21 Sturdy Spanish Idioms Positive To Spice Up Your Vocabulary
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As you’re studying Spanish, listening to phrases that don’t fairly match as much as their literal translations can really feel a bit complicated. However these enjoyable sayings, or modismos (idioms) in Spanish, make classes extra pleasurable and show you how to sound extra like an area.
Discover quite a lot of Spanish idioms and their English equivalents to get a superb chortle whilst you study extra about each languages.
What’s an idiom in Spanish?
The time period “idiom” is outlined as “an expression whose that means will not be predictable from the same old meanings of its constituent components or the final grammatical guidelines of a language.” In different phrases, idioms aren’t phrases that you would be able to perceive by merely deciphering their Spanish phrases individually.
Examples of Spanish idioms
Idioms in Spanish would possibly embrace odd animal references, nouns and adjectives that don’t often go collectively, or some other uncommon mixture of phrases.
1. Meter la pata (to screw up)
The literal translation of meter la pata is “to place one’s foot in it.” It’s a typical means of claiming “making a mistake” and may be translated to English as “to screw up.”
- Juan no quería meter la pata y decir algo inapropiado, por lo que se calló. = Juan didn’t wish to screw up and say one thing inappropriate, so he saved quiet.
2. Estar en las nubes (daydreaming)
The literal translation of estar en las nubes is “to be within the clouds.” It means to be daydreaming or not paying consideration. In English, the idiom is comparable: “have your head within the clouds.”
- María está en las nubes: no ha escuchado nada de lo que le he dicho. = María is not paying consideration: she hasn’t heard something I stated to her.
3. Hacer la vista gorda (to disregard one thing)
The literal translation of hacer la vista gorda is “to make the view fats.” It means to disregard one thing that you already know is flawed or to purposely not take note of it. In English, the same idiom is “to show a blind eye.”
- El profesor hace la vista gorda cuando llegamos tarde. = The trainer ignores it once we arrive late.
4. Dejar plantado/a a alguien (to face somebody up)
The literal translation of dejar plantado/a a alguien is “to depart somebody planted.” It means to not present up for a date or appointment. In English, the saying is “to face somebody up.”
- Ana me dejó plantado en el cine. ¡Nunca llegó! = Ana stood me up on the motion pictures. She by no means arrived!
Please notice how the adjective plantado is masculine (ending in an “-o”) as a result of we’re assuming the speaker is a person. It has nothing to do with Ana’s gender. All the time keep in mind to correlate the adjective with the noun it’s modifying.
5. Caer bien / caer mal (to love somebody / to dislike somebody)
The literal translation of caer bien is “to fall nicely,” and it means to love somebody. The literal translation of caer mal is “to fall badly,” and it means to dislike somebody.
- Aunque generalmente me caen mal los abogados, Juan me cae muy bien. = Though I typically dislike attorneys, I like Juan rather a lot.
6. Hacer oídos sordos (to disregard somebody)
The literal translation of hacer oídos sordos is “to make deaf ears.” It means to disregard or not take heed to somebody, just like the Spanish idiom hacer la vista gorda. The English equal can be “to show a blind eye.”
- Ignoré sus críticas e hice oídos sordos a sus palabras. = I ignored their criticisms and turned a blind eye to their phrases.
7. Ser uña y carne (to be very shut)
The literal translation of ser uña y carne is “to be nail and flesh.” It means to be inseparable, like good pals. In English, the idiom is “to be joined on the hip.”
- María y Sofía son uña y carne; siempre están juntas. = María and Sofía are inseparable; they’re at all times collectively.
8. No hay mal que dure cien años (robust instances will cross)
The literal translation of no hay mal que dure cien años is “there is no such thing as a evil that lasts 100 years.” It implies that robust instances will cross finally, nothing unhealthy can final ceaselessly, and other people can overcome adversity. An analogous saying in English is “this, too, shall cross.”
