En inglés la expresión "el boca a boca" se traduce como "by word of mouth" cuya definición es:
Word of mouth refers to oral communication and the passing of information from person to person. Storytelling is the oldest form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others of something, whether a real event or something made up. (Wikipedia)
For example: " They are promoting their business by word of mouth."
29/5/11
Desayuno - Breakfast
Hay palabras cuya formación y significado es bastante curioso.
For example: The word breakfast comes from break and fast.
Break means romper and fast means ayunar.
So the word means: "romper el ayuno" (después de la noche)
Have you ever thought that in Spanish it is exactly the same?
Des - ayunar
For example: The word breakfast comes from break and fast.
Break means romper and fast means ayunar.
So the word means: "romper el ayuno" (después de la noche)
Have you ever thought that in Spanish it is exactly the same?
Des - ayunar
23/5/11
Sobre las elecciones
Después de las elecciones hay que seguir aprendiendo inglés :) soooo...here you have an exercise to fill the gaps:
Spain
Spanish socialists suffer heavy election losses
With 91% of municipal votes counted, the centre-right Popular Party (PP) had almost a 10-percentage point ..................., the interior ministry said. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero conceded defeat but ruled out early general elections.
Voting took place amid mass protests against high unemployment and the government's handling of the economy.
Mr Zapatero said three years of economic crisis had taken their toll. "It destroyed thousands of jobs. It is a crisis that had profound effects on citizens' morale. I know that many Spaniards suffer great .................... and fear for their futures," he said. "Today, without doubt, they expressed their discontent," he added.
However, he vowed to .................... job-creating reforms until the end of his mandate. At this point, a general election must be ................... by March of next year.
Jubilant PP supporters celebrated outside their party headquarters in Madrid
In municipal elections, the PP won by about two million votes, compared ................ its victory margin of 150,000 in 2007. The Socialist party also lost bastions such as the town halls in Barcelona and Seville
Prime Minister Zapatero's government has been ........................ to overcome recession and create jobs. Prime Minister Zapatero says voters expressed their discontent ...................... Spain Spain
......................., thousands of young protesters remain camped out in squares across the country. What began as a sit-in in Madrid
About 30,000 people were estimated to have occupied the central square in the run-up to the vote. The protests, which have also taken place in cities including Barcelona , Valencia , Seville and Bilbao
Demonstrators ........................ a government ................. on political protests on the eve of the election. On Sunday protesters in Puerta del Sol voted to stay in the square until at least 29 May. "Our ................. to press on is at maximum level," said spokesman Francisco Minarro, 32.
peaceful | turned | zeal | held | defied |
ban | soared | at | Meanwhile | struggling |
being | to | lead | pursue | hardship |
19/5/11
Indignados
El Washington Post se hace eco del movimiento social "Democracia Real YA".
Vocabulario útil antes de leer la noticia:
Demonstration: manifestación
Political party: partido político (el plural es "parties")
Ban: prohibición
Protest: protestar
Economic crisis: crisis económica
Regional elections: eleciones municipales
Ruling: sentencia
Complaints: quejas
Corrupt: corrupto
Austerity measures: medidas de austeridad
Unemployment rate: tasa de desempleo
To lay off: despedir
Protesters: manifestantes
The Madrid electoral board banned the demonstration Wednesday evening saying it could influence the elections Sunday. But the ruling appeared to have the opposite affect and — spurred on by social media messages — thousands of people of all ages swarmed into the square.
Some 500 riot police stood guard but did not intervene.
Similar overnight protests, albeit smaller in size, have taken place in several cities, including Barcelona and Seville, in recent days.
The demonstrators have a range of complaints but are united behind the slogan of “Genuine Democracy Now.”
They see the mainstream political parties as incompetent, corrupt and pro-business and are angry that ordinary people have had to suffer the brunt of the austerity measures aimed at resolving the economic crisis.
