Spanish is spoken as an official language in 20 countries, and is rich in idioms and expressions. These are fixed phrases that have a figurative rather than a literal meaning.
1. Nacer con un pan bajo el brazo
Idiom: to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth Literally: to be born with a bread under your arm. (Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash.) Explanation: This is said of a person who is very lucky or very privileged. The expression may also go back to the idea that a new child born to a poor family will mean another pair of hands for bringing in the money. Spanish: Se dice de una persona que es muy afortunada o muy privilegiada.
2. Ser pan comido
Idiom: to be a piece of cake Literally: to be bread (to be) eaten Explanation: You use it for something that's very easy to do. Bread is a good image for something that is easy to get and doesn't need any elaborate preparation. Spanish: Se usa para decir que algo es muy fácil de hacer.
3. Ser harina de otro costal
Idiom: to be a different kettle of fish Literally: to be flour from a different sack (Photo by Jordane Mathieu on Unsplash) Explanation: To be a separate matter, an entirely different thing. This expression probably goes back to a time when people brought their own batches of various types of grain to collective mills. These batches were kept in separate sacks to keep them apart. Spanish: Ser tema aparte.
4. Meterse en harina
Idiom: to get down to it Literally: to get into the flour Explanation: To buckle down eagerly to a job or task. When a baker prepares bread, he is wont to put his hands right into the flour to knead the dough Spanish: Empeñarse con mucho ahínco en una obra o empresa.
5. Estar en su salsa
Idiom: to be in one's element Literally: to be in one's sauce Explanation: To be in a familiar environment and to feel at home, comfortable. Spanish: Estar en un entorno conocido y sentirse como en casa, comodo.
6. Buscarle tres pies al gato.
Idiom: to make a mountain out of a molehill Literal: to look for three legs on the cat (Photo by Ramiz Dedakovi? on Unsplash) Explanation: You don't need to complicate things that are simple. The expression doesn't make a lot of sense like this. It actually used to be: "buscarle cinco pies al gato, y no tiene más que cuatro" (to look for five legs on the cat, when it only has four) and over time it changed to this. Spanish: No hace falta complicar algo que es sencillo.
7. Dar a algun gato por liebre
Idiom: to take someone for a ride Literally: give someone a cat for a hare Explanation: To deceive someone, con fool, trick. In earlier centuries people were not always sure what meat they were eating. If they ordered rabbit stew, is that really what they got? Spanish: Engañar a alguno, embaucar.
8. Empezar la casa por el tejado
Idiom: to put the cart before the horse Literally: to start the house by the roof Explanation:This expression is used when someone doesn't do something in the right order. How can you build a house by starting with the roof? It can't be done, and when you try you're sure to run into problems. Spanish: Se utiliza cuando alguien no sigue el orden correcto para hacer algo.
9. En un abrir y cerrar de ojos
Idiom: in the twinkling of an eye Literally: in an opening and closing of eyes (Photo by Amanda Dalbjörn on Unsplash) Explanation: Something that happens quickly, in an instant. The expression is said to go back to a passage in the New Testament, referring to the moment of resurrection that would happen in a flash. Spanish: Algo que pasa rapidamente, en un instante.
10. Estar hecho como un flan
Idiom: to shake like a leaf Literally: to be made like creme caramel Explanation: To be very nervous or shaky. This refers to people who are anxious, fearful, or unsteady for whatever reason. A flan is a custard-like dessert that has a light texture and trembles when touched. Spanish: Estar muy nervioso o tembloroso.
11. Pedir peras al olmo
Idiom: to get blood from a stone Literally: to ask the elm tree for pears Explanation: Asking for the impossible. Looking for pears on an elm tree is a pretty futile exercise. A pear is a sweet and delicious fruit. On the other hand, the small hairy fruit of an elm tree is not edible for humans. Spanish: Pedir algo imposible.
12. Camina comenzado, medio andado.
Idiom: A good beginning is half the battle. Literally: Road started, half walked. Explanation: The first step is the most important one. Once you take the first step, you're on your way. If you don't even take a first step, you won't make any progress. Spanish: El primer paso es el más importante.
