06-30-2012 - el sábado, el treinta de junio, dos mil, doce

The range of the new translation tools is impressive. SpanishDict is equipped to handle numbers from −999,999,999,999,999 to 999,999,999,999,999. You can also get full translations on a wide spectrum of decimals, dates, times, common symbols and even smilies :). To get started, just use the following formats:

Numbers: ###,###.##

Dates: MM-DD-YYYY

Time: HH:MMpm

We hope you enjoy the new functionality! Check out a fun little video too!

SpanishDict Launches Video Dictionary

We are very excited today to launch the world’s first Spanish-English Video Dictionary, featuring video translations for more than 5,000 of the most popular words and phrases in the Spanish language.

Learning a new language is best when you have access to both audio and visual features, teaching you exactly how to position your mouth when you form a word. The content for each video is based on common phrases you would hear or read while traveling in a Spanish speaking country like “te quiero,” “acomodar,” and “alquilar.”

Key features of the new dictionary feature include:

* HD Video; Studio Quality Audio

- Each video was filmed with high quality, HD video to provide a close-up visual reference of how a native speaker pronounces each word. Add URL for HD video.

* Native Spanish Speaker Pronunciations

- Both quick and slow pronunciation of each word to demonstrate proper pronunciation.

* Contextual Example Sentences

- Full sentences in both Spanish and English to ensure accurate and proper translations.

* Usage Information

- Every video includes the part of speech, gender, and usage tips

We hope you enjoy this new learning resource and that it helps you in perfecting your own Spanish pronunciation. We’d love to hear what you think!

Announcing the New SpanishDict Community Phrasebook

Overview

The SpanishDict Community Phrasebook allows members to create entries for compound words and phrases that are not currently included in the dictionary. Use it as a great resource to contribute idioms, technical jargon, and even slang. Our goal is 5,000 phrases in 6 months. Can we do it?

Suggest a Phrase

Know a phrase in English or Spanish and want to know how to translate it? Suggest the phrase and let a native speaker fill in the rest of the details. When your phrase gets published, you earn the Phrasebook Contributor badge just for helping out!

Add New Entry

If you know both the English and Spanish for a phrase that is not already in the dictionary, tell us! You can also provide examples, context, regional information, and any additional notes you may know about the phrase.

Top Quality Entries

We’ve appointed a few new moderators around here to help out all our new members (over 225,000!) and to make sure the phrases that represent the SpanishDict community are top quality. Each phrase submitted needs the approval from two moderators before it is included in the official SpanishDict Community Phrasebook.

Integration into the Dictionary

Once a phrase has been approved and is included in the official SpanishDict Community Phrasebook, it will also appear on dictionary entry pages that include that word. So if you look up “snooze” in the dictionary, you will also see “You snooze, you lose” on the same page.

We hope you enjoy (and use!) the new SpanishDict Community Phrasebook. Our members have such an enthusiasm for learning and teaching Spanish and English, that I have no doubt we’ll have the best Phrasebook on the internet in no time!

SpanishDict Releases Free iPhone App

Now you can take SpanishDict with you anywhere in the world! No need to be connected to the internet to have access to our complete dictionary, a talking phrasebook, an interactive vocabulary game, the word of the day, and your very own favorites list. And of course, it’s all free!

Browse the full version of our Spanish-English dictionary with the same features you love on the web: multiple definitions, auto-suggest as you type, and audio pronunciations without ever having to be connected to the internet.

The phrasebook includes over 700 phrases and words with audio pronunciations by native Spanish-speakers and both the English and Spanish translations. This is a priceless tool when you are traveling and need to know how to ask “Do you have double rooms?” at a hotel or “Would you like to dance?” to that cutie at the dance club.

The word game is surprisingly addictive for Spanish-speakers of all levels, from beginner to native. The game gives you the word and the pronunciation by a native speaker, and you just have to choose the correct translation. The more words you get right, the harder they become. See if you can get all the way to level 15!

And don’t worry about missing the word of the day if you are away from the internet either. There is a complete set of word of the day entries right there in the app! You can even add your favorite words to your “Favorites” to remember for later or simply to email to yourself.

We are super excited about this new app and how it give you so many more resources for learning and practicing Spanish. You can download it from the iTunes app store. We hope you enjoy it and if you do, please tell your friends and leave positive feedback on the app page in iTunes.

Check out the New SpanishDict Mobile

You can now access SpanishDict from your cell phone! SpanishDict Mobile’s slimmed down interface packs a lot of punch: you can lookup words in the dictionary, translate phrases, and conjugate verbs—all from a single search box. Whether you’re at the supermarket and want to translate Spanish ingredients, or you want to tell your girlfriend’s Spanish-speaking mother what a lovely home she has, you can use SpanishDict Mobile for your Spanish translation needs wherever you are.

