Spanish Word of the Day: Espacio (space / room)

The English word space has several meanings, and learners of Spanish will be happy to know that the Spanish equivalent, espacio, encompasses almost all of these meanings as well. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Before we begin, let’s briefly examine its etymology. Espacio comes from the Latin spatium, a word of uncertain origin that carries …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Desaliñado (scruffy / dishevelled / messy)

An important adjective used to describe a person or animal with a scruffy, unkempt, dishevelled or slovenly appearance is desaliñado. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation It is made up of the negative prefix des- and the word aliñado, which means neat or well-groomed. Aliñado itself is derived from aliño, which comes from the Latin word …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Cepillo (brush)

In Spanish, any tool with bristles used for brushing hair or cleaning is referred to as a cepillo (brush). It is the combination of the noun cepo (meaning “branch”) and the diminutive suffix‎ -illo. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Cepillo is a masculine noun that takes the following definite and indefinite articles: Cepillos come in …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Vino (wine)

Spanish-speaking countries are famous worldwide for the extent and quality of their wines. Wine is a huge part of Spanish culture and can be drunk at almost any time of the day.  Typically wines produced in Europe are called old world wines and those produced in Latin America are called new world wines. Vinos de Rioja …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Pera (pear)

Pears are one of the yummiest and healthiest fruits around. These sweet and juicy fruits are called pera, meaning pear in English. The word originates from the Latin word pira, which is the plural form of pirium, meaning pear in English. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Pera is a feminine noun that takes the following …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Hierba (herb / grass)

When I was sick, my grandmother would always prepare various teas for me using different hierbas, a Spanish noun that refers to herbs and grass. Derived from the Latin word herba, meaning plant or vegetation, hierba is a term commonly used to describe the green, leafy plants that cover the ground or are used for …

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