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"Como dice" is a form of "como dice", a phrase which is often translated as "as he says". "Tal" is an adjective which is often translated as "such". Learn more about the difference between "como dice" and "tal" below.
como dice(
koh
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moh
dee
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seh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. as he says
Luis todavía es un principiante, pero como dice, "La práctica hace al maestro."Luis is still a beginner, but as he says, "Practice makes perfect."
b. as she says
Mi madre está triste, pero como dice, "Siempre que llovió, paró."My mother is sad, but as she says, "Every cloud has a silver lining."
c. as ... says
Como dice el proverbio, "De tal palo, tal astilla."As the proverb says, "Birds of a feather flock together."
d. as it says
¿Leíste el Tao Te Ching? Como dice, "El que sabe no habla. El que habla no sabe."Have you read the Tao Te Ching? As it says, “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
2. (formal) (second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. as you say
Es como dice usted, "El cliente siempre tiene la razón."It is as you say, "The customer is always right."
tal(
tahl
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (similar)
a. such
Nunca he visto tal pobreza como la de ese país.I've never seen such poverty like there is in that country.
2. (so much)
a. such
Cantó con tal pasión que varias personas se echaron a llorar.He sang with such passion that several people began to cry.
a. such-and-such
Si prometes hacer tal cosa, tienes que hacerlo.If you promise to do such-and-such a thing, you have to do it.
4. (colloquial) (unknown)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Un tal señor Martín ha llamado preguntando por ti.A Mr. Martin called for you.
Hablé con un señor del ayuntamiento, un tal Rodríguez.I spoke with a gentleman from city hall, a man named Rodriguez.
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
