Idea! Let users suggest additions to the dictionary.

Question

I needed to know what the word 'acordarme' meant and it wasn't available on the spanishdict translator.

I had to go elsewhere to find out that it means 'remember' ,which is fine but wouldn't it be a good idea to let users add to the or A word database?

It would keep users from going elsewhere for their information

Answer 1

I needed to know what the word 'acordarme' meant and it wasn't available on the spanishdict translator.

The word is in the dictionary, but maybe you need to learn more about the grammar before you can use it effectively, because in Spanish it is normal to add pronouns like "me" to infinitives like "acordar", for different reasons. In fact, you can add up to three pronouns to some infinitives, resulting in large number of permutations... which would make the dictionary three times as thick.

Answer 2

Your question is interesting, To begin, the base of your word is "acordar" which of course in in the dictionary.

The point I would like to make it that the learning process requires research in many cases, and by this you should develop a " learning library" of sources to find the information you need.

As far as I have found no single site has it all, and likely never will, but that is not a problem, we go to different sites to find and confirm word and phrase usage, and for sure you will find different opinions.

We are learning a language,and doing so is a journey of a lifetime, language can be a "moving target" as well so learn to move with it, It is quite enjoyable as you go deeper into it.

I for one struggle every day with the Spanish grammar, I also have at least fifty resources to check and double check usage. Discovery can be a pain at times but in the end it can be very enjoyable.

I hope these ramblings will be helpful to you.

Answer 3

Does your English language dictionary contain separate entries for "ate" and "eaten" (past tense and past participle of "to eat")? Mine don't.

Answer 4

Does your English language dictionary contain separate entries for "ate" and "eaten" (past tense and past participle of "to eat")? Mine don't.

Some of my largest ones do have the irregular verbal forms of all verbs, although generally they can be found in an appendix. However, we are talking about a few hundred words only. Now consider the case of Spanish just for the infinitive "dar"

darme, darte darle, darnos, daros, darles, darlo, darla, darlos, darlas, dármelo, dármela, dármelos, dármelas, dártelo, dártela, dártelos, dártelas, dárselo, dársela, dárselos, dárselas, dárnoslo, dárnosla, dárnoslos, dárnoslas, dároslo, dárosla, dároslos, dároslas

That's 30 permutations, and that doesn't even include datives. Now do the same for the "gerundio" and all the imperative forms, and you have no less than 180 extra forms for several thousands of verbs. Include them all, and over 70% of the dictionary will be verbal forms with attached pronouns.

Or take Archi, a language spoken in the Caucasus, where (according to some) a verb has 1,502,839 different possible forms. Include a list for all verbs, and you will need several volumes even for a beginners' dictionary. You can't do that in certain languages.

You can choose from over 4,000 endings to a Russian word -- and then there are the prefixes ... Sigh. For the first few years I couldn't find a single word in the dictionary! ;-) - territurtle, Aug 23, 2011

What we've lost in the complexity of inflected verb forms we make up for in our orthography. - samdie, Aug 23, 2011