The language learning process is full of pitfalls, and if you are a native English speaker trying to pick up Spanish, you have undoubtedly encountered your share. Having one more language under your belt will benefit you both personally and professionally. Before you throw in the towel, check out these 3 common Spanish mistakes and how to avoid them:
1. To Be vs. To Have (Ser/Estar vs. Tener)
In English we use “to be” to indicate age (“I am 25 years old”) while in Spanish “to have” (tener) is used instead ("Yo tengo 25 años"). Although this translates literally to “I have 25 years”, the key is to not think of it in English terms. Avoid literal translations; accept these nuances and train your mind to think directly in Spanish to reach faster fluency.
2. Tú vs. Usted
Spanish is a formal language. “Tú” is the informal "you" used for close friends, while “usted” is formal and reserved for older people or those you don't know well. Learn these two terms side by side and consider who you are speaking to beforehand so you won't run the risk of offending anyone with the informal term when you should be using formal.
3. Embarrassed vs. Embarazado/a
Our brains love to associate similar sounding words, causing us to fall into the pitfall of false cognates. Saying "Estoy embarazado" to mean you are embarrassed actually announces to the world that you are pregnant, causing even more embarrassment! Memorize common false cognates to avoid sticking your foot in your mouth.
Practice these concepts and soon they will become second nature to you. Contact us for custom tutoring options!