1,000 Words Is All You Need for Spanish

Jan 27 | 0 comentarios | language

One of the most common questions I get from people learning a new language is this: “How many words do I need to know to be able to have a conversation?” The answer is different for everyone, and it definitely depends on what kind of things you want to talk about. If you are learning Spanish as part of your job and do business with Spanish speakers, then your minimum vocabulary will be a lot different than someone who is learning Spanish so they can surf off the coast of Peru or someone who wants to study classical Spanish poetry in Madrid.

How many does a person actually use?

The average person has a vocabulary of about 10,000 words, but it is possible that a person can understand many more words than he or she actually uses. This number is the same no matter what language the person speaks. However, the number of words that he or she actually uses on a day to day basis is much lower. Think of your total vocabulary number (including all those words you learned to take the SAT or the GRE) versus the words you use to chat with your friends or talk about your weekend. Pretty different, right?

Research shows that in an average day, we use about 1,000 different words. Day to day, the words we use do not vary too much either, meaning we tend to stick with about a basic daily vocabulary of around 1,000 words. Some research has even shown that young teens only have a daily vocabulary count of 240 words! And some experts say that 50% of all spoken language consists of the 100 most common words in that language.

So how many do I actually need?

So take your pick! You can probably get around a Spanish-speaking country if you know the 100 most common words, but the closer your daily vocabulary is to 1,000 or above the better. So get started! You know where the vocabulary lists are!

Try the all new Spanish Word of the Day

Nov 16 | 0 comentarios | announcements

We are excited to release today a new (and improved) Spanish Word of the Day. We have added richer translations, pronunciations, parts of speech, example sentences, and idioms. Our hope is that the word of the day will give you enough information not just to translate the word, but to use it in your conversations. You can choose to receive the new Spanish Word of the Day by email by selecting the option in your account settings. ¡Ojalá que le guste!

New: Learn Spanish with Videos and Games on SpanishDict.com

Aug 14 | 0 comentarios | announcements

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 launches Internet’s largest Spanish-English dictionary

Jul 31 | 1 comentarios | announcements

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.

 

$0.12 per Gallon of Gas in Venezuela!

Jul 01 | 0 comentarios | interesante

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.

Country	Price per gallon USD
Spain	$8.10
Peru	$6.09
Uruguay	$6.06
Chile	$4.81
Columbia	$4.05
Honduras	$4.05
Brazil	$3.12
Cuba	$3.03
Nicaragua	$2.61
Argentina	$2.40
Mexico	$2.35
Panama	$2.19
Puerto Rico	$1.74
Venezuela	$0.12

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!

Search SpanishDict From Your Browser’s Toolbar

Jun 23 | 0 comentarios | announcements

SpanishDict has just added a search box that you can add to your web browser’s toolbar. You can find the tool on the SpanishDict Widgets page 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!

We Are Not Alone: Father’s Day in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Jun 12 | 0 comentarios | culture

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

Country	Date
Belize	Third Sunday in June
Costa Rica	Third Sunday in June
El Salvador	June 17th
Guatemala	June 17th
Honduras	March 19th
Nicaragua	June 23rd
Panama	Third Sunday in June
Argentina	Third Sunday in June
Bolivia	March 19th
Chile	Third Sunday in June
Colombia	Third Sunday in June
Ecuador	Third Sunday in June
Paraguay	Third Sunday in June
Peru	Third Sunday in June
Uruguay	July 19th
Venezuela	Third Sunday in June
Mexico	Third Sunday in June
Puerto Rico	Third Sunday in June

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 100 Spanish Words People Really Want to Know

Jun 09 | 2 comentarios | interesante

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.

English Word	Spanish Translation	Searches
1. to	1. a	25011
2. you	2. tú	19803
3. love	3. el amor	18171
4. a	4. un, una	15935
5. are	5. eres/estás	15069
6. was	6. fui, fue	13595
7. the	7. el, la, los, las	12737
8. have	8. tener	12297
9. is	9. es, está	11792
10. me	10. yo, mi, me	11591
11. on	11. en	11440
12. I	12. yo	11408
13. it	13. lo, la, le	11358
14. this	14. este, esto, esta	11140
15. do	15. hacer	11052
16. like	16. gustar	10840
17. that	17. ese, que	10808
18. my	18. mi, mis	10760
19. for	19. por, para	10602
20. from	20. de, desde	10045
21. about	21. acerca	9900
22. go	22. ir, marchar	9813
23. at	23. a, en, arroba	9679
24. will	24. voluntad	9438
25. what	25. qué	9401
26. of	26. de, ante	9350
27. get	27. conseguir, recibir	9335
28. fu**	28. joder	9297
29. fun	29. deversión	8973
30. so	30. así, tan	8917
31. your	31. su, tu, vuestro	8873
32. also	32. también	8676
33. want	33. querer	8582
34. take	34. tardar	8378
35. beautiful	35. bello, bonito	8289
36. with	36. con	8103
37. can	37. la lata, poder	8092
38. good	38. bueno	8092
39. there	39. allí, allá	8085
40. play	40. jugar, tocar	8069
41. hello	41. hola	8010
42. see	42. ver	7978
43. when	43. cuando	7862
44. b**ch	44. perra, chucha	7834
45. come	45. venir	7774
46. in	46. en	7761
47. how	47. cómo	7734
48. by	48. cerca	7688
49. happy	49. alegre, feliz	7392
50. help	50. la ayuda, ayudar	7098
51. leave	51. dejar, irse	7054
52. miss	52. errar, señorita, echar de menos, extrañar	7004
53. food	53.  la comida, el alimiento	6931
54. after	54. después	6793
55. find	55. encontrar	6760
56. meet	56. encontrarse	6760
57. and	57. y, e	6667
58. work	58. trabajar	6627
59. become	59. llegar a, ser	6591
60. make	60. hacer	6573
61. son	61. el hijo	6500
62. know	62. conocer , saber	6413
63. then	63. duración, tiempo, hora	6391
64. time	64. el tiempo	6388
65. has	65. tiene	6180
66. nice	66. agradable	6175
67. need	67. la necesidad	6150
68. i love you	68. te quiero, te amo	6111
69. to try	69. intentar	6016
70. how are you?	70. cómo está usted, cómo estás	5985
71. some	71. algunos , algunas	5972
72. learn	72. aprender	5957
73. stop	73. ¡alto!, parar	5900
74. but	74. pero, sino	5876
75. as	75. como, si	5863
76. show	76. mostrar	5807
77. eat	77. comer	5806
78. people	78. la gente, el pueblo	5679
79. dog	79. el perro	5638
80. look	80. ver	5570
81. would	81. condicional	5520
82. watch	82. el reloj, mirar	5498
83. stay	83. quedarse	5468
84. hot	84. caliente	5463
85. only	85. sólo	5462
86. be	86. estar, ser	5426
87. next	87. próximo	5407
88. give	88. dar	5348
89. no	89. no	5311
90. sexy	90. sexual, atractivo	5237
91. think	91. pensar	5208
92. all	92. todo, todos	5206
93. because	93. porque	5121
94. enjoy	94. disfrutar	5023
95. still	95. todavía, aún	4932
96. we	96. nosotros	4932
97. where	97. donde	4882
98. sleep	98. dormir	4867
99. lunch	99. el almuerzo	4826
100. sorry	100. lo siento	4783

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

9 Top Spanish-Speaking Travel Destinations

Jun 05 | 0 comentarios | culture

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.

Check out the spot for 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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

How to say ‘I love you' in Spanish

Jun 05 | 1 comentarios | language

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 gustas - 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