I Know You Know in Spanish
Take you ever wished there were a word to more accurately describe something you're feeling or doing?
In that location probably is i–information technology just doesn't exist in English language. In that location are even emotions we haven't experienced because nosotros don't have language for them. Fascinating, isn't it?
Learning some other linguistic communication unlocks new ways to limited ourselves in these words-that-don't-quite-translate. It gives u.s. a better understanding of the world, enriches our travel experiences, and brings greater depth to our ability to process and communicate ideas.While I'one thousand not fluent in Castilian, I've oft said that Spanglish is my favorite language because there are just some Spanish words that capture what I want to say then much improve. (Lucky for me, I can interruption out into information technology with my husband or in-laws anytime and they don't call up I'm crazy!)
Sometimes information technology takes a whole phrase to endeavor to translate the meaning of these words, and other times, in that location are subtle nuances that are lost in translation. From the funny to the perfectly succinct, here are 25 Spanish words or phrases with no exact English equivalent!
1. Verguenza Ajena / Pena Ajena
To feel embarrassed for someone fifty-fifty if they don't experience embarrassed themselves
These terms vary regionally just seem to deport the same connotation. If you've ever watched a stand-up comedian bombing, you lot know the feeling this is describing. You put your hand to your head to hide your face, clasp your fists, and brand a crazy cringing face up. The best we tin can do in English is say something is "awkward," but I don't think that quite captures the depth of the clumsiness nosotros sometimes feel at someone else'south embarrassing moment. I beloved the idea of having a term specifically for those Michael Scott moments nosotros've all felt.
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2. Merendar
To have an afternoon snack, coffee, or tea
Having singled-out words in Spanish significant "to eat + specific meal" is pretty dandy (desayunar, almorzar, and cenar), and at present you can add afternoon snacking to the mix! However, it wouldn't exist Latin American Spanish without the word significant something else entirely in some countries. At least 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…you know that feeling yous go in your mouth when you lot scrape up all the brownie batter while waiting for the brownies to melt so proceed to make a hot fudge sundae once they're done? (No? Just me?) Nosotros've all had moments where we've eaten something so sweet that our mouths feel weird and we can't possibly have another bite. Spanish has a give-and-take for that!
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four. Sobremesa
Later on-dinner conversation, fourth dimension spent leisurely chatting effectually the tabular array after a meal
This one isn't used everywhere across Latin America, but from my anecdotal observations, I'k pretty sure the act of enjoying a sobremesa is common–fifty-fifty if the word itself isn't used in a particular identify. I've had endless chats with my Puerto Rican mother in law subsequently breakfast and cafecito while everyone else scatters from the table. I call back we could all use a slow-paced repast and time spent with family unit and friends more frequently in our time-oriented US culture.
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five. Tutear
To address someone with the breezy tú form
The first fourth dimension I heard this, I was watching a cheesy Colombian lather opera, and it was one of those words that I immediately understood from context and knowing how words are structured in Spanish. Plain, nosotros don't need a word for this in English since nosotros don't have an breezy "yous," but I just thought it was so convenient to have this succinct way of saying that someone is addressing a person with thetú form.
Equally a bonus, I'll throw in vosear here for countries that use the familiar formvos. (Non to be confused with the homonym vocear, which means to shout, announce loudly, or call someone's name over a loudspeaker.)
>> Related: 30+ Linguistic communication Learning Resources and Tips <<
6. Estadounidense
Someone who'due south from the United States, a "United State-an," like proverb Colombian, Puerto Rican, or Mexican
Even though it'south a mouthful to say, I beloved this Spanish term for its specificity. I prefer to avoid referring to myself as "American" because information technology implies that the United states of america of America is the but "America." In English I commonly say, "I'm from the United States," only in Castilian I can also say, "Soy estadounidense."
vii. Antier
The 24-hour interval earlier yesterday // In some locations,anteayer is more than mutual.
