¿Adónde está mi papá? ¿Dónde estás?

But wait a moment, What’s the difference between dónde and adónde?

 

At first it can be a bit confusing, but today you will learn the difference.

 

Here are definition and examples of each.

 

First…

Basically the word Dónde and Adónde mean Where

 

 

“Dónde” is used to define a location, that is, you use where when you want to know the location of a place, a person or a thing.

 

Examples:

 

a) Where is hotel Hilton?

¿Dónde está el hotel Hilton?

b) Where is the room?

¿Dónde está la habitación?

c) Where is the pencil?

¿Dónde está la pluma?

 

d) Where is my math book?

¿Dónde está mi libro de matemáticas?

e) Where is Maria?

¿Donde esta Maria?

f) Where you go, I go.

Donde vayas, yo voy.

 

g) Where is your home?

¿Dónde está tu casa?

h) Where is your Dad?

¿Dónde está tu papá?

“Adónde” it is common to use this expression when you ask someone for their destination.

 

Ejemplos:

 

a) Where are you all going?

¿Adónde van?

 

b) Where do I want to go?

¿Adónde quiero ir?

c) Where did you go?

¿Adónde fuiste?

d) Where will you go next summer?

¿Adónde vas a ir el próximo verano?

e) Where did you go on Vacation?

¿Adónde fuiste de vacaciones?

 

f) Where are they taking you?

¿Adónde te llevan?

 

g) Where are we going now?

¿Adónde vamos ahora?

 

h) Where do people go on vacation?

 ¿Adónde va la gente en vacaciones?

 

“Dónde” is a word that means the location of a place, person or thing. “Adónde” is what you use when you ask someone for their destination.

Taken from <em>Blania</em> <a href="https://www.blania.co/difference-between-donde-adonde/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.blania.co/difference-between-donde-adonde/</a>

Understanding the differences between Ser and Estar is difficult for most students of Spanish.

Often the subtle, nuanced differences are difficult to distinguish even for native Spanish speakers.

My intention here is to clear up some confusion and teach you the primary differences so you can master the two most important verbs in the Spanish language.

First, you will learn to distinguish the differences, then you can see examples of the most common uses with an English translation.

The most common, and perhaps simple, explanation for Ser is that it signifies a permanent state of being. Contrarily, Estar signifies a more temporary state of being.

However, there are exceptions to this explanation, for example both of these sentences are correct: Mi hermano es alto AND Mi hermano está alto.

 

It will be more clear if you understand:

 

 

a) Continuous or changing process. Example: el jarron esta roto (the jar is broken). It may be broken, but it can change its quality if we fix it.

b) Immediate experience. Example: You see a kid and you note if they are short or tall: ese niño esta alto (That child is tall). According to what we saw we say that the child has this characteristic and you can use Estar.

 

Ser is used to describe characteristics that are not changing, or generally accepted truths.

 

Example: El café es amargo (Coffee is bitter). This statement comes from a concrete and general reality. That is, we do not need to try coffee to know that this is always so.

 

What are the most common uses?

Below you will see how Ser and Estar are used in day to day Spanish.

 

Check it out:

 

a) Physical characteristics

 

Marco es Alto (Marco is Tall)

Mi amigo Ernesto es muy delgado (My friend Ernesto is very thin)

b) Dates and Time

 

Mañana es Miercoles (Tomorrow is Wednesday)

Son las Tres de la Tarde (It’s 3 pm)

c) Time and Place

 

La fiesta será el martes (The party will be Tuesday)

El concierto de Radiohead será en el Estadio Azteca (Radiohead concert will be at Aztec Stadium)

d) Character

Mi tio es aburrido (My uncle is boring)

Los niños son muy divertidos (Kids are funny)

e) Can be used when there is a passive voice

 

Las camas son hechas por María (The beds are made by Maria)

Las investigaciones son hechas por los científicos (The research is done by the Scientists)

f) Function of something

 

Esta máquina es para hacer helados (This machine is for making Ice-Cream)

La Lavadora es para lavar la ropa (The washer is for cleaning the clothes)

g) The cost of something, you can use Ser to ask for prices

 

¿Cuanto es por los zapatos? (How much for the shoes?)

