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"Tan" is an adverb which is often translated as "so", and "tal" is an adjective which is often translated as "such". Learn more about the difference between "tan" and "tal" below.
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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).
