Monday, 22 October 2012

Viento


Today's WOTD is: "viento" = wind

In Spanish, “viento” is a masculine noun of Latin origin which means wind.

The Spanish describing word/ adjective “ventoso”/ “ventosa”* may be used to describe weather, a day, a season, a country, etc. as being windy.

*NB Please note that the word “ventosa” also exists in Spanish as a feminine noun, meaning suction pad.

Some related weather Spanish terms are:
  • Light wind/ breeze: “brisa”;
  • Strong wind/ gale: “vendaval”;


Some commonly used expressions containing the word "viento" are:
  • A los cuatro vientos (in all directions/ for all to hear/ to all and sundry);
  • Beber los vientos por alguien (to be in love/ crazy about someone)
  • Correr viento (to be windy/ draughty);
  • Correr malos vientos para algo (to be a bad time/ moment for something);
  • Contra viento y marea (against all the odds/ in the face of adversity);
  • Echar a alguien con viento fresco (to throw someone out on his/ her ear);
  • Hacer viento* (to be windy);
  • Instrumento de viento (musical wind instrument);
  • Mandar a alguien a tomar viento (to tell someone to get lost);
  • Molino de viento (windmill);
  • Molinos de viento (windmills/ fantastic imaginary enemies);
  • Quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades (he who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind);
  • Rosa de los vientos (compass card/ rose);
  • Soplar malos vientos para algo (to be a bad time/ moment for something);
  • Vientos alisios** (trade winds)
  • Viento a favor (tail wind);
  • Viento en contra (head wind);
  • Viento en popa (tail/ following wind, figuratively, all going well);
  • Viento solar (solar wind);

*NB In some parts, the use of 'hacer aire' is quite common.
**NB Plural expression

Some examples of the use of the word "viento" are:
  • Sin recatarse, lo proclamó a los cuatro viento (quite openly, he said it for all to hear);
  • Pedro bebe los vientos por ella (Pedro is crazy about her);
  • Aquí corre mucho viento (it is very windy/ draughty here);
  • Corren malos vientos para esa inversión (it is a bad time for that investment);
  • Soplan malos vientos para esa inversión (it is a bad time for that investment);
  • Lo conseguí contra viento y marea (I achieved it against all the odds);
  • A Pedro lo echaron con viento fresco (Pedro was thrown out on his ear);
  • Hoy hace mucho viento (today is very windy/ a very windy day);
  • La flauta es un instrumento de viento (the flute is a wind instrument);
  • Le mandé a tomar viento (I told him to get lost);
  • El molino de viento aprovecha la energía eólica (the windmill works on wind energy);
  • La flor de lis suele representar el Norte en la rosa de los vientos (the fleur-de-lis often represents the north on a compass card);
  • Los vientos alisios me ayudaron a llegar al Caribe (the trade winds helped me reach the Caribbean);
  • Navegábamos con viento a favor (we were sailing with a tail wind);
  • Pasamos todo el día con viento en contra (we had a whole day with a head wind);
  • Todo va viento en popa (everything is fine/ all is going well);
  • El efecto del viento solar (the solar wind effect);


Love-Spanish.com loves the word "viento" in the YouTube clip: Caifanes-Viento (con letra)


For more on the word "viento", visit: Wordreference.com/ Viento

*NB 'Click' on the speaker icon next to the word “viento” in the link to hear the word pronounced.

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