SpanishDict Mobile is optimized for your cell phone to present Spanish translations in the clearest, fastest format possible. Here are some of the SpanishDict features you know and love that you can now find on SpanishDict Mobile:

• Word definitions, phrase translations, and verb conjugations that are all available by searching in one single bar
• Quick translations are available for thousands of words
• Jump-to conjugations for any verb that appears on the same page as its definition, so there’s no need to click to another page
• Super fast phrase translations
• The ability to return to the full version of SpanishDict by clicking the link on the bottom of our mobile homepage, just in case you still can’t find what you’re looking for

We hope that SpanishDict Mobile helps make Spanish learning and translation more convenient than ever. Simply visit SpanishDict.com from your cell phone to check it out.

Welcome to the New SpanishDict!

Welcome to the new SpanishDict.com! We are delighted to announce the release of the new SpanishDict.com. With over 100 improvements to the site, we are breaking down the barriers to learning Spanish. It is now easier than ever to translate words in our comprehensive dictionary, practice vocabulary with our multimedia flashcards, get answers to your questions in the Answers section, and actually learn Spanish with our full-length, professional video courses. Check out the video for a tour of some of the new features.

We hope you enjoy the site and good luck with your Spanish!

New Feature Highlights

Dictionary

• Find conjugated verbs - If you enter the word like “fuiste” we will point you to the verb “ir”
• Did You Mean? - a powerful algorithm for suggesting the correct spelling of misspelled words
• Quick dictionary translations – bold, easy-to-find translations are included right at the top of the page for the most common words
• Integrated forum search on the dictionary page – easily find answers relating to your search term
• Intelligent auto suggest - dictionary auto suggestions are sorted by popularity making it more likely that your word is suggested

Answers Forum

• All new answers forum that is faster, prettier, and more helpful
• Auto preview your question as you type
• Auto-suggested answers as you ask a question
• Thumbs up for good questions and answers
• Flagging of spam, commercial, and inaccurate posts
• Reputation system that unlocks more features as you earn more reputation
• Badges system that recognizes great contributions to the site and makes participation more engaging

Chat

• One-on-one video and text chat that matches you with other users who are looking to practice
• Sample conversations that you can use to practice your Spanish
• Quick translation tool that translates words and phrases without leaving the page

Flashcards

• Popular flashcard sets are previewed directly on the front page
• Creating flashcards is easier than ever with one-click auto translations
• Challenge a friend to score a higher score than you with the challenge a friend link
• Print flashcards in a pre-formatted flashcard layout

Learn Spanish

• Compare your writing and speaking responses with new model answer responses
• Check the spelling of your response on the Write section of the lessons

Reference

• Reference articles are intelligently linked to dictionary search results: search for “ser” and we will show you a quick link to the “ser verses estar” article in the reference
• Reference articles will improve and expand over time as the top contributors to the site will now have the ability to create and edit articles

There is really a lot more to show off, but I will leave a few surprises for you to discover. Hope you like the new features. Leave your feedback in the comments.

Variants in Spanish Food Vocabulary

You know when you are traveling abroad, feeling all confident after taking all those lessons and studying all those flashcards, and you walk into a little cafe or restaurant, ask for some peach juice, and the waiter just stares at you? You know you formed your question correctly, you studied so hard and even consulted the phrase book before asking! Well, did you ask for “zumo de melocotón” or “jugo de durazno”? It makes all the difference.

Depending on where you are, Spanish food vocabulary can be completely different from what you may have learned. And while this may be frustrating at times, it is also one of the greatest things about Spanish and it’s ability to adapt and evolve with the people who are speaking it. I mean, think about all the different ways English-speakers have come up with to say bathroom: toilet, water closet, loo, restroom, etc. So I say take this chance to learn a few extra words that all mean the exact same thing! That way when you are traveling in Argentina, you won’t get that disappointed look from that cute waiter or waitress. Take a look at a few more examples I found below and study hard!

Popcorn: palomitas (Mexico, Spain), cabritas (Chile), crispeta (Colombia), pochoclo (Argentina, Uruguay), cotufas (Venezuela), rositas (Cuba), popororo (Guatemala)

Catfish: siluro (Spain), bagre (Latin America)

Tortilla: tortilla (Mexico and central America), omelete-like egg dish (Spain)

Strawberry: frutilla (Argentina), fresa (Spain, Latin America, South America)

Avocado: palta (Bolivia, Peru, Southern Cone*), aguacate (Spain, Latin America, Northern South America)

Sweetcorn: maíz (understood everywhere), tierno, elote (Mexico), choclo (South America), jojoto (Venezuela)

Bean: poroto (Argentina), alubia, judía (Southern Cone*), frijol (Spain), caraota (Venezuela)

Pepper: pimiento (Spain), ají (Argentina, Uruguay, Peru), pimentón (South America), chile (Mexico)Variants in Spanish Food Vocabulary

How to Say “Thank You” in Spanish

When I am traveling, I find that many of the people I meet are so wonderful and open to helping out a traveler who just wants to learn a little more about their culture, country, or town. I also find that I am saying “gracias” about a hundred times a day! So in an effort to expand my daily vocabulary, which is always a good idea anyway, I sought out some new and maybe even poetic ways to give thanks for all the little, and big, things total strangers do for me when I need it the most.

