Benny Lewis's Blog, page 4

July 19, 2024

How To Sound Like A Brit – 82 British Slang Words For Your British Accent

Nothing will make you sound more like a Brit than using British slang or British accent words!

As an American living in London, I’ve come across a lot of British slang words. Some British slang I knew growing up (thanks, Harry Potter), but I was surprised about how much I had to learn since I’ve been here.

Just like British dialects of the English language, British slang can vary region by region and even by subgroup, such as class. Of course, I can’t cover everything, and some of these phrases aren’t necessarily exclusive to the UK. But I’m going to introduce you to some quintessential slang you’ll definitely hear if you’re in the UK or if you watch British TV.

To make it easy for you, I’ve listed these British words to say in alphabetical order. So feel free to read down the list or jump to a word you’ve been burning to understand more! After the list, I’ll also introduce you to a famous and fascinating coded slang system unique to a subset of Londoners.

So what words do you need to comprehend that the British are telling you? Some of these are quite funny words (at least to an American), so you may be surprised to find out.

A final word of warning – some of these words are Not Safe for Work (NSFW), so if you’re easily offended this might not be the article for you. I’ve marked these words with a § symbol.

Table of contentsA B C D F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U W X Cockney rhyming slang Crack on with British SlangAAlright – This is a casual greeting, not necessarily an enquiry about your health. (This confused me so much when I first got here!) You might hear it as just “Alright?” or “You alright?” (But if a Brit says “Are you alright?” then thye may be asking about your wellbeing.)Arse § – Ass. This can refer to both your rear end or a jerk. “Stop being such an arse!”BBlimey – An expression of surprise or astonishment. It tends to be used more among an older demographic. “Blimey, did you see that?”Blinking – An intensifier similar to “bloody” (below), but less harsh. A common expression of frustration or negative surprise is “Blinking heck!”Bloke – A man (basically, a “dude”). “That bloke over there has been staring at his pint for an hour.”Bloody – A very versatile word to intensify the sentiment. It’s a bit harsh, but nothing that would be censored on TV. “It’s bloody cold today!”Bollocking – A telling-off. “He got a bollocking from his boss.”Bollocks – Nonsense or rubbish (see below). Also used to express disbelief. Its original meaning refers to testicles, so it’s a bit vulgar. “That’s a load of bollocks!”Brilliant – Fantastic or excellent. Also sometimes shortened to “brill.” “She passed her driving test? Brilliant!”Bruv – Short for brother, used among friends. It’s similar to “mate” (below). “You alright, bruv?”Bugger § – A mildly offensive term for someone or something disliked. “This little bugger won’t leave me alone!” You’ll also often hear the expression “Bugger off!” to mean “Get lost!” or “Leave me alone!”Bugger all – Absolutely nothing. (Don’t get this confused with the above!) “I did bugger all today.”Buzzing – This has two possible meanings. The first is excited or enthusiastic. “I’m buzzing for the concert tonight!” Its original meaning is “drunk,” and may take the form “buzzed” in this sense.CCheeky – This has two possible meanings: 1. Impudent but endearing. “She made a cheeky remark about his outfit.” 2. A little, unplanned treat or indulgence. “Fancy a cheeky pint after work?” You’ll also hear it often with getting a “cheeky Nando’s.” (Nando’s is a popular fast-casual food chain.)Cheers – Thanks or bye. Quite multi-purpose, it can also be used for toasts. “I’m off! Cheers.”Chippy – A fish and chip shop. “I’m going to the chippy. Want anything?”Chuffed – Pleased or proud. “I’m chuffed with my exam results!”Come off it – An expression of disbelief or dismissal. “Come off it, you can’t be serious!”Crack on – To continue or proceed with a task or activity. “We need to crack on with this project.”Cracking – Excellent or impressive. “That was a cracking goal!”Cricket – An expression of surprise or amazement. It’s about the same as “blimey” (above). “Crikey, that was close!”Cuppa – A cup of tea. Essential to British existence (although coffee is also immensely popular). “Fancy a cuppa?”DDaft – Silly or foolish. “Don’t be daft!”Dead – Very. “That’s dead useful.”Dodgy – Sketchy. Something or someone suspicious or of low quality. “That’s a dodgy looking kebab van.”FFaff – To waste time or fuss unnecessarily. “Stop faffing around and get to work!”Fag – Here’s a key Britsh vs. American accent word. This is very different from the homophobic American meaning. In the UK this means a cigarette. “I’m just stepping outside for a fag.”Fancy – To like someone or something. “I fancy a bit of chocolate.”Fanny § – Be careful with this one; it’s quite vulgar in the UK, referring to female genitalia. (FYI, a “fanny pack” is called a “bum bag” in the UK.) “I saw her fanny because she wasn’t wearing any pants!”Fit – Attractive (but not necessarily in good physical shape!). “Did you see that fit bloke in the cafe?”Fiver – A five pound note, or just five pounds (since cashless payments are used so much in the UK). “This whole meal only cost a fiver!”Fob – To deceive or trick someone. “He tried to fob me off with a fake excuse.”GGood fun – Enjoyable or entertaining. “Going to the fair was good fun.”Good job – Used in expressions expressing relief or gratitude for a fortunate outcome (basically in the same way you could say “good thing”). “It’s a good job I remembered my keys.”Grand – Fantastic. This is especially used in the northern parts of the UK and Ireland. “You’re coming home tomorrow? That’s grand.”Gutted – Extremely disappointed or upset. “He was gutted when his team lost.”HHeaving – Extremely crowded. “The bar was absolutely heaving last night.”Hiya – An informal and friendly way to say hi. “Hiya, you alright?”Hundred percent – Totally or for sure. This is also used outside of the UK, but in my experience, it’s used here on a different level. (Just watch “The Traitors,” a massively popular British competition show. Everyone uses it all the time, particularly in season one.) It can be used with or without “a” preceding it. “Do you trust me?” “Hundred percent.”I

Innit – Short for “isn’t it,” often used at the end of statements to check for confirmation. Interestingly, it can end any sentence, even where “isn’t” it can’t be used. “She went to York last week, innit?”

KKnackered – Very tired. “After the marathon, I was completely knackered.”Knob § – An annoying jerk, usually male. It can also refer to a penis. It’s similar to “wanker” (below). “Her boyfriend is such a knob.”LLads – Refers to a group of men or boys, often friends. “The lads are going out tonight.” It can be used pejoratively to refer to a man who displays certain toxic masculine traits, much like calling someone a “bro.” So British people will often say “lad culture” instead of “bro culture.”Loo – The bathroom. “Where are the loos?”Lot – A group of people, used similarly to how “guys” is used as a genderless plural. “This lot are coming to the party tonight.”Love – A term of endearment, usually at the end of a sentence. It’s similar to “sweetie” or “dear” but used more universally, especially up north. “Here’s your coffee, love.”Lovely – Great. “You’re free tonight? Lovely!”Lovely jubbly – A lighthearted expression of pleasure or approval. “Found £20 on the road, lovely jubbly!”Lush – Fantastic or attractive. This is used mostly in Wales and northern England. “That girl looks lush! Can you introduce me to her?” It may also mean “drunk.”MMate – Friend, often male. “Hey mate, can you lend me a quid?” You might also hear the collocation “mates’ rates” for a “friends and family discount.”NNaff – Unfashionable or lame. “That hat is a bit naff, isn’t it?”Nick – To steal. “My brother nicked a fiver straight from my pocket!”OOh my days – Expression of surprise or disbelief, like “Oh my gosh.” “Oh my days, did he really just say that?”PPants – Not the American trousers, but a British way of saying that something is not very good. Not that here it’s an adjective (and when used as a noun, it usually means “underwear” in the UK). “The weather today is pants.”Pillock – An idiot or annoying person. “You’re such a pillock. Go away!”Pint – A beer (based on the unit of measurement for a large glass of beer in the UK). “Fancy going for a pint after work?”Pissed – Totally drunk. It’s a tad vulgar of a phrase. “He got pissed at the party last night.”Plonker – A stupid or annoying person. It’s a bit less harsh than calling someone a “pillock.” “Don’t be such a plonker!”Pong – A bad smell. It can be used as a noun or a verb. “There’s a pong coming from the kitchen.”Pop – To quickly visit somewhere. “I’m just going to pop to the loo, and then I’ll be ready.”Proper – An adjective (sometimes used like an adverb) used for emphasis, similar to “really” or “totally.” “I can’t believe it. He only had one pint, and now he’s proper pissed!”Q

Quid – A pound (as in the British currency). It’s the British equivalent to a “buck.” “It cost me fifty quid.”

RRight job – A difficult or challenging task. “Fixing the car was a right job.”Row – An argument or disagreement. (It rhymes with “now.”) “They had a row about money.”Rubbish – Garbage, but also used to describe something of poor quality or to express disagreement. “Your argument is rubbish.”Rugger – Rugby. “You watching the rugger today?”SShag § – To have sex or the act of sex. “I hear they broke up but are still shagging.”Shattered – To be exhausted or very tired. It’s basically the same as “knackered” (above). It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re upset about anything (something that really confused me the first time I heard it!). “You must be shattered after that long flight.”Smash – To do something extremely well or successfully. “You really smashed the presentation.”Snog – To kiss passionately or make out. “I saw them snogging in the corner.”Sod off § – Go away or get lost. “I told you million times to sod off!” “Sod” can also be used in other expressions, such as “sod it” or “sod all” (similar to “damn it”).Soz – An informal abbreviation for “sorry.” “Soz for being late.”TTa – Thank you. This is particularly common in northern England. “Ta for the tea, love.”Take the piss – To mock or make fun of someone or something. It can also refer to exploiting a situation for one’s own gain. “He’s always taking the piss out of his friends.”Tenner – A ten pound note (or ten pounds in today’s cashless society). “A pint cost me a tenner in that pub! They’re taking the piss out of their customers.”Tipple – A drink, usually alcoholic. “Care for a tipple?”Tosser – An annoying or idiotic person, basically similar to a “pillock.” Again, this is usually used for men. (The Brits have a lot of words for this kind of person.) “Shut up! Don’t be such a tosser.”Tuck in – To eat eagerly or with enthusiasm. Also used as “tuck into.” “Let’s tuck into this delicious meal.”UUni – University. “She’s starting uni next month.” Note that “college” doesn’t mean “university” in the UK and is an earlier level of schooling.WWanker § – An idiot or a despicable person, usually male (and originally refers to someone masturbating). Used disdainfully and definitely not the best for polite company. “He’s a complete wanker.”Wee – A bit or small, used especially in Scotland and Ireland. “Could I have a wee bit more sugar in my tea?”Wicked – Awesome. “He’s wicked at football.”XX – Literally meaning a kiss (like the X in XOXO), this is often used at the end of a message to convey affection. It doesn’t necessarily impart any romantic feelings and can be used among friends. It’s only used in writing. “How have you been? Hope to catch up soon x”Cockney rhyming slang

Now I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Cockney rhyming slang. It’s kind of like a uniquely British version of pig latin, but it requires more brain power.

Cockney rhyming slang is a playful and creative form of language that started in the East End of London. It involves replacing common words with phrases that rhyme with them, often dropping the rhyming word to add an element of obscurity. It’s been said that it was initially developed to outwit eavesdroppers and authorities.

For example, instead of saying “Use your head!” someone speaking in Cockney rhyming slang might say, “Use your loaf of bread!” – or even further abbreviated (and more confounding to those not used to it), “Use your loaf!”

Words are often used in pairs with the latter rhyming with the real meaning. For example, if someone was sent to the “bucket and pail,” they were probably sent to “jail.” “Stairs” becomes “apples and pears,” but people might just say “apples” instead, dropping the rhyming word.

