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Archive:Spanish/Shopping

2009-02-02T08:24:34Z

114.29.249.8: /* Useful words */ some

==Chapter 14 (Shopping)==
===Getting ready===
*'''buscar''' - to look for
*'''comprar''' - to buy
*'''dependiente, dependienta''' - salesperson
*'''¿En qué puedo sirvirle?''' - How can I help you?
*'''entrar''' - to enter
*'''tienda''' - store
*'''tienda de ropa''' - clothing store

===Clothing===
*'''abrigo''' - coat
*'''blusa''' - blouse
*'''botas''' - boots
*'''calcentines''' - socks
*'''camisa''' - shirt
*'''camiseta''' - T-shirt
*'''chaqueta''' - jacket
*'''falda''' - skirt
*'''gorra''' - cap
*'''jeans''' - jeans
*'''pantalones''' - pants
*'''pantalones cortos''' - shorts
*'''sudadera''' - sweatshirt
*'''suéter''' - sweater
*'''traje''' - suit
*'''traje de baño''' - swimsuit
*'''vestido''' - dress
*'''zapatos''' - shoes

===Questions===
*'''¿Cómo me queda(n)?''' - How does it (they) fit me?
*'''¿Cómo te queda(n)?''' - How does it (they) fit you?
*'''Me queda(n) bien/mal.''' - It (they) fits me well/poorly.
*'''Te queda(n) bien/mal.''' - It (they) fits you well/poorly.

===Useful words===

*'''llevar''' - to wear
*'''nuevo(a)''' - new
*'''viejo''' - old
*'''usado''' - used
*'''quizás''' - maybe
*'''Pérdon.''' - Excuse me.
*'''¡Vamos!''' - Let's go!
*'''Segunda mano''' - Second hand.
*'''de segunda''' - second hand.
*'''costoso''' - very expensive.
*'''barato''', '''favorable''', '''a buen precio''' - cheap.

===To talk about the price===
*'''¿Cúanto cuesta...?''' - How much does...cost?
*'''¿Cúanto cuestan...?''' - How much do...cost?
*'''costar''' - to cost
*'''precio''' - price
*'''tanto''' - so much

'''Note''': ''Costar'' conjugates with a stem change, like ''jugar'', so the ''o'' becomes ''ue'' when conjugated.

===Numbers: 200 to 1,000===
*'''doscientos(as)''' - two hundred
*'''trescientos(as)''' - three hundred
*'''cuatrocientos(as)''' - four hundred
*'''quinientos(as)''' - five hundred
*'''seiscientos(as)''' - six hundred
*'''setecientos(as)''' - seven hundred
*'''ochocientos(as)''' - eight hundred
*'''novecientos(as)''' - nine hundred
*'''mil''' - a thousand

===To be correct===
*'''tener razón''' - to be correct

===To be specific===
*'''los/las dos''' - both
*'''este, esta''' - this
*'''estos, estas''' - these
*'''ese, esa''' - that
*'''esos, esas''' - those

'''Note''': This and those are used to describe something specific, while that and those refer to something far away.

===Pensar (to think)===
''Pensar'' is another stem-changing verb like ''jugar''. In ''pensar'', the ''e'' changes to ''ie'' except in the ''nosotros(as)'' and ''vosotros(as)'' forms as always. Below is the conjugation for ''pensar'':

*'''pienso''' - I think
*'''piensas''' - you think (singular)
*'''piensa''' - he/she thinks
*'''pensamos''' - we think
*'''pensáis''' - you think (plural)
*'''piensan''' - they think

'''Note''': You should remember by now that usted & ustedes conjugate in the 3rd person form.

===Preferir (to prefer)===
''Preferir'' is also another stem-changing verb like ''jugar'' and ''pensar''. In ''preferir'', the second ''e'' changes to ''ie'', except in the ''nosotros(as)'' and ''vosotros(as)'' forms of course. Below is the conjugation for ''preferir'':

*'''prefiero''' - I prefer
*'''prefieres''' - you prefer (singular)
*'''prefiere''' - he/she prefers
*'''preferimos''' - we prefer
*'''preferís''' - you prefer (plural)
*'''prefieren''' - they prefer

'''Note''': Remember? Usted & ustedes conjugate in the 3rd person form.

===Querer (to want)===
''Querer'' is yet another stem-changing verb like ''pensar''. In ''querer'', the first ''e'' changes to ''ie'', except in the ''nosotros(as)'' and ''vosotros(as)'' forms of course. Below is the conjugation for ''querer'':

*'''quiero''' - I want
*'''quieres''' - you want (singular)
*'''quiere''' - he/she wants
*'''queremos''' - we want
*'''queréis''' - you want (plural)
*'''quieren''' - they want

'''Note''': It may be getting annoying, but you need to get this rule crammed into your brain: usted & ustedes conjugate in the 3rd person form.