Spain is battling to emerge from nearly two years of recession that has left it with a swollen deficit and a staggering 21.3 percent unemployment rate.
The demonstrations, initially organized by students and unemployed and disaffected youths, are a spillover from countrywide demonstrations last Sunday. They have triggered a lively debate throughout the country on how the crisis has been handled by the politicians and financial institutions.
Jose Delgado Marquez, a 72-year-old retiree, said he went to the protest Wednesday out of solidarity with his children.
“Fortunately, they have work but they earn next to nothing and are always worried about getting laid off,” Marquez told the Associated Press. “This movement has to carry on. The protesters have to stick it out.”
In Madrid, the protesters set up tents to keep dry or protect them from the sun. They used cardboard sheets to lie on and distributed blankets. They also set up free food and drink stalls.
The ruling Socialist party of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is tipped to suffer a resounding defeat in the local elections. In turn, the leading conservative opposition Popular Party is expected to make huge gains.
General elections are not scheduled until 2012.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/thousands-stage-demonstrations-in-spanish-cities-to-protest-political-parties-crisis-handling/2011/05/19/AFZuq16G_story.html
Vocabulario útil antes de leer la noticia:
Demonstration: manifestación
Political party: partido político (el plural es "parties")
Ban: prohibición
Protest: protestar
Economic crisis: crisis económica
Regional elections: eleciones municipales
Ruling: sentencia
Complaints: quejas
Corrupt: corrupto
Austerity measures: medidas de austeridad
Unemployment rate: tasa de desempleo
To lay off: despedir
Protesters: manifestantes
Thousands stage demonstrations in Spanish cities to protest political parties, crisis handling
Thousands of Spaniards defied a ban on a pre-election demonstration and mounted a protest camp in the heart of the Spanish capital to express anger at political parties and the country’s handling of the economic crisis.
The crowds packed Puerta del Sol square overnight Thursday and pledged to stay there until after municipal and regional elections this weekend.The Madrid electoral board banned the demonstration Wednesday evening saying it could influence the elections Sunday. But the ruling appeared to have the opposite affect and — spurred on by social media messages — thousands of people of all ages swarmed into the square.
Some 500 riot police stood guard but did not intervene.
Similar overnight protests, albeit smaller in size, have taken place in several cities, including Barcelona and Seville, in recent days.
The demonstrators have a range of complaints but are united behind the slogan of “Genuine Democracy Now.”
They see the mainstream political parties as incompetent, corrupt and pro-business and are angry that ordinary people have had to suffer the brunt of the austerity measures aimed at resolving the economic crisis.
Spain is battling to emerge from nearly two years of recession that has left it with a swollen deficit and a staggering 21.3 percent unemployment rate.
The demonstrations, initially organized by students and unemployed and disaffected youths, are a spillover from countrywide demonstrations last Sunday. They have triggered a lively debate throughout the country on how the crisis has been handled by the politicians and financial institutions.
Jose Delgado Marquez, a 72-year-old retiree, said he went to the protest Wednesday out of solidarity with his children.
“Fortunately, they have work but they earn next to nothing and are always worried about getting laid off,” Marquez told the Associated Press. “This movement has to carry on. The protesters have to stick it out.”
In Madrid, the protesters set up tents to keep dry or protect them from the sun. They used cardboard sheets to lie on and distributed blankets. They also set up free food and drink stalls.
The ruling Socialist party of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is tipped to suffer a resounding defeat in the local elections. In turn, the leading conservative opposition Popular Party is expected to make huge gains.
General elections are not scheduled until 2012.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/thousands-stage-demonstrations-in-spanish-cities-to-protest-political-parties-crisis-handling/2011/05/19/AFZuq16G_story.html
15/5/11
Sano y salvo
"A pesar del mal tiempo, llegamos sanos y salvos"
"Despite the bad weather, we arrived safe and sound"
"Despite the bad weather, we arrived safe and sound"
12/5/11
Terremoto en Lorca - Spanish earthquake
Aquí tenéis la noticia del terremoto en Lorca por la BBC a modo de ejercicio. Rellena los huecos con las palabras de la tabla. My condolences to Lorca.