It’s not something you can easily pick up. My housemate actually gave me a glossary of rhyming Cockney slang when she learned I was writing this article!

Crack on with British Slang

I hope you had a cracking good time learning more about British accent slang words. There’s plenty more to learn about, so crack on! (See what I did there?)

International Pig Latin: 7 Funny Word Games from Languages Around the World How to Speak English Like the English Irishisms: An A-Z Irish English Dictionary with Usage Examples Why Learn German? 10 Good Reasons to Learn German 25 Typical British Slang Words that Every English Learner Should Know

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Published on July 19, 2024 04:00

July 15, 2024

What is a Gerund? (With Example Sentences)

If you’re learning English, you’ve definitely come across “-ing” words before. But what are they and how are they used?

First things first, they’re called gerunds. They may look like verbs but they act as nouns in the sentence. For example, in the sentence “swimming is my favorite hobby,” “swimming” is a gerund. It comes from the verb “to swim” but in this sentence, it talks about a hobby, not the action of swimming.

Before we dive in, I’d like to highlight that this article will focus on gerunds, not the present continuous tense. The latter is a verb tense that also uses “-ing,” describing the actions you are doing right now. For example, in the sentence “I am swimming,” “am swimming” is a verb, indicating that at the time of writing the sentence, you’re enjoying some time in a pool, sea, or lake!

Table of contentsWhat Is a Gerund?Example Sentences with Different Types of Gerunds How to Form Gerunds in English Gerund vs Infinitive: How Do You Know Which One to Choose?Did You Enjoy Learning about Gerunds?What Is a Gerund?

A gerund is a verb form that acts like a noun. To form a gerund, you add “-ing” at the end of the verb. But that’s not it — your “verb + ing” must act as a noun in the sentence to be considered a gerund.

Here are some examples:

Singing is my passion.Hiking is my favorite activity.Going to the gym is how she starts her day.

All the sentences above start with a gerund. Although their root word is a verb, they act as nouns. For example, the sentence “singing is my passion,” is about the passion a person has for singing, not the activity of singing itself.

You’ll also come across gerund phrases, which may include objects, complements, or modifiers attached to the gerund. Here is an example:

*Camping in the wilderness is my favorite summer activity.

Here, the full gerund phrase is “camping in the wilderness”. “Camping” is our main gerund, while “in the wilderness” is a prepositional phrase modifying and describing it. This sentence is about someone who particularly enjoys “camping in the wilderness,” not just camping.

Here’s another sentence:

She loves reading mystery novels before bed.

This time, our gerund phrase is “reading mystery novels before bed.” In this phrase, the gerund “reading” is accompanied by “mystery novels before bed,” giving us more information about what type of books the person likes to read and when she prefers reading them.

As you can see, gerund phrases let you pack a lot of information into your sentences. You can use them to add detail to your sentences and show some personality. A lot of people enjoy “watching movies.” But “watching action movies as a New Year’s Eve tradition” will be way fewer people!

Example Sentences with Different Types of Gerunds

You’ll spot gerunds in different grammatical roles, as a subject, subject complement, object, or object of a preposition. I know this sounds complicated, and you don’t have to identify what type of gerund each sentence has! But it’s useful to know that you can use gerunds in different parts of the sentence.

For example, it’s super common to use gerunds after the verbs “to love,” “to like,” and “to hate” — take “I love swimming,” for example. Here, “swimming” is the object, giving us more information about what the person loves. When they act as objects in similar scenarios, gerunds give us more information about feelings toward an activity.

Let’s take a look at the following sentences with gerunds:

SentenceGerund/Gerund PhraseType of GerundAudio“Walking is good for your health.”“Walking”Subject‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Cooking dinner every night can be tiring.”“Cooking dinner every night”
(Our gerund phrase is “cooking dinner every night,” as it’s the tiring activity according to the sentence)Subject‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“She enjoys hiking on weekends.”“Hiking on weekends”Object‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“They can't imagine living without their smartphones!”“Living without their smartphones”Object‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“I love sleeping under the stars.”“Sleeping under the stars”Object‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎She exercises before going to work.“Going to work”Object (of the preposition before)‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“After finishing his exams, he went out with his friends.”“Finishing his exams”Object (of the preposition after)‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Your favorite hobby is knitting colorful scarves.”“Knitting colorful scarves”Subject complement (gives more information about the subject, in this case “your favorite hobby”)▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎How to Form Gerunds in English

It’s pretty easy to form gerunds in English. You’ll only need to add “-ing” to the infinitive form of the verb. While many verbs are regular, there are some exceptions, such as “to have” that becomes “having” instead of “haveing.”

Here are some common verbs in infinitive and gerund forms, with example gerund sentences:

Infinitive VerbGerundExample Gerund SentenceAudioto bebeingBeing on time is important.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to dodoingI prioritize doing my homework after school.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to eat eatingI love eating with chopsticks.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to drinkdrinkingHe quit drinking two years ago.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to gogoingThey talked about going skiing this winter.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to know knowingKnowing a second language is useful.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to workworkingWorking from home has its perks.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to runrunningRunning is great cardio exercise.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to trytryingTrying new things keeps life exciting.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to taketakingTaking notes helps you remember things.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to thinkthinkingTry thinking outside the box.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to writewritingConsider writing a journal to feel better.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Gerund vs Infinitive: How Do You Know Which One to Choose?

In English, some verbs are followed by the gerund form, while others require infinitives. For example, “love” is one of the verbs we use with gerunds. After you use the verb “love,” your next verb will need to be in gerund form. You can see this in the sentence “I love running,” where “running” is in the gerund form (verb + ing).

Other verbs require the infinitive. “Decide” is a good example — “I decided to go to the party” sounds better than “I decided going to the party.” As you practice, you’ll become a natural at spotting which verbs use the gerund and which use the infinitive.

Until then, you can take a look at the lists below, so you’ll familiarize yourself with the verbs that require gerund and infinitive. Let’s start with gerunds:

These verbs are followed by a gerund:VerbExample SentenceAudioto love I love running in the morning.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to likeShe likes painting in her free time.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to avoidHe avoids talking about his problems.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to considerThey are considering moving to a new city.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to missShe misses living near the ocean.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to mindDo you mind switching seats with me?▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to hateI hate cleaning the bathroom.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to keep You keep complaining about the weather.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to startI started working when I was 18.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to finishedShe finished reading the book last night.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎

As for infinitives, it is even easier to form them. You just leave the verb as it is. Here are some common verbs that need to be followed by a verb in infinitive form:

These verbs are followed by an infinitive:VerbExample SentenceAudioto decideI decided to go to sleep early today.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to hopeShe hopes to start her new job next week.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to needYou need to exercise more.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to agreeWe agreed to meet for lunch.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to wantDo you want to come to my party tomorrow?▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to learnHe learned to play the piano when he was young.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to failThey failed to pass the exam.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to chooseWe chose to stay home tonight.▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎to offerShe offered to help me with my move. ▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎

Learning these common verbs is a good way to start! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes — it will soon become easier to recognize whether you need to use gerund or infinitive!

Did You Enjoy Learning about Gerunds?

Yes, there’s a gerund in the title above. And yes, gerunds are everywhere! Now that you know what they are, you can start using them confidently while speaking English.

Read books, listen to podcasts, or take free online lessons to make your speech more natural. This way, you’ll know when to use gerund and when to use the infinitive, and broaden your English vocabulary!

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Published on July 15, 2024 04:00

July 12, 2024

Months of the Year in Spanish [with Audio]

Learning the months in Spanish might make you think of French, Italian, and even English months. They’re all very similar!

By learning the months in Spanish, you can start talking about your yearly plans in Spanish, whether that’s traveling to Spain in julio, studying Spanish in septiembre, or listening to Latin music todo el año!

function runSplitTest(){ var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 4) + 1; console.log(randomNumber); var copy = ""; if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Spanish for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else if (randomNumber == 2) { copy = 'Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Spanish course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Spanish Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!'; } else if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'Expand your horizons and learn a new language with our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. Backed by research, our coaching will get you expert results. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else { copy = 'Ready to be fluent in just 3 months? Our Research Backed Language Coaching guarantees better results. Sign up now for our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>' } console.log(copy); var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsMonths of the Year in Spanish: Los meses del año Seasons in Spanish Time to Practice: Useful Sentences Featuring Spanish Months FAQ on Spanish Months What is “month” in Spanish?Are Spanish months masculine or feminine?Are Spanish months capitalized?Learning the Months Is a Great Step for Your Spanish!Months of the Year in Spanish: Los meses del año

Let’s start by listing the Spanish months:

Enero: “January”Febrero: “February”Marzo: “March”Abril: “April”Mayo: “May”Junio: “June”Julio: “July”Agosto: “August”Septiembre: “September”Octubre: “October”Noviembre: “November”Diciembre: “December”

As Spanish is a phonetic language, months are pronounced the same way they are written. While different Spanish-speaking countries have their accents and regional variations, the pronunciations of months will always be similar.

Here is a guide on how to pronounce the Spanish months:

English Spanish Pronunciation Audio January Enero /ˈeneɾo/ February Febrero /feˈβɾeɾo/ March Marzo /ˈmaɾθo/ April Abril /aˈβɾil/ May Mayo /ˈmaʝo/ June Junio /ˈxunjo/ July Julio /ˈxuljo/ August Agosto /aˈɣosto/ September Septiembre /sepˈtjemβɾe/ October Octubre /okˈtuβɾe/ November Noviembre /noˈβjemβɾe/ December Diciembre /diˈθjemβɾe/ Seasons in Spanish

Each month belongs to a season, so why not combine months in Spanish with the seasons? With only four more words, you’ll open many more discussion topics, which we’ll cover in the next section.

Here are the Spanish seasons:

La primavera: “Spring”El verano: “Summer”El otoño: “Autumn/Fall”El invierno: “Winter”Time to Practice: Useful Sentences Featuring Spanish Months

Now that you know about the months and seasons in Spanish, let’s take a look at some questions and their answers in Spanish. Months can come up at any time during your Spanish conversations, such as when you’re talking about your birthday, holiday plans, or the weather.

English Spanish Audio “When is your birthday?” ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? “My birthday is in February” Mi cumpleaños es en febrero. “What is your favorite month?* ¿Cuál es tu mes favorito? “My favorite month is June because I like summer.” Mi mes favorito es junio porque me gusta el verano. “Do you have plans for the summer holidays?” ¿Tienes planes para las vacaciones de verano? “In August, I’ll visit my friend in Mexico.” En agosto, voy a visitar a mi amigo/a en México. “What is the weather like in winter in Colombia?” ¿Cómo es el clima en invierno en Colombia? “Winters, from December to February, are not cold in Colombia. Los inviernos, de diciembre a febrero, no son fríos en Colombia. FAQ on Spanish MonthsWhat is “month” in Spanish?

“Month” in Spanish is mes. It’s a masculine word so it would be un mes (“a month”) or el mes (“the month”). In plural, el mes is los meses.

Are Spanish months masculine or feminine?

All months in Spanish are masculine. This means that you would use masculine articles and adjectives when referring to them. For example, you would say este marzo, which means “this March” using the masculine article este (“this”).

Are Spanish months capitalized?

The Spanish months aren’t capitalized like in English, unless they are at the beginning of a sentence or they are referring to an important date or place. Here are some examples:

Hace calor en julio: “It’s warm in July” (No need to capitalize julio here as we did with the English “July.)
Cinco de Mayo: “Fifth of May” (Here, we capitalized Mayo as it talks about the Cinco de Mayo celebration in particular.
Plaza de Mayo: Similarly, Plaza de Mayo is a proper noun, referring to the Plaza de Mayo city square in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Learning the Months Is a Great Step for Your Spanish!