These expressions can be a fun topic of conversation no matter which Spanish-speaking country you're in. If your conversation partner appears puzzled by a "modismo" you're using, you may want to ask: ¿No se dice aquí? (Is it not said here?)
During our one-month stay in Barcelona a few years ago, we had regular language-exchange meetings with a local student. He spoke Spanish, we spoke German, and we met in a neighborhood bar. Talking about equivalent idioms in our respective languages was a natural part of each session.
Following our recent posts about German and French idioms, we are now looking at 12 Italian idioms.
A few years ago, we lived for several months in Rome, on Via di Genovesi in the Trastevere neighborhood. Our apartment was located directly across from a small restaurant, Le Mani in Pasta (Photo by Jorge Zapata on Unsplash)
It was then a restaurant for locals and none of the waiters spoke English. We loved going there. Our Italian at the time was still quite rudimentary and it was a fun challenge to order from the Italian-only menu. (The restaurant has since expanded and continues to be popular. A nephew who had dinner there with his family early this year liked it very much!)
As new Italian learners, we were puzzled by the form “le mani”, but our tutor explained that “the hand” in Italian is feminine: it's "la mano, le mani". What had obviously thrown us off was that most Italian nouns ending with “o” are masculine.
(Sometimes a look at related languages helps. It's “la main” in French, and - no surprise - “la mano” in Spanish. And even in German, the word hand happens to be feminine: “die Hand”.)
1. Avere le mani in pasta
Idiom: to have a finger in the pie Literally: to have the hands in dough Explanation: To be involved, especially in a business matter, or situation of power. Italian: Essere addentro a qualcosa, in particolare a una questione d'affari, o a una situazione di potere.
2. Avere le mani di pasta frolla
Idiom: to be a butterfingers Literally: to have pastry-dough hands; "pasta frolla" = shortcut pastry Explanation: To be someone who drops things they are carrying or trying to catch, to be clumsy, awkward, not careful, not know how to do something or do it badly. Italian: Essere goffi, impacciati, non accurati, non saper fare nulla o farlo male.
3. Calcare la mano
Idiom: to lay it on with a trowel Literally: to tread or press down on the hand Explanation: To exaggerate, especially regarding a punishment or accusation. Italian: Esagerare in rigore e severità, soprattutto se riferito a una punizione, un'accusa.
4. Non perdere la mano
Idiom: to keep your hand in Literally: to not lose the hand Explanation: To not get out of the habit of doing something. Italian: Non perdere l'abitudine di fare qualcosa.
5. Essere in gamba
Idiom: to be on the ball (Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash) Literally: to be on your feet Explanation: To be in good health. Also more broadly speaking, to be smart, skillful, expert, efficient. The first meaning alludes to the fact that a sick person is generally in bed and does not use their legs. Italian: In buona salute. In senso lato anche intelligente, abile, esperto, efficiente. Nel significato primo, allude al fatto che una persona malata sta generalmente a letto e quindi non usa le gambe.
6. Fare il passo piu lungo della gamba
Idiom: to bite off more than you can chew Literally: to take a step longer than the leg Explanation: To risk going beyond one's own possibilities. Italian: Arrischiarsi oltre le proprie possibilità.
7. Prendere qualcuno in giro
Idiom: to pull someone's leg, take somebody for a ride Literally: to take someone for a stroll Explanation: To make fun of a person, mock, taunt or fool someone. Italian: Farsi beffe di una persona, burlarla, canzonarla.
8. Tenere un piede in due scarpe
Idiom: to keep a foot in both camps Literally: to have a foot in two shoes Explanation: Staying involved in two situations (groups of people, opinions etc), while trying to profit from both of them. Italian: Barcamenarsi tra due situazioni cercando di trarre profitto da entrambe.
