How not to make English to Spanish translation mistakes - Mexico News Daily - Translation

When learning a new language, we often stumble upon phrases that seem straightforward to translate from English to Spanish, only to realize they can lead to confusion or sound odd. I’ve encountered this firsthand with friends who are learning Spanish. I often hear phrases like: “Realicé que estaba en otro lugar” (I realized I was in the wrong place), “no lo había realizado” (I hadn’t realized that), or “Oh! No problemo!” English to Spanish translation mistakes like these are very common, and can sometimes cause confusion for the listener.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big advocate of people communicating despite making mistakes and this has happened to me quite a lot while learning Italian, French and even English. It is a matter of trying. However, while their attempts at using these phrases can be endearing, I’ve found it helpful to guide them toward more natural expressions in my own language. 

In this article, we’ll explore four common English phrases and their incorrect or literal translations in Spanish, along with the reasons why they are wrong and the correct way to say them in Spanish.

Four common English to Spanish translation mistakes and how to avoid them

Actually

Incorrect: “Actualmente”

Reason: “Actualmente” refers to the present moment in Spanish, while “actually” means “in reality” or “de hecho” in Spanish.

Correct Form: “En realidad” or “de hecho”

Example: “Actually, I’m not sure if I can make it to the party tonight.”

Translation: De hecho, no estoy segura si voy a lograr ir a la fiesta hoy.

No problem

Incorrect: “No problemo”

Reason: “Problemo” is not a word in Spanish. 

Correct Form: “Sin problema” or “no te preocupes”

Example: “No problem, I can help you with that.”

Translation: Sin problema, yo te ayudo con eso. 

To realize

Incorrect: “Realizar”

Reason: While “realizar” does mean “to realize” in some contexts, the meaning in Spanish for it is “to carry out” or “to perform.” “To realize” in the sense of understanding or becoming aware of something is better translated as “darse cuenta.”

Correct Form: “Darse cuenta”

Example: “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

Translation: No me di cuenta que era tan tarde.

Sometimes, two words might sound the same but have quite different meanings, which can be very confusing.

Can I have

Incorrect: “Puedo tener”

Reason: While “puedo tener” technically translates to “I can have,” it is not the correct and natural way to ask for something in Spanish. Instead, we use “me puede dar” or “me puede traer.”

Correct Form: “Me puede dar” or “me puede traer”

Example: “Can I have a glass of water, please?”

Translation: Me puede traer un vaso de agua, por favor?

By understanding and avoiding literal translations, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively and naturally in Spanish. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s all part of the learning process!

Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez

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Beyoncé Added to French Encyclopedic Dictionary List of Definitions - Rolling Stone - Dictionary

On “Alien Superstar,” Beyoncé runs through a couple of definitions of who she is, “I’m one of one, I’m number one, I’m the only one,” and “Category: bad bitch, I’m the bar” among them. Following her lead, the French encyclopedic dictionary Petit Larousse Illustré has added the musician’s name as a proper noun in its 2024 update.

The dictionary defines Beyoncé as an “American singer of R&B and pop.” Her name appears among a list of 40 international personalities to be added to the issue in a batch that included more than 150 new entires. Cate Blanchett, LeBron James, and Christopher Nolan are also among the new names in the book.

In an interview with Le Point, Larousse’s head of dictionaries and encyclopedias Carine Girac-Marinier explained that the entires “reflect concerns, developments or strong movements this year,” as well as “values of the Petit Larousse — excellence and promotion of French culture.”

Beyoncé’s name also has a French origin. Her mother, Tina Knowles, gave the singer her maiden name to keep some semblance of her family name alive. “My name was Celestine Beyoncé,” Knowles explained on In My Head with Heather Thomson in 2020. “I asked my mother when I was grown. I was like, ‘Why is my brother’s name spelled B-E-Y-I-N-C-E?’ You know, it’s all these different spellings. And my mom’s reply to me was like, ‘That’s what they put on your birth certificate.’”

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She added: “So I said, ‘Well, why didn’t you argue and make them correct it?’ And she said, ‘I did one time. The first time, and I was told ‘Be happy that you’re getting a birth certificate’ because, at one time, Black people didn’t get birth certificates.”

