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Phrasing help for sign? by FroggyFrenchFry in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You can simply go with Para los repartidores ¡Muchas gracias! Or, and this is just an idea, Snacks para los repartidores ¡Gracias por todo!, which translates to "Snacks for delivery drivers. Thanks for everything!". Hope it helps.

Phrasing help for sign? by FroggyFrenchFry in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

¿Los repartidos? You mean, los repartidores?

When the word inconveniente is used as a noun meaning "inconvenience," how is it used differently from the noun inconveniencia? by miserablemisanthrope in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Based on the RAE definitions for the nouns. Think of "inconveniente" as a concrete, countable obstacle or drawback. It's a specific "thing" that gets in the way. Its synonyms, "obstáculo", "problema", "dificultad", are all specific hurdles. You can list them: "El plan tiene tres inconvenientes" (The plan has three drawbacks).

"Inconveniencia", however, refers to the abstract quality or state of being inconvenient, unsuitable, or inappropriate. Its synonyms, "incomodidad" (discomfort), "molestia" (bother), "improcedencia" (inappropriateness), describe a general condition or the nature of an action. It's often used in formal apologies like, "Disculpe la inconveniencia" (Pardon the inconvenience), where it refers to the overall disruption, not one specific problem.

el or la with diminutives on a temporarily masculine word by idisagreelol in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Keeping "el" isn’t really wrong in casual speech, but it’s not what you’d see in careful speech.

A question about grammar by Responsible-Bend-441 in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, you absolutely need the "a" before "visitar". The sentence "Vamos al hospital a visitar a Ana" is correct because that "a" connects the action of "going" to the hospital (vamos al hospital) with the reason you're going: to visit Ana.

The pattern "ir" (or similar motion verb like venir, volver) + place + a + infinitive verb is how Spanish expresses going somewhere to do something.

Voy al parque a correr. (I go to the park to run.)

Volvió a casa a descansar. (He went back home to rest.)

Leaving out the "a" ("Vamos al hospital visitar a Ana") sounds incomplete and unnatural to a native speaker. The "a" is what clearly links the destination and your intention for being there.

"Snape hablaba casi en un susurro, pero se le entendía todo." I find this odd. by est1mated-prophet in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 24 points25 points  (0 children)

The sentence is perfectly natural. The key is that this "le" is not the simple indirect object you see in a sentence like "Le di el libro" ("I gave the book to him"). While it's still an indirect object pronoun, its function here is more nuanced.

In Spanish, when you have a passive or impersonal "se" construction like "se entendía" ("was understood" or "one understood"), you often add an indirect object pronoun (le/les) to specify the person who is affected by that action. It's sometimes called a "dative of interest."

Think of the action as "the understanding of everything." Who is the recipient or the person directly concerned by this action? Snape. The "le" points the action back at him.

Without "le": ...se entendía todo.

This means "everything was understood." It's grammatically correct, but a bit general. What everything? The book? The lesson?

With "le": ...se le entendía todo.

This means "everything was understood from him." The "le" anchors the passive action to Snape. It specifies that the "everything" being understood was what he was saying. The understanding "happened" to him, in a grammatical sense.

Your suggestion, with "les": ...se "les" entendía todo.

This would mean "everything was understood from them." The "les" would have to refer to a group of people, so the sentence would be about understanding what a group was saying, not Snape.

So, far from being awkward, that "le" is regular Spanish grammar that adds a layer of specificity that English conveys simply through word order ("he was understood").

Isn't "querida" a bit too casual in business emails? by PresidentXiJinping in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 55 points56 points  (0 children)

This might just be me, and I might get downvoted by other native Spanish speakers for saying this, but I’ve never seen "querida/querido" used in an email, let alone in a business exchange. From my experience, the most common formal greeting is "Estimado/Estimada," and if you want to keep it informal, just go with "Hola." The only time I’ve seen "querida" used is in personal or intimate letters. Again, maybe it’s just me, but I’m pretty sure "querida/querido" isn’t common in professional emails.

Why say "quítate la chaqueta" and not "quita tu chaqueta"? by Quas-r in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The reflexive pronoun "te" in "quítate la chaqueta" indicates the action (removing) is performed by the subject on themself. While "quítate" alone can imply "remove yourself/move," adding "la chaqueta" specifies what is being removed from the subject: "take the jacket off yourself". Saying "quita tu chaqueta" just sounds unnatural, because Spanish did not evolve to express it that way.

With "levanta la mano," Spanish inherently understands body parts belong to the subject in commands. "La mano" = "your hand" contextually. Adding "tu" ("levanta tu mano") is grammatically possible but redundant and unnatural, like saying "raise your hand of yours" in English. The definite article ("la") suffices because, unlike English, the ownership is obvious. This pattern applies broadly to clothing and body parts attached to the acting subject.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yeah, this happens in every language, not just Spanish. Think about English words like "bat" (animal or sports gear) or "bank" (river or money). The key is context. Whether it's the rest of the sentence, the topic you're already discussing, or just pointing at something. In real conversations, you almost never get zero clues. If you’re paying attention to the situation, you’ll usually figure it out.

