Monday 30 April 2012

How Many Days Are There In A Week?


SCENARIO
Imagine you are talking to a relative, a friend or a colleague. Maybe you are studying Spanish together. Perhaps you are testing each other with some basic questions and answers in Spanish. At some point, the other person says to you something like: "how many days are there in a week?"

In Spanish, the other person could say:
¿Cuántos días tiene la semana?


OUR TIP
The question is an invitation for you to give the number of days in a week. You may want to say that:
  • There are seven days in a week;
  • You don't know the number of days in a week;

Here are a couple of examples of how you could reply:
  • La semana tiene siete días (there are 7 days in a week);
  • No sé cuantos días tiene la semana (I don't know how many days there are in a week);

Now you should practise answering the question:
¿Cuántos días tiene la semana?


This is another Free online Spanish lesson from Love-Spanish.com. We conduct Spanish lessons online on a wide range of topics using the latest video conferencing facilities. Online lessons are the ideal way to improve listening and speaking skills. For more details on our lessons online and how to book them, please visit:

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Sunday 29 April 2012

Tell Me, Is "cicatriz" Feminine?

Introduction

This post deals with the gender of nouns. There are some patterns which when spotted can help us recognise the gender of Spanish nouns. This post looks at those patterns in general. More specifically, this post looks at the gender of Spanish nouns ending in -triz, for example “cicatriz”.



SCENARIO

Imagine you are talking to a relative, a friend or a colleague. Maybe you are studying Spanish together. The other person appears to have a doubt about the gender of a Spanish noun and says to you something like: "tell me, is “cicatriz” a masculine or feminine word?".

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:
Dime, ¿es “cicatriz” masculino o femenino?

On the other hand, he/ she could choose to be more formal and say to you:
Dígame, ¿es “cicatriz” masculino o femenino?


OUR TIP

The question is an invitation for you to state the gender of a Spanish noun. When you state the gender of a Spanish noun, you DO NOT need to be concerned about the level of formality in the other person's question.



Remember that Spanish nouns ending in -triz are usually feminine. So, you could say:
  • cicatriz” es femenino* (“cicatriz” is a feminine noun)

If instead of “cicatriz” you were asked about a noun whose gender you didn't know, you could say:
  • No si es masculino o femenino* (I don't know whether it is masculine or feminine noun).

Now you should practice replying to someone who says to you:

Dime, ¿es “cicatriz” masculino o femenino?

*Please see grammar below

Grammar-The Gender of Nouns
What follows are some tips to help you establish the gender of Spanish nouns:

A large number of Spanish nouns end in -o. Most of those nouns are masculine. Some examples of masculine nouns ending in -o:
  • El camino (the way)
  • El carro (the cart/ car)
  • El chopo (the poplar)




Caution: there are also feminine nouns ending in -o, e.g.:
  • La radio (the radio)
  • La mano (the hand)
  • La foto (the photo)
  • La moto (the motorbike)


A large number of Spanish nouns end in -a. Most of those nouns are feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -a are:
  • La casa (the house)
  • La dama (the lady)
  • La ropa (the clothes)


Caution: there are also masculine nouns anding in -a, e.g.:
  • El día (the day)
  • El tema (the theme)
  • El sistema (the system)
  • El problema (the problem)
  • El teorema (the theorem)

Spanish nouns ending in -aje are usually masculine. Some examples of nouns in this group are:
  • El equipaje (the luggage)
  • El paisaje (the scenery)
  • El garaje (the garage)

Spanish nouns ending in -dad are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -dad are:
  • La felicidad (the happiness)
  • La caridad (the charity)
  • La personalidad (the personality)

Spanish nouns ending in -ión are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns in ending in -ión are:
  • La canción (the song)
  • La oración (the prayer)
  • La producción (the production)

Caution: there are also masculine nouns ending in -ión, e.g.:
  • El camión (the lorry)
  • El chirrrión (the chariot)

Spanish nouns ending in -tad are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -tad are:
  • La libertad (the freedom)
  • La lealtad (the loyalty)
  • La amistad (the friendship)