¿ Cuanto es por el refresco? (How much for the Coke? )

h) Material of an object

 

Este Anillo es de Oro (This ring is gold)

Esta blusa es de Seda (This shirt is silk)

i) Possession

 

La pluma es del profesor (The pen is the teacher’s)

La computadora es de mi Hermano (The computer is of Professor)

j) Origin

 

Mi mejor amigo es de Peru (My best friend is from Peru)

Yo soy de Mexico (I’m from Mexico)

a) Health condition

 

Estoy muy enfermo (I’m very Sick)

Estoy enfermo del estomago (My stomach hurts)

b) Mood

 

Estoy muy triste (I’m very sad)

Mi tío está muy feliz por la llegada de su hijo (My uncle is very happy for the arrival of his new baby

c) The location of an event or monument

 

Mi hermano esta viendo el Fútbol en el Estadio Azteca (My brother is watching soccer at the Aztec Stadium)

Mi tia esta en una fiesta (My aunt is at a Party)

d) Age

 

Mi abuela esta muy joven (Mi grandmother is young)

Tus tíos estan muy viejos (Your uncles are old)

e) Price (These expressions is more common in Spain)

 

¿A cuánto están las papas? (How much do the potatoes cost? )

¿A cuanto están los frijoles (How much do the beans cost?)

f) When you are in someone’s company

 

Estoy con mi mamá (I’m with my Mom)

Estoy trabajando con un amigo (I’m working with a friend)

g) Actual price of Something

 

Este departamento esta en 1000 pesos al mes (This flats costs 1000 pesos per month)

Este mango está en 20 pesos (This mango costs 20 pesos)

h) With gerunds

 

Estoy trabajando (I’m working)

Mi hermano estaba cantando (My brother was singing)

i) To tell someone you have a relationship with another person

 

Desde hace un año estoy con Julio (I’ve been with Julio for five years)

Estoy con Maria desde hace tres años (I’ve been with Maria for three years)

There are conjugations with more nuanced uses where the differences between Ser and Estar become more difficult to distinguish, we’ll explore those more advanced uses in future posts!

Taken from Blania <a href="https://www.blania.co/difference-ser-estar/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.blania.co/difference-ser-estar/</a>

Even though Spanish derives from Latin, it has received a notable influence of other languages, and the use of loanwords have become part of the vocabulary of hispanohablantes (Spanish speaking people). Starting with this post, you are going to learn some of these words and their origins.

 

Latinismo

 

A Latinism is a word that comes or is directly derived from Latin. Most of them carry the same meaning they have in English. What follows is a list of the most common latinismos used in Spanish:

 

 

 

A posteriori: This one means “at a later date or stage”.

A priori: The opposite of “a posteriori”, that is, “at a previous point in time”.

Ad honorem: This adjective means “in an honorary position”. It also means to do a job without getting paid.

Alias: This word is placed before a nickname or an alternate name given to any one person.

Alter ego: Its meaning can be summed up as “alternate personality”.

Auditorio: This word comes from the same Latin word and means “auditorium”.

Contra natura: This loaned expression means “against nature” or “against accepted conventions”.

Credo: From Latin “credo” (I believe), it means “creed, belief system”.

De facto: This expression means the same as in English, “in actual use, in practice”.

Ergo: Though not frequent, it is sometimes used as a synonym for “luego, entonces” (therefore, consequently).

Statu quo: Originally meaning “the state which” in Latin, it is used to mean “the current state of things”.

Etcétera: From “et cetera” (and the other things), this adverb and its abbreviation “etc.” mean “and so forth”.

Grosso modo: Meaning “roughly, approximately”, it is a direct loan from Latin.

In situ: Sometimes used as an adjective to describe something is “in its original position or place”.

In vitro: It is an adverb particularly used in the field of science meaning “in an artificial environment”, as “in vitro” literally means “within glass”.

Incógnito: From Latin “not known”, it means “in disguise” or “without being known”, as with “Incognito mode” in some Web browsers.

Ipso facto: This adverb is not used the same way as in English; in Spanish, it means “immediately”.

Jabón: This word suffered a remarkable transformation from Latin “sapo”, whose English equivalent remained relatively unchanged: “soap”.

Memorándum: From the Latin verb “memorare” (to be remembered), it means “written note or communication”.

Modus operandi: As in English, this noun means “the way of working, of operating”, referring to a person or a group, especially with criminal intent.

Per cápita: This Latin expression (“capita” came from “caput”, “head”) is frequently used as an adjective in economics meaning “per person”.

Per se: This Latin adverb has the same use as in English: “by itself” or “in and of itself”.

Potestad: “Potestas” (power, ability) changed into this Spanish word to express “authority”, especially in the compound noun “patria potestad” (child custody).

Ultimátum: Related to the adjective “último” (final, last), this noun means “final statement of terms or conditions made by one person or group to another”.

Viceversa: From a Latin phrase meaning “the position having been reversed”, this adverb is used in the way as in English, the only difference being it is written as one word.

Vox populi: This Latin noun means the same in both English and Spanish: the opinions or beliefs of the majority.

Taken from Spanish Language Blog <a href="https://blogs.transparent.com/spanish/extranjerismos-in-spanish-part-1/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://blogs.transparent.com/spanish/extranjerismos-in-spanish-part-1/</a>