{"id":2208,"date":"2022-10-03T05:30:47","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T05:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/?p=2208"},"modified":"2022-09-23T07:37:53","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T07:37:53","slug":"common-mistakes-in-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/fr\/common-mistakes-in-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Common mistakes in Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

Native Spanish speakers will always \"valorar\" (appreciate) your efforts to talk to them in their language, and will help you to get better<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Everyone makes mistakes, and that\u2019s part of the fun of learning a language<\/b> too! But why fun? Well, given that the only way to improve<\/b> in any language is by speaking <\/b>as much as possible, you\u2019re bound to get things wrong and sometimes these mistakes can give rise to some hilarious situations. Native Spanish speakers will always valorar <\/b>(<\/i>appreciate<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>your efforts to talk to them in their language, and will help you to get better. However, if we can evitar <\/b>(<\/i>avoid<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>some of these typical mistakes, then you\u2019ll be able to make yourself understood<\/b> much more quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. \u201cEstoy embarazada\u201d doesn\u2019t mean \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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This is a very common error<\/b> and one that we need to sort out right away! In Spanish, estar embarazada<\/b> means to be pregnant<\/i><\/b>, so if you\u2019re a woman and say this then you\u2019ll probably get a response of \u201cfelicidades\u201d <\/b>or \u201cenhorabuena\u201d <\/b>which mean \u201ccongratulations\u201d<\/i><\/b>. A man making this mistake will probably get some very confused looks! The right way to say \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed\u201d <\/i><\/b>in Spanish is \u201cMe da verg\u00fcenza\u201d<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Lots of phrases that use to be in English use a different verb in Spanish<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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When you\u2019re trying to learn Spanish<\/b>, it\u2019s important to remember that you can\u2019t simply traducer <\/b>(<\/i>translate<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> everything word for word from English. This can get you into all sorts of problems, such as the one in our first common mistake! Let\u2019s look at some examples with their correct translations and a literal version in English so you can see the differences.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
English<\/b><\/td>\nIncorrect Spanish<\/b><\/td>\nCorrect Spanish<\/b><\/td>\nLiteral translation<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I am 20<\/td>\nSoy 20 (this doesn\u2019t mean anything)<\/em><\/td>\nTengo 20 a\u00f1os<\/td>\nI have 20 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I\u2019m too hot!<\/td>\nEstoy demasiado caliente (which means ready for some loving!)<\/em><\/td>\nTengo demasiado calor<\/td>\nI have too much heat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Let\u2019s have a drink<\/td>\nTenemos una bebida (which means we have a drink in our possession)<\/em><\/td>\nTomamos algo<\/td>\nLet\u2019s take something<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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There are plenty more of these so try to learn <\/b>these as expressions so that you can get your message across<\/b> more clearly.<\/p>\n

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3. Using the verb \u201cgustar\u201d incorrectly<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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\u201cGustar\u201d<\/b> means \u201cto like\u201d<\/i> <\/b>but in Spanish we need to say that something is likeable to you, not that you like it. Normally, an \u2013ar verb in the present is conjugated as verb without ar <\/i>+ o (i.e Hablo \u2013 <\/b>I speak)<\/i>. However, this verb is reflexive<\/b> and works differently. Let me show you an example:<\/p>\n

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  • Me gusta la nueva serie <\/b>\u2013 I like the new series (The series is likeable to me) – <\/i>Don\u2019t say Gusto la nueva serie<\/b><\/span>.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Me gustan las manzanas \u2013 <\/b>I like apples (Apples are likeable to me) – <\/i>Don\u2019t say Gusto las manzanas<\/b><\/span>.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Another issue with this verb is when you\u2019re talking about liking people<\/b>. If you follow the rule above, you\u2019d probably say Me gusta Pablo<\/b> to mean I like Pablo<\/i><\/b>. This, however, means you find Pablo romantically attractive! Now, that might be the case, but if you mean I like Pablo as he\u2019s a nice person<\/i><\/b> <\/i>then we have to say Pablo me cae bien<\/b>. It\u2019s funny that a lot of these mistakes revolve around unintended romantic encounters, right?<\/p>\n

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    4. Some words in English which are plural or countable are not in Spanish, and vice versa<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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    Although we do have other blogposts<\/b> about the topic of singular and plurals, it\u2019s a good idea to remind you again about some common differences <\/b>with plurals and countable\/uncountable nouns from English to Spanish. Here are just a few examples:<\/p>\n

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    <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    English to wrong Spanish<\/b><\/td>\nCorrect Spanish and literal translation<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    People are \u2013 Las gentes son<\/span><\/td>\nLa gente es \u2013 People is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    The news is depressing \u2013 Las noticias es<\/span> deprimente<\/td>\nLas noticias son deprimentes \u2013 The news are depressing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    A piece of furniture \u2013 Una pieza de mueble<\/span><\/td>\nUn mueble \u2013 a furniture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Some advice \u2013 Algunos consejo<\/span><\/td>\nUn consejo \u2013 an advice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    See what we mean? When listening to and reading Spanish<\/b>, try to apuntar <\/b>(<\/i>make a note<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> of examples like these so you can avoid them when speaking and writing<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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    5. Articles a\/the are used differently in Spanish<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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    This is a big area, and one which you\u2019ll need time<\/b> to get used to. In Spanish, it\u2019s much more common<\/b> to use the articles for the<\/i><\/b>, and sometimes they don\u2019t use a\/an<\/i><\/b> <\/i>where you would in English. Again, it\u2019s probably easier just to show you a few times when this is the case.<\/p>\n

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    <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    English<\/td>\nSpanish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    I\u2019m a teacher<\/td>\nSoy un<\/span> profesor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Marta loves chocolate<\/td>\nA Marta le encanta el<\/u> chocolate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    They climbed Mount Everest<\/td>\nEscalaron el<\/u> Monte Everest OR el<\/u> Everest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Cats are more intelligent than dogs<\/td>\nLos<\/u> gatos son m\u00e1s intelligentes que los<\/u> perros<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    Hopefully, now you\u2019re more consciente <\/b>(<\/i>aware<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> of these typical errors, you\u2019ll be better able to correct yourself when speaking Spanish<\/b>. Having said that, even if you do say something wrongly, it\u2019s simply a chance to be corrected and learn the right way to say things. You should never tener miedo<\/b> (<\/i>be afraid<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> of mistakes!<\/p>\n

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    Here at Hablamos, we\u2019re waiting to help you lose your fear of speaking and correct your mistakes so you can feel more confident when out and about in the Spanish-speaking world. Hablamos – full-on Spanish!<\/mark><\/span><\/h3><\/div>
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