- Estamos pasando por momentos difíciles, pero recuerda que no hay mal que dure cien años. = We’re going by means of robust instances, however keep in mind that these robust instances will cross.
9. No hay mal que por bien no venga (there’s one thing optimistic in each detrimental)
The literal translation of no hay mal que por bien no venga is “there is no such thing as a unhealthy factor that doesn’t deliver good.” Its English equal can be “each cloud has a silver lining.” It implies that one thing optimistic can come out of each detrimental state of affairs.
- Perdí mi trabajo, pero no hay mal que por bien no venga: finalmente voy a poder comenzar mi propio negocio. = I misplaced my job, however each cloud has a silver lining: I’ll lastly be capable of begin my very own enterprise.
10. A mal tiempo, buena cara (preserve a optimistic angle in troublesome instances)
The literal translation of a mal tiempo, buena cara is “in unhealthy instances, a superb face.” It means to keep up a optimistic angle or look even throughout troublesome instances.
- Aunque esté pasando por un mal momento, trato de mantener mi compostura. A mal tiempo, buena cara. = Although I’m going by means of a tricky time, I attempt to placed on a courageous face. In unhealthy instances, a superb face.
11. Dar en el clavo (to be proper)
The literal translation of dar en el clavo is to “hit on the nail,” or, nearer to its English counterpart, “to hit the nail on the pinnacle.” It means to be proper or to say one thing precisely.
- No lo creí posible, pero dio en el clavo con la solución. = I didn’t imagine it to be attainable, however he hit the nail on the pinnacle with the answer.
12. De tal palo, tal astilla (to be like your mother or father)
The literal translation of de tal palo, tal astilla is “of such a stick, such a splinter.” It implies that youngsters typically resemble their mother and father in character or conduct. Its English equal can be “the apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree.”
- Mi hijo tiene la misma pasión por la música que yo. De tal palo, tal astilla. = My son has the identical ardour for music as me. He’s identical to me.
13. A caballo regalado, no le mires el diente (don’t complain about one thing given to you)
The literal translation of a caballo regalado, no le mires el diente is “don’t take a look at the enamel of a present horse.” Its English equal is the expression “don’t look a present horse within the mouth.” It implies that if you obtain one thing free of charge, you shouldn’t complain about its high quality or situation.
- Aunque no es de la marca que quería, no puedo quejarme. A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes. = Although it’s not the model I wished, I can’t complain. Don’t take a look at a present horse within the mouth.
14. Echar agua al mar (to do one thing pointless)
The literal translation of echar agua al mar is “to throw water into the ocean.” It means to do one thing pointless or futile.
- Seguir discutiendo es como echar agua al mar, no llegaremos a ninguna solución. = Persevering with to argue is pointless, we received’t attain any answer.
15. Salir el tiro por la culata (to backfire)
The literal translation of salir el tiro por la culata is “the shot goes out by means of the again of the barrel.” It implies that a plan or motion has backfired, leading to a failure or detrimental final result.
- Intenté impresionarla con un regalo caro, pero me salió el tiro por la culata, y se ofendió. = I attempted to impress her with an costly reward, however it backfired, and he or she acquired offended.
16. Hacerse el tonto (to play dumb)
The literal translation of hacerse el tonto is “to grow to be the idiot.” The English equal can be the phrase “to play dumb.” It means pretending to be oblivious to one thing to keep away from the tasks or penalties related to it.
- Vi a mi amiga María en el parque el otro día, pero me hice el tonto y seguí caminando. Cada vez que hablamos, pierdo al menos dos horas. = I noticed my buddy Maria on the park the opposite day, however I performed dumb and saved on strolling. Each time we communicate, I waste no less than two hours.
17. Ser la oveja negra (to be the odd one out)
The literal translation of ser la oveja negra is “to be the black sheep,” and it holds the identical that means because the English expression. It means to be the odd one out or the one who stands out from the remainder of the group attributable to totally different conduct or traits.