9. Si è dato la zappa sui piedi
Idiom: to shoot yourself in the foot Literally: He has given himself a hoe on the feet Explanation: To hurt oneself, to come to harm oneself, particularly in a fit of anger. It's used especially when someone hurts themselves while thinking they is harming someone else. Italian: Farsi del male, procurarsi un danno, detto in particolare di chi agisce avventatamente o spinto dall'ira. Usato soprattutto a proposito di finisce per nuocere a se stesso pensando di danneggiare qualcun altro.
10. Ormai la frittata è fatta
Idiom: You can't unscramble eggs. Literally: At this point the omelet has been made. (Photo by Cooker King on Unsplash) Explanation: An exclamation that expresses resignation about a mess that was made. Italian: Esclamazione, esprime rassegnazione per un guaio ormai avvenuto.
11. Rivoltare la frittata
Idiom: to turn the tables on somebody Literally: to flip over the omelet Explanation: To turn around a discussion, to change a situation to your advantage. Italian: Rigirare un discorso, capovolgere una situazione a proprio vantaggio.
12. Avere grilli per la testa
Idiom: to have a head full of nonsense Literally: to have crickets in the head Explanation: To have strange, bizarre or overly ambitious ideas. Italian: Avere idee stravaganti, bizzarre o troppo pretenziosi.
Since our stay in Trastevere, Rome, we've continued to have fun learning Italian in various ways and with various programs. Building our own GamesforLanguage site - together with native-language writers and speakers - has been a direct way to keep our hands in the language dough.
And, especially now that travel has become more complicated, our site and our blog has allowed us to connect with an ever growing online language community. For more Italian Idioms check also The Intrepid Guide or Dizionario modi di dire
Below are 12 French idioms that you might not have heard yet.
In our last post, Sausages, Fruits, Ships, and more in German Idioms, we listed a number of typical German expressions. In fact, what prompted us to write that post, was overhearing a German woman "translate" a German idiom into French by giving a literal equivalent.
In their literal translation, many French idioms are also confusing to a German or English speaker. (Whenever available, I added a French synonym from Le Petit Robert, a popular French language dictionary.)
1. Haut comme trois pommes
Idiom: knee-high to a grasshopper Literally: as high as three apples (Photo by Elena Koycheva on Unsplash) Explanation: Refers to someone who is not very tall, or just very young. Origin: Even if you put three apples on top of each other, what you have is still not very high.
2. Tomber dans les pommes
Idiom: to pass out Literally: to fall into the apples Explanation: to faint, lose consciousness [Petit Robert: s'évanouir] Origin: This expression first appeared in 1889 and may go back to the writer George Sand, who used "être dans les pommes cuites", a play on "être cuit" (to be cooked, exhausted).
3. Mettre du beurre dans les épinards
Idiom: to put butter on your bread Literally: to put butter on the spinach (Photo by Kim Daniels on Unsplash) Explanation: It means to earn a bit extra, to top up your income, or to improve a situation that is troublesome. [Petit Robert: améliorer sa situation] Origin: This expression goes back to a time when butter symbolized wealth, while spinach was a common vegetable. Putting butter on your spinach makes it taste better, richer.
4. Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
Idiom: to have your cake and eat it too Literally: to want the butter and the money for the butter too Explanation: You can't have it both ways, you can't have it all. Origin: This expression appeared at the end of the 19th century and is a piece of good old fashioned common sense (bon sens paysan). Once you sell the butter, you have the money, but no longer the butter. Or, in other words, to get something you want you may have to give up something else.
5. Parler de la pluie et du beau temps
Idiom: to make small talk Literally: to talk about rain and nice weather Explanation: It means talking about trivial things, exchanging chit-chat. [Petit Robert: dire des banalités] Origin: The weather is an innocuous subject to talk about, so it's a safe topic among strangers or a way to talk around topics you want to avoid.
6. Faire la pluie et le beau temps
Idiom: to call the shots Literally: to make rain and good weather Explanation: It means to be in charge, to control the situation or determine what action should be taken [Petit Robert: être très influent] Origin: The idiom is said to go back to mythical times when the gods had power over the world. They could change the weather, create storms, hurl lightning, etc.
