Fachada

Today's WOTD is: "fachada" = façade

In Spanish, “fachada” is a feminine noun of Italian origin, the main meaning of which is façade or facade, as in:

• La fachada de la catedral está en proceso de restauración (the façade of the cathedral is undergoing restoration);

The noun “fachada” may also mean front or appearance, as in:

• Tras esa fachada de pobre se esconde un millonario (behind that appearance of a pauper a millionaire is hidden);

A Spanish expression with the word “fachada” is:

• Fachada acristalada (glass façade);

Love-Spanish.com loves the word "fachada" in the YouTube clip: LaFachada de Piedra Callejon sin salida, MAB Producciones

For more on the word "fachada", visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Fachada

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

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When Will They Sign You Off To Go Back To Work?

Introduction

This post showcases/ highlights a typical use of the verb dar^*.

SCENARIO

Imagine you are talking to a relative, a friend or a work colleague about you being off work with illness and your impending return to work.

At some point, the other person says: "when will they sign you off to go back to work?"

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:

¿Cuándo te dan de alta?

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be more formal and say:

¿Cuándo le dan a usted de alta?

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OUR TIP

Answering this question should be straightforward. A time/ date may be sufficient. However, you may use the expression dar de alta to make your answer more informative.

Here are some examples of how you could use that expression:

• Me dan de alta mañana (they will sign me off to work tomorrow);
• Me dan de alta pasado mañana (they will sign me off to work the day after tomorrow);
• Me dan de alta el lunes que viene (they will sign me off to work next Monday);
• Me dan de alta la semana que viene (they will sign me off to work next week);
• Me dan de alta el mes que viene (they will sign me off to work next month);
• Me dan de alta el día cinco del mes que viene (they will sign me off to work on the 5^th of next month);
• Me dan de alta el año que viene (they will sign me off to work next year);

Now you should practise answering the question:

¿Cuándo te dan de alta?

*See uses of verb dar below

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*Verb Dar - Typical Uses/ Expressions

Dar alcance a	To catch up with someone/ something
Dar apuro	To cause embarrassment/ to make one feel embarrassed
Dar asco	To cause nausea/ to make one feel nauseated
Dar calabazas	To reject/ to give the brush off
Dar caña	To hurry/ to harry/ to speed up
Dar celos	To cause jealousy/ to make one feel jealous
Dar clase de	To teach a subject
Dar corte	To cause embarrassment/ to make one feel embarrassed
Dar cosa	To cause fear/ unease/ discomfort
Dar de alta	To discharge/ To give the all clear (medical)
Dar de baja	To give leave (medical)
Dar de sí	To be elastic/ stretchable
Dar envidia	To cause envy/ make one feel envy
Dar ganas de	To feel like doing something
Dar lástima	To be in a sorry state/ to move someone to feel pity
Dar miedo	To cause fear/ to make one feel frightened
Dar pena	To cause pity/ sadness
Dar rabia	To anger/ to make one mad
Dar vergüenza	To cause embarrassment/ to make one feel embarrassed
Darse cita	To meet/ to come together
Darse prisa	To hurry up
No dar abasto	To be overloaded/ To be unable to cope

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Aroma

Today's WOTD is: "aroma" = aroma

In Spanish, “aroma” is a masculine noun of Latin/ Greek origin, the main meaning of which is aroma, fragrance or scent as in:

• El aroma de la lavanda me resulta relajante (I find the scent of lavender relaxing);

The term “aroma” is also used to refer to the bouquet of wines in Spanish.

A related describing word/ adjective is “aromático”/ “aromática”^* means aromatic, or scented as in:

• En esa tienda venden velas aromáticas (they sell scented candles in that shop);

*NB The expression “hierbas aromáticas” is often used to refer to plants commonly employed in the Mediterranean cuisine.