===Vocabulario adicional===
*'''bata''' - bathrobe
*'''chaleco''' - vest
*'''pantimedias''' - pantyhose
*'''paraguas''' - umbrella
*'''pijama''' - pajamas
*'''ropa interior''' - underwear
*'''saco''' - loose-fitting jacket
*'''tenis''' - tennis shoes
*'''zapatillas''' - slippers
*'''zapatos atléticos''' - athletic shoes
*'''zapatos de tacón alto''' - high-heeled shoes

===Cultural Insight (Shopping at the mall)===
In Spanish-speaking countries, people tend to go to the mall to buy a specific thing instead of looking for new merchandise and enjoying the atmosphere. However, shoppers in Spanish-speaking countries also hang out with friends and family at the mall.

===Country Focus (Ecuador)===
[[Image:Flag of Ecuador.svg|150px|right]]
[[Image:LocationEcuador.png|noframe|150px|right]]
'''Ecuador''' (Spanish: Ecuador) is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America (with Chile) that does not have a border with Brazil. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of the mainland. Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name, and has an area of 256,371 square kilometers (98,985 mi²). Its capital city is Quito; its largest city is Guayaquil.

[[Image:Quito Cayambe1.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Quito is the capital of Ecuador, home to 1,397,698 people and shadowed by the Cayambe volcano.]]

Ecuador's mainstream culture is defined by its mestizo majority and, like their ancestry, is a mixture of European and Amerindian influences infused with African elements inherited from enslaved ancestors. Ecuador's indigenous communities are integrated into that mainstream culture to varying degrees, but some may also practice their own autochthonous cultures, particularly the more remote indigenous communities of the Amazon basin.

'''Factbox''':

-Official Languages: Spanish

-Other Languages: Quechua, Native American languages

-Capital: Quito

-Government: Democracy

-Area: 283,561 sq km (98,985 sq mi) (73rd)

-Population: 13,341,000 (69th)

[[Image:Chimborazo seen from highway.jpg|150px|thumb|The volcano Chimborazo, one of the many volcanoes in Ecuador.]]

-Religion: Christianity (Catholic 69%, other Christian 26%) 95%, Buddhism 0.2%, other (Traditional beliefs, Judaism, Islam, Bahá'i) 4.8%

-Human Development: 0.772 (89th, MEDIUM)

-Independence: May 24, 1822

-Currency: U.S. Dollar

{{sp1}}

Archive:Spanish/The bedroom

2008-12-17T04:18:17Z

114.29.249.8: /* Dormir (to sleep) */ correcting

==Chapter 12 (The Bedroom)==
===Bedroom objects===
*'''alfombra''' - rug
*'''armario''' - closet
*'''cama''' - bed
*'''cómoda''' - dresser
*'''cortinas''' - curtains
*'''cuadro''' - painting
*'''despertador''' - alarm clock
*'''dormitorio''' - bedroom
*'''espejo''' - mirror
*'''estante''' - shelf
*'''lámpara''' - lamp
*'''mesita''' - nighttable
*'''pared''' - wall

===Electronics===
*'''disco compacto''' - compact disc
*'''equipo de sonido''' - sound (stereo) system
*'''lector DVD''' - DVD player
*'''televisor''' - television
*'''video''' - videocassette
*'''videocasetera''' - VCR

===Colors===
*'''¿De qué color...?''' - What color...?
*'''colores''' - colors
*'''amarillo(a)''' - yellow
*'''anaranjado(a)''' - orange
*'''azul''' - blue
*'''blanco(a)''' - white
*'''gris''' - gray
*'''marrón''' - brown
*'''morado(a)''' - purple
*'''negro(a)''' - black
*'''rojo(a)''' - red
*'''rosado(a)''' - pink
*'''verde''' - green

===Adjectives===
*'''bonito(a)''' - beautiful
*'''feo(a)''' - ugly
*'''grande''' - large
*'''importante''' - important
*'''mismo(a)''' - same
*'''pequeño(a)''' - small
*'''propio(a)''' - own

===Location===
*'''a la derecha''' - to the right
*'''a la izquierda''' - to the left

===Comparisions===
*'''mejor que''' - better than
*'''el/la mejor''' - the best (singular)
*'''los/las mejores''' - the best (plural)
*'''menos...que''' - less, fewer...than
*'''peor que''' - worse than
*'''el/la peor''' - the worse (singular)
*'''los/las peores''' - the worse (plural)

===Other words===
*'''cosa''' - thing
*'''para mí''' - in my opinion, for me
*'''para tí''' - in your opinion, for you
*'''posesión''' - pocession

===Dormir (to sleep)===

''Dormir'' is another one of the handful of irregular Spanish verbs, however, unlike ''tener'' and ''venir'', its ''yo'' form is not irregular. Also, like other irregular verbs, with the exception of ''ir'', the ''nosotros(as)'' and ''vosotros(as)'' form conjugate under normal rules. In ''dormir'', ''o'' turns into ''ue''.