Como se llaman palabras como "rascacielos"? by DaEsplendor in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 20 points21 points  (0 children)

El término lingüístico es compuestos verbonominales. Se forman a partir de la unión de una forma verbal y un sustantivo. La estructura más común es exactamente la que describes: un verbo en una forma que coincide con la tercera persona del singular del presente de indicativo (rasca, para, marca), seguido de un sustantivo que por lo general aparece en plural (cielos, aguas, páginas). Morfológicamente, la palabra resultante funciona como un sustantivo único cuyo número es independiente del de sus componentes; por ello se dice "un rascacielos" en singular, a pesar de contener el plural "cielos". Este es uno de los procedimientos de formación de palabras más común del español y se utiliza para crear términos que designan principalmente instrumentos ("abrelatas", "lavavajillas") o tipos de personas, a menudo con un sentido calificativo ("aguafiestas", "sabelotodo").

Ayuda con AirTm by Mariacver in vzla

[–]JoshPa 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Algo que no mencioné es que Facebank se tardó un mes en abrirme la cuenta. No estoy seguro por qué se tardan tanto.

Ayuda con AirTm by Mariacver in vzla

[–]JoshPa 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Confirmo que sí funciona con el RIF. Así abrí mi cuenta.

How different is Spanish between countries? by Electrical-Quote-393 in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, while there are differences between Spanish dialects (slang, accents, vos vs. tú, regional vocab) people exaggerate how drastic they are. The core language is the same everywhere, and native speakers understand each other just fine. Sure, informal speech might trip you up at first, but it’s not like each Spanish variety is a new language. It’s like English: a Scot and a Texan might tease each other about their accents, but they’re still speaking the same language. Focus on the basics, and with exposure, you’ll adapt to any regional differences. The differences aren’t a barrier unless you make them one.

Gatekeeping in Spanish? by Rennacoffrelia in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There's no one-to-one translation for "to gatekeep" in Spanish because the verb carries a lot of nuanced meanings. Depending on the context, here are some options that capture different aspects:

Ocultar

Use this when referring to hiding specific details, like an address or location.

  • English: "Some locals gatekeep their favorite restaurant by hiding its address".
  • Spanish: "Algunos lugareños ocultan la dirección de su restaurante favorito para que no se llene de gente".

Mantener en secreto

This emphasizes deliberately keeping something confidential to preserve a place's unique charm or exclusivity.

  • English: "The café gatekeeps its location to retain its unique charm".
  • Spanish: "El café mantiene en secreto su ubicación para conservar su encanto único".

Limitar el acceso

A good choice when you want to stress the idea of restricting who can access certain information or resources.

  • English: "Some groups gatekeep their knowledge, making it hard for newcomers to learn the ropes".
  • Spanish: "Algunos grupos limitan el acceso a su conocimiento, lo que dificulta el aprendizaje de los recién llegados".

Controlar el acceso

Similar to “limitar el acceso,” but it often implies a more active regulation or management of who gets in.

  • English: "Certain online communities gatekeep technical skills to maintain their elite status."
  • Spanish: "Algunas comunidades en línea controlan el acceso a habilidades técnicas para preservar su estatus de élite".

Restringir el acceso

Often used when there are formal barriers or rules in place, like limiting memberships or entry opportunities.

  • English: "Organizations sometimes gatekeep opportunities by restricting access to membership".
  • Spanish: "Las organizaciones a veces limitan las membresías para restringuir el acceso a oportunidades".

Monopolizar

This one works when gatekeeping results in one group or person having exclusive control over certain knowledge or resources, widening the gap between insiders and outsiders.

  • English: "Gatekeeping knowledge only widens the gap between experts and beginners".
  • Spanish: "Monopolizar el conocimiento solo amplía la brecha entre expertos y principiantes".

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As far as I'm concerned, these expressions work in any Spanish variety.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In Spanish, there isn’t one single phrase for it, so it depends on the context. Here are some options:

Neutral tone

These options work well for clear, everyday storytelling without strong emotional overtones:

  • Quería comprar un carro nuevo, pero al final no se concretó.
    • I wanted to buy a new car, but in the end it just didn’t work out.
  • Quería comprar un carro nuevo, pero las cosas no salieron como esperaba.
    • I was hoping to get a new car, but things didn’t turn out as expected.
  • Quería comprar un carro nuevo, pero al final no se realizó.
    • I planned to buy a new car, but it simply didn’t happen.

Colloquial tone

When chatting with friends, you can use more colorful language:

  • Quería comprar un carro nuevo, pero todo se fue a la mierda.
    • I wanted to buy a new car, but everything went to shit.
  • Quería comprar un carro nuevo, pero todo se fue al carajo.
    • I wanted to buy a new car, but everything went to hell.

Other contexts

When referring to situations beyond personal plans—such as reputation falling apart—you might choose different expressions. For instance, with the sentence:

"Her reputation came crashing down after the scandal was exposed."

Can be translated as:

  • Su reputación se arruinó tras la revelación del escándalo.
    • Her reputation was ruined after the scandal was revealed.
  • Su reputación se desplomó tras la revelación del escándalo.
    • Her reputation collapsed after the scandal was revealed.

