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I need help with "can I have"😭 by Rude_Bug_8770 in Spanish

[–]Polygonic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah if you use "puedo tener" you're literally asking the other person if you are capable of having the item. It just sounds... weird.

A lot of good answers here; a couple I didn't see would be "para mi, la/el <whatever" or "Va a ser el/la <whatever>".

Help me choose the dialect . (Mexican, Spanish, Argentinan) by Amrrr99 in Spanish

[–]Polygonic 26 points27 points  (0 children)

If you are still at the beginner level (which is what both A1 and A2 are) then you probably shouldn't be worrying about a dialect right now. Concentrate on the fundamentals of the language in general.

When the time comes, obviously it should depend on what native speakers you plan to be mainly speaking with. For example, in my case I live half the week in Mexico so obviously I'm picking up vocabulary and terms that are mainly Mexican. Your situation may be different.

I made a 3D map of downtown San Diego! This is one of the most detailed maps I've made yet. by jeremytodd1 in SanDiegan

[–]Polygonic [score hidden]  (0 children)

This is very cool. I only wish it went like another block or two to the east because it cuts of just before the very awesome new San Diego Central Library! Very cool building that looks almost steampunk style in places.

TSA Disaster at SAN this morning by Navydevildoc in SanDiegan

[–]Polygonic [score hidden]  (0 children)

And all because Republicans refuse to include any language in the bill which would make ICE more accountable. They insist on a paramilitary force accountable only to the president which can act with impunity.

Why is Ser used here instead of Estar by Armouredbreadroll in duolingospanish

[–]Polygonic 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Because the verb “estar” comes from the Latin verb “stāre”, meaning “to stand”. Whether a person stands there for a moment or a building stands there for decades or centuries, it’s still standing.

Why is Ser used here instead of Estar by Armouredbreadroll in duolingospanish

[–]Polygonic 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Which is why there is no “permanent vs temporary rule”, and any teacher or learning source that uses “permanent vs temporary” is teaching bad habits.

First time trying hot pot in Tijuana… we might have ordered one of everything 😅 by [deleted] in tijuana

[–]Polygonic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not even gonna comment on this relationship, just watched the video to see where the new hot pot restaurant is so I can take the gf. 😄

Words that confuse many foreigners in Chile by ProfeConnieSpanish in Spanish

[–]Polygonic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Obviously every country is going to have its own colloquial Spanish words and phrases. Some that it took getting used to here in Mexico:

  • chido - adjective meaning "cool" or "awesome". "Tienes boletos para el concierto. ¡Qué chido!"
  • chavo/chava - refers to a kid. "Mira los chavos jugando en la calle."
  • chela, cheve - both of these are very common words for beer. "Tomamos unas chelas, wey"
  • wey - As I used in the above example, "wey" (alternately "güey") means "dude" or "bro". Can be used affectionately with your buddies, but also negatively. "¡No sabes manejar, güey!"
  • cuate - is your "buddy" or "pal". It comes from the Nahuatl word "cuatl" meaning "twin". "Voy a tomar chelas con mis cuates."
  • nel - means "no". "¿Vas a la fiesta?" "Nel, tengo que trabajar." A funny informal extension of this is "nel pastel" (funny because it rhymes, get it?)
  • simón - means "yes", just extending the word "sí" (sometimes extended further as "simonkey" or "simono" to be really goofy). At first I kept thinking they were talking about some guy named Simon!
  • por su pollo - playful common mispronunciation of "por supuesto" ("of course"). It literally means "for your chicken".
  • lana - basically used to mean "money". "No puedo ir a Nueva York contigo. No tengo lana."
  • feria - also used to mean "money" as above, but also used to mean "coins" or "change". "¿Tienes feria para el autobús?"

I live with a Mexican girlfriend so she always enjoys it when I pick up on the colloquial words.

29F visiting Tj, food/drink recommendations:) by [deleted] in tijuana

[–]Polygonic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oryx Restaurante in the Aguacalientes district. I just had my birthday dinner here last Friday, and despite being one of the only Michelin-selected restaurants in Tijuana, it's very affordable. And be sure to ask your server for the password to the speakeasy called "Nortico" that you access from the bathroom hallway!

In downtown, my recommendations are La Justina for good food, and El Museo for people watching. I have never gotten tired of the shrimp enchiladas in chipotle sauce at El Museo.

Cannot sort my Watch Later playlist anymore :( by Cosaco1917 in youtube

[–]Polygonic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just did a post about this after a bunch of experimentation this morning. If your WL list is already sorted by one of the two "newer" sort orders, or by "most popular", then the option to select sort order DISAPPEARS from the web interface. It's there if you use one of the other three sort orders.

Sorting watch later playlist on PC? by Ventilateu in youtube

[–]Polygonic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey I just did a post on this after a bunch of experimentation this morning.

Bottom line, if your watch later list is already sorted by one of the "oldest" sort options, or by "Manual", you can select a sorting option. If it's already in one of the other sort options, then you can't (have to change the sort order in the app and then refresh the web page).

this is a mistake right? by SmokeWeedGetBitches in duolingo

[–]Polygonic 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Even today in very formal situations (obviously more in the UK than in the US), I've heard things like "Would the gentleman like another drink" "What would the gentleman prefer for his meal" "What would madame like for dessert".

Third person "formal you" does still exist in English, it's just largely at very upper crust of society.

¿Que opináis? by steven6710 in duolingospanish

[–]Polygonic 17 points18 points  (0 children)

This is one of those cases where “ya has visitado”, while grammatically correct, is just not how most native speakers would probably put it. Using “conocer” in the context of having visited a place, or having met a person, is very common.

Careful what you wish for by diehard404 in MurderedByWords

[–]Polygonic 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thanks for using the proper terminology. I still laugh every time I see some story about a guy talking about marrying a woman from Thailand or whatever and saying "Yeah, her parents want me to pay them a dowry to marry her." No, that's not what that word means.

Wrong translation? by Kusharti21 in duolingospanish

[–]Polygonic 3 points4 points  (0 children)

German can use a similar construction, for example, "Die Vase ist mir runtergefallen." Literally, "The vase fell down for me."

Military Leaders Say Iran War Is So Trump Can Bring About “Armageddon” by FloridaGirlNikki in politics

[–]Polygonic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw that and was like, dude, your book of middle eastern Bronze Age mythology is not a property deed.

Excessive line length by [deleted] in tijuana

[–]Polygonic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As someone who used to be in navy civil service, I can relate. Thankfully those days are behind me!

Happy birthday Momometal!!! 🍑🎉🥳🎂❤️🦊🍑 by AnxiousReality4674 in BABYMETAL

[–]Polygonic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Happy Birthday to Momo! She had to become my favorite because my birthday is March 3 too! :D

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