...................................................................................................................................... impossibility is a word found only in the dictionary of fools
When people who are familiar with each other use a greeting, they'll also often ask how are things. There are two common phrases used to ask how someone is
¡Hola! ¿Que tal? Hi. How are things? ¿Cómo está / estás? How are you?
In the Spanish language, we differentiate between informal and formal language. To show respect, to one's collegues or to someone you don't know, one uses formal language (¿Cómo está?). For friends and family, you can use informal language (¿Cómo estás?).
Replying to greetings is easy. You can return the greeting, and ask how someone is doing. If someone has already asked you a question, you can reply and then ask the same of them.
¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? Hi. How are you? Estoy bien. ¿Y tú? I am well. And you?
In this example, we have been asked how we are. After answering the question, we ask the same. This example uses informal speech, so let's see what formal speech would be like.
¡Hola! ¿Cómo está? Hi. How are you? Estoy bien. ¿Y usted? I am well. And you?
In this case, the dialogue isn't very different. You should notice, however, that we used the word usted rather than tú. Both word mean you, but usted is the more formal form. This fits with the formal form of the question (está not estás).
This message has been edited. Last edited by: explora,
FloridaFem: Well, Explora is an apologist for illegal aliens and their law-breaking ways. She also believes that Americans should be learning Spanish, so as not to inconvenience her illegal alien amigos (how dare we expect that they speak English in America). If you have seen her avatar on this site, you will realize that she has zero respect for America
Most Spanish nouns ending in the letter ‘-o’ are masculine.
Unfortunately, as with many rules, there are exceptions. The word mano is one of the few Spanish nouns ending in ‘-o’ but which are feminine.
So, you’ll need to make sure you use the correct article, la/las or una/unas:
¿Me echas una mano? Can you give me a hand?
¿Te lavaste las manos? Have you washed your hands?
When we’re talking about parts of the body in English we tend to use words like ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘his’. But in Spanish these words are usually used with the definite article, in this case la/las
Here are some other common words ending in ‘-o’ which are feminine:
To those of you who are questioning the purpose of this thread, I would suggest ignoring it if it bothers you. Learning a few words of Spanish could be helpful if you were to travel to a Spanish-speaking country in the future.
BTW, Spare me the results and don't ask me anymore stupid questions. I'm not interested, thank you.
Stupid? For asking a question?
I don't get this board. I thought it was an immigration issue board and not one where you get insulted or post propaganda, which I see now that this is.
Is it allowed to insult other members? Who is the admin on this site?
Learning Spanish or any other language is very helpful I agree with you Proud
Spanish is one of the top languages spoken in the world, and if you know to at least speak some of it, it can open many opportunities to you.
I speak French but unfortunately doesn't help me here lol
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
Go back to history class. America belongs to native Americans. Mexicans have no more claim to Texas than others. Yeah Americans "took" it from you....big deal. It happens all the time and you know what? Spanish people invaded Mexico and took IT from it's first inhabitants. Why don't you propagage Mexico give it back to them huh?
It's convenient to start the history where it FITS your agenda. What a joke you are.
And if you want to learn spanish, take a class....like someone would use this board to do it? Get a grip people.
Originally posted by Sprint_girl07: Learning Spanish or any other language is very helpful I agree with you Proud
Spanish is one of the top languages spoken in the world, and if you know to at least speak some of it, it can open many opportunities to you.
I speak French but unfortunately doesn't help me here lol
Hi Sprint, I took French too (for 9 years!)! Alot of good it's doing me now - lol. If you don't use it, it's easy to forget. I can still read it, but don't do well speaking it.
Yes I agree with you there! I'm kind of losing grammar, words here and there too. I went to high school in France, but after years being back in England and not speaking French for sometime, gradually I was forgetting. I try and keep it up by communicating with old friends and family members but suddenly a word I want to say, I just can't remember the translation.
I took German in my French school, and forgot it all now. I knew Italian when I was 15, and forgot most of that now. I'm getting old lol
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
Question: One word in Spanish that I can't seem to get right is aire for "air." I hear it from Spanish speakers sounding like "eye-dee," but it's not a "d" sound — there's a definite "re" sound, but it eludes me.
