't used everywhere across Latin America, but from my anecdotal observations, I'yard pretty sure the deed of enjoying a sobremesa is common–even if the word itself isn't used in a detail place. I've had countless chats with my Puerto Rican mother in law after breakfast and cafecito while everyone else scatters from the tabular array. I think we could all use a dull-paced meal and time spent with family and friends more than often in our time-oriented United states culture.
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5. Tutear
To address someone with the informal tú class
The starting time time I heard this, I was watching a cheesy Colombian soap opera, and information technology was ane of those words that I immediately understood from context and knowing how words are structured in Spanish. Plainly, nosotros don't demand a word for this in English since we don't have an informal "you," but I just thought it was so convenient to have this succinct way of saying that someone is addressing a person with thetú course.
As a bonus, I'll throw in vosear here for countries that use the familiar gradevos. (Not to exist confused with the homonym vocear, which ways to shout, announce loudly, or call someone's proper noun over a loudspeaker.)
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6. Estadounidense
Someone who'due south from the United States, a "United State-an," similar saying Colombian, Puerto Rican, or Mexican
Even though it's a mouthful to say, I dear this Spanish term for its specificity. I adopt to avert referring to myself as "American" because it implies that the United states of america is the only "America." In English I usually say, "I'k from the United States," but in Spanish I can also say, "Soy estadounidense."
seven. Antier
The twenty-four hours earlier yesterday // In some locations,anteayer is more common.
Allow's be judicious with our syllables.
8. Madrugar
To wake up in the early morning, usually before sunrise (the "wee hours")
When you've got a 6 AM flight to catch….this word comes in handy!
ix. Trasnochar
To stay upwards very tardily, all dark, or have a night out
I suppose nosotros could get close with the phrase "pulling an all-nighter," but I don't recollect there's a single word that captures it like Spanish does.
Which of these Spanish words without an English language equivalent is your favorite? #latinamerica #ttot Click To Tweet
x. Desvelado / a
To be exhausted because you were up all night or couldn't sleep
After y'all trasnochó, you'd existdesvelado for sure. I'm pretty sure this too describes the feeling yous take afterward a restless night of sleep–a combination of headache + tin't concentrate + all you can think nearly is taking a nap simply you have to work. The worst.
11. Estrenar
To use or clothing for the start time
Now that I know this exists, I experience like I need a word for information technology.
12. Tener ganas de
To feel like, to be in the mood for
Gana ways "want or inclination," so this phrase literally translates, "to take desires of." Merely while it means "to feel similar," I retrieve that doesn't quite capture the nuances.
In that location are other phrases withganas de in them, like this song I heard in Republic of cuba, "Me Muero de Ganas." Which basically means "I'm dying of desire [for you lot]."
thirteen. Posibilitar
To make possible
Isn'tposibilitar merely more fun sounding to say?
14. Amigovio
Something betwixt amigo and novio
I suppose "friends with benefits" is the translation, but amigovio merely such a convenient (and completely logical) word that sums it upwards.
15. Chanclazo
As when your mom yells, "Te voy a dar united nations chanclazo." I'm going to smack your backside with this chancla. Meet too: cocotazo, used in the same context–getting hit in the head with the knuckles.
I think all of the impressions my hubby and his brothers have done of their mom (in beloved, of form!) over the years take made this sink into my hidden, and although I've never experienced the wrath of la chancla, I experience its ability. I'm pretty sure this one is universal across Latin America (there were a couple well-placed chanclareferences in the movieCoco).
16. Enmadrarse
To become overly attached to one'southward female parent
17. Consuegros
Your son or daughter'due south parents-in-law
This word is super useful because information technology's such a succinct style of referring to in-law relationships. My family and my husband'south family unit know each other, but at that place'southward not really a give-and-take for that relationship in English language.
18. Casa Ajena
The firm of a person that yous're not shut with then you have to exist conscientious and non touch anything, a business firm where you lot can't really "make yourself at dwelling."
A phrase I didn't know I needed until I heard it described! It'due south that awkward being at a political party, wondering where the bath is, and non being certain whether the stiff living room couch is really for people to sit on.
19. Tocayo / a
Someone who shares the same commencement name as you, a "proper noun twin"
In English language usually we only say, "Hey that'southward my name, as well!" How fun is it to take a Spanish word to apply when you meet your proper noun doppelgänger?
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20. Tuerto
Bullheaded in i eye, one-eyed person
I mean, this might not come up that often, merely how user-friendly is it to accept a word for it when it does?
21. Friolento / a
Very sensitive to common cold or always common cold
This would perfectly draw my sweetness gram, who always took a sweater wherever she went.
22. Enguayabado
Literally: "guava-ed," which isn't anything, this is slang in Colombia for hungover
This is i of those moments when I'd really like to know the origin of a word.
23. Enchilar
To season with chili
Getting straight to the point with one word–so efficient. In some countries, it can also mean to annoy or pester someone (which is kind of how I feel about chili peppers). It'southward agreeable to think nearly siblings yelling at each other, "Stop chili-ing me!"
24. Me cae bien.
I like you (in a friendly, non-romantic fashion), he seems nice.
Technically we have a translation that captures the essence of what this means, only it's i of those interesting, doesn't-translate-literally phrases that's funny to remember about. Literally, it means "You lot fall well on me." But it'south how you would refer to a teacher you like or someone y'all merely met and got forth with–instead of the wordgustar.
25. Dominguero & Dominguear
Dominguero: Sunday every bit an describing word, but too an insult to hateful a bad/inexperienced commuter ("Dominicus driver"). Similarly, dominguear ("to Sunday") tin can mean to do something at a relaxed pace or to take a chill, fun Sunday.
All these Sunday words! Even if these aren't used across all of Latin America, and even ifdominguearis slang that isn't listed in the dictionary, they are only and then perfect that I had to include them.
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Which of these is your favorite? What untranslatable Spanish words would you add to the list?
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Hover over the pin to salve it for afterwards!
Source: https://roamingtheamericas.com/spanish-words-no-english-translation/
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