Spanish nouns ending in -tudud are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -tudud are:
  • La juventud (the youth)
  • La exactitud (the precision)
  • La pulcritud (the neatness)
  • La salud (the health)


Caution: there are also masculine nouns ending in -ud, e.g.:
  • El alud (the avalanche)
  • El ataúd (the coffin)
  • El talud (the incline)

Spanish nouns ending in -umbre are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -umbre are:
  • La costumbre (the habit)
  • La legumbre (the legume)
  • La pesadumbre (the grief/ sorrow)

Caution: there are also masculine nouns ending in -umbre, e.g.:
  • El alumbre (the alum)
  • El deslumbre (the dazzling)
  • El cazumbre (a type of rope)


Many Spanish nouns end in -e. The gender of nouns in this group doesn't follow a specific pattern.
Some examples of feminine nouns in this group are:
  • La carne (the meat)
  • La parte (the part)
  • La nieve (the snow)

  • El aceite (the oil)
  • El bloque (the block)
  • El cacahuete (the peanut)
  • El carné (the identity card)

Spanish nouns ending in -er are usually masculine. Some examples of masculine nouns ending in -er are:
  • El géiser (the geyser)
  • El ayer (the past)
  • El éter (ether)

Caution: an example of a feminine noun ending in -er is:
  • La mujer (the woman)

Note
*Most Spanish words ending in -er are action words/ verbs. For example, “saber” (to know). I would like to draw your attention to the use in English of the gerund as a noun (the gerund subject/ object), in this example, knowing. Please note that in Spanish, we don't use the present participle/ gerund in such cases. In Spanish, it is the infinitive (“saber”) which is used instead. The gender of such gerund subjects/ objects in Spanish is usually masculine (“el saber”). For example: knowing is good = el saber es bueno.


Spanish nouns ending in -or are usually masculine. Some examples of masculine nouns ending in -or are:
  • El sudor (sweat)
  • El pavor (terror)
  • El calor(the heat)

Caution: an example of a feminine noun ending in -or is:
  • La labor (work)

Note

*The Spanish noun “calor” is sometimes used as a feminine noun. For example, some people may say: “Hace una calor insoportable”.







Spanish nouns which end in -trizare usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -triz are:
  • La actriz (the actress)
  • La emperatriz (the empress)
  • La cicatriz (the scar)

Note


*Many of these are the feminine form of certain nouns ending in -or, such as actoremperadordirectormotor, etc..





Now you should practise using the gender of nouns with some examples of your own.

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Saturday 28 April 2012

Semáforo


Today's WOTD is: "semáforo" = traffic lights

In Spanish, the noun "semáforo" is a masculine noun of Greek origin. It may be used to refer to several systems of communication by means of optical signal, such as a flags/ poles/ etc. often used in shipping. However, the main/more common meaning of “semáforo” in everyday language is traffic lights.


Some commonly used expressions containing the words "semáforo" are:
  • Pasarse un semáforo en rojo (to go through/ run a red light);
  • Saltarse un semáforo en rojo (to go through/ run a red light);
  • Semáforo de banderas (flags semaphore);


Some examples of the use of the word "semáforo" are:
  • Acabas de pasarte un semáforo en rojo (you have just gone through/ run a red light).
  • Acabas de saltarte un semáforo en rojo (you have just gone through/ run a red light).
  • ¿Sabes hacer señales de semáforo de banderas? (do you know how to make flag semaphore signals?);


Love-Spanish.com loves the word "semáforo" in the YouTube clip: Alex Zurdo - El Semaforo - Videoclip Oficial - CD:"Así Son Las Cosas" - Musica Cristiana

For more on the word "semáforo", visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Semáforo

*NB 'Click' on the speaker icon next to the word “semáforo” in the link to hear the word pronounced.

This is another Free online Spanish lesson from Love-Spanish.com. We conduct Spanish lessons online on a wide range of topics using the latest video conferencing facilities. Online lessons are the ideal way to improve listening and speaking skills. For more details on our lessons online and how to book them, please visit:

For more Free Spanish:
Follow us on:
© Copyright 2012 Love-Spanish.com. by Jose M González. All Rights Reserved.