Now it’s time to improve your vocabulary to describe your months in more creative ways! Take a look at our Spanish resources or check out our other Spanish articles.

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Published on July 12, 2024 04:00

July 8, 2024

Saying “No” in Spanish: How to Use “No” and Other Negatives

How do you say “no” in Spanish? It’s actually very easy! This is because it’s about the same as English: no!

But that’s not all you need to know about no if you want to advance your Spanish abilities. I’ve been learning Spanish for years, and I’ll tell you how to use no as well as more creative phrases to use.

The easiest way to say “no” in Spanish is just by saying no. But that’s not all no can do! No is a very useful word in Spanish because it’s a common word that functions as the English “no” and “not.”

So put it simply, no has two uses:

No is the opposite of sí, which means “yes.”

It’s two for one!

Here’s a dialogue example showcasing both uses:

A: ¿Quieres ir al cine mañana? (“Do you want to go to the movie theater tomorrow?”)
B: No, no tengo tiempo. (“No, I don’t have time.”)

The first no was like the English “no.” The second no acted like “don’t.”

(By the way, if you wanted to say B’s sentence in the affirmative, you could say, Sí, tengo tiempo. (“Yes, I have time.”))

The great thing about negating verbs in Spanish is that you don’t need to worry about whether to use “do not,” “don’t,” “does not,” “doesn’t” or any other variations of a helping verb. You simply add no!

Here’s me at La Sagrada Familia in Spain. Book early, or no vas a entrar (“you won’t get in”)!

Other Ways to Negate a Sentence in Spanish

Of course, there are more ways to make a sentence negative than just saying no in Spanish. Here’s a rundown of other ways to negate a sentence:

“No” and Other Negatives in SpanishEnglishSpanishPronunciationAudioNoNo/no/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎NothingNada/ˈna.ða/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No one, nobodyNadie/ˈna.ðje/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Never, not everNunca, jamás/ˈnun.ka/, /xaˈmas/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No, None, not anyNingún, ninguno, ninguna/ninˈɡun/, /ninˈɡu.no/, /ninˈɡu.na/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Neither, not eitherTampoco/tamˈpo.ko/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Neither… nor…Ni… ni…/ni/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎

Now how do we use these words? Here are some example sentences:

No quiero nada. (“I want nothing.”)
Nadie vino a la fiesta. (“Nobody came to the party.”)
Nunca he visitado España. (“I have never visited Spain.”)
Jamás te olvidaré. (“I will never forget you.”)
No tengo ningún problema. (“I have no problem.”)
No conozco a ninguno de ellos. (“I don’t know any of them.”)
No tengo ninguna idea. (“I have no idea.”)
Yo no quiero ir y ella tampoco. (“I don’t want to go and neither does she.”)
No quiero ni pizza ni pasta. (“I want neither pizza nor pasta.”)

Note that in Spanish, when you use a negative word from the list above before the verb, you don’t add no! But if the word comes after the verb, you need to also include no. English doesn’t like double negatives, but sometimes they’re necessary in Spanish!

Also, here are a few more things to keep in mind:

Nunca is the most common way to say “never.” Jamás is a bit more dramatic or poetic.Ningún is used exclusively before masculine singular nouns.Ninguno is used for masculine nouns, either as a standalone or after the noun has been omitted.Ninguna is the feminine equivalent of both ningún and ninguno, used for feminine nouns.Other Ways to Express “No” in Spanish

Of course, like in English, there are many ways to express the idea of “no” in Spanish! Here are some more creative and advanced ways to spice up your Spanish vocabulary:

Advanced Ways to Say “No” in SpanishEnglishSpanishPronunciationAudioNo thanks.No, gracias./no ˈɡɾa.sjas/‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Of course not.Por supuesto que no./poɾ suˈpwes.to ke no/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Of course not.Claro que no./ˈkla.ɾo ke no/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Obviously not.Obvio que no./ˈobβ.jo ke no/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Not at all.Para nada./ˈpa.ɾa ˈna.ða/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Negative.Negativo./ne.ɣaˈti.βo/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No way.Ni de broma./ni ðe ˈbɾo.ma/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No way.Ni hablar./ni aˈβlaɾ/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No way.Nada de esto./ˈna.ða ðe ˈes.to/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No way.De ninguna manera./de ninˈɡu.na maˈne.ɾa/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎No way.Qué va./ke ˈβa/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Don’t even think about it.Ni lo pienses./ni lo pjenˈses/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎I wish.Ya quisiera./ja kiˈsje.ɾa/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Don’t even think about it.Ni se te ocurra./ni se te oˈku.ra/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎In your dreams.Ni en tus sueños./ni en tus ˈswe.ɲos/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎By no means.Bajo ningún concepto./ˈba.xo ninˈɡun konˈsep.to/▶️‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎All to Know about “No” in Spanish

So there you have it! You won’t use No entiendo (“I don’t understand”) about “no” anymore! You now know how to turn down offers or ideas in Spanish. Now go out there and start rejecting like a Spanish pro (but please do it nicely!).

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Published on July 08, 2024 04:00

July 5, 2024

How to Say What in French [with Audio]

How do you say “what” in French?

Beginners will definitely know quoi and que mean “what” in French while more advanced learners will also be familiar with ce que and ce qui. Yes, there is more than one way of saying “what” in French!

It might sound a bit complicated but once you understand the logic behind them, it does get easier.

When I was learning French, it took me a while to distinguish between ce que and ce qui, and sometimes quoi and que. Instead of long grammar explanations, I found it easier to look at example sentences or listen to French songs where I could hear the words in context.

So in this article, I outlined the different ways of saying “what” in French with relevant example sentences. I’ve also included audio so you can practice your pronunciation.

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in French for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://fluentin3months.com/challenge... this link to find out more.</a>'} else { copy = 'Editor's note: Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online French course, here’s the course we recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn French Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by Olly Richards. You can try it for free for 7 days!'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsWhat in French (Chart with Audio)How to Say What in French 1. Quoi: The “What” Used in Disbelief, After Prepositions, and With Direct Objects 2. Qu’est-ce que/qui: The “What” in “What Is This?”3. Que: The “What” in Qu’est-ce que 4 . Quel/quelle/quels/quelles: The Adjective “What”5. Ce qui/ce que: The “What” Used to Link Clauses Together Put Your French in ContextWhat in French (Chart with Audio)

Let’s start with a quick summary to familiarize ourselves with the pronunciation of “what” in French. Qu’est-ce que particularly looks complicated, but I assure you, its pronunciation is not! Keep in mind that French pronunciation isn’t phonetic — look at quel, quelle, quels, and quelles in the table. Although they are written differently, they sound the same.

English French Pronunciation Audio “What!” (in disbelief) 1. Quoi /kwa/ “What is..?” 2. Qu’est-ce que
3. Qu’est-ce qui /kɛs kə/
/kɛs ki/ What..?” (often more formal) 4. Que /kə/ “What…” (adjective)
Examples: What…time is it? …day is it? …book is that? 5. Quel
6. Quelle
7. Quels
8. Quelles /kɛl/
/kɛl/
/kɛl/
/kɛl/

“What…” (link word)
Example: Here’s what that means. 9. Ce qui
10. Ce que /sə ki//sə kə/
How to Say What in French

Below, you’ll find when to use each word. Make sure to check the example sentences as they will also be useful for daily-life vocabulary.

1. Quoi: The “What” Used in Disbelief, After Prepositions, and With Direct Objects

There are different ways of using quoi in French. The first one is similar to the English “what?” you say when you’re expressing disbelief or surprise. Take a look at this example dialogue between two friends:

Lucie: Je me marie le mois prochain: “I’m getting married next month.”Manon: Quoi?! “What?” (Here, Manon expressed her surprise by saying quoi? as she didn’t know that Lucie was getting married.)

We also use quoi when “what” is the object of the question in everyday French, or with prepositions in more formal French. Here are some examples:

Tu veux quoi pour ton anniversaire? “What do you want for your birthday?” (Informal, casual)Tu penses à quoi? “What are you thinking about?” (Penser is a verb that needs the preposition à, so we have to say à quoi instead of just quoi here.)2. Qu’est-ce que/qui: The “What” in “What Is This?”

You might recognize the phrase qu’est-ce que from the song Psycho Killer — Psycho Killer, qu’est-ce que c’est?

Que in qu’est-ce que means what. Qu’est-ce que c’est, as a whole, means “what’s that.” You can use the phrase qu’est-ce que to ask about definitions, explanations, or clarifications. Sometimes, you might also see qu’est-ce qui instead of qu’est-ce que — that’s when the “what” refers to the subject of the sentence.

Qu’est-ce que tu fais? “What are you doing?”Qu’est-ce que tu veux manger? “What do you want to eat?”Qu’est-ce qui se passe? “What is happening?”3. Que: The “What” in Qu’est-ce que

When que is used alone, without attaching to est-ce que, it often leads to a question that requires inversion. Look at the difference between these sentences:

Qu’est-ce que tu fais? “What are you doing?” (More straightforward)Que fais-tu? “What are you doing?” (More formal)4. Quel/quelle/quels/quelles: The Adjective “What”

Quel has different forms: quel (masculine singular), quelle (feminine singular), quels (masculine plural), and quelles (feminine plural). This is because it acts as an adjective, agreeing with the noun that comes after it.

Quelle heure est-il? “What time is it?”À quelle heure part le train? “What time does the train leave?”Quel jour on est? “What day is it?”Quelles couleurs aimes-tu? “What colors do you like?”Quels livres recommandez-vous? “What books do you recommend?”

You can also use quel/quelle/quels/quelles to express surprise in a way that it means “what” but is not a question. Luckily, there’s an exact translation in English: “What a…”

Quel dommage! “What a shame!”Quelle belle surprise! “What a nice surprise!”Quel beau paysage! “What a beautiful landscape!”Quelle déception! “What a disappointment!”5. Ce qui/ce que: The “What” Used to Link Clauses Together

Ce qui and ce que are not the “what” we use in questions. Think of them as the “what” in “here’s what that means.” Some examples will make it clearer:

Voici ce que cela signifie. “Here’s what that means.”Je ne sais pas ce que tu vas faire demain. “I don’t know what you’ll do tomorrow.”Montre-moi ce que tu as acheté. “Show me what you’ve bought.”Ce qui compte vraiment, c’est la famille. “What really matters is family.”Put Your French in Context

While example sentences do help, consider checking out books, podcasts, and courses to see these words in context. The more you expose yourself to French, the more naturally the right words come. Bonne chance!

Conversational French: 25 Ways to Start a French Conversation French Pronunciation Guide: How to Sound More Like a Native French Speaker 10 Ways to Say “How Are You?” in French (+ 10 Ways to Respond)“Hello” in French – Plus 10 More Useful French Greetings French Idioms Crash Course: How to Sound Like a Native French Speaker

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Published on July 05, 2024 04:00

July 1, 2024

75+ Beautiful English Words You Should Know: From Aurora to Zephyr

When you think of the world’s most beautiful languages, beautiful English words might not be the first to spring to mind. After all, it doesn’t quite have the musical lilt of a Romance language. And having studied several languages, English also doesn’t always have words for certain unique, philosophically-rich cultural words, like Japanese 金継ぎ (kintsugi, or repairing something in gold).

But don’t be fooled! The English language is brimming with lovely vocabulary to capture the full range of human emotions and experiences.

