https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed How is it possible that there can be such a difference between two neighbouring countries so culturally similar, with related Romance languages and tourism-based economies? https://www.thelocal.es/20231102/why-do-portuguese-people-speak-much-better-english-than-spaniards Thu, 02 Nov 2023 11:00:14 +0100 why-do-portuguese-people-speak-much-better-english-than-spaniards As in many other languages, there’s an art to swearing in Spanish. Here we discuss the different ways you can properly use the Spanish versions of the F-word and their derivative uses and how they compare to English. https://www.thelocal.es/20241011/joder-an-expert-guide-for-how-to-use-the-f-word-in-spanish Fri, 11 Oct 2024 21:26:01 +0200 joder-an-expert-guide-for-how-to-use-the-f-word-in-spanish Beyond its most literal meaning, this word describes something Spaniards hate but often take full advantage of. https://www.thelocal.es/20241127/spanish-word-of-the-day-enchufe Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:04:01 +0100 spanish-word-of-the-day-enchufe Although Spain is famed for being warm and sunny, Spaniards have plenty of expressions and proverbs to refer to cold and rainy weather (with the odd swearword chucked in, of course). https://www.thelocal.es/20210112/ten-phrases-to-talk-about-cold-and-wet-weather-like-a-true-spaniard Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:04:02 +0100 ten-phrases-to-talk-about-cold-and-wet-weather-like-a-true-spaniard If you're living in a region where one of Spain's co-official or regional languages is widely spoken, learning their lingo along with Spanish will help you integrate and gain the admiration of locals. This is how to get classes for free or cheap. https://www.thelocal.es/20231205/how-to-learn-catalan-galician-basque-or-valencian-in-spain-for-free Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:09:24 +0100 how-to-learn-catalan-galician-basque-or-valencian-in-spain-for-free Swearing is accepted in many social contexts in Spain, but if you really need to sugarcoat your curse words, there are many euphemisms and expressions that can help you save face in certain situations. https://www.thelocal.es/20210929/oysters-and-cucumbers-how-to-swear-politely-in-spanish Wed, 29 Sep 2021 18:24:21 +0200 oysters-and-cucumbers-how-to-swear-politely-in-spanish You may be familiar with the basic way Spaniards say ‘cheers’, but there are other Spanish expressions and habits associated with clinking glasses and making a toast that you’ll be happy to learn. https://www.thelocal.es/20241007/salud-the-different-ways-to-say-cheers-in-spanish Mon, 07 Oct 2024 18:23:22 +0200 salud-the-different-ways-to-say-cheers-in-spanish Ever watched Pigs and Diamonds? How about Glass Jungle? If you've got no idea what we're talking about, don't worry, bizarre translations of film titles from their original English-language version into Spanish are fairly common and often pretty funny. https://www.thelocal.es/20241012/17-weird-and-wonderful-spanish-translations-of-famous-movie-titles Sat, 12 Oct 2024 19:00:15 +0200 17-weird-and-wonderful-spanish-translations-of-famous-movie-titles Spaniards use countless interjections and onomatopoeia in daily talk. If you don’t speak Spanish well but want to pass yourself off as ‘a good listener’, these monosyllables and very short words will help you blend in. https://www.thelocal.es/20210722/caveman-spanish-14-sounds-that-will-make-you-seem-like-a-true-spaniard Thu, 22 Jul 2021 11:37:52 +0200 caveman-spanish-14-sounds-that-will-make-you-seem-like-a-true-spaniard Spaniards are a happy bunch who don’t hold back on laughing or talking about times they were in stitches. These expressions should help you navigate the language that’s used in comical situations in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20220124/que-risa-ten-spanish-expressions-to-talk-about-laughing-like-a-local Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:25:22 +0100 que-risa-ten-spanish-expressions-to-talk-about-laughing-like-a-local Spaniards use all manner of words and expressions to describe someone they find attractive or sexy, from the naughty to the bizarre. https://www.thelocal.es/20221028/monkeys-and-good-uncles-the-many-ways-to-call-someone-hot-in-spanish Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:54:11 +0200 monkeys-and-good-uncles-the-many-ways-to-call-someone-hot-in-spanish If you’ve crossed the line with a Spaniard, there’s a high chance they’ll use one of a number of expressions in Spanish that refer to the face or head. Here’s the interesting reason why. https://www.thelocal.es/20210216/why-spaniards-refer-to-your-face-if-they-think-youre-being-cheeky Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:35:56 +0100 why-spaniards-refer-to-your-face-if-they-think-youre-being-cheeky Faced with a generation of young Spanish men who believe less and less in equality, the Spanish government has launched a campaign to try and reclaim what it means to 'have balls'. https://www.thelocal.es/20250905/spains-government-looks-to-reshape-what-it-means-to-have-balls Fri, 05 Sep 2025 12:06:56 +0200 spains-government-looks-to-reshape-what-it-means-to-have-balls In hot and sunny Spain, ‘agua’ is certainly a word you need to know. But there are also many handy expressions which include the word for water, from the Spanish version of being 'in dire straits' to what you call a 'party pooper'. https://www.thelocal.es/20210322/speak-like-a-local-ten-very-useful-spanish-expressions-with-the-word-water Mon, 22 Mar 2021 17:25:25 +0100 speak-like-a-local-ten-very-useful-spanish-expressions-with-the-word-water The Spanish word with the most derivative meanings is apparently 'cojones', slang for testicles. Here are 22 hilarious examples reflecting how versatile it is in colloquial speech in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20241012/why-cojones-testicles-is-the-most-versatile-word-in-spanish Sat, 12 Oct 2024 18:48:27 +0200 why-cojones-testicles-is-the-most-versatile-word-in-spanish Learning Spanish is not always plain sailing for foreigners in the country. With the help of our readers, we compiled some of the best tips that have helped them become more fluent in the language of Cervantes. https://www.thelocal.es/20160303/top-tips-for-learning-spanish Thu, 03 Mar 2016 17:43:43 +0100 top-tips-for-learning-spanish How do you know when you've really mastered the Spanish language? If you can tick off most of the points on this list, then you're well on your way. https://www.thelocal.es/20200117/12-signs-you-have-cracked-the-spanish-language Fri, 17 Jan 2020 13:28:07 +0100 12-signs-you-have-cracked-the-spanish-language Spaniards rarely watch anything foreign in its original language, and the country's cultural obsession with dubbing almost every single non-Spanish language film and TV series has roots in history and business. https://www.thelocal.es/20230829/why-does-spain-dub-every-foreign-film-and-tv-series Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:00:59 +0200 why-does-spain-dub-every-foreign-film-and-tv-series If you're visiting or live in the beautiful northwestern Spanish region of Galicia, there's no better way to impress the locals than with your knowledge of some of the most quintessential Galician words, some of which are untranslatable into English. https://www.thelocal.es/20250529/the-best-galician-words-and-expressions-to-help-you-sound-like-a-local Thu, 29 May 2025 15:32:04 +0200 the-best-galician-words-and-expressions-to-help-you-sound-like-a-local Spain has revived a push for Basque, Catalan and Galician to be made official EU languages, despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from fellow European countries fearing a domino effect. https://www.thelocal.es/20250527/why-spain-wants-catalan-basque-and-galician-to-be-eu-languages Tue, 27 May 2025 20:09:50 +0200 why-spain-wants-catalan-basque-and-galician-to-be-eu-languages