Spanish Word of the Day: Préstamo (loan)

Lately, I’ve been considering taking out a loan to finance my new business venture. In Spanish, when we talk about a loan in this context, we use the word préstamo, which originates from the Latin word praestare, meaning to provide or to lend, a term commonly used in financial, academic, and everyday settings. Latin American …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Llorar (cry)

Llorar comes from the Latin word lacrimare, which means to shed tears. In English, it translates to cry. It is related to the Latin word lacrima, meaning tear in English. In Spanish, the word tear is lágrima, which sounds quite similar to Latin. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Llorar is a regular -er verb that …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Parpadear (to blink / to flutter)

The word parpadear, meaning to blink or to flutter, originated from the Latin word palpāre. The original meaning was to touch lightly or to flutter, but over time the word evolved to today’s current meaning.  Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation The word parpadear is an action verb in its base form. It mainly refers to …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Ardilla (squirrel)

The word ardilla (squirrel) comes from the Latin word ardere, which means to burn. It’s believed that the word was given to the ardilla because of the energy and speed with which these cute and furry animals move. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Ardilla is a feminine noun and takes the following definite and indefinite …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Tocino (bacon)

The word tocino derives from the Latin word tursinus, meaning fat or grease. Tocino is bacon in English and it’s what we know as the cured fat we get from pork. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation Tocino is a masculine noun, countable or uncountable. Therefore, its English plural form can be bacon or bacons, though …

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Spanish Word of the Day: Ojalá (hopefully)

The word ojalá originates from the Arabic phrase in shā’ Allāh, translating to if God wills or God willing. This reflects the historical influence of the Moorish occupation of Spain, which lasted from 711 to 1492. Latin American Pronunciation European Pronunciation The best translations for ojalá are I hope, I wish, and hopefully, a term frequently …

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