Answer: The single r can indeed sound a lot like the English "d." Except at the beginning of words (where it is trilled), a single r is formed (more or less) by hitting the tongue against the front of the palate. It is sometimes said that the Spanish "r" sounds like the "tt" in "little," so you're hearing correctly. The exact pronunciation varies somewhat with the speaker, the region the person is from, and the placement of the letter in the word.
What works for some English speakers (even if it may not be technically correct) is to shape the lips something like the sound that is made for the English "r," but to make the sound with a single trill or flap of the tongue against the front of the palate.
Actually, it's probably best not to think English "r" at all; the sounds of the two languages really are different. And if it's any consolation, the sound of the English "r" is more difficult for native Spanish speakers (and speakers of many other languages) to master than it is for English speakers to master the Spanish r. Participants in our forum recently discussed pronunciation of the r, especially when it comes after a consonant, as in abra. Here's some of their advice:
"You can try substituting the English letter 'd' for a single r. For example: Pero (Spanish) = Pedo (English). If you say it quickly it begins to take on the character of the Spanish r I learned this from a friend from Colombia whose name was Miriam. She hated the swallowed 'r' that Americans make when they say her name, so she suggested that they call her Medium. Said quickly, that was much closer to the Spanish pronunciation of Miriam."
"When you say the word 'throw' you have to put your tongue in almost the same position as you do when you make the Spanish r sound. Try that for positioning your tongue, then just blow real hard and your tongue will vibrate like it's supposed to do for those rolling rrs. Once you have the tongue vibrating, make a growling sound like 'rrrrrrr.'"
"If you pronounce the t and d as they are pronounced in Spanish with the tip of the tongue on or near the top of the upper front teeth instead of ****her up on the alveolar ridge as we usually do in English, then to get to the r you only have to flip it up a little. Anyway, you can solace that Spanish doesn't have those impossible consonant combinations that some languages have. (I knew a guy from Africa whose first name was Ngmpu. Try that one!")
"If you can already make the r sound when surrounded by vowels, then stick in a vowel at first — u works the best. Practice saying abura a bunch of times, gradually emphasizing the u less and less until you're just saying abra."
"I don't think I have any trouble with r as in abra, or at least no native speaker has ever told me that my pronunciation of it sounds bad. If you've got the r of para or caro down, it's exactly the same as that; flap your tongue right after the consonant. In other words, try saying ohtda as though it were an English word very quickly (of course, your tongue should touch the back of your front teeth when you say the t) and you will probably get the word otra right."
From Gerald Erichsen, Your Guide to Spanish Language.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: explora,
The Spanish trilled R, often written RR, has the sound most unlike any sound we have in English. Here are some tips for learning to pronounce it.
Here's How:
Keep in mind that there are two R sounds in Spanish: the single R sound and the double R (or RR) sound.
Keep in mind that the single R sound is used whenever the single R appears in a word, except when it's at the beginning of a word or after an L, N or S, when the RR sound is used.
The RR sound is also used to sound the letter combination of 'rr,' which is sometimes viewed as a separate letter of the Spanish alphabet. Keep in mind that the Spanish R and RR don't share the distinctive R sound of English. Think of them as separate letters entirely.
Remember that the RR is a trilled sound formed by a flapping of the tongue against the front roof of the mouth. Visualize the front of your tongue as a flag flapping in a vigorous breeze.
Now try purring like a cat. If you've succeeded, you are approximating the RR sound.
Alternatively, relax and pretend you're a kid making the sound of a revving-up motor.
Another way is to pretend it is extremely cold. Now make the sound of exhaling with you lips flapping together. Now do the same thing with your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
Alternatively, loosely hold the tip of your tongue at the front roof of your mouth. Now try blowing air between the tip of the tongue and roof of your mouth while you partly relax the tongue.
Tips: Try to imitate the sound of the trilled R as it is pronounced by native speakers.
Don't even be tempted to pronounce the trilled R as the R is pronounced in English.
LOL I was giving it a go, and my son walked in wondering what the hell was I doing making strange noises? LOL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Bless America - God Bless Immigrants - God Bless Poor Misguided Souls Too Mr S.U.
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