Language and culture
From learning Spanish to getting your head around Spanish manners, customs and culture
¡Joder! An expert guide on how to use the F-word in Spanish
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.
What is 'enchufe' in Spain?
Beyond its most literal meaning, this word describes something Spaniards hate but often take full advantage of.
Ten phrases to talk about cold and wet weather like a true Spaniard
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).
How to learn Catalan, Galician, Basque or Valencian in Spain for free
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.
Oysters, not hostias! How to 'swear' politely in Spanish
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.
All the different ways you can say 'cheers' 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.
17 hilarious Spanish translations of famous English movie titles
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.
14 expressive 'sounds' that will make you seem like a true Spaniard
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.
¡Qué risa! Ten Spanish expressions to talk about laughing like a local
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.
Monkeys and good uncles: The many ways to call someone hot in Spanish
Spaniards use all manner of words and expressions to describe someone they find attractive or sexy, from the naughty to the bizarre.
The many ways Spaniards refer to your face if you're being cheeky
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.
Spain's government looks to reshape what it means to 'have balls'
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'.
Speak like a local: Ten useful Spanish expressions with the word 'water'
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'.
'Cojones': Why testicles is the most versatile word in Spanish
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.
'Date a Spaniard': Nine sure-fire ways to improve your 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.
12 signs you've totally nailed the Spanish language
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.
Why does Spain dub every foreign film and TV series?
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.
The best Galician words and expressions to help you sound like a local
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.
Why Spain wants Catalan, Basque and Galician to be EU languages
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.
Ten colourful Catalan expressions to help you sound like a local
What does it mean if a Catalan person asks you to 'go and escape the fog'? And how about when they ask if you want to 'f*ck' a coffee? If you're based in Barcelona or elsewhere in Catalonia, these phrases will help you fit right in.
Gatos: Why are people from Madrid referred to as cats in Spain?
If you know someone who hails from the Spanish capital, you may have heard them proudly refer to themselves as ‘gato’. But not everyone from Madrid can call themselves a cat. What are the origins of this peculiar nickname?
Why do people in Spain's Canary Islands call the bus 'la guagua'?
Everywhere else in Spain it’s called 'bus' or 'autobús' but there’s a very interesting theory as to why this type of transport came to have such a weird name in the Canaries.
Spanish Word of the Day: Patria
Many people in Spain feel "patria" even though it's a particularly loaded sentiment to have in this country.