Comments for Discover Spanish With Us

Comment on Muelle by Malecón

Malecón — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:52:17 +0000

[…] with the word muelle being used to mean pier or jetty, the word malecón can also mean the same thing. But when I have […]

Comment on Abarrotes by David

David — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:01:01 +0000

I can understand the idea of stocking up to mean a grocery store.

I know that different areas, even within the US, have their own colloquial name for things like this. I am curious as to what I will find when I travel to Perú and Argentina next year.

Comment on Marcha by David

David — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:16:29 +0000

Yes, they use the word ‘velocidad.’ That word has never set well with me, but that is what they use. They may use other words as well, but that is the most common one I have heard.

When your vehicles are 15 and 18 years old you spend a lot of time talking with mechanics.

Comment on Marcha by Bilingual Blogger

Bilingual Blogger — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:27:17 +0000

Hmm, I always thought when it came to cars, that “marcha” meant “gear”. So, do you know what term Mexican mechanics use for the word “gear”?

Comment on Campamento by Bilingual Blogger

Bilingual Blogger — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:22:33 +0000

This is one of those Spanish words that looks like it would be a “falso amigo” but lo and behold, it’s not!

Comment on Abarrotes by Bilingual Blogger

Bilingual Blogger — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:20:07 +0000

When it comes to groceries, cultural references and whatever is happening in the society, always comes into play. In parts of Spain, these little corner grocery stores are called “los chinos” because they are frequently operated by Chinese people, whereas in New York City, they might be called “bodegas” or “Korean deli.”

I’m wondering if in the case of “abarrotar” somewhere in the past somebody associated that word with the idea of stocking up on food and with time a kind of shorthand association got made that turned into idea into the concept of “groceries.”

When I initially read this post I made the association between “abarrotes” and “provisions.”

Just my 2 cents.

Comment on Mueble by Cathy Henning

Cathy Henning — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:58:55 +0000

I think it is funny to refer to your car as a mueble.

Comment on Manejar by David

David — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:32:02 +0000

True, bear in mind I’m posting from a Mexican’s perspective.

It is good to know I am not crazy then. I hear the Mexicans use the word ‘conducir’ a lot, but ‘manejar’ is the word that comes to mind for me. So it is perfectly fine for me to use ‘manejar.’

Thanks for your input.

Comment on Manejar by Amy

Amy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:25:42 +0000

True, bear in mind I’m posting from a Mexican’s perspective.

Comment on Manejar by David

David — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:26:26 +0000

Amy, that is the way I learned the word when I was in Peru. Here in Mexico they use it to mean drive, but more commonly the word ‘conducir’ is used.

I wonder in which countries ‘manejar’ is dominantly used to mean to drive than to control or use?