From the simple elegance of “ennui” to the lush, velvety feel of “sumptuous”, English is full of words that sparkle and sing. Some paint vivid pictures in just a few syllables, while others evoke powerful emotions and sensations. (And as we’ll see in the final bonus category, some are just downright silly or fun to say!)

In this article, I’ve curated over 70 of the most beautiful, fun, and unique words in the English language. We’ll explore their meanings, origins, and how to use them in your writing and conversations. Get ready to fall in love with the power and beauty of words! Fair warning: you may find yourself wanting to pepper all your sentences with these linguistic gems!

Here’s me overlooking quite a chiaroscuro of a landscape in Portugal!

Table of contentsBeautiful English Words Related to Emotions and States of Being Nature and Science Words Aesthetic and Sensory Words More Beautiful English Words to Fall in Love With Quirky Words with Unique Meanings Final Thoughts on Beautiful English WordsBeautiful English Words Related to Emotions and States of Being

From the depths of melancholy to the heights of bliss, the English language has a treasure trove of beautiful words to describe the complex spectrum of human emotions and states of being. Here are some of my favorites:

Bliss (n.) – Complete happiness, euphoria, joy. “Sophie was overcome with bliss as she watched the sun setting over the ocean, painting the sky in glorious shades of pink and gold.”

Chrysalism (n.) – The tranquility and peace that you feel when you’re indoors during a thunderstorm. “Is there anything more soothing than the chrysalism of being wrapped in a blanket, watching the rain?”

Ebullience (n.) – Lively, enthusiastic, and naturally cheerful. “The children’s ebullience was contagious as they ran and played in the park.”

Elation (n.) – An exhilarating sense of delight, often from success. “Upon receiving the acceptance letter, Jamie felt a rush of elation.”

Ennui (n.) – Listlessness and dissatisfaction. “Ennui evokes an almost romantic world-weariness, a beautiful kind of boredom.”

Ethereal (adj.) – Extremely delicate, light, and not of this world. “An ethereal voice seems to come from the heavens.”

Euphoria (n.) – Intense happiness and joy. “When you’re euphoric, you’re in a state of such exuberant bliss, it’s like your spirit has never been healthier.”

Felicity (n.) – Intense happiness. “The felicity in her smile brightened everyone’s day.”

Halcyon (adj.) – Idyllically happy and peaceful. “They spent a halcyon summer at the beach, free from worries and responsibilities.”

Innervate (v.) – To supply with energy or stimulation. “A heartfelt pep talk from a friend can innervate you before a big presentation.”

Jubilant (adj.) – Feeling or expressing overwhelming joy. “The team was jubilant after winning the championship.”

Limerence (n.) – A state of deep infatuation bordering on obsession. “If thoughts of your beloved fill your every waking moment, you might be in the throes of limerence.”

Melancholy (n.) – A profound sense of pensive sadness, tinged with nostalgia. “Melancholy can feel bittersweet, an aching beauty.”

Rapture (n.) – A state of intense delight, ecstasy, or enthusiasm. “The audience listened to the symphony in a state of rapture.”

Serendipity (n.) – The occurrence of happy coincidences or desirable discoveries by accident. “Call it serendipity or call it fate, but I’m so glad we met today.”

Sonder (n.) – The profound realization that everyone around you is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. “A moment of sonder can shift your perspective and fill you with awe.”

Woebegone (adj.) – Sad, miserable, or wretched in appearance. “The woebegone puppy, drenched from the rain, whimpered at the door.”

Nature and Science Words

Nature and science offer an abundance of beautiful English words that capture the awe-inspiring wonders of the world around us, from the ethereal glow of bioluminescence to the earthy petrichor after a rain. Want to learn more? Here we go!

Aurora (n.) – A natural electrical phenomenon creating bright, colorful light displays in the sky. “Auroras are named after the Roman goddess of the dawn.”

Bioluminescence (n.) – The biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep-sea fishes. “Is there anything more magical than a bioluminescent bay?”

Borealis (adj.) – Relating to the aurora of the Northern Hemisphere. “The borealis lights danced across the night sky, creating a breathtaking display.”

Coppice (n.) – A thicket or grove of small trees. “Coppices are often managed by humans to yield timber, adding a charming, pastoral quality to a landscape.”

Crepuscular (adj.) – Resembling or relating to twilight. “Many beautiful animals are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active at dawn and dusk.”

Efflorescence (n.) – The state or period of flowering. “Seeing the efflorescence of cherry trees is a joyful rite of spring.”

Halcyon (n.) – A bird identified with the kingfisher, said to calm the sea in winter. “The halcyon days of summer were filled with laughter and lazy afternoons by the lake.”

Nebulous (adj.) – In the form of a cloud or haze; hazy. “A nebulous mist settled over the moors, creating an air of mystery.”

Nemophilist (n.) – Someone with a love or fondness for forests. “Nemophilists feel most at peace surrounded by trees and dappled sunlight.”

Riparian (adj.) – Relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams. “A riparian zone is lush with biodiversity.”

Petrichor (n.) – The earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. “Stepping outside after a storm and breathing in the petrichor instantly refreshes the senses.”

Phosphorescence (n.) – Emission of light without burning, chemically or physiologically. “The phosphorescence of the glow-in-the-dark stickers created a magical ambiance in the child’s bedroom.”

Pluviophile (n.) – Someone who loves the rain. “As a true pluviophile, Sarah always looked forward to the soothing sound of raindrops on her window.”

Sequoia (n.) – A redwood tree, especially the California redwood. “Sequoias are the largest and tallest trees in the world, inspiring a sense of reverence and wonder.”

Zephyr (n.) – A soft, gentle breeze. “On a warm summer’s day, there’s nothing better than feeling a zephyr on your cheek.”

Aesthetic and Sensory Words

The English language is rich with beautiful words that evoke vivid sensory experiences and aesthetic qualities, from the iridescent shimmer of a hummingbird’s wings to the mellifluous melody of a violin. Here are some of the best to tickle your senses:

Cascading (adj.) – Rushing down in a waterfall or descending rapidly. “The cascading waterfall created a mesmerizing display of beauty and power.”

Diaphanous (adj.) – Light, delicate, and translucent. “Diaphanous curtains allow soft light to filter into the room.”

Dulcet (adj.) – Sweet and soothing. “The dulcet sounds of the violin made the entire audience sigh in appreciation.” (Side note: I remember getting really far in a school spelling bee when I was a kid, and this is the word that knocked me out of the semi-finals. So I have a bit of a bone to pick with this one.)

Elysian (adj.) – Relating to a blissful heavenly paradise. “The Elysian Fields were a mythical place of perfect happiness.”

Ephemeral (adj.) – Lasting for a very short time; transient. “The cherry blossoms were ephemeral, but all the more precious for it.”

Gossamer (n.) – A fine, filmy substance like cobwebs, floating in the air in calm weather. “The gossamer strands of the spider’s web glistened with morning dew.”

Incandescent (adj.) – Glowing radiantly, as from great heat. “The incandescent lava flowed down the mountainside, illuminating the night sky.”

Iridescent (adj.) – Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles. “The hummingbird’s iridescent feathers flashed in the sun.”

Lambent (adj.) – Softly glowing or radiant. “The lambent candlelight set the mood for romance.”

Lullaby (n.) – A soothing song to lull a child to sleep. “The mother’s gentle lullaby drifted through the nursery, calming her restless baby.”

Mellifluous (adj.) – Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear. “A mellifluous voice is soothing to the ear, washing over you like honey.”

Quintessence (n.) – The most perfect example or embodiment of a quality. “The quintessence of elegance, she glided across the room in a stunning evening gown.”

Redolent (adj.) – Having a pleasant, fragrant smell. “The kitchen was redolent with the aroma of freshly baked cookies.”

Sibilance (n.) – A hissing sound, or the use of repeated sounds. “The poet’s use of sibilance in the line ‘The slithering snake slipped silently’ created an eerie atmosphere.”

Sonorous (adj.) – Producing a full, deep, rich sound. “The cello’s sonorous tones reverberated through the concert hall.”

Susurrus (n.) – A soft murmuring or rustling sound. “The susurrus of leaves in the breeze lulled me to sleep in my hammock.”

More Beautiful English Words to Fall in Love With

Not all of these beautiful English words fall nicely into one category! From the opulent to the quintessential, there are countless more to discover and fall in love with:

Caliginous (adj.) – Misty, dim, or dark. “A caliginous fog crept through the abandoned amusement park, creating an eerie atmosphere.”

Chiaroscuro (n.) – The contrast of light and shade to convey depth and drama. “Rembrandt was a master of chiaroscuro.”

Elixir (n.) – A magical or medicinal potion. “Many skincare brands claim to have discovered the elixir of youth.”

Ingénue (n.) – A naive, innocent girl or young woman. “The ingénue is a classic theater archetype.”

Labyrinthine (adj.) – Twisting and turning in a complex, maze-like fashion. “Old European city centers are often labyrinthine.”

Languid (adj.) – Drooping or flagging from weakness or fatigue. “After a large meal, she gave a languid sigh of contentment.”

Lassitude (n.) – A state of physical or mental weariness. “I’m not lazy; I’m just embracing lassitude as a lifestyle.”

Opulent (adj.) – Ostentatiously costly and luxurious. “The opulent ballroom was dripping with crystal and gold.”

Panacea (n.) – A solution for all problems or difficulties. “Chocolate may not be a panacea, but it certainly soothes a broken heart.”

Phosphenes (n.) – The light and colors produced by rubbing your closed eyes. “Seeing phosphenes is a mind-bending experience.”

Plethora (n.) – An abundance or excess of something. “A plethora of wildflowers dotted the Alpine meadow with stunning color.” (Side note: I remember teaching this word in one of my Academic English classes, and my students loving it! There was a plethora of “plethora” in essays after that!)

Quintessential (adj.) – Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality. “Paris is the quintessential romantic city.”

Raconteur (n.) – A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way. “My grandpa is a gifted raconteur, keeping us entertained for hours.”

Scintilla (n.) – A tiny trace or spark of a feeling or quality. “The argument was resolved without a scintilla of bitterness.”

Silhouette (n.) – The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background. “The silhouettes of the dancers were striking against the illuminated backdrop.”

Sublimity (n.) – Transcendent excellence or supreme grandeur. “The sublimity of a sunset can leave you breathless and inspired.”

Sumptuous (adj.) – Extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent. “Marie Antoinette’s sumptuous gowns were the talk of Versailles.”

Vellichor (n.) – The bittersweet awareness of time passing, often evoked by secondhand bookstores. “Browsing old novels can give you a poignant sense of vellichor.”

Vespertine (adj.) – Relating to, or occurring in the evening. “Vespertine blooms like the evening primrose only reveal their beauty near dusk.”

Quirky Words with Unique Meanings

Okay, let’s end on a fun note. Among the many beautiful words in the English language, there are some delightfully quirky terms with unique meanings that add whimsy and specificity to our vocabulary:

Brouhaha (n.) – An overexcited reaction or response to something. “The celebrity’s new haircut caused quite the brouhaha on social media.”

Bumbershoot (n.) – A whimsical word for an umbrella. “Be sure to grab your bumbershoot before heading out into the rain!”

Cattywampus (adj.) – Askew, off-center, crooked, diagonal. “The picture frame hung cattywampus on the wall, refusing to be straightened.”

Defenestration (n.) – The action of throwing someone out of a window. “Apparently, defenestration was once a popular way to overthrow political rivals!”

Flibbertigibbet (n.) – A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person. “We all have that one lovable flibbertigibbet friend who’s impossible to keep on track.”

Gobbledygook (n.) – Language that is meaningless or made unintelligible by excessive jargon. “Legalese is full of confusing gobbledygook.”

