both [bəʊθ]
pronoun
ambosasambas (m) (f);as ambas loslas dos (m) (f);las both of them los dos; both of us nosotros dos; los dos; we both went fuimos los dos
they were both there both of them were there estaban allí los dos
adverb
a la vez she was both laughing and crying reía y lloraba a la vez; I find it both impressive and vulgar encuentro que es impresionante y vulgar a la vez; he both plays and sings canta y además toca; both you and I saw it lo vimos tanto tú como yo; lo vimos los dos
When both is a pronoun or an adjective you can usually translate it using los/las dos:
We're both climbers, Both of us are climbers Los dos somos alpinistas
I know both of them
I know them both Los conozco a los dos
Both (of the) sisters were blind Las dos hermanas eran ciegas
Alternatively, in more formal speech, use ambos/ambas:
We both liked it Nos gustó a ambos
Both (of the) regions are autonomous Ambas regiones son autónomas
Don't use the article with ambos.
"both ... and"Both ... and can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on what is referred to. If it relates to two individuals, you can usually use the invariable tanto ... como. Alternatively, you can often use los/las dos, though this may involve changing the syntax:
Both Mary and Peter will be very happy here Tanto Mary como Peter van a ser muy felices aquí, Mary y Peter van a ser los dos muy felices aquí
Both Mike and Clare could see something was wrong Tanto Mike como Clare veían que algo iba mal
When talking about two groups or things use tanto ... como or, if both ... and is equivalent to "at one and the same time", use a la vez:
The course is directed at both piano and violin teachers El curso está dirigido a profesores tanto de piano como de violín, El curso está dirigido a la vez a profesores de piano y de violín
Tanto ... como can also be used with adverbs:
He was a weak man both physically and mentally Era un hombre débil, tanto física como mentalmente
When adverbs ending in -mente are linked together with a conjunction as here, only the last retains the -mente.
When both ... and relates to verbs, you can usually use y además:
He both paints and sculpts Pinta y además hace esculturas
Use a la vez to comment on descriptions which are both true at the same time:
The book is both interesting and depressing El libro es interesante y deprimente a la vez