- En su familia de médicos, él es la oveja negra de la familia porque no quiere ni estudiar ni trabajar. = In his household of medical doctors, he is the black sheep of the household as a result of he doesn’t wish to examine or work.
18. El que no llora no mama (when you don’t ask, you received’t obtain it)
The literal translation of el que no llora no mama is “he who doesn’t cry, doesn’t suckle.” It implies that when you don’t ask or specific your wants, you received’t obtain what you need.
- Si no le pides un aumento, no te lo dará. El que no llora no mama. = When you don’t ask for a elevate, you received’t get it. He who doesn’t cry, doesn’t suckle.
19. Estar con el corazón en la boca (to be very tense)
The literal translation of estar con el corazón en la boca is “to be with the center within the (one’s) mouth.” This expression means to be extraordinarily tense, as in case your coronary heart had crushed its means out of your chest.
- Después de estar ganando por dos goles por dos goles durante casi todo el partido, Mbappé metió dos goles—estuve con el corazón en la boca el resto del partido. ¡Casi nos ganan! = After we had been up by two objectives for nearly your complete match, Mbappé scored two objectives—I used to be very tense for the remainder of the match. They nearly beat us!
20. Ponerse las pilas (to get your act collectively)
The literal translation of ponerse las pilas is “to placed on the batteries.” It means to get your act collectively or make an effort.
- Tienes que ponerte las pilas si quieres aprobar el examen. = It’s a must to get your act collectively if you wish to cross the examination.
21. Ser pan comido (to be straightforward)
The literal translation of ser pan comido is “to be eaten bread.” It implies that one thing is very easy. In English, the same idiom is “a bit of cake.”
- Este examen será pan comido; he estudiado mucho. = This examination will be straightforward; I’ve studied rather a lot.
Learn how to broaden your data of Spanish idioms
Spanish language idioms aren’t at all times coated in conventional textbooks, language studying lessons, or language studying applications on-line. So, the important thing to studying Spanish, together with idioms, is immersion. Attempt these actions to familiarize your self with Spanish idioms and their actual meanings:
- Watch motion pictures or TV exhibits and take heed to music in Spanish: Take note of idiomatic expressions utilized in popular culture and discover Spanish slang, too. It may well show you how to acquaint your self with their utilization and context. Plus, you’ll learn to pronounce them accurately.
- Learn books and articles in Spanish: Discover literature and publications in Spanish to come across idiomatic expressions in written kind. Search for unfamiliar idioms and their meanings! Begin with this checklist of must-read Spanish books, or take a look at these Spanish language information sources!
- Discover a language companion or pen pal: Connecting with a local Spanish speaker who’s fascinated about studying your language can present alternatives to change idioms and broaden your understanding!
- Be a part of a dialog membership or language change group: Participating in conversations with native audio system is an effective way to study and follow idiomatic expressions. Social media generally is a excellent spot to seek out teams like these!
- Use language studying sources: Use language studying platforms like Rosetta Stone that embrace classes on real-world conversations.
Immerse your self in Spanish idioms
Mastering idiomatic expressions is a vital step in changing into fluent in Spanish! These phrases, deeply rooted in tradition and language, present insights into how native audio system suppose and talk. Whereas idioms could seem puzzling at first, embracing them by means of immersion is the important thing to understanding and utilizing them successfully.
Don’t accept mere translations: Let Rosetta Stone show you how to prolong your data past rote memorization. Embrace the ability of Dynamic Immersion to find the true essence of Spanish idioms and the Spanish language, talking with the arrogance of a local speaker.
Written by Diego Rodríguez
Polyglot copywriter, linguist, multi-instrumentalist, and Rosetta Stone person himself, Diego has labored as language coach and copywriter for corporations akin to Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting, Rolls Royce, and extra. After a mind tumor practically killed him and left him unable to talk, his drive to relearn his 5 languages concurrently left him a renewed ardour for them, in addition to a deeper understanding of how they work and relate to at least one one other.
