Once you get beyond basic Spanish, and possibly even before, you start realizing that dictionaries are great for translating isolated words, but generally lacking when it comes to helping you translate set phrases. The Ultimate Spanish Phrase Finder, in nearly a thousand packed pages, tells you virtually everything your dictionary left out! Whether you are working towards fluency or just never quite seem able to achieve it, this is the book you have been waiting for. I am sorely tempted to read it cover to cover, but so far am just enjoying being able to flip to any page and learn things that would have taken me years, even a lifetime, to have picked up any other way. Some examples from pages 604 and 605:
don’t give it away: (a secret) ¡no lo cuentes! * ¡no se lo digas a nadie! * (thing) no lo regales
don’t make a scene: no montes un numerito * no hagas un espectáculo * no me hagas una escena * no me hagas una escenita * no me vengas con ese rollo
don’t take “no” for an answer: no admitas un no por respuesta
double take, to do a ~: tardar en reaccionar
to be down (in the dumps): estar depre * tener la depre * estar bajo (de ánimo) * (Sp.) estar chungo * estar bajeras
to be down on one’s luck: (to be going through a difficult time) tener mala racha
to be down to earth: (to be approachable) ser macanudo(-a) * ser asequible * ser simpático(-a)
These are just seven of 143 entries on these two pages. If you are serious about learning Spanish (or English!) this is a great book to have next to your dictionary.
This is a first edition, so it is natural that it does not yet include everything one might hope for, such as “to be serious about…” (studying Spanish) or as in “he’s really serious about her,” “down with…” in the sense of “are you down with that?” (does that sound O.K. to you?) instead of just the “down with (the dictator)!” sense, “to get down” in the dancing sense (get down and boogie) or in the sense of “the whole situation’s really got her down,” but I am sure that these phrases, and more, will be appearing in the second edition. The first edition is still so packed with useful information you won’t find anywhere else that I would have paid double or triple the price for it, but I am also just as glad to have paid only what I did. Absolutely worth getting.
If you’ve finally mastered those tricky basic Spanish words, it’s time to turn up the heat and put the words together to form coherent sentences. Here’s how to use resources such as audio CDs, books, and foreign language software to learn Spanish phrases.
Interactive Computer Software
Interactive software is the next best thing to a teacher holding your hand and walking you through the language. But unlike learning Spanish phrases in a classroom, you have access to your software anytime you want.
There is no timeline to complete the lessons because you learn at your own pace, and you can repeat the lessons as many times as you’d like. Interactive Spanish software can be purchased and downloaded from online vendors, or from large chain stores learn spanish phrases that carry computer software.
Spanish Audio CDs
Audio CDs are ideal for people who don’t like learning while glaring at a computer screen. These can be played anywhere a compact disc player is available. And these CDs give you plenty of practice pronouncing Spanish words and phrases.
Spanish Books
People spend so much time “plugged in,” that getting back to the basics is often a welcomed relief. People seem to forget that Spanish phrases were being successfully learned long before advances in technology made online courses and foreign language software possible. So it’s great to know that books are still a viable way to learn how to speak Spanish.
Books work better if they’re used in conjunction with audio tapes to help with the mastery of Spanish word pronunciation. Spanish books are readily available at large chain bookstores, and online vendors.
If you live for the day you can say, “Estoy loco por ti (I am crazy about you)” to your beau, consider using books, software, or audio CDs to turn your basic knowledge of Latin words into full-fledged Spanish phrases.
For more details: http://kjsurette.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-really-learn-the-spanish-language-in-8-weeks/
Help answer the question about learn spanish phrases How should I learn Spanish (Rosetta Stone?)?
I am a senior in high school and have a foreign exchange student who lives with me from madrid, spain. I have agreed that when this year is over, I will go to madrid with him for a few weeks. learn spanish phrases I also would like to study abroad in spain during college. I took Latin and only know a few basic spanish phrases. I've learned a little talking with my exchange student but I want to get good. I was wondering if getting Rosetta Stone Spanish (Spain) levels 1-3 and using it with practice will allow me to go to Spain with confident Spanish. Cost is no problem, will the product help me a lot? I need some program to learn spanish and believe it is one of the best.
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