7. Ce n’est pas la mer à boire.
Idiom: It's not that big a deal. Literally: It's not the sea to drink. Explanation: This is a metaphor for something that's impossible or very difficult to do. It's also used in its opposite meaning: C'est la mer à boire - it's very difficult. [Petit Robert: C'est, ce n'est pas difficile.] Origin: The expression dates back to a 17th century fable by Jean de la Fontaine.
8. Chercher midi à quatorze heures
Idiom: to make a mountain out of a molehill Literally: to look for noon at 2 pm Explanation: To complicate things unnecessarily, to see difficulties where there aren't any. [Petit Robert: Chercher des difficultés où il n'y en a pas, compliquer les choses.] Origin: This expression is said to date back to the 17th century as "chercher midi à onze heures" (to look for noon at 11o'clock), to look for something where's it's not.
9. Se faire rouler dans la farine
Idiom: to be taken for a ride Literally: to get rolled in the flour (Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash) Explanation: to be fooled, taken in, be cheated [Petit Robert: tromper] Origin: Flour-based makeup was often used in the theater and allowed actors to change how they looked and thus fool the audience.
10. Il ne faut pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes.
Idiom: Don't mix apples and oranges. Literally: One mustn't mix up dishtowels and napkins. Explanation: Don't mix totally different things, don't combine things that are completely different. [Petit Robert: Il faut séparer, traiter différemment selon leur condition sociale, les choses selon leur valeur.] Origin: This expression is based on the idea that you must not mix social levels - dishtowels were for servants and the poor, while napkins were for the bourgeoisie and aristocracy.
11. Ce n'est pas la mort du petit cheval.
Idiom: It's not the end of the world. Literally: It's not the death of the little horse. (Photo by Soledad Lorieto on Unsplash) Explanation: It's not the worst thing that could happen. It's not as bad as it seems, even though it's a disappointment. Origin: According to an article in Le Figaro by Claude Duneton, the expression "la mort du petit cheval" was probably coined in the 1930s and referred to losing one's bet on a horse that didn't win the race.
The expression was picked up by d'Hervé Bazin in the title of his 1950 novel: "La mort du petit cheval." In it, the protagonist makes a shocking discovery about his mother but decides that it's not the end of the world.
12. Avaler des couleuvres
Idiom: to swallow a lie Literally: to swallow grass snakes Explanation: to be taken in, to believe anything, to take insults without protest [Petit Robert: subir des affronts sans protester, croire n'importe quoi] Origin: This expression came up already in the 17th century and suggests swallowing something slithery, tortuous. The image evokes unscrupulous people who in the olden days added a few grass snakes to a plate of eels without telling their guests or customers.
Learning a few French idioms is not only fun, but it may very well break the conversational ice next time you try out your French, on zoom or in real life.
For the French idioms that are listed here, I looked at a few different sites. You can find out more about these expressions, or search for new ones on the following sites (not linked here): www.thoughtco.com www.lawlessfrench.com/expressions I consulted Le Petit Robert, a single-volume French dictionary, for synonyms in French and added them to the explanations.
Bio: Ulrike Rettig is the co-founder of GamesforLanguage.com. She's a lifelong language learner, growing up in Austria, the Netherlands, and Canada. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and leave any comments right here!
Idioms - in any language - can lead to hilarious laughter or confused looks, when they are translated literally into another language.
I was reminded of that last year in French-speaking Switzerland when a German with obviously limited French skills, express his frustration to his partner like this: “C'est me absolument saucisse!” (Lit. That's absolutely sausage to me.)
From his partner's confused look, followed by a loud chuckle, I concluded that she also understood the German meaning.
The German idiom “Das ist mir völlig Wurst” means “Das ist mir völlig egal” and translates as “I couldn't care less.” (Photo by Khamkhor on Unsplash)
Not surprisingly – Germans are fond of good sausages – and there are several other German, sausage-related idioms. While some idioms can be understood with a little imagination, others are impossible to guess.
And as no. 12 below shows, the meaning of some idioms can change over time. Here are 12 German idioms that you may not be familiar with.
