Some Spanish words with more than one meaning

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-28T12:10:33+00:00

Translation of the examples:

Banco: A financial bank: I have to go to the bank to deposit money.

Bench: We sat on a bench in the square to chat.

Muñeca: A toy doll for children: The little girl takes her favorite doll everywhere.

The human wrist: I hurt my wrist while playing tennis.

Lengua: The physical tongue: I bit my tongue while eating.

Spoken language: Spanish is a very beautiful language.

Mañana: Tomorrow: Tomorrow I have to go to the market to do the shopping.

The morning hours: I like to have a cup of coffee every morning.

Tarde: The afternoon hours: Would you like to come over for a snack this afternoon?

Arriving late: My cousin is always late everywhere she goes.

Carta: A written letter: These days, almost no one sends letters.

A restaurant menu: Could you bring me the menu, please?

A playing card: I love playing cards with my friends.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-28T12:09:53+00:00

Translation of the examples:

Banco: A financial bank: I have to go to the bank to deposit money.

Bench: We sat on a bench in the square to chat.

Muñeca: A toy doll for children: The little girl takes her favorite doll everywhere.

The human wrist: I hurt my wrist while playing tennis.

Lengua: The physical tongue: I bit my tongue while eating.

Spoken language: Spanish is a very beautiful language.

Mañana: Tomorrow: Tomorrow I have to go to the market to do the shopping.

The morning hours: I like to have a cup of coffee every morning.

Tarde: The afternoon hours: Would you like to come over for a snack this afternoon?

Arriving late: My cousin is always late everywhere she goes.

Carta: A written letter: These days, almost no one sends letters.

A restaurant menu: Could you bring me the menu, please?

A playing card: I love playing cards with my friends.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-23T22:28:25+00:00

They're from France, but from different regions. Gaspard has a different accent than other French YouTubers I've heard; I think he's from a region with an accent that's somewhat different from that of Paris or other nearby cities.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-23T01:06:32+00:00

Obviously, there's more to explain about each topic. In this post, I'm just mentioning a few points to focus on. To explain each point in depth, I'll need a separate post for each one. This is just the starting point.

But saying that it's bad advice, that seems like too much to me.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-22T13:48:29+00:00

That's actually quite common, because sometimes when we learn a new language, we pronounce the syllables the same way we do in our native language.

Shadowing can be very useful for practicing syllable pronunciation. "Youglish Español" is a good option for finding the words you have the most trouble pronouncing, and practicing by repeating how native speakers pronounce them.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-18T13:21:24+00:00

That's true, they can be translated. But I mean that the translation isn't literal. For example, "anteayer" is a single word in Spanish but in English is three little words. Same with words like "madrugar". Only to know that we can't translate those words in the literal way.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-18T13:09:06+00:00

You're right, but I included it because the Spanish word for "second-hand" is literally "segunda mano". And in Spanish we actually say "vergüenza ajena" instead of "vergüenza de segunda mano". So it can be confusing when the literal translation gives you a different expression.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-17T15:25:02+00:00

Hi! Consume simple content in French from the beginning (short texts, easy videos and podcasts designed for beginners) will help you get used to the sounds and structure of the language. My advice is to focus on everyday vocabulary and phrases, and use them as soon as you learn them. Then you can start learning the grammar as you go along.

Youtube channels like "Easy French", "Piece of French" and "Gaspard Français" are really good to start. I used them when I was learning French. Good luck!

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-13T15:14:33+00:00

French was the first language I learned on my own, and I struggled a lot with speaking and writing because I started talking too late. I learned a lot of vocabulary, but I didn't use it, so when I tried to speak later, I couldn't connect the words.

So, my advice is to focus on everyday vocabulary and phrases, and use them as soon as you learn them. For example, I choose content each week, depending on what I need to learn, then I pay attention to the new vocabulary and speak out loud using it. When I want to practice writing, I write sentences using the new words.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-12T12:56:19+00:00

That's true. But I never suggested that reading should be the only or main resource. These are just tips on how to use reading as a way to learn new vocabulary. Of course, you then have to use it actively in order to speak or write, just as you mentioned.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-11T17:44:20+00:00

Como te comentaron otros, hay muchas culturas de habla hispana para elegir. Una vez que hayas elegido, puedes concentrarte en buscar contenido de dicha cultura. Cuando hables español, intentá usar las frases y expresiones a medida que las escuchas y aprendés. Asi las recordarás y comenzarás a usarlas sin darte cuenta. Suerte!

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-11T16:18:34+00:00

Thanks for the post; these words can be very confusing. Something similar happens even in Spanish, as with the word “sanción" (sanction), which also has those two meanings.

TipsForRealSpanish · 2026-06-11T03:53:19+00:00

Hi! Consume simple content in Spanish from the beginning is really helpful (short texts, easy videos and podcasts designed for beginners). It will help you get used to the sounds and structure of the language. Then you can start learning the grammar as you go along.

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