Blogs

How to ask "Are you single?" in Spanish

Mon, 07/21/2008 - 21:20 — Jason

When it comes to dating knowing whether or not a person is available is one of the most important things on the checklist.

If you want to ask if someone is single you would use the word soltero for a male and soltera for a female:

Are you single?
¿Eres soltero/a?
¿EH-rehs sohl-TEH-roh/ah?

When asking if someone is single, you use a conjugation of ser or estar as the verb. Depending on the area where you are, you might find one used more than the other, but they are generally interchangeable in this context.

He/She is single.
Está soltero/a. (estar)
eh-STAH sohl-TEH-roh/ah.

He/She is single.
Es soltero/a. (ser)
ehs sohl-TEH-roh/ah.

Solterón (sohl-teh-ROHN) for males and solterona (sohl-teh-ROHN-ah) for females are a stronger way to say soltero/a but their meanings are quite different.

If a male is said to be a solterón this could mean that they are either a confirmed or long term bachelor. This isn't to say that they might never want to settle down, but chances are they are more of a player than someone interested in commitment.

On the other hand solterona tends to categorize a female being an "old maid" which is much more derogatory than the male version, so you wouldn't want to ask someone ¿Eres solterona? or you might be wearing a drink instead of sharing one.

Talking about attraction in Spanish

Fri, 07/18/2008 - 21:16 — Stacy

We have all been attracted to someone. Sometimes it is immediate, almost like an electric charge that occurs between you and the other person.

It's no wonder that the basis for many of the Spanish words for “attraction” is the word atraer (ah-trah-EHR) as in the attraction between two magnets, that uncontrollable pull between two magnetic objects:

I was immediately attracted to [him/her].

Inmediatamente me sentí atraído por [él/ella].

ihn-meh-dee-ah-tah-MEHN-teh meh sehn-TEE ah-trah-EE-doh pohr [EHL/EH-yah].

If you are talking about the word “attraction” as a noun in reference to an object or thing you would use encanto (ehn-CAHN-toh) or atractivo (ah-trahk-TEE-voh) whereas “attraction” in reference to a person is atracción. Such as:

sexual attraction

atracción sexual
ah-trahc-see-OHN sehks-oo-AHL

When you talk about being attracted to someone you also express it differently than you would express being attracted to an object. Being attracted (or not attracted) to a place or thing would be expressed in this way:

I am not attracted to the country life.

Para mí la vida en el campo no tiene ningún encanto.

PAH-rah mee lah VEE-dah ehn ehl CAHM-poh noh tee-YEHN-eh nihn-GOON ehn-CAHN-toh.

One of the best things about having a relationship with someone who is Latino/Latina is that you generally can be more opens, so if you are attracted to someone, you can just come right out and tell them.

I find you attractive.

Me pareces atractivo/a.

meh pah-reh-sehs ah-trahk-TEE-voh/ah.

What Spanish words for attraction have you used to express your feelings to or about someone else?

Different ways to say "I want to break up with you" in Spanish

Tue, 07/15/2008 - 21:04 — Jason

There is a line from an old song that talks about how hard it can be to break up with someone. Imagine how hard it would be to break up with someone if you don't even know how to say it in their language. It is almost as important to know how to end things as it is to know how to begin them.

Here's a few ways you can say you want to break up in Spanish from softer to more harsh:

I don't want to go out anymore.

No quiero salir juntos ninguna más.

noh kee-EHR-oh SAH-leer HOON-tohs neen-GOO-nah mAHs.

I want to break up with you.

Quiero que terminemos.

kee-EHR-oh keh tehr-mee-neh-mohs.

I want to break up with you. (stronger)

Quiero romper contigo.

kee-EHR-oh rohm-PEHR kohn TEE-goh.

If someone is in a relationship and you want to find out if they are going to break up with the person they are seeing you can say:

Are you going to break up with [him/her]?

¿Vas a romper con [él/ella]?

vahs ah rohm-PEHR kohn [EHL/EH-yah]

Whether you want to do the breaking up or want to know if they ever plan to end things with you or someone else, knowing how to ask their intentions can keep you from wasting your time and help you move on to a relationship that's right for you.

Using birth control in Spanish

Sat, 07/12/2008 - 19:19 — Stacy

Whether you are in a serious relationship and ready to take it to the next level or if you are just looking to skip to that level on a first date, playing it safe by using protection is the best way to go.

Knowing Spanish birth control words and Spanish contraception phrases will help you be more comfortable talking about it and help you understand what the other person is either trying to tell you or trying to ask you.

If you have time to discuss things ahead of time you can decide what kind of contraception you want to use:

What type of Contraception do you want to use?

