Differences in English and Spanish language
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English and Spanish are two widely spoken languages in the world. Despite their differences, they also share some similarities. Some differences in these languages are in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. In this blog post, we will explore them further.
False Friends:
One of the most common mistakes language learners make is the use of false friends.
False friends are words that sound or look similar in both languages but have different meanings.
For example, the word 'embarazada' in Spanish means pregnant, but in English, it means embarrassed.
Similarly, the word 'actual' in Spanish means current, but in English, it means real or existing.
The Spanish word "compromiso" means "commitment" in English, but it can also mean "compromise," which is a different concept.
Finally, the English word "eventually" means "finally" or "at some point in the future," but in Spanish, "eventualmente" means "possibly" or "potentially."
Vocabulary Differences:
There are also some vocabulary differences between English and Spanish that can be quite funny. For example, in Spanish, the word for "diving goggles" is "gafas de buceo," which literally translates to "glasses of diving." This is in contrast to English, where they are simply called "goggles."
Another example is the Spanish word, "coger" which means "to grab" or "to pick up," but it is also a vulgar slang term in some Latin American countries, meaning "to have sex."
So be careful with your vocabulary!
Pronunciation:
Pronunciation is another area where Spanish and English differ. English is known for having many silent letters, making it difficult for Spanish speakers to learn how to pronounce certain words. Spanish, on the other hand, has a more consistent pronunciation, with each letter having a clear sound.
Other differences include:
English has many words with silent letters, such as "knight" or "psychology," which can be challenging for Spanish speakers to pronounce correctly.
Spanish has a rolling "r" sound that can be difficult for English speakers to master, such as in the word "perro" (dog).
Check out more pronunciation mistakes in this video:
Grammar:
Finally, there are some differences in grammar between English and Spanish. For example, in Spanish, the adjective usually comes after the noun, whereas in English, it comes before. This can lead to some humorous mix-ups, such as when a Spanish speaker says "the car blue" instead of "the blue car." Other examples of grammar differences include:
In English, we say "I am hungry," but in Spanish, it is "tengo hambre," which literally translates to "I have hunger."
In Spanish, it is common to use the reflexive pronoun "se" to indicate a passive voice, which can be confusing for English speakers, such as in the sentence "se venden coches" (cars are sold).
In conclusion, English and Spanish may have some differences, but they also share some similarities. Learning a new language is a fun and exciting adventure, and these differences can add to the humour and enjoyment of the learning process.
Whether you are a native speaker of English or Spanish, take the time to appreciate the quirks and nuances of these fascinating languages.
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Categories: : Grammar & Vocabulary