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"Belén" is a form of "belén", a noun which is often translated as "Nativity scene". "Menos que" is a phrase which is often translated as "less than". Learn more about the difference between "menos que" and "belén" below.
menos que(
meh
-
nohs
keh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. less than
A este pastel le he puesto menos mantequilla que al otro.I've put less butter in this cake than in the other one.
a. fewer than
Hoy como es domingo, había menos gente que ayer en el centro.Today being Sunday, there were fewer people than yesterday downtown.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Son menos que nosotros, pero ellos están mucho más en forma.There are fewer of them than us, but they're much fitter.
Esta tarde somos menos que esta mañana, porque hay gente que tenía que irse a trabajar.This evening there are fewer of us than this morning, because some people had to go to work.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me dije a mí misma, "¿Por qué voy a ser yo menos que nadie?", y solicité el trabajo.I told myself, "Why should I be less than anyone else?", and applied for the job.
El que tú tengas más dinero que ella no la hace menos persona que tú.The fact that you have more money than she does doesn't make her less of a person than you.
a. less than
Si haces menos ejercicio que antes, ¿cómo es posible que no aumentes de peso?If you're exercising less than before, how come you haven't put on any weight?
a. less than
Tú sabes que yo como poco. Ponme mucho menos que a él, por favor.You know I don't eat much. Give me much less than you've given him, please.
el belén(
beh
-
lehn
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. Nativity scene
Compramos un nuevo conjunto de figuritas para nuestro belén, con camellos y todo.We bought a new set of figurines for our Nativity scene, with camels and everything.
b. crib
En Navidad en mi casa solemos poner un abeto y un belén.In my house, we usually put up a fir tree and a crib at Christmas.
c. crèche (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Mi familia es atea y por eso no ponemos un belén en Navidad.My family is atheistic, so we don't put up a crèche at Christmas.
2. (colloquial) (trouble)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. mess
¿Por qué siempre acabas metido en belenes que no te incumben.Why do you always end up getting into messes that are none of your business?
3. (colloquial) (chaos)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. bedlam
El profesor salió un momento de clase y al volver se encontró un belén.The teacher left the classroom for a moment and when he came back, it was bedlam.
