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"Cuando era niño" is a phrase which is often translated as "when I was a child", and "a" is a preposition which is often translated as "to". Learn more about the difference between "cuando era niño" and "a" below.
cuando era niño(
kwahn
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doh
eh
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rah
nee
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nyoh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. when I was a child
Cuando era niño, mi familia y yo pasábamos los veranos en Mallorca.When I was a child, me and my family spent our summers in Mallorca.
b. as a child
Cuando era niño, yo era mucho más tímido que ahora.As a child, I used to be much shyer than I am now.
a. when he was a child
Los padres de Ignacio se divorciaron cuando él era niño.Ignacio's parents got divorced when he was a child.
b. as a child
Mi hijo, cuando era niño, le tenía miedo a la oscuridad.As a child, my son used to be afraid of the dark.
a, la a(
ah
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Podía respirar a duras penas.He was hardly able to breathe.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡A fregar los platos!Go do the dishes!
¡A la cama!Off to bed!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me encantaría ganar dinero a espuertas.I would love to earn lots of money.
Llovía a cántaros.It was pouring.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or group of words (e.g., "UFO" = "unidentified flying object"; "p." = "page").
a. A
El circuito transporta una corriente de 1 A.The circuit carries a current of 1 A.
La intensidad de la corriente eléctrica se mide en A.The intensity of an electric current is measured in A.