Spain
Spain Murcia Mediterranean Sea where the European and African continents meet.
Thousands of people have spent the night outdoors in the southern Spanish town of Lorca
The magnitude-5.2 tremor toppled several buildings after striking at a depth of just 10km (six miles), 120km south-west of Alicante Spain
Regional officials on Thursday put the official (2) ....................... at eight, revising it down from 10. It is not clear how many people were (3) ....................., although Spanish media say there are dozens with some in a critical condition.
Shocked residents and workers (4).................. out of buildings and (5).................... in squares, parks and open spaces after the quake (6)....................... at 18:47 in the town in Murcia
The Red Cross had set up a temporary (11) ................. with 800 beds on the (12)................ of town, but many people preferred to "sleep outside" to be near their homes or for fear of aftershocks, (13).................... Carla Vera said. Many people spent the night (14)........................ under blankets in parks and other open spaces including an outdoor basketball court and playgrounds.
"We know we live near a fault line but we never thought this would happen," Lorca resident Pepe Tomas, 56, said. "People are (15).................. No-one here has ever seen anything like this before." Ms Vera said the Red Cross has moved in 24 ambulances and set up three ambulances. The interior ministry says 225 emergency military units and 400 workers, including rescuers with dogs, have been (16)............. to Lorca. Some 350 ambulances have transferred 400 patients out of two of the town's hospitals, the regional government said.
gathered | noticed | badly | spokeswoman | close to |
sent | beneath | crushed | death toll | suffered |
afraid | shelter | injured | unable | fear |
edge | crashing | struck | rushed | huddled |
More about the earthquake: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13371472
10/5/11
Salsa!!
Richard loves dancing salsa!
Listen to him and answer these questions:
Where and what was he studying?
Did he go there alone or with his friends?
Where were the girls in the school from?
Were they friendly?
Why did Richard start dancing salsa?
Which factors are important when dancing salsa?
Listen to him and answer these questions:
Where and what was he studying?
Did he go there alone or with his friends?
Where were the girls in the school from?
Were they friendly?
Why did Richard start dancing salsa?
Which factors are important when dancing salsa?
7/5/11
Jamón y mermelada
Hay dos palabras que crean bastante confusión para los españoles: jamón y mermelada.
Jamón es ham, si hablamos de serrano y cooked ham si hablamos de "jamón york".
La pronunciación es /hæm/ pronunciando la h como en "hello".
Mermelada es jam y se pronuncia /dʒæm/ como John.
Sin embargo en USA mermelada es jelly /'dʒeli/
Nosotros no distinguimos entre los distintos tipos de mermeladas, pero en el mundo anglosajón si la mermelada es de cítricos, entonces la llaman marmalade /'mɑ:rməleɪd /'.
Some examples
British English: I love strawberry jam but I don't like orange marmalade.
American English: I love strawberry and orange jelly.
Jamón es ham, si hablamos de serrano y cooked ham si hablamos de "jamón york".
La pronunciación es /hæm/ pronunciando la h como en "hello".
Mermelada es jam y se pronuncia /dʒæm/ como John.
Sin embargo en USA mermelada es jelly /'dʒeli/
Nosotros no distinguimos entre los distintos tipos de mermeladas, pero en el mundo anglosajón si la mermelada es de cítricos, entonces la llaman marmalade /'mɑ:rməleɪd /'.
Some examples
British English: I love strawberry jam but I don't like orange marmalade.
American English: I love strawberry and orange jelly.
2/5/11
False friends
False friends: son palabras que se parecen (escritas o pronunciadas) a palabras de otro idioma pero que tienen distinto significado. Por eso decimos que son nuestros “falsos amigos” ya que nos pueden llevar a confusiones y “engaños”.