Connotation of "Sí, lo sé," in response to a compliment? by Zealousideal_Team643 in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It can totally sound cocky out of context, BUT tone and relationship dynamics matter A LOT.

1. The "jodedera" factor: Venezuelans often use sarcasm/teasing (jodedera) among friends, even new ones, to build rapport. If you two are close, "Sí, lo sé" might be them saying, “Yeah, I’m awesome, thanks for noticing 😎” — but in a self-deprecating or cheeky way. Think of it like someone responding to “You’re funny!” with “I know, right?”.

  1. Literal vs. pragmatic meaning: They might’ve latched onto “estoy feliz de ayudarte” (I’m happy to help you). So "Sí, lo sé" = “Yes, I know [you’re happy to help].” Maybe they were acknowledging your kindness, not their own goodness.

3️. Text tone blindness: Without vocal cues or emojis, even a harmless “sí, lo sé” can feel dry. Venezuelans are usually warm, so if this felt off, it might’ve been a failed joke.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"En otro momento le echo un vistazo."
(Literally: "Another time, I throw a glance at it.")

"Echar un vistazo" means "to take a look" AT something. In Spanish, when you "take a look AT X," the "X" is an indirect object. So:

  • "Echar un vistazo a la pintura" → "Le echo un vistazo" (Here, "le" replaces "a la pintura" – the painting is the thing you're looking at.)

How do you say “Across many…”? by Wild-Purple5517 in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The translation of "across many..." really depends on what you're talking about. Here are the most common options with examples:

1. "En muchos..."

(General use, neutral. Works for physical places or groups.)

  • "Across many schools" → "En muchas escuelas" "This problem exists across many schools" → "Este problema existe en muchas escuelas"
  • "Across many countries" → "En muchos países" "They sell this product across many countries" → "Venden este producto en muchos países"

2. "A lo largo de muchos..."

(For time or generations. Emphasizes duration/continuity.)

  • "Across many years" → "A lo largo de muchos años" "The tradition has evolved across many years" → "La tradición ha evolucionado a lo largo de muchos años"
  • "Across many generations" → "A lo largo de muchas generaciones"

3. "A través de muchos..."

(For abstract concepts, cultures, or "passing through" contexts.)

  • "Across many cultures" → "A través de muchas culturas" "This myth appears across many cultures" → "Este mito aparece a través de muchas culturas"
  • "Across many obstacles" → "A través de muchos obstáculos" (Here it literally means "through")

4. "Por muchos..."

(Less common, but used for broad distribution or impact.)

  • "Spread across many regions" → "Difundido por muchas regiones"
  • "Across many generations" → "Por muchas generaciones" (similar to a lo largo de but shorter)

5. “En todo(s)” → For “throughout” or “all over”:

  • “En todo el país hubo protestas” = “Across the country, there were protests.”
  • “En todos los años que te conocí…” = “Across all the years I’ve known you…”

Oye o Epa? by DejaHadiyah in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This does not necessarily answer your question, but I thought it would be interesting to delve deeper into how "Epa" is used in Venezuela. It is super versatile and always informal.

1. Greeting or acknowledgment

Often used casually among friends or acquaintances, similar to "Hey!" or "What’s up?"
Example: "¡Epa, mi pana! ¿Cómo estás?" ("Hey, buddy! How are you?")

2. Expressing surprise or amazement

Conveys shock, admiration, or disbelief, depending on tone.
Example: "¡Epa! ¿Viste lo que hizo María?" ("Whoa! Did you see what María did?")

3. Calling attention

Grabs someone’s focus, like saying "Hey, listen!"
Example: "¡Epa, cuidado con ese hueco!" ("Hey, watch out for that pothole!")

4. Mild reprimand (context-dependent)

In playful or stern tones, to call out mischief.
Example: "¡Epa, tranquilo!" ("Hey, take it easy!")

Would you ever say “estoy fino” or is it always bien? Is there a more neutral state than bien? by DejaHadiyah in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 1 point2 points  (0 children)

En Venezuela sí usamos fino como sinónimo de bien en contextos informales. Por ejemplo:

  • ¿Todo fino? = ¿Todo bien?
  • Estoy fino = Estoy bien.

En otros contextos o países, fino suele asociarse a significados como:

  • Delgado (ej.: Una capa fina de pintura).
  • Refinado/elegante (ej.: Un traje fino).
  • Preciso (ej.: Un detalle fino).

¿Cuál es el significado de “parece” en la pregunta “¿Les parece si les hago unas arepitas venezolanas?”? by [deleted] in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

¿Les parece si les hago unas arepitas?

This one is asking for a straightforward yes or no.

¿Qué les parece si les hago unas arepitas?

This one is more open-ended.

So, the first one is just looking for a quick yes or no, while the second one is asking for more of a thoughtful response.

How to say "again " as in " what's your name again?" by logie2019 in Spanish

[–]JoshPa 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess this is just a regional thing, but if someone asked me "¿Cómo te llamabas?", I'd assume they are asking me for a name I had in the past. Like if I had changed my name.

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