La Palabra del Día: "antaño"
antaño ( ahn-tah'-nyo )
adverb ( in days gone by, last year )
We are looking for an official corrector for the Spanish sentences. If you are interested, please send me a PM.
Estamos buscando un corrector oficial de las frases en español. Si usted está interesado, por favor envíeme un PM.
Sinmeta will be correcting the Spanish sentences as his time permits. We still need more help with this very important task. Please correct your sentences according to his suggestions.
There are many native English speakers here, most of us can offer great suggestions to the English sentences. I will do my best to go through them all, too. Use today's Word of the Day in your own Spanish sentence (and include the English translation as well). Try to use the word in a completely new way and vote on the sentences you like best. The winner will be chosen based upon the correct use of the word as well as the number of votes.
Guidelines:
Write sentences at least 5 words long, but don't write a paragraph either. Write your Spanish sentence, but include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by other users and moderators in the comments section (try not to use personal pronouns unless absolutely necessary). Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.) Have fun experimenting with Spanish.
Examples:
1. En los tiempos de antaño, se usaban acueductos para transportar agua.
In days gone by, aqueducts were used to transport water.
2. Mi abuela siempre me habla de los días de antaño cuando la vida era más simple.
My grandmother always talks to me about the days of long ago, when life was simple.
Until we have an official Spanish corrector, please help with any suggestions to the Spanish sentences as you are able. It is very much appreciated. Thank you all for being here at SD and for participating in La Palabra Del Dia!
17 Answers
En tiempos de antaño, la ropa era mucho más formal, recatada en las mujeres e impecable en los varones. Por motivos bélicos, los hombres tuvieron que dejar su labor e iniciarse en la guerra, por esta razón las mujeres pasaron a tomar un rol importante en el trabajo.Debido a esto se incorporó el pantalón en las damas, se usaban sombreros de ala ancha y vestidos drapeados. Con el transcurrir del tiempo, todo esto fue cambiando, y aun más con la llegada del nuevo estilo de música rock, con el deseo de destacarse ante el resto, la gente comenzó a experimentar estilos más osados acorde a su personalidad. Con influencia de los grupos musicales, la gente comenzó a cambiar su estilo de vestir y con ello, su estilo de vida.
in days gone by, clothes were more formal, modest in women and impeccable in men. For war reasons, men had to leave their jobs and take part in the war, that´s why women went to take an important role in the work. For this reason trousers were incorporated to women, wide-brimmed hats were used and draped dresses. Over time, all of this was changing, and even more with the new style of the rock music, with the desire of showing of better that the rest, people began to experience more daring styles according to their personality. Under the influence of musical groups, people started to change their of dressing and with it, their lifestyle.
Los días de antaño eran simples, pero muy difícil.
The old days were simple ,but very difficult.
En los tiempos de antaño los telefonos eran más bonitos.
In the old days, phones were prettier.
Llegué a conocer muchos amigos de mi hija menor de antaño.
I got to know many friends of my youngest daughter many years ago.
En tiempos de antaño nuestros teléfonos no fueron listos , tuvieron botones o tuvieron sus propias colas. Sí, los tiempos han cambiado.
In the old days our telephones weren't smart, and had buttons or the had their own tails. Yes times have changed.
De antaño, California era una parte de México.
Many years ago, California was part of Mexico.
With Luissito's permission, I am sharing a note he sent me regarding how to use antaño. It helped me a lot so I thought others might benefit too. Here it is:
(Here is my original question about my sentences: Can I use 'de antaño' like this fto say, last year, or does it have to be "en el tiempo de antaño"?
De antaño, llegué a conocer la amiga de mi hija menor.
Last year, I got to know a friend of my youngest daughter.
Luissito's answer:
The word "antaño" is usually used to talk about something that happened a long time ago (it is not so common to use it to talk about something that happened last year, people hardly ever use it), so when you say "last year"=el año pasado (you´re talking about something that happened a year ago). When talking about something that happened last year, it is much better to say el año pasado, indeed. You know, in a sentence, words do not work alone, and they need to link with other ones in order to make more sense. Here are some examples for the word antaño.
1.-"En tiempos (los) de antaño.
2.- Ella es una amiga de antaño (meaning that person was your friend a long time ago).
3.- Ella es una actriz de antaño.
In short, the word is only 'antaño', but to make it easy for you, get used to using 'de antaño'. But, use this after having used previous words like I have written in number 1, 2 and 3 (en los tiempos ........, ella es una amiga........., ella es una acrtiz....).
If you do this, your Spanish will sound more natural.
¿Quiero volver a antaños? Apague su acondicionador de aire.
Want to go back to the old days? Turn off your air conditioner.
The little match girl (H C Andersen) is a very sad story from yesteryear.
La niña de los fósforos (HC Andersen) es una historia muy triste desde antaño
Este pueblo de antaño me parece completamente desierto.
This old village seems to be completely deserted.
(Villacreces, Valladolid)
Soñé un sueño de tiempo de antaño, cuando la esperanza era alta y la vida vale la pena de vivir. Pero los tigres vienen en la noche, y convierten su esperanza en la vergüenza.
I dreamed a dream of time gone by, when hope was high and life worth living. But the tigers come at night, and they turn your dream to shame.
En el antaño, no había computadoras, móviles ni teléfonos. La gente solía comunicarse a larga distancia enviando cartas por correo o mensajero.
In years gone by, there were no computers, cell phones or telephones. People would communicate over long distances by sending letters via mail or messenger.
Antaño había muchas furgones de cola.
In days gone by there were many cabooses.
Cuando mi familia se reúne, los ancianos siempre rememoran y nos dicen acerca de los días de antaño a los jóvenes.
When my family gets together, the elderly always reminisce and tell us young folks about the old days.
I'm not sure about the Spanish!
En los tiempos de antaño la cultura del mundo antiguo fue de un nivel alto. Ahora sólo vemos las ruinas de las civilizaciones pasadas.
In days gone by, the culture of the ancient world was at a high level. Now we see just the ruins of the past civilizations.
