Discover Spanish With Us » Adverbs

Patente

David — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:39:53 +0000

Patente, as an adjective, is patent with the idea of being clear, obvious or evident.

As an adverb it means clearly, or obviously.

As a feminine noun (and the reason I found this word interesting) it is a patent in the sense that we English speakers think about the word when applied to a registered idea or product. It can be used to mean a transportation tax, or a license plate. Any kind of registration (driver’s license or car registration) can also be called a patente. Also a registration fee paid to an association or organization can be a patente.

Poco Frecuente

David — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:41:53 +0000

Poco frecuente means to be infrequent. This site is going to be updated poco frecuente over the next couple of weeks.

We are moving out of Mexico for a year. During this time of packing and traveling, it has been hard to stay consistent in writing new words. We appreciate your patience with this, and hope that you still drop by for a visit. The best way to make sure you don’t miss any words is to subscribe to the RSS feed.

Empero

David — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:00:15 +0000

Empero means nevertheless. It was not an easy word to find in dictionaries. A good, more commonly used synonym, is sin embargo.

AÃºn / Aun

David — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:20:06 +0000

AÃºn (with the accent) means still. If it is used in a negative sentence it means yet. For example: AÃºn estamos aquÃ is We are still here. But AÃºn no fueron is They have not left yet.

However, aun (without the accent) is even. Therefore the example of Aun cuando fueron is Even though they left.

With the accent is still or yet and without the accent it is even.

Repente

David — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:39:12 +0000

Repente means a burst (of speed) or a fit (as in going wild). Most commonly this word is used in the phrase “de repente,” which means suddenly.

I had thought the term de repente meant maybe or perhaps, but since I have been in Mexico I have heard it used to mean immediately or all of a sudden. While reading up on the term I found out that in Peru the phrase de repente means maybe. Since I first started learning Spanish in Peru, that would explain why I thought it meant perhaps. Apparently, it is only used to mean maybe in Peru. Every where else uses it to mean suddenly.

Varonilmente

Stephanie — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:38:33 +0000

The word varonilmente has shown up the last few times at church. It is an interesting word. The base word is varÃ³n which means man. Varonilmente therefore is literally manly. It is also used to mean valiant.

Jamás

David — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:16:29 +0000

Often you will find jamás coupled with the word nunca to mean never ever (nunca jamás). Like nunca it can mean never. But I saw another use of the word last week that I had not noticed before. Jamás can also mean ever. Ever? How can it be never and ever at the same time?

It depends on where the word is used in relation to other words that determines which meaning you should associate with it. If used with nunca or without being closely preceded by a superlative, you can probably guess that it means never.

How does the superlative affect jamás? If you have a phrase such as “the best golfer who ever played” it would be translated “el mejor golfista que jamás jugado.” In that case the jamás does not mean never, but ever.

Therefore, jamás usually means never, but when you see it with a superlative (most, or -est in English) then it probably means ever.