I find that saying Te agradezco la ayuda/la información/etc. is a great way to communicate a deep thankfulness and appreciation for whatever the person just gave you. A couple other similar phrases are Estoy agradecido por…(or of course Estoy agradecida if you are a woman) and Siento agradecido/a por…They all mean about the same thing, being thankful and appreciative of whatever the person has given you.

Another of my favorite ways to be thankful is to relate to the person just how much they have helped me. Me ha ayudado mucho/muchísimo (You have helped me so much) or Me ayudará la información, etc. (This information will really help me.) It’s always a good idea to let the person know that not only do you appreciate what they he or she has given you but that you will be using it in the future. You just have to remember your future tense, right?

Last of all, if I find I have exhausted these other thank yous and I am really looking to impress, I might try something a little more formal. Te doy gracias por… is always a winner. It may be a little old fashioned and formal, but you know some people are really into all the pomp and circumstance.

So, there is a thank you for each and every situation, and I can promise that a well thought out thank you can take a long way when you happen to be a long way from home. So try a few of these newfangled terms of appreciation, you’ll thank me!

Paella: The Star of Spain

Every country has its dish to boast about, but has there ever been a dish a country fights over more often? It seems that every region in Spain has a claim on the “correct” way to make a paella, just like they each claim to have the “correct” way to speak Spanish. But that’s another article. And I have to say, after trying every paella I could get my hands on, I think they are all right! Whether they are traditional Valencian, seafood, or mixed, give me a properly prepared paella and I am one happy lady.

Now where paella originated is a matter of debate with stories ranging from a cheap king serving his leftovers with rice to try to skimp on a feast bill to the Moorish influence of rice and fish casseroles. But the truth is probably that field workers would prepare a rice dish in a pan over the fire and add whatever ingredients they happened to have around, which usually included snails, rabbits, and vegetables. Once the main populace caught on, things got a little more involved.

The key to correct preparation, so I have been told my many a Spaniard, is the paellera. Also just called a paella itself, this pan has two looped handles and my dip slightly in the middle to hold the oil for sauteing. But the main importance is the fact that it is big, and I mean very big. The rice should be only as thick as “un ditet,” or the width of one finger, so about 1/2 an inch. You want as much rice touching the bottom of the pan as possible so you get that delicious, crispy layer called the socarrat. So if you don’t have a paellera hanging around, just grab the biggest stainless-steel or other all metal skillet you can find. Cast-iron isn’t the best choice since the sides are so deep and non-stick pans aren’t the best at creating that crispy bottom.

Next is the sofrito and this is where the debate begins. Sofrito is a combination of tomato, onion, garlic and a variety of spices, herbs, and peppers. It’s a little like the salsa we love so much with tortilla chips here in the US, but is cooked instead of raw and a good bit less chunky too.

The meat is of course the next big item on the big debate. For a traditional Valencian paella, you start sauteing rabbit, chicken, and/or snails, as well as beans and artichokes. This is the most famous paella recipe, and ask anyone from Valencia and they’ll tell you it’s the only correct way to eat a paella. There are also the seafood recipes that are more popular along the coast which include mussles, squid, octopus, fish, and all other delicious sea foods. Then there is the mixed paella, probably the most well-known throught the world as your standard paella. This is a delicious combination of the seafood and the Valencian paella with some spicy chorizo sausage probably thrown in there as well.

No matter what kind of paella you are eating you can know it tells a little bit about the cook. To make a great paella takes love, care, and attention to detail that you may not find in every restaurant out there boasting “traditional paella.” But don’t let that stop you! It sure doesn’t stop me from dipping my fork in the paellera for one last bite of the socarrat!

What is Cinco de Mayo All About?

If you’re like me, then you are definitely excited about the festivities of Cinco de Mayo, when everyone in the U.S. gets together and stands in long lines at mexican restaurants to enjoy fajitas, nachos, tacos, and their favorite drinks, all in celebration of Mexico’s independence…or not.

The idea that Cinco de Mayo is all about Mexican independence is a wide misconception in the U.S. Even many college Spanish majors don’t know the real reason they set aside May 5th for piñatas and lime flavored drinks, so read along and maybe you can win the big prize for Cinco de Mayo trivia.

Americans are sometimes a little disappointed to learn that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independece Day, but rather a commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It was an important battle because the French outnumbered the Mexicans 2 to 1 and had not been defeated in almost 50 years, yet the Mexican army under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín was victorious. Unfortunately, with money on the mind (France was trying to occupy Mexico to make them pay their debts), France deployed another 30,000 troops within a year and won Mexico City, installing Archduke Maximilian of Austria as ruler of Mexico. The story gets better when, after ending the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln helped Mexico to expel the French and assassinate Maximilian, thus restoring the Mexicans to power in their own country.

So even if the French did end up ruling Mexico for a while, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated to commemorate the bravery and victory of Zaragoza’s outnumbered army at the Battle of Puebla. So, during your festivities with friends and family, why not toast to the bravery of Mexico and maybe educate some of your fellow Americans on the real reason they are celebrating on the 5th of May.