Hullabaloo (n.) – A very noisy and confusing situation. “The hullabaloo of Times Square on New Year’s Eve is legendary.”

Kerfuffle (n.) – A commotion or fuss, usually caused by conflicting views. “Thanksgiving dinners can quickly descend into family kerfuffles.”

Onomatopoeia (n.) – The formation of a word by imitating the sound associated with it, like “sizzle” or “buzz.” “Onomatopoeia appeals to our inner wordsmith.”

Syzygy (n.) – The alignment of three celestial objects in a straight line. “Syzygy is a celestial phenomenon, and is also just a super fun word to say.”

Tintinnabulation (n.) – The ringing or sound of bells. “The tintinnabulation of the church bells echoed through the quiet village.”

Widdershins (adv.) – In a left-handed, contrary, or counterclockwise direction. “According to some superstitions, walking widdershins around a church three times will summon the devil!”

Final Thoughts on Beautiful English Words

From “serendipity” to “tintinnabulation”, English overflows with words that are a joy to say and hear. Whether describing feelings or nature, abstract concepts or concrete sensations, our rich and varied language has a beautiful word for every occasion. Incorporating these terms into your conversations and writing will allow you to express yourself with vivid precision and poetry.

So the next time you’re feeling a rush of limerence or find yourself awestruck by the aurora, you’ll have the perfect words to capture those sublime moments. Even if your audience has to look up the meaning, they’ll be charmed by the sheer music and magic of these linguistic delights!

I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the aesthetic side of English as much as we have. For even more fascinating linguistic insights, check out our other articles, like this awesome one on Old English etymologies. Thanks for reading!

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Published on July 01, 2024 04:00

June 28, 2024

How to Say “Good Luck” in Spanish

Whether you’re visiting Spain as a tourist, studying in Colombia, or in Mexico on business, you’ll likely come across a situation to wish someone good luck in Spanish.

I mean, ever found yourself crossing fingers, knocking on wood, or even wearing a particular color for good luck? You’re not alone. Around the world, people have their unique ways of wishing luck upon others, and Spanish-speaking cultures are rich in such traditions.

With 21 countries counting Spanish as an official language, each with its own unique history, customs, and idiomatic expressions, wishing good luck has some colorful variations.

Understanding how to convey good luck in Spanish lets us not only communicate effectively but also connect deeply with the cultural aspects of the language. So, whether you’re a language learner, a traveler, or just curious (and I’m all of the above!), stay with me as I explain how to say “good luck” in Spanish!

By the way, if you need help pronouncing any of these phrases, check out our guide on the Spanish alphabet!

function runSplitTest(){ var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 4) + 1; console.log(randomNumber); var copy = ""; if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Spanish for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else if (randomNumber == 2) { copy = 'Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Spanish course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Spanish Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!'; } else if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'Expand your horizons and learn a new language with our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. Backed by research, our coaching will get you expert results. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else { copy = 'Ready to be fluent in just 3 months? Our Research Backed Language Coaching guarantees better results. Sign up now for our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>' } console.log(copy); var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsBuena Suerte and Variants: Standard Phrases for Wishing Good Luck in Spanish Other Useful Phrases for Good Luck in Spanish Spanish Gender and Good Luck Slang and Local Phrases for Good Luck in Spanish-speaking Regions Wishing Good Luck in Spain Wishing Good Luck in Mexico Wishing Good Luck in Puerto Rico Insights on When and How to Use Slang Respectfully:Spanish Idioms and Sayings About Luck Cultural Superstitions and Bringing Good Luck in Spanish-speaking Cultures Wearing Colored Underwear on New Year’s Eve Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight on New Year’s The Protective Cactus in Latin America Bad Luck Beliefs and How to Avoid Them in the Spanish-speaking World Putting Your Wallet or Purse on the Floor Sweeping Feet with a Broom Tuesday the 13th ( Martes Trece )Spilling Salt The Mal de Ojo or the “Evil Eye”Ready to Wish Anyone Luck in Spanish?Buena Suerte and Variants: Standard Phrases for Wishing Good Luck in Spanish

In Spanish, there’s a phrase that translates directly into “good luck.” That’s Buena suerte, with buena meaning “good,” and suerte signifying “luck” or “fortune.”

This is the most straightforward translation and a universal phrase. You can use it in almost any situation where you want to wish someone good fortune, making it the perfect starting point for anyone learning Spanish.

For example, you might say, Buena suerte en tu entrevista (“Good luck on your interview”) or Te deseo toda la buena suerte del mundo (“I wish you all the good luck in the world”). If your friend is moving to a new city, you can say, ¡Buena suerte en tu nueva ciudad! (“Good luck in your new city!”)

Another common variant is ¡Mucha suerte! (Literally, “A lot of luck!”)

You can use this when you want to amplify your good wishes. For example, if a colleague is about to present a major project, you can tell them, ¡Mucha suerte con tu presentación! (“Good luck with your presentation!”)

Colloquially, you can also simply wish someone ¡Suerte! (“Luck!”) So if a friend is looking for a new apartment, you can tell them ¡Suerte en la búsqueda de tu apartamento! (“Good luck in your apartment search!”)

Other Useful Phrases for Good Luck in Spanish

Of course, there’s so much more Spanish than just buena suerte! The list of well-wishing can go on and on, but here are some of the most common ways to wish someone good luck.

Universal Expressions

¡Éxito! – “Success!” Common in both formal and informal contexts, especially before exams or presentations.¡Que te vaya bien! – “Hope everything goes well!” Versatile and widely used, perfect for casual farewells or before minor events.

Encouragements and Best Wishes

Te deseo lo mejor. – “I wish you the best.”Mis mejores deseos. – “My best wishes.” Ideal for more formal occasions like weddings or graduations.Que tengas éxito. – “May you have success.”¡Ánimo! – “Cheer up/Go for it!”¡Mucho ánimo! – “Lots of courage!” Encouraging someone to stay strong.¡Arriba esos ánimos! – “Cheer up!” Literally, it means “Raise those spirits!”¡Dale! – “Go on!” A cheer of encouragement, widely used in Latin America, and especially at sporting events.¡Que la fuerza te acompañe! – “May the force be with you!” A playful, Star Wars-inspired way to wish luck, understood and appreciated universally.¡Tú puedes! – “You can do it!”¡Tú puedes con todo! – “You can handle everything!”Estoy aquí para ti. – “I’m here for you.”Creo en ti. – “I believe in you.”Siempre estaré a tu lado. – “I will always be by your side.”Eres más fuerte de lo que crees. – “You’re stronger than you think.”Éste es tu momento para brillar. – “This is your moment to shine.”No estás solo(a). – “You’re not alone.”Sigue adelante. – “Keep going forward.”

For Specific Occasions

¡Triunfos! – “Triumphs!” Often said to athletes or artists before a performance or competition.¡Que vivan los novios! – “Long live the bride and groom!” A common shout of joy and good luck for the newlyweds at weddings.A por ello! – “Go for it!” A motivational nudge, perfect before taking on a challenge.Que este sea el inicio de muchos éxitos más. – “May this be the start of many more successes.” A common congratulatory wish at graduations.Un nuevo comienzo lleno de felicidad. – “A new beginning full of happiness.” A common phrase when someone moves into a new house.Éxito en tu nueva aventura. – “Success in your new adventure.” Often said when someone starts a new job.Suerte en tu camino. – “Luck on your path.” A metaphorical way of wishing someone well on their life journey.

Spiritual Blessings

Que Dios te bendiga. – “May God bless you.” This reflects the deep religious roots in many Spanish-speaking cultures.Bendiciones. – “Blessings.” A spiritual way to wish someone well, suitable for both casual and serious contexts.¡Ojalá! – Hopefully! With Arabic origins, “ojalá” is a testament to Spain’s historical linguistic influences, coming from the phrase “God willing” in Arabic. (Although most modern Spanish-speakers don’t use it with any Islamic sentiment.)Spanish Gender and Good Luck

Now a little note here: In some traditional or formal contexts, expressions of sentiment might be received differently based on gender. For example, men might be more encouraged with phrases that emphasize strength or bravery: ¡Dale duro! (“Go hard!”), implying resilience or toughness.

On the other hand, women might be offered wishes that highlight hope or grace: ¡Que tengas un día lleno de luz! (“May you have a day full of light!”).

It’s important to note, however, that contemporary Spanish-speaking societies are increasingly embracing gender-neutral and inclusive language, focusing more on the individual rather than adhering strictly to traditional gender norms.

Slang and Local Phrases for Good Luck in Spanish-speaking Regions

With such diversity in the Spanish speaking world, you may find linguistic and cultural differences related to luck in different countries. Here are just a few examples of country-specific lingo.

Wishing Good Luck in Spain

Wishing luck in Spain? Well, you might wish some interesting things, like:

¡Mucha mierda! – “Lots of crap!”

Originating from theatre jargon, this phrase is Spain’s equivalent of “break a leg!” It’s used to wish someone success, especially before performances or events where traditional good luck wishes are considered bad luck.

So before a theatrical debut, saying ¡Mucha mierda esta noche! (“Lots of crap tonight!”) is both traditional and encouraging.

¡Que te cunda! – “Hope it’s productive for you!”

This phrase is hard to translate directly but essentially means “Make the most of it!” It’s a versatile well-wishing used to encourage efficiency and success when starting a new action or project, whether in studying, working, or even enjoying leisure activities.

Wishing Good Luck in Mexico

Here are two of the most iconic Mexican phrases about luck:

Hacer changuitos – “Fingers crossed”

Literally meaning “making little monkeys,” this phrase refers to crossing one’s fingers for good luck. It’s commonly used when hoping for a favorable outcome.
So for example, when waiting for crucial exam results, you can say, Estoy haciendo changuitos para que pasemos. (“I’m crossing my fingers so that we pass.”)

¡Échale ganas! – “Give it your all!”

Also in Mexico, you’ll often hear, this phrase, which translates to “Put your effort into it!”

Wishing Good Luck in Puerto Rico

Of course, even smaller territories like Puerto Rico have some special phrases in Spanish!

¡Dale duro! – “Hit it hard!”

This is a rallying cry for effort and determination. It directly translates to “Hit it hard!” but is colloquially understood as “Go for it with all your might!” It’s especially popular in competitive scenarios or when tackling challenges.

So for example, if a friend is preparing for a marathon, you can tell them, ¡Dale duro en el maratón! (“Hit it hard in the marathon!”)

Insights on When and How to Use Slang Respectfully:

Now, a few notes on the slang here…

Context Matters: Slang expressions often carry casual undertones. Reserve them for less formal situations or when you’re familiar enough with the culture or individuals involved.Regional Sensitivities: Understand that an expression popular in one country might not be well-known or could even be inappropriate in another. Always gauge the cultural context and the company you’re in.Intent is Key: Use slang phrases with a genuine intent of support and camaraderie. Your tone and the situation should convey your good will clearly to avoid any potential misunderstandings.Be Open to Learning: Missteps can happen when navigating slang in a new language. If corrected or advised on usage, see it as a learning opportunity and a step toward deeper cultural understanding.Spanish Idioms and Sayings About Luck

Spanish is a language rich with idiomatic expressions that reflect the culture’s perspectives on luck, fate, and effort. Here are some of the most interesting ones:

La suerte de la fea, la guapa la desea. – “The luck of the ugly is desired by the beautiful.” This saying plays on the idea that outward appearances are not always indicative of one’s fortune or happiness. It suggests that sometimes those who may not be considered conventionally attractive enjoy a form of luck or happiness that those deemed beautiful wish they had.

