Spanish Translation & Interpretation Services
Whether you need English to Spanish or Español al Inglés translation or interpretation services, you’ve found the right place. With over 35 years of experience delivering high-quality language services, Rapport International delivers on time and on budget every time, backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Learn some common and unique words in Spanish.
There are over 7,000 living languages, each adding thousands of new words to its lexicon annually. These neologisms – newly coined words – are repurposed from existing words, born out of abbreviations and eponyms, popularized slang terms and portmanteau (“iPod” and “broadcast” become “podcast,” for example), and loanwords. The ever-changing nature of language and the rich cultural diversity of how language is used and perceived are a couple of the reasons AI and machine translation often make mistakes. When accuracy and quality are paramount, professional human translators are the only choice.
Loanwords from Spanish into English
Loanwords are words adopted from a foreign language with little to no modification. Some Spanish loanwords now common to the English language include:
Weaponry and the military – guerrilla, flotilla, armada, machete
Animal names – chinchilla, alligator, cockroach, iguana
Food and drink – potato, banana, anchovy, vanilla
Common Spanish Words
Apart from pronouns or articles like “I” or “the,” some common words in American English include time, good, and person. Some common words in Spanish include:
- Hola – means hello in English.
- Amor – means love in English.
- Gracias – means thank you in English.
- Felicidad – means happiness in English.
Complex and Difficult Spanish Words
Every language includes words that are difficult to say or learn. Here are some challenging Spanish words:
- Impermeabilizante – means waterproofing in English.
- Ferrocarril – means railway in English.
- Actualmente – means at the moment in English.
- Desarrolladores – means developers in English.
Unique or “Untranslatable” Spanish Words
An untranslatable word is a word that has no single-word equivalent or equivalent meaning in another language. Here are some of our favorite untranslatable Spanish words:
- Vergüenza ajena – translates as feeling embarrassed for someone even if s/he isn’t embarrassed.
- Tocayo – translates as a person with the same name as you.
- Sobremesa – translates as staying seated after a meal to keep chatting.
Common False Cognate Spanish Words
A false cognate is a word that looks or sounds similar to a word in another language but has a different meaning. False cognates can often be found in AI, machine and low-quality translations.
- Embarazado – means pregnant, not embarrassed.
- Ropa – means clothes, not rope.
- Éxito – means success, not exit.
- Recordar – means to remember, not to record.
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