Author's Bio and Articles

Joanna Houseman

Photo of author

Thanks to family connections and work opportunities, Joanna has a lifelong affiliation with Spain and has been learning the Spanish language since the age of 12. Following university, Joanna spent a year living and working in Barcelona where her level of spoken Spanish was elevated to new levels (and she also dabbled in a little Catalan). Upon returning to the UK, she spent another year working for a Madrid based company whilst living in London, liaising every day with the factory in Spain. Joanna and her family then decided to up roots and move to Andalucía where they lived and worked for 12 years, fully integrated into Spanish village life and supporting the ex-pat community with their language challenges. Now living in Wales, Joanna has kept her connections to her village in Spain and returns as often as possible.


Spanish Word of the Day – Casualidad (coincidence / chance / fate)

Do you believe in fate? When something happens at the same time as something else by accident we call that a coincidence. In Spanish, the word for coincidence is casualidad. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation The word casualidad comes from casual, from Middle French casuel, from Medieval Latin casualitas and Late Latin cāsuālis meaning “happening …

Read more

Spanish Word of the Day – Mudanza (move / change)

Today, I’m writing about something currently happening in my life: I’m preparing to move house. In Spanish, when we talk about a move or a change in this context, we use the word mudanza, which originates from the Latin word mūtāre, meaning change. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Mudanza is a feminine noun and takes …

Read more

Spanish Word of the Day: Patata (potato)

With many people nowadays opting for a low-carb diet, they might be steering clear of my favourite food: potatoes. Interestingly, the English word potato actually comes from the Spanish patata, which itself has its roots in Latin America. It’s reported that the sweet potato was the first type of potato the Spanish encountered during their …

Read more

Spanish Word of the Day – Profundo (deep)

A useful word to know when discussing feelings or various other situations is profundo, the Spanish word for deep. Profundo comes from the Latin profundus, which shares the same meaning. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation As an adjective, profundo must agree with the subject it is describing in both gender and quantity. Ella tenía sentimientos …

Read more

Spanish Word of the Day – Máquina (machine)

A very useful word to know is the Spanish term for machine – máquina. This word can describe many essential items in the modern world. It derives from the Latin machina, meaning a machine or engine, and originates from the Ancient Greek μαχανά (makhaná), which carries the same meaning. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Máquina …

Read more