A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. – “God helps those who rise early.” This essentially is “The early bird gets the worm.” Emphasizing the virtues of diligence and early starts, this idiom suggests that taking initiative and getting an early start on things invites divine favor or, more broadly, good luck.

Más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león. – “Better to be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion.” This proverb advises that it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond, emphasizing the importance of being important in one’s own right, even in a smaller context. It highlights the notion of appreciating one’s own value and the benefits that can come from being a significant part of something smaller, rather than an insignificant part of something larger.

No hay mal que por bien no venga. – “There is no evil that doesn’t come for a good.” This is the Spanish equivalent of “Every cloud has a silver lining.” It’s an optimistic view that even in bad circumstances, one can find some form of good luck or a positive aspect. A poignant reminder that good things can come from bad situations, often used to provide comfort.

Quien se fue a Sevilla, perdió su silla. – “He who went to Seville, lost his seat.” Similar to “you snooze, you lose,” this idiom warns that leaving your place or neglecting your responsibilities could result in someone else taking over your position or enjoying the benefits that were meant for you.

A la tercera va la vencida. – “The third time’s the charm.” This saying suggests that if initial attempts don’t lead to success, persistence will eventually pay off. It’s a phrase of encouragement, often used to motivate someone who’s faced setbacks but is gearing up to try again.

Más vale tarde que nunca. – “Better late than never.” Like in English, this phrase is often used to encourage someone who might feel they’ve missed their chance at something, whether it be pursuing an education, embarking on a new career path, or mending relationships. It reinforces the belief that luck and opportunity are not solely bound by time.

Quien no arriesga, no gana. – “Who doesn’t risk, doesn’t win.” This phrase emphasizes the essential role of taking calculated risks in achieving success. It’s a rallying cry for bravery and stepping out of one’s comfort zone, often used to encourage action in the face of uncertainty.

Cultural Superstitions and Bringing Good Luck in Spanish-speaking Cultures

So now that we know how to talk about luck, how can we get some of it? Don’t worry – there are plenty of superstitions in the Spanish-speaking world to help you become more lucky!

Wearing Colored Underwear on New Year’s Eve

In Spain and many parts of Latin America, it’s believed that donning red underwear as you ring in the New Year brings love and passion into your life for the months to come. This tradition is especially popular among young adults looking for romance. So if you’re celebrating New Year’s in Spain, don’t be surprised to see red undergarments being sold everywhere from fancy boutiques to street vendors, all in the name of love!

On the other hand, in parts of Latin America, wearing yellow underwear on New Year’s Eve is considered a beacon of good luck, prosperity, and happiness for the year ahead!

Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight on New Year’s

As the clock strikes midnight, people eat 12 grapes, one for each chime, representing hope for happiness in each month of the New Year. This tradition started in Spain and has spread to many other Spanish-speaking countries. It’s a fun, albeit challenging, tradition that families and friends partake in together. You can say, Que cada uva te traiga suerte. – “May each grape bring you luck.”

The Protective Cactus in Latin America

In parts of Latin America, keeping a cactus near the window or doors of homes is believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. This prickly guard symbolizes resilience and protection, ensuring that only good vibes enter. It’s a testament to the belief that the environment we create influences our fortunes.

You can tell someone, Que este cactus te proteja de todo mal. – “May this cactus protect you from all harm.”

Bad Luck Beliefs and How to Avoid Them in the Spanish-speaking World

Okay, so we know about what brings good luck in Hispanic cultures. Now what about bad luck? Well unfortunately, there’s a lot of things to watch out for!

Putting Your Wallet or Purse on the Floor

Placing your purse or wallet on the floor is a big no-no in many Spanish-speaking countries, as it’s said to lead to financial loss or bad luck with money. So if you’re out dining, kindly remind your friend ¡No pongas tu bolsa en el suelo! (“Don’t put your purse on the floor!”) to save them from financial woes.

Sweeping Feet with a Broom

In many Spanish-speaking countries, it’s believed that if someone sweeps your feet with a broom while cleaning, you’ll never get married.

Another fascinating belief comes from Mexico, where sweeping from your door towards the inside of the house is thought to bring in good luck, while doing the opposite might sweep it away.

So if you’re sweeping near others, be mindful of where you direct your broom. A simple ¡Cuidado con los pies! (“Watch your feet!”) can prevent any accidental sweeps.

Tuesday the 13th (Martes Trece)

Unlike in Anglo cultures where Friday the 13th is considered unlucky, in Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is the day to beware.

If you want to engage with the local culture, refrain from making significant decisions or starting new ventures on this day. If someone is apprehensive about martes trece, simply acknowledging their concern with understanding can be reassuring.

Spilling Salt

Spilling salt is believed to invite bad luck or even attract negative energy in much of the Hispanic world. When at the dining table, passing the salt hand to hand is also considered bad luck. Instead, place it on the table for the other person to pick up.

So be cautious with salt shakers. If you do spill salt, throwing a pinch over your left shoulder is a common ritual to counteract the bad luck.

The Mal de Ojo or the “Evil Eye”

A widespread superstition across Spanish-speaking countries is the belief in mal de ojo or the evil eye. It’s thought that envy or intense admiration can unintentionally bring harm or bad luck to someone, especially children. Protective amulets or gestures are often used to shield against this unintended misfortune.

If you want to wish someone good luck with this in mind, you can say, Que el mal de ojo te esquive. – “May the evil eye avoid you.”

Ready to Wish Anyone Luck in Spanish?

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned Spanish speaker, I hope you learned something new about how to wish good luck in Spanish! Besides the vocabulary and phrases, here are a few final reminders:

Context is Key: The same expression can hold different weights or meanings depending on the situation. For example, saying ¡Éxito! to someone about to take a test carries a different tone than using it casually before a night out. Pay attention to how native speakers use these expressions.Regional Varieties: Remember that Spanish is a richly diverse language, with variations from one country to another. An expression that’s common in Mexico may not be used in the same way, or at all, in Spain or Argentina. When in doubt, ask a native speaker or do a bit of research.Cultural Sensitivity: Be mindful of the cultural background and beliefs of the person you’re speaking to. Expressions involving luck or fate can touch on deeply held beliefs or superstitions.Practice in Real Life: Take the leap and use these phrases in your daily interactions. Whether you’re wishing someone “¡Buena suerte!” on their new venture or advising caution on “martes trece,” each occasion is a chance to practice and perfect your use of the Spanish language.

¡Buena suerte y éxito en tu viaje lingüístico y cultural! (“Good luck and success on your linguistic and cultural journey!”)

Luck of the Irish? Or can anyone can learn to be lucky?Good Luck in Japanese: How to Offer Encouragement with Cultural Nuance 22 Things I Learned about Russian Culture from 6 Years Living in Russia How to Use the Teach Yourself Language Hacking Community 15 Ways to Wish Someone “Happy New Year” in Chinese

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Published on June 28, 2024 04:00

June 24, 2024

Upside Down Question Mark: A Complete Guide to Using it in Spanish

The upside down question mark, ¿ may catch you off-guard when you start learning Spanish.

Why does it appear in the beginning of sentences? And how come it has this ‘inverted’ shape? Also known as the inverted question mark, the upside down question mark is not all that mysterious. It’s been a part of the Spanish language for centuries, and it serves one simple purpose: letting readers know that the upcoming sentence is a question.

While it may seem like a trivial detail, upside down question marks are mandatory to use in written Spanish. Learn why how to use them and how to type them on your computer, and take your written Spanish to the next level!.

function runSplitTest(){ var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 4) + 1; console.log(randomNumber); var copy = ""; if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Spanish for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else if (randomNumber == 2) { copy = 'Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Spanish course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Spanish Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!'; } else if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'Expand your horizons and learn a new language with our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. Backed by research, our coaching will get you expert results. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else { copy = 'Ready to be fluent in just 3 months? Our Research Backed Language Coaching guarantees better results. Sign up now for our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>' } console.log(copy); var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contentsWhat Is the Upside Down Question Mark?Why Does Spanish Use the Upside Down Question Mark?How and When to Use the Upside Down Question Mark?How to Type the Upside Down Question Mark on Your Keyboard?Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Windows Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Mac Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Chromebook Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on iPhone and iPad Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Android Example Uses the Upside Down Question Mark Other Sentences with the Upside Down Question Mark ¿What Do You Think About the Upside Down Question Mark?What Is the Upside Down Question Mark?

Let’s start with the basics. The upside down question mark, ¿, is the flipped version of the regular question mark, “?.” Unlike the regular question mark we’re used to, ¿ appears at the beginning of interrogative sentences or clauses in Spanish. You can think of the pair as two bookends enclosing a question.
In other words, in English, we only use “?” at the end of the sentence. Spanish uses both ¿ and “?.” Take a look at this common question, “how old are you,” in English and Spanish:

*English: “How old are you?”*Spanish: ¿Cuántos años tienes?

Remember: in Spanish, the ¿ goes right before the interrogative clause, the part of the sentence indicating the question. Here are some examples:

Tú lo viste, ¿verdad? “You saw it, right?” (¿ comes before verdad, (“right”) as this is the question clause.)Mañana hay clase, ¿pero igual vas a ir a la fiesta? “There’s school tomorrow, but are you still going to the party?” (¿ comes before pero igual vas a ir a la fiesta (“but are you still going to the party”), as this is the question clause.)

Spanish isn’t the only language that uses the upside down question mark. Although less common, Galician, Asturian, and Waray also have this feature. So if you’re looking to learn any of these languages in the future, you’ll want to befriend the ¿ as well.

Why Does Spanish Use the Upside Down Question Mark?

The Real Academia Española, (“Royal Spanish Academy”) recommended using inverted question marks in the 18th century. Besides the upside down question mark, the Academy also recommended inverted exclamation points, ¡. Both the inverted question mark and the exclamation mark let readers know what type of sentence they’re reading in advance. In addition to this, they help prevent ambiguity. Without the inverted and the regular question mark, it’s difficult to see which sentence is a question and which one is not in Spanish.

Today, using ¿ and “?,” as well as ¡ and “!” are standard in Spanish-speaking countries, although they have different expressions. No matter if you’re saying ¡qué lata! (“how boring!”) in Chile or ¿qué bolero? (“what’s up?”) in Cuba, you’ll use two punctuations: one in the beginning and one at the end.

How and When to Use the Upside Down Question Mark?

The upside down question mark always goes at the very beginning of a question or interrogative clause. Keep in mind that there might be more than one clause in the same sentence, but there will be only one that’s actually the question clause.

Here is a sentence with only one clause:

¿Vas a comprar un coche nuevo? “Are you going to buy a new car?”

And here is one with three clauses, with the question clause in the middle:

Jimena me preguntó ¿qué haría yo en esa situación? y no supe qué decir. “Jimena asked me,” What would I do in that situation?” and I didn’t know what to say.”

Note that indirect questions that are reported or embedded within statements do not take the upside down mark:

Julia me preguntó si yo quería ir al cine. “Julia asked me if I wanted to go to the movies.”Me pregunto dónde está. “I’m wondering where he/she/it is.”

Spanish may sometimes have long sentences. If the ¿ provides clarity for the reader, feel free to use it even in reported questions:

Quiero saber ¿cuánto tiempo pasará hasta que pueda ver los resultados del examen? porque necesito hacer planes. “I want to know how long it will be until I can see the exam results? Because I need to make plans.”

¿ is not a standalone symbol. It needs to be paired with a closing “?” at the end of the question or sentence. Both are used in any question clause, even when there are multiple within the speech. Here is an example:

¿Quieres ir al banco? ¿O prefieres que vaya yo? “Do you want to go to the bank? Or do you prefer that I go?”

How to Type the Upside Down Question Mark on Your Keyboard?

