I Wanna See You Again and Something Else in Spanish
Have yous ever wished at that place were a word to more accurately describe something you lot're feeling or doing?
There probably is 1–it simply doesn't exist in English language. There are even emotions we haven't experienced because we don't take language for them. Fascinating, isn't it?
Learning some other language unlocks new ways to express ourselves in these words-that-don't-quite-translate. It gives us a improve understanding of the earth, enriches our travel experiences, and brings greater depth to our ability to process and communicate ideas.While I'm not fluent in Spanish, I've oftentimes said that Spanglish is my favorite language because in that location are merely some Castilian words that capture what I want to say and so much better. (Lucky for me, I can break out into it with my husband or in-laws anytime and they don't think I'm crazy!)
Sometimes it takes a whole phrase to endeavor to translate the meaning of these words, and other times, at that place are subtle nuances that are lost in translation. From the funny to the perfectly succinct, here are 25 Spanish words or phrases with no exact English equivalent!
i. Verguenza Ajena / Pena Ajena
To experience embarrassed for someone even if they don't feel embarrassed themselves
These terms vary regionally but seem to carry the same connotation. If yous've e'er watched a stand-upward comedian bombing, you know the feeling this is describing. You put your hand to your caput to hibernate your face, squeeze your fists, and make a crazy cringing face. The best we tin do in English is say something is "awkward," simply I don't think that quite captures the depth of the awkwardness we sometimes feel at someone else'south embarrassing moment. I beloved the thought of having a term specifically for those Michael Scott moments nosotros've all felt.
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2. Merendar
To take an afternoon snack, coffee, or tea
Having distinct words in Spanish pregnant "to consume + specific meal" is pretty dandy (desayunar, almorzar, and cenar), and now y'all can add afternoon snacking to the mix! Notwithstanding, it wouldn't be Latin American Spanish without the word significant something else entirely in some countries. At to the lowest degree in Ecuador,merendar ways to have dinner.
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3. Empalagar
To be overly sugariness, in reference to food or a person
Speaking of food…y'all know that feeling yous get in your oral cavity when yous scrape up all the brownie concoction while waiting for the brownies to melt and then proceed to make a hot fudge sundae once they're washed? (No? Only me?) Nosotros've all had moments where we've eaten something so sweet that our mouths feel weird and we can't perhaps accept another seize with teeth. Spanish has a word for that!
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4. Sobremesa
After-dinner conversation, time spent leisurely chatting around the table after a repast
This one isn't used everywhere across Latin America, merely from my anecdotal observations, I'grand pretty sure the act of enjoying a sobremesa is common–fifty-fifty if the word itself isn't used in a particular identify. I've had endless chats with my Puerto Rican mother-in-law after breakfast and cafecito while anybody else scatters from the table. I call back we could all use a slow-paced meal and fourth dimension spent with family and friends more often in our fourth dimension-oriented US culture.
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5. Tutear
To address someone with the informal tú form
The outset time I heard this, I was watching a cheesy Colombian lather opera, and it was one of those words that I immediately understood from context and knowing how words are structured in Spanish. Obviously, nosotros don't need a discussion for this in English since nosotros don't take an informal "yous," but I but idea it was so convenient to have this succinct manner of saying that someone is addressing a person with thetú form.
Every bit a bonus, I'll throw in vosear here for countries that utilise the familiar formvos. (Not to be dislocated with the homonym vocear, which means to shout, announce loudly, or call someone's name over a loudspeaker.)
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half-dozen. Estadounidense
Someone who'southward from the Us, a "United State-an," like saying Colombian, Puerto Rican, or Mexican
Fifty-fifty though it's a mouthful to say, I love this Castilian term for its specificity. I adopt to avoid referring to myself every bit "American" considering it implies that the The states is the only "America." In English I commonly say, "I'yard from the Usa," but in Spanish I can also say, "Soy estadounidense."
7. Antier
The day earlier yesterday // In some locations,anteayer is more common.
Let'due south exist judicious with our syllables.
8. Madrugar
To wake upward in the early morning, usually earlier sunrise (the "wee hours")
When you lot've got a 6 AM flight to catch….this word comes in handy!
9. Trasnochar
To stay upward very late, all night, or have a night out
I suppose we could get close with the phrase "pulling an all-nighter," but I don't think at that place'southward a single word that captures it similar Spanish does.
