Mojar/Secar/Limpiar/Ensuciar
This is a silly comment on the illogic of languages.
- mojar = to get wet or to soak
- secar = to dry
- limpiar = to clean
- ensuciar = to get dirty
So why is there an "en" in front of ensuciar? Why is it not just suciar?
I am posting this because of the use of "get" in English. I always want to say enmojar as my mind thinks in parellels.
Do you have sticking points. Things that just refuse to resolve themselves in your mind? Here is your chance to post them for all to see.
5 Answers
"Spanish has two genders" - Oh, that's not too bad. Plenty of other languages have them like Gujarati, Hindi, and German. Heck, Gujarati and German have 3.
"Masculine nouns use "el" and feminine nouns use "la"" - Oh that is interesting. The articles change depending on the gender of the subject.
"Before feminine nouns that start with a stressed "a", we use "el" instead of "la"" Hmmm. A bit tricky to remember, but it makes sense. I said "la agua" a bunch of times in front of a mirror and it does sound akward.
"Oh yeah, but it's "la hache" and "la áriba" and "la a" along with a list of other exceptions to a list of normal article inflectional exceptions.
What?! Don't make a rule if your exceptions are going to have exceptions. That doesn't make sense.
So why is there an "en" in front of ensuciar? Why is it not just suciar?
The word ensuciar has an interesting history (at least, I find it interesting) that can offer some clues as to why this might be. If we begin with the noun "sucio" from which "ensuciar" is derived, we will find that it stems from a Latin word (sucidus/sucus) that originally expressed the notion of "wetness," more specifically, a wetness inherent to living things, i.e. "juice," "sap," or "sweat." For our purposes, we are more concerned with this third idea, especially wetness associated with the characteristically unpleasant or pungent odor of wet animals. From this point, it should not be difficult to guess how the idea might have become intertwined with and, eventually, even supplanted by the idea of filthiness or uncleanness. It is in this spirit of the word that our verb form "ensuciar" is derived. The prefix "en-" implies a state of being "covered in" or "inundated by" this especially feral sort of wetness or uncleanliness. It appears that eventually, the idea of filth or dirtiness associated with the word won out and the original sense of "sweat" or "wetness" was discarded.
I am posting this because of the use of "get" in English. I always want to say enmojar as my mind thinks in parallels.
The verb "mojar" took a slightly different route into the Spanish lexicon. It is derived from an already existing Latin verb, mollire (to soften). It has long been observed that soaking certain substances in water (or other liquids) will cause them to soften. With this idea in mind, it should not be difficult to see how the idea of "softening" might have been intimately connected with the idea of "soaking." Eventually, the idea of softening/soaking was replaced by the idea of soaking/wetting.
This is not Spanish, but I still have trouble differentiating between "affect" and "effect." I understand the difference, but when it's time to use one or the other, I just can't get my mind around it. It's maddening.
Remember Alcohol.
It starts with an A, as does Affect. Alcohol affects you. Affect is usually a verb.
What happens after you drink alcohol? That is the effect. Effect is usually a noun.
El locutor usa phrases como debido a.
This is somewhat off topic, but I have always wondered why news broadcasts and news articles are so hard to understand and words used that are seldom heard in everyday speech. In particular those that are political. In fact, a native Spanish speaker once said to me "we don't understand it either." It can sure be a humbling experience to try to comprehend the news. What's the point of news that so many don't get? 
This is not Spanish, but I still have trouble differentiating between "affect" and "effect." I understand the difference, but when it's time to use one or the other, I just can't get my mind around it. It's maddening.