Some Spanish expressions with the word “aroma” are:

• Aroma de menta (aroma of mint/ scent of mint);
• Aroma franco (honest bouquet -wine);
• Aroma natural (natural scent);
• Conservar el aroma (to keep the aroma);

Love-Spanish.com loves the word "aroma" in the YouTube clip: Aroma -Amor De Tres

For more on the word "aroma", visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Aroma

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

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It Is Eleven O'Clock

SCENARIO

Imagine a relative, a friend or a work colleague is asking you: "what time is it?"

In Spanish, the other person could say:

¿Qué hora es?

Now 'click' on the speaker icon below to listen to the other person's question.

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The Time is:

The question above is an invitation for you to say what time it is.

Looking at the clock, you see the time is eleven o'clock, so in Spanish you should say:


Son las once (en punto)

Now 'click' on the speaker icon below to listen to the time in Spanish.

Now you should practise answering the question:

¿Qué hora es?

If your system/ device supports it, you may use the widget below to record and listen to your answers.

Powered by Vocaroo

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Are Those People Your Parents?

Introduction

This post is about the use of describing words/ adjectives in general, and more specifically about the use of the masculine/ plural form of demonstrative adjectives -demostrativos.

SCENARIO

Imagine you talking to a relative or a work colleague about family/ relatives. Looking at a picture, the other person who doesn't know your family says: "are those people your parents?".

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:

¿Esos señores son tus padres?

Alternatively, he/ she could choose to be a little bit more formal and say:

¿Esos señores son sus padres?

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OUR TIP

The answer to this question is quite straightforward. You should pay particular attention to noun-adjective agreement -see grammar notes below^*.

Here are some sample replies:

• Sí, esos^* señores son mis padres (yes, those people are my parents);
• No, esos^* señores no son mis padres (no, those people are not my parents);
• No, esos^* señores son unos amigos de mis padres (no, those people are friends of my parents);

Now you should practise answering the question:

¿Esos señores son tus padres?

*NB See Grammar below

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^*Grammar-Adjectives

	Gender	Number	Adjective
señor	masculine	singular	ese
señores	masculine/ mixed	plural	esos
señora	feminine	singular	esa
señoras	feminine	plural	esas

Noun-Adjective Agreement

See notes below on Noun-Adjective agreement

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Noun-Adjective Agreement

In Spanish describing words/ adjectives have to agree in gender and number with the noun(s) they describe.

Adjectives -Gender

Many Spanish describing words/ adjectives have two forms:

• A masculine gender form (for example, alto)
• A similar, but different feminine gender (for example, alta).

A few Spanish describing words/ adjectives have one single form for both masculine and feminine (for example, inteligente).

Every time you use a describing word which has two separate forms (for example, alto/ alta), you need to choose the form which matches the gender (masculine/ feminine) what you are describing.

Adjectives -Number

In contrast with English, Spanish describing words/ adjectives have also plural^* forms. Every time you use a describing word with a plural noun (for example, señores), you must use the plural form of the corresponding describing word/ adjective (for example, esos).

You should use the masculine/ plural form of a describing word/ adjective when it describes multiple persons/ things of different grammatical genders.

*NB View posts with details about the plural of Spanish words here.

Adjectives -Use

All the practical examples in this post refer to more than one person, señores (gentlemen/ ladies and gentlemen). Consequently, they require the masculine/ plural form of a describing word/ adjective, for example, esos.

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Gerente

Today's WOTD is: "gerente" = manager

In Spanish, “gerente” is a masculine noun of Latin origin, the main meaning of which is manager (male^*) as in:

• El gerente ha dimitido (the manager has resigned);

*NB Although the feminine form “gerenta” could be used when meaning a female manager, it is quite common to use the term “gerente”.

Some Spanish expressions with the word “gerente” are:

• Gerente comercial (business manager);
• Gerente de compras (purchasing manager);
• Gerente de cuenta (account manager);
• Gerente de desarollo (development manager);
• Gerente de logística (logistics manager);
• Gerente de producto (product manager);
• Gerente de proyecto (project manager);
• Gerente de ventas (sales manager);
• Gerente general (general manager);

Love-Spanish.com loves the word "gerente" in the YouTube clip: Pipeyy El Micha- Gerente

For more on the word "gerente", visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Gerente

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

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