Dictionary and Internet translations

Question

Why is it that when I check out a spanish book from the library it's different from when I translate a word off of the internet. Why is it that the definitions are different; is it because there's different ways to say one word or is the book/computer is wrong?

Answer 1

A one-word translation from the internet will very often be different from a careful dictionary entry. Words have different senses and different ones are appropriate in different situations. With a good dictionary, you will be able to tell which is appropriate for the situation or sense you are looking for. Of two one-word definitions, neither is likely to be more "right" in general. It is probably a case of which is correct in a certain situation.

Answer 2

Hi Cute, yes, you have hit on one of the things that makes studying languages so interesting. Unilingual people don't often stop and think much about their language unless they are studying grammar or doing school assignments but when you study a second language often you learn your original one even better. You become more conscious of just how the words fit together and it can be very interesting. What Mac says is absolutely right and there's the reason you can run into really weird and unusual translations. But it is all fun! Honestly!