¿Se aprietan los zapatos?
¿Se aprietan los zapatos?
Is this the correct way to say
Are your shoes too tight'
13 Answers
This is where more context with the question can open new avenues.
It could also be a passive reflexive: Los zapatos se aprietan con las manos (the shoes are tightened with your hands)
This is a bit off-topic, but I completely agree with you: "hablante nativo" sounds funny to me, but I'm getting used to it gradually, because it seems that this new meaning for "nativo" copied form English is here to stay. I always say hispanohablante.
I also agree with the use of autóctono.
I'm not completely certain, but my cursory research seems to show that the word doesn't just mean that you were born somewhere, but rather that a species has been somewhere long enough not to be considered "introduced," and instead is considered native or indigenous.
And since the context is that you and Motley were commiserating about the difficulty of Spanish pronouns, I think it would make much more sense if you used a word that means you are a native Spanish speaker, which is exactly what hispanohablante means. I mean, where one is born doesn't really matter in this context (using verbs like apretarse). It's what your native language is. A person who was born in Los Angeles and grew up speaking Spanish would have no trouble with this verb, while a person born to English parents in Madrid, who grew up speaking English and attending English schools, might conceivably have trouble with such verbs.
Anyway, I do agree with your point, that it's a huge disadvantage not to have the intuitive knowledge of a native speaker. You and I will never reach that level of Spanish, but it's fun learning all the same.
Good point James, I was wondering the same thing.
Every time I hear autoctono it means "from that area/regional". For example, "El ballenato es autocono de Colombia".
For "native speaker", I always here "Nativo".
Hi James
I thought that as we were discussing the Spanish language, not being an "autóctono" would imply that I am not a native from a spanish speaking country. I didn't want it to translate that I am not a spanish speaker.
Eddy,
Are you using the word autóctono correctly? I think you meant to say "It's terrible not being a native [speaker]," but I don't think that's what autóctono means. Its translation is native or indigenous in the sense of a plant or animal being native to a locale. It is also translated as autochthon, which can refer to the original inhabitants of an area, such as the Native Americans. See the following site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autochthonous
I have heard native Spanish speakers say that "hablante nativo" doesn't sound quite right, and that hispanohablante (or hispanoparlante) is the better choice.
hispanohablante
1. adj. y com. [Persona, comunidad o país] que tiene como lengua materna el español.
I suppose that in English you can't say "does the shoes tighten you'. It sounds horrible.
One easier and more literal translation would be: ¿tus zapatos son demasiado estrechos?
Although it sounds more natural: ¿te aprietan los zapatos'
Hi Motley
It's terrible isn't it, not being "un/a autóctono/a". I find these short phrases very difficult as well.
Los zapatos "me" aprietan ( no es necesario decir "los pies").
Estos zapatos "me quedan apretados".
Son las frases más comunes en este tema.
ja,ja,ja
Estos zapatos son muy raros.
¡malditos pronombres!.
Hi motley, nice seeing you around.
Los zapatos se aprietan would be reflexive. so the shoes themselves are too tight for each other...hmmm, not imaginable, is it'
