Living and Working in Spain

Abstract

In order to widen your vocabulary, it is a good idea to think about where words come from. Spanish (like French, Portuguese and Italian) is a Latin-based language, and you will be able to guess the meanings of certain words if you already know something of other related languages. Some words are false friends though — they may look like something you recognise but mean something quite different. Estoy constipado doesn’t mean ‘I’m constipated’ but T have a cold’! Conveniente doesn’t really mean ‘convenient’ but ‘suitable, advisable’. English also has many words derived from Latin which you can draw upon. If you have to translate into Spanish and don’t know a particular word, cast about for one with a similar meaning which may be more formal. Chances are that this has a direct equivalent in Spanish. For instance, in Conversation 2, the bank manager uses the word suficiente where an English person would say ‘enough’ — although we also have the word ‘sufficient’.