SpanishDict Blog

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 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.

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.

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!

SpanishDict has just added a search box that you can add to your web browser’s toolbar. Look for it on the upper right-hand side of SpanishDict.com 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!

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

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!

or

¡Feliz Día del Padre!

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.

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

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.

Choose 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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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 gusta - 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

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

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.