*'''yo duermo''' - I sleep
*'''tú duermes''' - you sleep (singular)
*'''él/ella duerme''' - he/she sleeps
*'''nosotros dormimos''' - we sleep
*'''vosotros dormís''' - you sleep (plural)
*'''ellos duermen''' - they sleep

'''Note''': Always remember that ''usted'' (Ud.) and ''ustedes'' (Uds.) conjugate into the 3rd person form: ''usted duerme'' and ''ustedes duermen'', used in the Latin American Spanish.

===Poder (to be able)===
''Poder'' is yet another one of the handful of irregular Spanish verbs, it shares the same rule as ''dormir'' with the ''o'' changing to ''ue'' except in the ''nosotros(as)'' and ''vosotros(as)'' forms.

*'''puedo''' - I can
*'''puedes''' - you can (singular)
*'''puede''' - he/she can
*'''podemos''' - we can
*'''podéis''' - you can (plural)
*'''pueden''' - they can

'''Note''': Remember the usted (Ud.) and usteded (Uds.) rule yet?

===Vocabulario adicional===
*'''azul claro''' - light blue
*'''azul marino''' - navy blue
*'''azul oscuro''' - dark blue
*'''blues''' - blues
*'''música clásica''' - classical music
*'''música folklorica''' - folk music
*'''música hip-hop''' - hip-hop
*'''música rock''' - rock music

===Cultural Insight (Music)===
Music is the common way of expressing culture in Spanish-speaking countries. In most countries, such as Cuba, musicians line the streets, playing traditional tunes and giving the streets flavor, rhythm, and vibrant life. Music in Latin America has been influenced by Spanish, Native American, African, and more recently, American styles. Spanish music was influenced by Arabic and Roman styles.

===Country Focus (Colombia)===
[[Image:Flag of Colombia.svg|150px|right]]
[[Image:LocationColombia.png|noframe|150px|right]]
'''Colombia''' (Spanish: Colombia) is a country located in northwestern South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, through the Caribbean Sea; to the north-west by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Colombia also shares maritime borders with the Caribbean countries of Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the Central American countries of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Colombia is the 26th largest nation in the world and the fourth-largest in South America (after Brazil, Argentina, and Peru), with an area more than twice that of France. It also has the second largest population in South America after Brazil.

The territory of what is now Colombia was originally inhabited by indigenous tribes which had migrated from North and Central America, including the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. To the south lay the Inca Empire. The Spanish arrived in 1499, and initiated a period of conquest and colonisation which ultimately led to the creation of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (comprising what is now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama) with its capital at Bogotá. Independence from Spain was won in 1819, but by 1830 "Gran Colombia" had collapsed with the secession of Venezuela and Ecuador. Modern day Colombia, with Panama, emerged as the Republic of New Granada. The new nation experimented with federalism as the Granadine Confederation (1858), and then the United States of Colombia (1863), before the Republic of Colombia was finally declared in 1886. Panama seceded in 1903.

[[Image:Salitre 2007 (8).jpg|150px|left|thumb|Bogotá skyline, the city is the largest in Colombia, home to 7,033,914 people.]]

Colombia has a long tradition of constitutional government, and the Conservative and Liberal parties, founded in 1843 and 1848 respectively, are two of the oldest surviving political parties in the Americas. However, tensions between the two have frequently erupted into violence, most notably in the Thousand Days War (1899-1902) and La Violencia, beginning in 1948. Since the 1960s, government forces have been engaged in conflict with left-wing insurgents and illegal right-wing paramilitaries. Fuelled by the cocaine trade, this escalated dramatically in the 1990s. However, the insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, and in recent years the violence has been decreasing. Insurgents continue attacks against civilians, and large swathes of the countryside remain under guerrilla influence, but the Colombian government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its municipalities.

[[Image:Pacífico colombiano.jpg|150px|thumb|The humid Colombian Pacific coast.]]

Colombia is a standing middle power with the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world after Mexico. Colombian culture lies at the crossroads of Latin America, and is distinguished by having a very multicultural society. European, African, Native American, American, Middle Eastern, and other Latin American cultural influences such as Mexico and the Caribbean are all felt in Colombia's modern culture.

'''Factbox''':

-Official Languages: Spanish

-Other Languages: English, Native American languages, French

-Capital: Bogotá

-Government: Democracy

[[Image:Cafe Quimbaya 2005-08-27.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Coffee is Colombia's main export.]]

-Area: 1,138,914 sq km (440,839 sq mi) (26th)

-Population: 44,482,751 (29th)

-Religion: Christianity (90% Catholic, other Christian 5%) 95%, Non-religious 1.9%, Traditional beliefs 1%, other (Islam, Buddhism, Judaism) 2.1%

-Human Development: 0.791 (75th, MEDIUM)

-Independence: August 7, 1819

-Currency: Colombian peso

{{sp1}}