Author's Bio and Articles

Jennyfer Monsalve

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Jennyfer is a graduate of Universidad de Antioquia in Early Childhood Education and a passionate educator from Colombia. With a focus on teaching Spanish as a second language, she brings creativity and cultural richness to their classrooms. Outside of teaching, she enjoys painting.


Spanish Word of the Day: Ropa (clothes)

Many of my students often find the word ropa a bit confusing when it comes to using it in different contexts. Although it’s typically translated as clothing or clothes, ropa actually traces back to the late Latin term raupa, which referred to a robe or garment. Interestingly, ropa also shares a linguistic link with the …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Costar (to cost)

The verb costar is one of the first you should learn if you are planning to visit a Hispanic country. Costar comes from the Latin verb constare, which means to stand firm or to consist of. Over time, this meaning evolved into having a price or requiring a certain effort or value. Latin American Pronunciation …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Tener (to have)

The verb tener is one of the most useful and versatile verbs in Spanish.  Tener comes from the Latin verb tenēre, which means to hold or to possess. The Latin root ten- is found in various Romance languages and retains similar meanings related to possession or holding. The Indo-European root ten- means to stretch or …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Emoción (emotion)

I once heard someone describe Spanish as a beautiful language because it’s filled with emoción. While I can’t say for sure if that’s true, it did get me thinking about the word itself. Emoción comes from the Latin emotio, which is derived from emovere (where e- means “out” and movere means “to move”). This idea …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Tertulia (gathering / discussion group)

There’s nothing I enjoy more than spending time with my friends, chatting for hours about all kinds of topics. In Spanish, we’d call these gatherings tertulias, which perfectly captures the lively, meaningful conversations we share. The word tertulia is believed to have originated from the name of a Roman philosopher and Christian writer, Tertullian (Tertuliano …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Apapachar (to pamper / to cuddle)

It has been raining non-stop in my city this week, and it seems like the perfect weather to apapachar my husband and my dog. The word apapachar has a rich cultural significance, originating from the Nahuatl word papatzoa, which means to soften or caress with your fingers. This indigenous language, spoken by the Aztecs, has …

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