Back in 2004, Knowles relayed a version of this origin story to Rolling Stone, explaining that her grandfather Lumis Beyince — a Creole who lived in New Orleans and spoke French — was less than impressed about the change. “My family was not happy,” she said at the time. “My dad said, ‘She’s gonna be really mad at you, because that’s a last name.’ And I’m like, ‘It’s not a last name to anybody but you guys.’”

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag - Los Angeles Magazine - Dictionary

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag  Los Angeles Magazine

The Bizarre Way Norway Used to Translate Foreign Movie Titles - Mentalfloss - Translation

Whether it’s China calling The Full Monty “Six Naked Pigs” or Denmark translating Die Hard as “Mega Hard,” it’s not always easy to translate a movie’s title, or its intentions, into another language. But Norway felt like it had cracked the code—at least for comedies. 

As YouTuber SindrElf explains in the video below, the country spent nearly a century translating the titles of comedy movies using a very specific formula “Help, + Vague Reference to the Plot.” That means that Airplane! was released as “Help, We’re Flying” and This Is Spinal Tap was released as “Help, We’re in the Pop Industry.” The Vacation films followed suit: National Lampoon’s Vacation became “Help, We Have To Go On Vacation” and was followed by “Help, We Have To Go On European Vacation,” “Help, It’s Christmas Vacation,” and “Help, We Have To Go On Vacation to Las Vegas.”

Admittedly, it’s a shrewd way of streamlining the process of translation while also aiding the audience in understanding what the movie is actually about, regardless of American slang or oblique titles. Plus, it signaled to prospective moviegoers that they were in for a few laughs, as the Hjelp formula naturally injects a sense of madcap wackiness into whatever movie it’s being applied to. 

It also led to delightfully meta titles like “Help, We’re Getting Help” (Volunteers starring Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and John Candy) and “Help, I’m Dead” (the 1991 TV movie Hi Honey – I’m Dead). 

According to SindrElf, the practice was widely popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but largely died out in the 2010s because of the widespread understanding of the English language in Norway. However, there are some modern Norwegian films spoofing the well-known translation practice, like 2011’s Hjelp, vi er i filmbransjen (Help, We’re in the Movie Business).

As further proof the trend was ending, Norway inexplicably retitled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs as It Rains Meatballs, which seems like a missed opportunity to insert a little Hjelp into the box office.  

The most recent movie he could find still adopting the excellent “Hjelp” titling practice was in 2012, which sadly means that we will have to come up with our own Norwegian names for movies like Booksmart and Knives Out. 

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag - Los Angeles Magazine - Dictionary

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Trump Invents a New Word: 'Becocked?' - LAmag  Los Angeles Magazine

Fed moves, commodity surge, jobs outlook: Stocks In Translation - Yahoo Finance - Translation

Uncertainty, the constant companion of markets, has once again forced investors to readjust their expectations as the FOMC meeting begins. With the highly anticipated interest rate decision set to be unveiled on Wednesday, the burning question on everyone's mind is: how confident can investors truly be that a rate cut will materialize, especially as whispers of rate hikes and stagflation concerns echo through the halls of Wall Street? And let's not forget the prospect of a commodity supercycle, with prices soaring across the board for assets like gold (GC=F), silver (SI=F), and even coffee (KC=F).

Yahoo Finance Markets Reporter Jared Blikre is joined by J.P. Morgan Asset Management Global Market Strategist Jordan Jackson and Yahoo Finance Producer Sydnee Fried for the latest edition of Stocks In Translation. Together, they delve into the odds of a Federal Reserve rate cut, address the potential of a commodity supercycle, break down the significance of the week's jobs numbers, and more.

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts.

This post was written by Angel Smith

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Words, words and more words: French dictionary adds 150 new words - FRANCE 24 English - Dictionary

Issued on: 30/04/2024 - 16:14Modified: 30/04/2024 - 16:40

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Entre nous - Le Petit Larousse 2024 © France 24

The French language is one of the prides and joys of the French people. So, when the major French dictionaries add new words it creates quite a dictionnabuzz. Le Petit Larousse has added 150 words to its 2025 edition and some of its choices are surprising. FRANCE 24's Solange Mougin tells us more.

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