Which of these Spanish words without an English equivalent is your favorite? #latinamerica #ttot Click To Tweet
10. Desvelado / a
To be wearied because you were upward all nighttime or couldn't sleep
After yous trasnochó, you'd existdesvelado for certain. I'm pretty certain this also describes the feeling yous take after a restless night of sleep–a combination of headache + can't concentrate + all y'all can think almost is taking a nap but y'all accept to piece of work. The worst.
11. Estrenar
To use or wear for the first time
Now that I know this exists, I feel like I need a word for it.
12. Tener ganas de
To feel like, to be in the mood for
Gana means "desire or inclination," so this phrase literally translates, "to have desires of." But while information technology means "to experience like," I think that doesn't quite capture the nuances.
There are other phrases withganas de in them, similar this song I heard in Cuba, "Me Muero de Ganas." Which basically ways "I'thou dying of want [for yous]."
thirteen. Posibilitar
To brand possible
Isn'tposibilitar but more than fun sounding to say?
fourteen. Amigovio
Something between amigo and novio
I suppose "friends with benefits" is the translation, just amigovio just such a convenient (and completely logical) word that sums it upward.
15. Chanclazo
As when your mom yells, "Te voy a dar un chanclazo." I'm going to smack your behind with this chancla. See also: cocotazo, used in the same context–getting hitting in the caput with the knuckles.
I think all of the impressions my hubby and his brothers accept washed of their mom (in love, of course!) over the years have made this sink into my hidden, and although I've never experienced the wrath of la chancla, I feel its ability. I'm pretty sure this one is universal across Latin America (in that location were a couple well-placed chanclareferences in the movieCoco).
16. Enmadrarse
To become overly fastened to 1's mother
17. Consuegros
Your son or daughter'southward parents-in-law
This word is super useful because it's such a succinct way of referring to in-constabulary relationships. My family and my husband'south family know each other, but there'due south non actually a word for that relationship in English.
eighteen. Casa Ajena
The business firm of a person that you're not shut with so you have to be careful and not touch anything, a house where you tin can't actually "brand yourself at habitation."
A phrase I didn't know I needed until I heard it described! It's that awkward being at a party, wondering where the bath is, and not being sure whether the strong living room couch is actually for people to sit on.
xix. Tocayo / a
Someone who shares the same first name as you, a "name twin"
In English unremarkably nosotros just say, "Hey that's my name, likewise!" How fun is information technology to have a Spanish word to apply when you meet your proper name doppelgänger?
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20. Tuerto
Blind in one eye, one-eyed person
I mean, this might not come up that often, just how convenient is it to have a give-and-take for information technology when it does?
21. Friolento / a
Very sensitive to cold or ever cold
This would perfectly draw my sweet gram, who always took a sweater wherever she went.
22. Enguayabado
Literally: "guava-ed," which isn't anything, this is slang in Colombia for hungover
This is i of those moments when I'd actually like to know the origin of a word.
23. Enchilar
To season with chili
Getting straight to the betoken with one discussion–so efficient. In some countries, it can also mean to annoy or pester someone (which is kind of how I feel about chili peppers). Information technology's amusing to call up almost siblings yelling at each other, "Stop chili-ing me!"
24. Me cae bien.
I like you (in a friendly, non-romantic way), he seems prissy.
Technically we have a translation that captures the essence of what this means, only it's 1 of those interesting, doesn't-translate-literally phrases that'due south funny to call back near. Literally, it means "You fall well on me." But information technology'south how you lot would refer to a instructor yous like or someone you just met and got along with–instead of the give-and-takegustar.
25. Dominguero & Dominguear
Dominguero: Sunday as an describing word, but also an insult to hateful a bad/inexperienced commuter ("Dominicus driver"). Similarly, dominguear ("to Sunday") can mean to do something at a relaxed pace or to have a chill, fun Sunday.
All these Lord's day words! Even if these aren't used across all of Latin America, and even ifdominguearis slang that isn't listed in the lexicon, they are just so perfect that I had to include them.
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Which of these is your favorite? What untranslatable Spanish words would you add to the listing?
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Source: https://roamingtheamericas.com/spanish-words-no-english-translation/
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