Friday 27 April 2012

What Is Your Zodiac Sign?


SCENARIO
Imagine you are talking to a relative, a friend or a colleague. You are talking about Zodiac signs. At some point, the other person says to you something like: "what is your zodiac sign?"

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:
¿Cual es tu signo del zodíaco?

Alternatively, he/ she could choose to be more formal and say:
¿Cual es su signo del zodíaco?


OUR TIP
The question is an invitation for you to talk about your zodiac sign. When stating what your zodiac sing is, you DO NOT need to be concerned about the level of formality in the other person's question. Your main concern should be about communicating what your zodiac sign is. Perhaps what you want to say is:

  • You belong to a specific sign;
  • Your sign is a specific sign;
  • You don't know your sign

Here are some examples of how you could say what your sign is:
  • Soy Acuario (I am Aquarius);
  • Mi signo es Acuario (my sign is Aquarius);
  • Soy Piscis (I am Pisces);
  • Mi signo es Piscis (my sign is Pisces);
  • Soy Aries (I am Aries);
  • Mi signo es Aries (my sign is Aries);
  • Soy Tauro (I am Taurus);
  • Mi signo es Tauro (my sign is Taurus);
  • Soy Géminis (I am Gemini);
  • Mi signo es Géminis (my sign is Gemini);
  • Soy Cáncer (I am Cancer);
  • Mi signo es Cáncer (my sign is Cancer);
  • Soy Leo (I am Leo);
  • Mi signo es Leo (my sign is Leo);
  • Soy Virgo (I am Virgo);
  • Mi signo es Virgo (my sign is Virgo);
  • Soy Libra (I am an Libra);
  • Mi signo es Libra (my sign is Libra);
  • Soy Escorpio (I am Scorpio);
  • Mi signo es Escorpio (my sign is Scorpio);
  • Soy Sagitario (I am Sagittarius);
  • Mi signo es Sagitario (my sign is Sagittarius);
  • Soy Capricornio (I am Capricorn);
  • Mi signo es Capricornio (my sign is Capricorn);
  • No sé cual es mi signo (I don't know what sign I am)

Now you should practice answering the question:
¿Cual es tu signo del zodíaco?


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Thursday 26 April 2012

Tell Me, Is "juventud" Feminine?

Introduction

This post deals with the gender of nouns. There are some patterns which when spotted can help us recognise the gender of Spanish nouns. This post looks at those patterns in general. More specifically, this post looks at the gender of Spanish nouns ending in -tud, for example “juventud”.



SCENARIO

Imagine you are talking to a relative, a friend or a colleague. Maybe you are studying Spanish together. The other person appears to have a doubt about the gender of a Spanish noun and says to you something like: "tell me, is “juventud” a masculine or feminine word?".

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:
Dime, ¿es “juventud” masculino o femenino?

On the other hand, he/ she could choose to be more formal and say:
Dígame, ¿es “juventud” masculino o femenino?


OUR TIP

The question is an invitation for you to state the gender of a Spanish noun. When you state the gender of a Spanish noun, you DO NOT need to be concerned about the level of formality in the other person's question.


Remember that Spanish nouns ending in -tud/ ud are usually feminine. However, don't forget to use this rule with some caution, because there are a some notable exceptions, i.e.: nouns ending in -ud, which are masculine -see grammar below*.


Fortunately, “juventud” is not one of the exceptions. So, with that in mind, perhaps you could say that “juventud” is a feminine noun, e.g.:
  • juventud” es femenino* (“juventud” is a feminine noun)

If instead of “juventud” you were asked about a noun whose gender you didn't know, you could say:
  • No si es masculino o femenino* (I don't know whether it is masculine or feminine noun).

Now you should practice replying to someone who says to you:

Dime, ¿es “juventud” masculino o femenino?