Copy-pasting ¿ might seem like an easy option in the beginning, but when you advance in Spanish, you’ll need to type ¿ more often. Luckily, it’s easy to learn how to type it on your computer or phone.

Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Windows

Shortcut: Hold Alt and type 0191 on the numpad. Keep in mind that this requires Num Lock to be on.
Character Map: Open Start > search for Character Map. Find the ¿ symbol and select Copy.

Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Mac

Shortcut: Hold Option and press ?

Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Chromebook

International keyboard: Hold the right Alt key (next to the space bar) and press ? or /
Shortcuts menu: Open with Ctrl+Alt+/ and select ¿ under Math Symbols.

Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on iPhone and iPad

Hold down the ? key on the virtual keyboard to open a pop-up menu with ¿. Slide your finger to it and release.

Typing the Upside Down Question Mark on Android

Long press the ? key to open a menu with ¿. Slide your finger and release to select it.
Switch to the Spanish keyboard and access ¿ directly.

Example Uses the Upside Down Question Mark

In Spanish, intonations define whether a sentence is a question or not. When you’re reading Spanish out loud, the upside down question mark will help you decide how you should read the sentences.

Let’s illustrate this with an example — vas a venir conmigo means “you will come with me.” There’s no upside down question mark in sight, so this is a normal sentence, not a question. When we add question marks, ¿vas a venir conmigo?, the meaning of the sentence changes to “will you come with me?”

Here are some examples, with audio recordings to guide you on Spanish intonations.

English Spanish Audio “Will you come with me?” ¿Vas a venir conmigo? “You will come with me.” Vas a venir conmigo “Can you help me?” ¿Puedes ayudarme? “You can help me.” Puedes ayudarme. “Are you ready to leave?” ¿Estás listo para salir? “You are ready to leave.” Estás listo para salir. “Does she eat pasta?” ¿Ella come pasta? “She eats pasta.” Ella come pasta. “Does he want to come?” ¿Él quiere venir? “He wants to come.” Él quiere venir. Other Sentences with the Upside Down Question Mark

No matter how simple or difficult, Spanish questions all have upside down question marks. You will see it in common questions like *¿qué hora es? (“what time is it?”), as well as more complex questions, such as ¿¡qué has hecho!? (“what have you done?!”). The latter also uses an exclamation mark to express surprise.
There’s only one catch — even when there is more than one clause in the sentence, only the question clause gets the ¿ and “?” Let’s take a look at some example sentences:

English Spanish Audio “What do you want to eat?” ¿Qué quieres comer? “Can you tell me how to get to the post office?” ¿Puedes decirme cómo llegar al correo? “Do you like coffee?” ¿Te gusta el café? “Are you crazy?” ¿¡Estás loco!? “Is all this for me?!” ¿¡Todo esto es para mí!? “When you get home, can you call me?” Cuando llegues a casa, ¿puedes llamarme? “If you go to the supermarket, could you buy milk?” Si vas al supermercado, ¿podrías comprar leche? “Paula, did you get my message?” Paula, ¿recibiste mi mensaje? ¿What Do You Think About the Upside Down Question Mark?

At first glance, the upside down question mark may seem like a random punctuation, but over time, you’ll get used to it. You’ll see it everywhere, even in common Spanish phrases like “how are you” (¿cómo estás?) or “where are you from” (¿de dónde eres?). The same goes for other languages that use the upside down question mark — it’s all a matter of practice!

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Published on June 24, 2024 04:00

June 21, 2024

French Accent Marks: The Ultimate Guide

What are French accent marks, and why do they matter? The words café and résumé are originally French, and in English we often write those words without the accents. In French, however, the accent marks are not optional.

Getting your accents right is the difference between being a pêcheur (fisherman) and a pécheur (sinner). Which one would you rather have on your résumé?

So let’s look at the different types of French accent marks and how they’re used. We’ll cover all the different types of accent marks, how they’re pronounced (if they’re pronounced at all), and the effect they have on a word’s grammar and/or meaning.

We’ll also look at plenty of examples of French words with accents which should help make things clear. Plus, I’ll teach you how to type them on a PC and Mac (with keyboard shortcuts!).

Table of contentsFrench Accent Mark List: The 5 French Diacritics The Cedilla (La Cédille) Accent Mark in French The Acute (L’Accent Aigu) Accent Mark in French The Grave (L’Accent Grave) Accent Mark in French The Circumflex (L’Accent Circonflexe) Accent Mark in French The Trema (L’Accent Tréma) in French How to Type French Accents How to Type French Accents On a PC How to Type French Accents On a Mac French Accent Marks – Have Your Say

French accent marks are comprised of five different diacritics.

In no particular order, they are:

ç – the cedilla (la cédille)é – the acute accent (l’accent aigu)â/ê/î/ô/û – the circumflex (l’accent circonflexe)à/è/ì/ò/ù – the grave accent (l’accent grave)ë/ï/ü – the trema (l’accent tréma)

These accent marks serve several different purposes in the language. Sometimes they affect pronunciation, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they can completely change the meaning of a word.

So how do you read, write, or pronounce these letters? What do the accent marks mean? And how can you remember all of the French accent marks, rules, and pronunciation? Let me walk you through them.

(By the way, if you’re still struggling with the French alphabet, we have a handy video for you!)

The Cedilla (La Cédille) Accent Mark in French

The cedilla accent mark in French looks like a little squiggle beneath the letter “c”: “ç”. This accent mark only goes with the letter “c” – it’s not found under any other letter.

It’s a simple symbol to understand: a ç (c with a cedilla) is pronounced like an “s”.

You’ll only ever see a “ç” before an “a”, “o”, or “u”. (Remember that “c” before an “e” or “i” is pronounced like an “s” anyway, so adding a cedilla wouldn’t change anything.)

Two common words that contain cedillas are garçon (“boy”, or “waiter” in a restaurant) and français (French!). You can also occasionally see it in English in loanwords like façade.

The Acute (L’Accent Aigu) Accent Mark in French

The acute accent mark in French is only ever found above an “e”, as in “é”. Its role is to change the pronunciation of the vowel.

An unaccented “e” can be pronounced several different ways, but when you see “é”, there’s no ambiguity. An é (e with an acute accent) is always pronounced the same way.

So what way is that? Many books and websites will tell you that “é” is pronounced like the English “ay”, as in “say” or “way”.

There’s just one problem with this piece of advice: it’s wrong. Sure, the “ay” sound is close to the French “é” sound, but it’s not quite the same. If you pronounce “é” like an “ay”, it will be a dead giveaway that your native language is English.

To understand how “é” is pronounced, let’s examine the English “ay” sound a little closer.

Try saying “say” or “way” very slowly, drawing out the vowel at the end. Notice that as you say “aaaaaay”, your tongue moves.This is because “ay” is secretly not one but two vowels said in quick succession. (Linguists call such double vowels “diphthongs”.)

The French “é” is the first of the two vowel sounds that make up the English “ay” diphthong. To pronounce “é” accurately, position your tongue like you’re about to say “ay”, but once you start making noise, don’t move your tongue or lips. Keep them steady for the entire duration of the sound.

As native English speakers, we often find it hard to shake the habit of “doubling up” this sound and pronouncing it like an “ay” – but with practice, you should remember.

(If you’re familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet, note that the IPA for the “é” sound is /e/. Also note that the French “é” sound is the same as the Spanish “e” sound, which I explained in detail in point #2 of this article. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you may find that explanation helpful for your French).

Also, if you want some tips on how to avoid sounding like an obvious foreigner, Benny has some advice for you in one of our podcasts!

The Grave (L’Accent Grave) Accent Mark in French

The grave accent mark in French can be found above an “a”, an “e”, or a “u” (à/è/ù). It does a few different things.

Firstly, it’s used above an “a” or “u” to distinguish words which have the same pronunciation but different meanings:

a vs à:

a is the third-person singular form of avoir (“to have”)à is a preposition that can mean “at”, “to”, or “in”

ça vs çà

ça is a pronoun meaning “it” or “that”çà is an interjection that’s hard to translate. It can express worry or surprise (like saying “uh-oh!”) or it can be mere verbal filler, like saying “hey” or “well”.

la vs là

la is the feminine form of the word “the” – or in other contexts it can mean “her”.là means “there” or “that

ou vs où:

ou means “or”où means “where”. Note that this is the only word in the entire French language where you’ll find a grave accent above the letter “u”!

You can also find a grave accent in déjà (“already”) and deçà (“closer than”), although “déja” and “deça” without the accent aren’t words.

Above an “a” or a “u”, a grave accent doesn’t change the pronunciation. Above an “e”, however, it tells you that the vowel is pronounced “eh”, like the “e” in “get” (IPA /ɛ/).

There are many ways to pronounce an unaccented “e” in French. The grave accent makes it clear that you must say /ɛ/, when otherwise the “e” might be a different sound, or silent.

The Circumflex (L’Accent Circonflexe) Accent Mark in French

The circumflex, which looks like a little pointy hat, can be found as an accent mark above all five vowels in French: â, ê, î, ô, or û. I’ll spend more time on the rules of this accent mark, since its usage is somewhat complicated.

First, it tells you how to pronounce “a”, “e”, and “o”:

“â” is pronounced roughly like an English “ah” as in an American “hot” or British “bath”.“ê” is pronounced like an English “eh” as in “get” – the same as if it was “è” with a grave accent.“ô” is pronounced roughly like an English “oh” as in “boat” or “close”. It’s the same sound found in the French word au.

When placed over an “i” or “u”, a circumflex doesn’t change the pronunciation, except in the combination “eû”. Jeûne (“fast” as in a dietary fast) is pronounced differently from jeune (“young”).

So why bother writing a circumflex when it doesn’t affect pronunciation? The answer takes us back hundreds of years.

Take the word forêt, which means “forest”. As you might guess, the English and French words share a common root. As time went on, French people stopped pronouncing the “s”, but they continued to write it – it was a silent letter, of which English has many.

Eventually, it was decided to change the spelling of the word to remove the superfluous “s”. But for whatever reason, the French intelligentsia didn’t want to erase all trace that this “s” had ever existed – so it was decided to add a circumflex to the “e” in its place. The circumflex is an etymological tombstone – it tells you “hey, there used to be an extra letter here!”

Compare these French words to their English cognates:

ancêtre – “ancestor”août – “August”côte – “coast”forêt – “forest”hôtel – “hostel”hôpital – “hospital”pâté – “paste”rôtir – “to roast”

Most commonly, a circumflex denotes a missing “s”, but it’s sometimes used for other letters. For example, âge (age) and bâiller (to yawn) were once spelt aage and baailler.

The circumflex is also handy for distinguishing certain pairs of identically-pronounced words:

sur vs. sûr:
– sur is a preposition meaning “on”, or an adjective meaning “sour”.
– sûr means “sure” or “certain”. Note that the circumflex is still present in inflected forms like the feminine sûre, or in derived words like sûreté (security).

du vs. dû:
– du means “of the” – it's a contraction of de (of) and le (masculine form of “the”).
– dû is the past participle of devoir – “to have to”. Unlike sûr, the circumflex is not kept in the inflected forms: so it's dû in the masculine singular but due, dus, and dues in the other three forms.

mur vs. mûr:
– un mur is “a wall”.
– mûr means “ripe” or “mature”, as well as being a slang term for “drunk”. The circumflex is preserved in the inflected forms (mûre, mûrs, mûres), and in related words like mûrir (to ripen.)

This might sound like a lot, but a little practice each day will help! We interviewed Will, a fellow French learner, about his language journey and advice in our podcast:

The Trema (L’Accent Tréma) in French

Finally, we have the French trema accent mark: two little dots above a letter. It can be found above an “e”, “i”, or “u”: ë, ï, ü.