Permit's be judicious with our syllables.
viii. Madrugar
To wake up in the early on morning, usually earlier sunrise (the "wee hours")
When you've got a 6 AM flight to catch….this word comes in handy!
9. Trasnochar
To stay up very late, all night, or have a night out
I suppose we could get close with the phrase "pulling an all-nighter," but I don't retrieve there's a single discussion that captures it similar Spanish does.
Which of these Castilian words without an English equivalent is your favorite? #latinamerica #ttot Click To Tweet
10. Desvelado / a
To be exhausted because y'all were up all nighttime or couldn't slumber
After you trasnochó, you'd bedesvelado for certain. I'm pretty certain this also describes the feeling yous accept after a restless night of slumber–a combination of headache + tin can't concentrate + all y'all tin can think about is taking a nap but you have to piece of work. The worst.
11. Estrenar
To apply or habiliment for the first time
Now that I know this exists, I experience like I need a word for it.
12. Tener ganas de
To feel like, to be in the mood for
Gana means "desire or inclination," so this phrase literally translates, "to have desires of." Simply while it means "to experience like," 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'one thousand dying of desire [for y'all]."
13. Posibilitar
To brand 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 just such a user-friendly (and completely logical) discussion that sums it up.
15. Chanclazo
As when your mom yells, "Te voy a dar united nations chanclazo." I'm going to smack your backside with this chancla. See as well: cocotazo, used in the same context–getting hit in the head with the duke.
I recall all of the impressions my husband and his brothers accept done of their mom (in beloved, of class!) over the years take fabricated this sink into my subconscious, and although I've never experienced the wrath of la chancla, I experience its power. I'm pretty certain this one is universal across Latin America (there were a couple well-placed chanclareferences in the movieCoco).
xvi. Enmadrarse
To become overly attached to i's mother
17. Consuegros
Your son or daughter'southward parents-in-law
This word is super useful because information technology'due south such a succinct way of referring to in-law relationships. My family and my husband's family know each other, but there's not really a discussion for that relationship in English.
18. Casa Ajena
The house of a person that you lot're non close with so you have to be conscientious and non touch annihilation, a house where you can't really "make yourself at dwelling house."
A phrase I didn't know I needed until I heard information technology described! Information technology's that awkward existence at a party, wondering where the bath is, and non being sure whether the potent living room burrow is actually for people to sit on.
19. Tocayo / a
Someone who shares the aforementioned first proper noun as you, a "name twin"
In English language usually we just say, "Hey that's my name, too!" How fun is it to accept a Spanish word to utilise when you lot come across your name doppelgänger?
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xx. Tuerto
Blind in one eye, one-eyed person
I mean, this might non come up that often, only how convenient is information technology to take a word for information technology when it does?
21. Friolento / a
Very sensitive to cold or always cold
This would perfectly depict 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 one 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 indicate with one word–and then efficient. In some countries, it can likewise mean to badger or pester someone (which is kind of how I experience about chili peppers). It's amusing to remember most siblings yelling at each other, "Stop chili-ing me!"
24. Me cae bien.
I like yous (in a friendly, non-romantic way), he seems nice.
Technically we take a translation that captures the essence of what this means, but it's one of those interesting, doesn't-translate-literally phrases that's funny to think nigh. Literally, it means "You fall well on me." Simply it's how you would refer to a teacher you like or someone you just met and got along with–instead of the wordgustar.
25. Dominguero & Dominguear
Dominguero: Sunday as an adjective, simply also an insult to mean a bad/inexperienced driver ("Sunday driver"). Similarly, dominguear ("to Sunday") can hateful to do something at a relaxed pace or to accept a arctic, fun Dominicus.
All these Sunday words! Even if these aren't used beyond all of Latin America, and even ifdominguearis slang that isn't listed in the dictionary, they are just so perfect that I had to include them.
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Which of these is your favorite? What untranslatable Spanish words would you lot add to the list?
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Source: https://roamingtheamericas.com/spanish-words-no-english-translation/
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