*Please see grammar below

Grammar-The Gender of Nouns
What follows are some tips to help you establish the gender of Spanish nouns:

A large number of Spanish nouns end in -o. Most of those nouns are masculine. Some examples of masculine nouns ending in -o:
  • El camino (the way)
  • El carro (the cart/ car)
  • El chopo (the poplar)




Caution: there are also feminine nouns ending in -o, e.g.:
  • La radio (the radio)
  • La mano (the hand)
  • La foto (the photo)
  • La moto (the motorbike)


A large number of Spanish nouns end in -a. Most of those nouns are feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -a are:
  • La casa (the house)
  • La dama (the lady)
  • La ropa (the clothes)


Caution: there are also masculine nouns anding in -a, e.g.:
  • El día (the day)
  • El tema (the theme)
  • El sistema (the system)
  • El problema (the problem)
  • El teorema (the theorem)

Spanish nouns ending in -aje are usually masculine. Some examples of nouns in this group are:
  • El equipaje (the luggage)
  • El paisaje (the scenery)
  • El garaje (the garage)

Spanish nouns ending in -dad are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -dad are:
  • La felicidad (the happiness)
  • La caridad (the charity)
  • La personalidad (the personality)

Spanish nouns ending in -ión are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns in ending in -ión are:
  • La canción (the song)
  • La oración (the prayer)
  • La producción (the production)

Caution: there are also masculine nouns ending in -ión, e.g.:
  • El camión (the lorry)
  • El chirrrión (the chariot)

Spanish nouns ending in -tad are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -tad are:
  • La libertad (the freedom)
  • La lealtad (the loyalty)
  • La amistad (the friendship)

Spanish nouns ending in -tudud are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -tudud are:
  • La juventud (the youth)
  • La exactitud (the precision)
  • La pulcritud (the neatness)
  • La salud (the health)


Caution: there are also masculine nouns ending in -ud, e.g.:
  • El alud (the avalanche)
  • El ataúd (the coffin)
  • El talud (the incline)

Spanish nouns ending in -umbre are usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -umbre are:
  • La costumbre (the habit)
  • La legumbre (the legume)
  • La pesadumbre (the grief/ sorrow)

Caution: there are also masculine nouns ending in -umbre, e.g.:
  • El alumbre (the alum)
  • El deslumbre (the dazzling)
  • El cazumbre (a type of rope)


Many Spanish nouns end in -e. The gender of nouns in this group doesn't follow a specific pattern.
Some examples of feminine nouns in this group are:
  • La carne (the meat)
  • La parte (the part)
  • La nieve (the snow)

  • El aceite (the oil)
  • El bloque (the block)
  • El cacahuete (the peanut)
  • El carné (the identity card)

Spanish nouns ending in -er are usually masculine. Some examples of masculine nouns ending in -er are:
  • El géiser (the geyser)
  • El ayer (the past)
  • El éter (ether)

Caution: an example of a feminine noun ending in -er is:
  • La mujer (the woman)

Note
*Most Spanish words ending in -er are action words/ verbs. For example, “saber” (to know). I would like to draw your attention to the use in English of the gerund as a noun (the gerund subject/ object), in this example, knowing. Please note that in Spanish, we don't use the present participle/ gerund in such cases. In Spanish, it is the infinitive (“saber”) which is used instead. The gender of such gerund subjects/ objects in Spanish is usually masculine (“el saber”). For example: knowing is good = el saber es bueno.


Spanish nouns ending in -or are usually masculine. Some examples of masculine nouns ending in -or are:
  • El sudor (sweat)
  • El pavor (terror)
  • El calor(the heat)

Caution: an example of a feminine noun ending in -or is:
  • La labor (work)

Note

*The Spanish noun “calor” is sometimes used as a feminine noun. For example, some people may say: “Hace una calor insoportable”.







Spanish nouns which end in -trizare usually feminine. Some examples of feminine nouns ending in -triz are:
  • La actriz (the actress)
  • La emperatriz (the empress)
  • La cicatriz (the scar)

Note


*Many of these are the feminine form of certain nouns ending in -or, such as actoremperadordirectormotor, etc..





Now you should practise using the gender of nouns with some examples of your own.

Spanish lessons online
Skype/ Google+ Hangout/ Facetime
Great lessons
© Copyright 2012 Love-Spanish.com by Jose M González. All Rights Reserved.