The trema is also sometimes called a “diaeresis” or “umlaut”, although technically it’s not an umlaut. The umlaut and diaeresis are unrelated things that evolved in different places and only look the same by coincidence – but that doesn’t matter here.

You may recognise the trema from the names Zoë and Chloë. Here, the trema tells you that the “o” and “e” are pronounced separately – so they rhyme with “snowy”, not “toe”.

(If only David Jones had taken the stage name “Boë” instead of “Bowie”, all the confusion about its pronunciation could have been avoided).

Some English style guides suggest you use the trema (also known as a “diaeresis”, pronounced “die-heiresses”) for a host of other words, like reëlect or coöperate. However, in practice almost no-one does this.

In French, the trema works the same way, and it’s much more common than in English. It’s written over the second of two vowels to tell you that they must be pronounced separately, whereas without the accent they might combine into a completely different sound:

coïncidence (coincidence)Jamaïque (Jamaica)Noël (Christmas)

This is by far the most common use of the trema.

There a confusing exception when you consider adjectives which end in a “gu” – like our friend aigu (acute), as in l’accent aigu.

Why we want to use aigu with a feminine noun, like douleur (pain)? Normally we’d add a silent “e”. The problem is that “gue” in French is pronounced as “g”, with a silent “e” and “u” (You can see the same rule in English words like “fugue” or “vague”).

To get around this problem, French uses a trema: the feminine form of aigu is aigüe, as in douleur aigüe. Since the French Spelling Reform of 1990, the trema is officially supposed to go on the “u”, although you’ll often still see people writing aiguë.

So now we’ve wrapped up what each French accent mark does, and next we’ll talk about how to type them on a PC and Mac. But first, I can’t help but mention this video Benny did about how to overcome some French challenges–including writing and speaking. Check it out!

How to Type French Accents

I’m sure you’ll want to know how to type French accent marks. French computers generally use the AZERTY keyboard layout, which has some major differences from our familiar QWERTY – including some special keys for typing accents.

Learn to type in a new layout if you’re feeling hardcore. For everyone else, there are fairly convenient ways to type accents in French (or any other language) on QWERTY. Here’s how you can do it on a PC or a Mac:

How to Type French Accents On a PC

The following shortcuts should work to type French accent marks on a PC keyboard:

To type “ç” or “Ç”, press Ctrl + ,, then “c” or “C”.To type “é” or “E”, press Ctrl + ’, then “e” or “E”.To type a vowel with a circumflex press Ctrl + Shift + ^, then the vowel.To type a vowel with a grave accent press Ctrl + `, then the vowel.To type a vowel with a trema press Ctrl + `, then the vowel.

If that doesn’t work, you can try inputting the character code directly.

Each accented character can be entered with a four-digit code. Simply press the “alt” key, then enter the French accent codes below. (Note: you’ll need to enter them with the number pad on the right-hand side of your keyboard, not the number keys above the letters.)

CharacterCode LowercaseCode UppercaseçAlt + 0199Alt + 0231éAlt + 0233Alt + 0201âAlt + 0226Alt + 0194êAlt + 0234Alt + 0202îAlt + 0238Alt + 0206ôAlt + 0244Alt + 0212ûAlt + 0251Alt + 0219àAlt + 0224Alt + 0192èAlt + 0232Alt + 0200ìAlt + 0236Alt + 0204òAlt + 0242Alt + 0210ùAlt + 0249Alt + 0217ëAlt + 0235Alt + 0203ïAlt + 0239Alt + 0207üAlt + 0252Alt + 0220How to Type French Accents On a Mac

Generally, you can type French accent marks on a Mac as “special characters” by using the Option/Alt key. That’s the one labelled “⌥”, between “ctrl” and “cmd”. Here’s what you need to know for French:

CharacterKeyscedillaAlt + cacute accentAlt + ecircumflexAlt + ngrave accentAlt + `tremaAlt + u

To add a letter with a diacritic, press the appropriate key combination, then press the key for the letter you want the diacritic to belong to. For example, to type “ì”, press “alt” + “`” together, then release them and press “i”.

The exception is the cedilla – pressing “alt” + “c” inputs a “ç” directly, without the need to press “c” again afterwards.

Depending on your keyboard and system settings, you may also be able to type special characters by holding down a regular letter key. For example, when I hold down “e” on my Mac for a second or so:

Now to get the accented “é”, I just press “2”.

Knowing French will make a trip to the beautiful south of France even more spectacular!

French Accent Marks – Have Your Say

That covers it! As you can see, the rules for accents in French are a bit complicated, but they’re not impossible. Remember that they don’t always affect pronunciation: so if your focus is speaking, not every accent rule needs to be studied in great detail just yet.

And if you’re interested in continuing, I highly recommend FrenchPod101 and Story Learning French. They make learning French fun and easy and will give you plenty of opportunities to practice your accent marks!

Original article by George Julian, updated by the Fluent in 3 Months team on June 21, 2024.

The French Alphabet: A Guide with Audio [It’s Easier Than You Think!]Spanish Accent Marks: The Ultimate Guide Press #052 | Mark Pentleton on Creating Coffee Break Podcasts

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Published on June 21, 2024 04:00

June 17, 2024

How to Say “Friend” In Italian [With Audio Examples]

Friend in Italian is amico for your male friends, and amica for your female friends.

But in plural forms, amico becomes amici, and amica becomes amiche.

That said, friendships in Italian go beyond saying amico or amica — meeting up with friends, making new friends, and giving each other cool nicknames will also be part of your language learning experience with your Italian or Italian-speaking friends.

In this article, we’ll learn how to say friend, use it in different sentences, and cover idiomatic expressions that include the word “friend.”

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Amico means “friend” in Italian, but its feminine singular, masculine plural, and feminine plural forms vary. Here is a handy list, along with their pronunciations:

EnglishItalianAudio“Friend” (male)Amico

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Friend” (female)Amica

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Friends” (plural – group of male friends or group of male and female friends)Amici

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Friends” (plural – group of female friends)Amiche

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Origin of the Italian Word for Friend

The Latin word amicus made its way into many Romance languages: Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese all use some form of amicus, be it amico, ami, or amigo.

In Italian, “friend” is amico (male) or amica (female). When pronouncing these words, put the stress on the second-to-last syllable: a-MI-co and a-MI-ca.

How to Say My Friend in Italian

To say “my friend” in Italian, you need possessive adjectives that mean “my” — il mio for masculine, and la mia for feminine nouns.

So “my friend” would be il mio amico if you’re referring to a male friend, and la mia amica if you’re talking about a female friend.

How to Say Friends in Italian: Plural Forms

In Italian plural form, amico becomes amici, and amica becomes amiche. Plurals for masculine words and feminine words are not the same in Italian.

An important note: amici is used in two cases: while referring to a group of male friends, as well as referring to a group of a mixed group of male and female friends. Take a look at these two sentences, talking about different friends.

I miei amici, Sara e Rafael, sono venuti a trovarmi. “My friends, Sara and Rafael, came to visit me.”Rafael e Marco sono i miei amici. “Rafael and Marco are my friends.”

Amiche is used when the group of friends is made up of females only. In the example below, the group of friends involves two women.

Ho conosciuto le mie amiche Alice e Sara all’università. “I met my friends Alice and Sara at university.How to Say My Friends in Italian

I miei amici and le mie amiche mean “my friends” in Italian. The definite articles i and le are included before miei amici and mie amiche, as in other plural words.

There’s an exception to this rule: singular family members. For example, you wouldn’t say il mio padre, but you’d say mio padre (“my father”).

Is Amico Formal or Informal?

In Italian, the words amico and amica can be used in both informal and formal contexts. Here are some examples of how they are used informally, between friends, family members, and people you know well:

Mi sei mancata, amica mia! “I missed you, my friend!”Porta anche i tuoi amici, più siamo meglio è! “Bring your friends too, the more the merrier!”Ciao mamma! Questa è la mia amica Sara, lavoriamo insieme. “Hi mom! This is my friend Sara, we work together.”

In formal situations, amico and amica can mean collega (“colleague”). Here are two examples:

Ecco la mia amica e collega, la Dottoressa Martin, che parlerà della sua ricerca. “Here is my friend and colleague, Dr Martin, who will talk about her research.”Desidero presentarvi il mio amico l’architetto, che ha lavorato a molti progetti internazionali. “I would like to introduce you to my friend the architect, who has worked on many international projects.”Other Ways to Call Your Friends in Italian

As in other languages, Italian has slang words as well as endearment terms you can use to call your friends. You’ll also find regional differences — for example, in Milan, using zio and zia are common in slang. In Sicily, compà, short for compagno is more common.

Here are some common slang words and endearment terms in Italian, beyond amico and amica.

EnglishItalianAudio“Dude” (for male friends, slang. Its literal meaning is “uncle”)Zio

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Girl” (for female friends, slang. Its literal meaning is “aunt”)Zia

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Bro” (Abbreviation of “fratello, Italian word for “brother,” slang)Frate

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Bro” (Abbreviation of “fratello, Italian word for “brother,” slang)Fra

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Buddy”Compà

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Dear” (for male friends)Caro

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Dear” (for female friends)Cara

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Handsome” (for male friends)Bello

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Beautiful” (for female friends)Bella

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Example Sentences with Friend in Italian

Now that we’ve covered singular, plural, and slang ways of saying friend in Italian, let’s look at some example sentences.

EnglishItalianAudio“This is my friend, Maria.”Questa è la mia amica, Maria.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“My best friend is Antonio.”
Il mio migliore amico è Antonio.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“We have many friends in Italy.”Abbiamo tanti amici in Italia.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Tonight, I’m going out with my friends.”Stasera, esco con le mie amiche.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“You are a true friend.” (if speaking to a male friend)Sei un vero amico.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“You are a true friend.” (if speaking to a female friend)Sei una vera amica.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Hi bro, what are you doing tonight?”Ciao fra, che fai stasera?

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“Sis, are you coming to the party on Sunday?”Zia, vieni alla festa domani?

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎Expressions and Useful Phrases with Friend in Italian

How do you use amico and amica in natural phrases?

Chances are, you’ll want to talk about making friends and meeting up with friends while speaking Italian. Here are some useful vocabulary, along with some idiomatic expressions:

EnglishItalianAudio“To make friends”Fare amicizia ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To go out with friends”Uscire con gli amici‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To meet up with friends”Incontrarsi con gli amici‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To get along well with someone”Andare d'accordo con qualcuno‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To build a strong friendship”Costruire un'amicizia solida‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To keep in touch with friends”Mantenere i contatti con gli amici‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To be best friends”Essere migliori amici‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To be very close friends” (literal translation: to be friends of the heart)Essere amici del cuore (idiomatic expression)‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎“To be very close friends” (literal translation: friends for the skin)Essere amici per la pelle (idiomatic expression)‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎

Don’t forget to conjugate the verbs while using these expressions — for example, while using essere migliori amici, (“to be best friends”), you would need the right form of essere, as you would change the word “be” in English. “We are best friends” in Italian is siamo migliori amici.

Time to Impress Your Italian Friends

Tell your Italian friends siamo amici per la pelle or siamo amici del cuore (“we are very close friends”) to show how your Italian friendship vocabulary goes beyond amico!

As you continue learning Italian, make sure to mix vocabulary lists with resources that give insights to the Italian culture and expressions.

Learn Colors in Italian (With Audio)Learn Months of the Year in Italian (With Audio)A Guide to the Italian Alphabet and Italian Pronunciation (With Audio!)

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Published on June 17, 2024 04:00

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