Collocations. Different words used between English and Spanish.
Hola mis amigos,
While learning to speak Spanish I have noticed as I am sure we all have, even those of us learning English, that between the languages we use different words to say the same things. To name a few.
In English we might say, I am 21 years old. But in Spanish we would say, tengo veintiún años.
When talking about the weather. We would say in English, it is cold/hot. But in Spanish we say hace frio/calor
In English when we need to decide somithing, we make a decision. But in Spanish we take a decision or tomar una decisión.
I just learned that last one and it sparked the question in my mind, how many sayings like that are there where a different word is used. I tried a search and I didn't find anything and I suppose it could take a long time to learn what they all are. It makes sense to me to take a decision and it makes sense to have our years.
I would like to learn more of them. If we compile a bunch of them in one place it could be a benefit to both learners of Spanish as well to learners of English.
Please feel free to list any differences of words used that really express the same idea. Everybody welcome beginners or natives. I would greatly apprecciate it.
Thank you.
Amor y paz
17 Answers
It makes sense to me to take a decision and it makes sense to have our years.
These specific idiomatic word combinations are called collocations. Notice that you make decisions but not do decisions, you do favours but not make favour, but you can make a cake as well as do a cake. The first two are collocations, which means that "to make" and "decision" go together for no special reason, and you can't use most synonyms of the verb "to make" here. Needless to say, collocations are likely to be different in other languages, so if you find that you cannot use synonyms that work in your own language, a literal translation will be very risky.
Anyway:
tener sentido = make sense (another collocation!)
tener hambre = to be hungry ("estar hambiento" is also correct, but not used that often)
tener sueño = to be sleepy ("estar somnoliento" is too literary)
tener ganas de... = to feel like... (doing something)
Poner de ejemplo = to give as an example
I enjoy learning these "collocations" (thanks for the word, Sr. Lazarus!). I often find that the Spanish makes more sense.
There are a number of expressions with "dar" such as:
Dar una película = To show a film
Dar español = To teach Spanish
Dar en el blanco = To hit the bull's eye
Dar guerra = To wage war
Dar a luz = to give birth
How about:
Sacar buenas notas. To get good grades.
prestar atención = to pay attention
hacer daño = to hurt
tener que ver con = to have to do with
valer la pena = to be worth
llevarse bien = to get along well
llegar a una conclusión = to come to a conclusion
Hacer un poema = to write a poem
Hacer una vista gorda= to turn a blind eye
Tirarse sobre alguin = to jump on top of somebody
echar la mirada = to give a look
Here are some phrases with "echar:"
echar a andar -> to set off
echar a correr -> to break into a run
echar a llorar -> to burst into tears
echar a reír -> to burst out laughing
echar de menos -> to miss (someone or something)
echar a perder -> to ruin, to waste
Tener miedo = to be afraid
In English, we tend to use this form literally most often in the negative imperative mood: "Have no fear ... Mighty Mouse is here!"
Tener Prisa = To be in a hurry
Hacer una fiesta - To have a party.
Any more?
I am hungry/thirsty.
Tengo hambre/sed.
Which is like saying, I have hunger/thirst.
In English we "have" a party and in Spanish we "make" a party.
I need time to think of more.
English: take a walk in the park
Spanish: give (dar) a pass along/through the park
Actually, I would like to suggest an ongoing thread here.
Every time I post in one of the "___ of the day" threads, I look up each word and check for all expressions and sample sentences, etc. so I can use it correctly. Sometimes it takes me over 4 hours to write a single sentence
Then, I get a correction and find out yet another way of phrasing the thought. 
Yes, I'm learning, but it is becoming a bit discouraging! 
I don´t have enough vocabulary yet to use the Real Academia Española (RAE), so guess I'll just have to keep muddling through till I can
English:
make a phonecall
take a phonecall
place a phonecall
Español:
hacer una llamada telefónica
Did I miss any?
Hola amor
You posted this thread a while back - I did not notice it.
Do you have enough to create a meaningfull list yet?