¿Qué tipo de contracepción (or anticontracepción) quieres usar?

keh TEE-poh deh cohn-trah-sehp-see-OHN (or ahn-tee-cohn-trah-sehp-see-OHN) kee-YEHR-ehs OOH-sahr

or ask if they already use birth control:

Are you on birth control?

¿Tomas la píldora (anticonceptiva)?

TOH-mahs lah PEEL-doh-rah (ahn-tee-cohn-sehp-TEE-vah)

Do you have an IUD?

¿Tienes un DIU?

tee-YEHN-ehs oon DEH-EE-OO

Being able to ask things ahead of time can save you the awkwardness of asking it at the last moment. You can enjoy yourself without bringing it up in the heat of the moment. If you don’t have time to ask ahead of time, come prepared yourself. All you have to say is:

I have a condom.

Tengo un condón (or preservativo).

TEHN-goh oon cohn-DOHN (or preh-sehr-vah-TEE-voh)

Knowing Spanish contraception words and Spanish birth control phrases is important whether you think things are going to happen or not. After all, many of you have probably been in the situation where drinks and small talk turned into more! What other Spanish contraception words or phrases do you know that will help other’s be prepared?

How to say "thinking about you" and similar phrases in Spanish

Thu, 07/10/2008 - 12:48 — Jason

Here's a mistake to avoid.

If you've learned some Spanish you probably know that the translation of the word "of" is de and the word "about" can be acerca de or sobre.

When you're dating someone it's popular to tell them that you've been thinking "about" or "of" them.

I've been thinking about you.

I always think about you.

I think about you all the time.

In Spanish when it comes to "thinking about you" or "thinking of you" the literal translation isn't used. Instead of translating the word "about" or "of" the word en is used. En means "in" or "on" but in these examples it's the correct translation.

So:

I've been thinking about you.
He estado pensando en ti.
eh ehs-tah-doh pehn-sahn-doh ehn tee.

I always think about you.
Siempre pienso en ti.
see-ehm-preh pee-ehn-soh ehn tee.

I think about you all the time.
Pienso en ti todo el tiempo.
pee-ehn-soh ehn tee toh-doh ehl tee-ehm-poh.

Sexy Spanish Phrases

Mon, 07/07/2008 - 21:08 — Stacy

In what I would consider a common “American” relationship at times we are not as comfortable with discussing our feelings sexually and sometimes feel uneasy in expressing our sexuality.

However in many Latin American countries people tend to be more comfortable with their sexuality and are, as a result, often more sensual and open in their relationships. For this reason learning some sexy Spanish phrases can be helpful in your relationships.

First of all think about what is sexy to you? Is it the way someone dresses, someone smells, someone smiles? You can start by simply stating that someone is sexy:

You are very sexy.

Eres muy sexy.

EH-rehs mwee SEX-ee.

How do you let someone know that they look sexy? Do you tell them or is it more in the way you look at them or touch them?

In addition to talking about someone being sexy, you might be at the point that you want to take things further:

I want to make love to you.

Quiero hacer el amor contigo.

kee-YEHR-oh AH-sehr ehl ah-MOHR cohn-TEE-goh.

I desire you.

Tengo ganas de estar contigo.

TEHN-goh GAH-nahs eh-STAHR cohn-TEE-goh.

Both are sexy Spanish phrases that let the other person know you wants and desires. You could also take it a step further and let someone know that they excite you or arouse you:

Me excitas.

meh-ehk-SEE-tahs.

What are some sexy Spanish phrases that you have used to either express your desires or your sexual pleasure (placer sexual: plah-SEHR SEX-oo-ahl)?

Asking somebody if they're alone or with someone in Spanish

Sat, 07/05/2008 - 00:34 — Jason

Here’s how you can find out if somebody is alone or with someone. You can use this anywhere you meet someone. Or somebody may ask you. Could be at a park, on the bus, at a bar, etc.

When you ask this you’re not asking if they go out with someone or have a boyfriend or girlfriend. It’s just asking if they are with anyone at that moment.

Are you with someone? (to a girl)
Estás acompañada?
ehs-tAHs ah-kohm-pah-nya-dah.

Are you with someone? (to a guy)
Estás acompañado?
ehs-tAHs ah-kohm-pah-nya-doh.

The literal translation of the above phrases is "Are you accompanied?"

Here's a couple ways to ask if someone is traveling alone or with others:

Are you traveling by yourself?

Viajas solo/a? (o= said to a man, a= said to a woman)

vee-ah-hahs soh-loh

Who are you traveling with?
¿Con quién viajas?
¿kohn kee-EHn vee-ah-hahs?

A couple responses to any of the above:

I’m with a friend.

Estoy con un amigo/a. (o= male friend, a= female friend)

ehs-toy kohn oon ah-mee-goh.

I’m by myself.
Estoy solo/a. (o= for males, a= for females)
ehs-toy soh-loh/ah.

Navigation

Dictionary And Phrase Guide