Dos de las más conocidas son:
To be constipated (estar estreñido), en español pensaríamos que la traducción es “estar constipado” (¡¡muy lejos de la realidad!!)
“I’ve been constipated for three days so I am going to have a couple of Activia yoghurts”
To be embarrassed (estar avergonzado), y no estar embarazada.
“I acted like a fool at the party, I feel so embarrassed now!”
More false friends:
Actually: realmente
“ I’ve lived in Spain nearly all my life but actually I was born in Scotland”
Eventually: finalmente, después de un largo periodo de tiempo.
She refused to go out with me but I insisted and eventually she agreed.
Argument: discusión, pelea
“My children are always having arguments at lunchtime”
Sensible: sensato
“Despite of being so young, he is a really sensible guy”
Sensitive: sensible
“She is too sensitive, she is always crying!”
To realize: darse cuenta de algo
“When I realized the time it was too late”
Ahora veamos cómo se dicen las siguientes palabras en inglés:
Estar constipado: to have a cold
“I have a cold, so I am afraid I can’t go for a swim today”
Estar embarazada: to be pregnant
“A lot of my friends are pregnant right now”
Actualmente: currently/ nowadays/at the moment/now/at present
“I’m currently working as an English teacher”
“Nowadays it is difficult to find a good job”
Eventualmente: possibly
“I could possibly go to visit you”
Argumento: plot
“I loved the plot of that scary film”
Realizar: to make
“The theatre group made an outstanding performance”
“I’m going to make a phone call as soon as we finish”
(More false friends coming soon!!)
1/5/11
Jason Mraz "I'm yours"
La letra de esta canción es muy interesante por la cantidad de phrasal verbs que tiene. Un phrasal verb es un verbo junto con una preposición o adverbio que modifica el significado del verbo. p.ej. get up / look after / take off
He escrito el significado de estos verbos en la canción, ya que pueden tener más de un significado y también algunas palabras de vocabulario que considero importante aprender. Por cierto, what a beautiful song!!!Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
you bet = you can be sure
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
To be chill = ser frio to chill = relax, take it easy, not get overexcited
To be hot= caliente (sexy) To melt= derretir
I fell right through the cracks, now I'm trying to get back
I fell right through the cracks, now I'm trying to get back
To fall=caer To get back = volver
Before the cool done run out I'll be giving it my best test
Before the cool done run out I'll be giving it my best test
To run out =acabar
And nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
Aquí “but” significa sino/mas, por lo que la frase significa que nada le va a parar excepto la intervención divina.
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some
To reckon= en este caso es como “I think” = “Creo que otra vez se me presenta la oportunidad de ganar o, si no, de aprender algo”
But I won't hesitate no more, no more
But I won't hesitate no more, no more
To hesitate= dudar
It cannot wait, I'm yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and then you're free
It cannot wait, I'm yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and then you're free
open up = abrir plenamente. En sentido figurado también es sincerarse por lo que puede tener un doble sentido.
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Look into your heart and you will find love,love, love, love
look into= investiga/examina tu corazón
look into= investiga/examina tu corazón
Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing
We're just one big family
And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved
We're just one big family
And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved
Godforsaken = de la mano de Dios, ser amados es nuestro derecho
So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours
So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours
Fate= destino
I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
looking at myself in the mirror unsure of myself, of my looks, of my worth
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
To bend over= reclinarse
bend over backwards to do something = making a supreme effort
But my breath fogged up the glass
bend over backwards to do something = making a supreme effort
But my breath fogged up the glass
fog up = empañar
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I be saying is there ain't no better reason
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I be saying is there ain't no better reason
There ain’t = there is not (colloquial)
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
To rid = deshacerse (deshacerte de tus vanidades/orgullo)
Go with the seasons= dejarse llevar – go with the flow, let it be...
It's what we aim to do, our name is our virtue
To aim = aspirar (es lo que aspiramos a hacer)
But I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours
Open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
This is our fate, I'm yours
Open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours
……..I'm yours
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