We have been teaching Spanish for just under a decade now which means, we have a plethora of stories and anecdotes to share with you about learning. Today, we are going to share with you some of the most common (and funniest) errors our students have made over the years.
Drum roll…
10.
Intended Statement: “I am so embarrassed.”
What was said: “Estoy muy embarazada.”
Translation: “I am very pregnant.”
What should be said: “Estoy muy avergonzado/a
embarazada – pregnant
avergonzado/a – embarrassed
9.
Intended Statement: “I am hot.”
What was said: “Estoy caliente”
Translation: “I am horney.”
What should be said: “Tengo calor.”
Caliente is used for things, food, water, etc, not for people.
Calor is heat. In Spanish we have it.
8.
Intended Statement: “I am excited.”
What was said: “Estoy muy excitada.”
Translation: “I sexually aroused.”
What should be said: “Estoy emocionada.”
excitada – sexual aroused
emocionada – excited
7.
Intended Statement: “I don’t eat food with preservatives”
What was said: “No como comida con preservativos”
Translation: “I don’t eat food with condoms.”
What should be said: “No como comida con conservantes.”
preservativos: condoms
conservantes: preservatives
6.
Intended Statement: “I support you”
What was said: “Yo te soporto.”
Translation: “I can bear/handle you.”
What should be said: “Yo te apoyo.”
suporto – bear/handle
apoyo – support
5.
Intended Statement: “I took a taxi”
What was said: “Yo cogí un taxi.”
Translation: “I humped a taxi.”
What should be said: “Tomé un taxi.”
tomar – to take
coger – in Spain they use this like the verb to take, but in Argentina it means to hump.
4.
Intended Statement: “I realized too late.”
What was said: “Yo realizé demasiado tarde.”
Translation: “I finished too late.”
What should be said: “Me dí cuenta demasiado tarde.”
realizar – to finish
me di cuenta – I realized.
3.
Intended Statement: “How old are you?”
What was said: “¿Cuántos anos tenés?”
Translation: “How many assholes do you have?”
What should be said: “¿Cuántos años tenés?
ano – anus
año – year
2.
Intended Statement: “My father is an engineer.”
What was said: “Mi papa es un ingeniero.”
Translation: “My potato is an engineer.”
What should be said: “Mi papá es un ingeniero.”
papa – potato or Pope if it is capitalized
papá – father
1.
Intended Statement: “Can I charge my cellphone?”
What was said: “¿Puedo cagar mi celular?
Translation: “Can I poop my cellular?”
What should be said: “¿Puedo cargar mi celular?
cagar – to poop
cargar – to charge
So there you have it! We hope you have learned from the mistakes of others and if not, we look forward to helping learn Spanish here with us in Rosario, Argentina! Classes begin every Monday so pack your bags, buy that plane ticket and come have the experience of a lifetime!