1. Spiel nicht die beleidigte Leberwurst!
Idiom: Don't get bent out of shape, don't be a sorehead! Literally: Don't play the offended liverwurst! Explanation: Someone goes off in a huff and sulks because his feelings were hurt. German: Jemand zieht sich zurück und schmollt, weil er glaubt, dass man ihn gekränkt hat. Origin: Scholars in the Middle Ages supposedly assumed that a person's emotions - anger, sadness, love, etc. - were produced in the liver. So if someone got annoyed, it's his or her liver where the emotion came from.
Plus, there's another traditional story behind the "offended liverwurst". There, a butcher has all kinds of different sausages in a kettle. When the kettle boils, he takes out all the other sausages first, because they need a shorter cooking time. So, the liverwurst bursts in anger because it's the only one left in the kettle.
2. In den sauren Apfel beißen
Idiom: to bite the bullet Literally: to bite into the sour apple (Photo by Khamkhor on Unsplash) Explanation: To do something unpleasant, even though you find it hard to do. German: Etwas Unangenehmes tun, obwohl es einem schwerfällt. Origin: This expression is quite old. It comes up in one of Luther's letters where he writes: "Not lehrt in saure Äpfel beißen". (Hard times teach you to bite into sour apples.)
It means, that if you have no other choice, you'll just have to eat the sour apples. For example, if you want to pass your exam, you have to study for it.
3. Mit dem ist nicht gut Kirschen essen.
Idiom: Best not to tangle with him. Literally: Eating cherries with him is not pleasant. (Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash) Explanation: He's hard to get along with. German: Mit ihm kann man nicht gut auskommen. Origin: For this expression there's an interesting origin. It dates back to the Middle Ages when cherry trees were not abundant and grew mostly just in monasteries or in gardens of the rich. Should you be passing a group of dignified gentlemen eating cherries, it could happen that they would chase you off and spit pits into your face to boot.
So, there are people that you wouldn't want to eat cherries with because they would treat you badly. That could refer to people who think that they are better than you, and who are clearly contemptuous of who you are.
4. Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus.
Idiom: What goes around, comes around. Literally: The way you call into the woods is the way it comes back. (Photo by Stepan Unar on Unsplash) Explanation: The way you treat someone will determine their reaction. German: So wie man jemanden behandelt, reagiert dieser auch darauf. Origin: This expression probably goes back to the experience of hearing an echo in the woods - your voice bounces back after you've called to someone. The echo has a similar sound to what you called in the first place.
So more generally, if you shout at someone in anger, they often respond in anger too. If you don't treat others with respect, they may not respect you either.
5. Um den heißen Brei herum reden
Idiom: to beat around the bush Literally: to talk around the hot porridge (Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash) Explanation: Avoid giving your honest and direct opinion. German: Nicht ehrlich und direkt seine Meinung sagen. Origin: Initially, the expression was: "Wie die Katze um den heißen Brei herumschleichen". (To tiptoe like a cat around the hot porridge.) The cat was of course looking for a cooler part of the porridge to start eating.
If you talk with someone who in the conversation tiptoes like a cat around the hot porridge, it means that they are afraid or reluctant to broach a certain subject.
6. Auf dem falschen Dampfer sein
Idiom: to bark up the wrong tree Literally: to be on the wrong steamboat (Photo by ZEKERIYA SEN on Unsplash) Explanation: To misunderstand something, be totally mistaken. German: Etwas falsch verstehen, sich irren. Origin: In the early 19th century, steamboat travel became increasingly popular in Germany, especially on the Rhine. By 1850, steamship travel up and down the Rhine reached a million passengers. It was considered safer than travel by land, where raids and holdups were still common. By 1900, transatlantic crossings by steamship were well established.
If you now found yourself on the "wrong steamship", it was a real problem since the next harbor was often far off. The image of being on the "wrong steamship" suggests a grave error, that someone was way off in their thinking.
7. Lügen haben kurze Beine.
Idiom: Your lies will catch up with you. Literally: Lies have short legs. (Photo by Matheus Vinicius on Unsplash) Explanation: It's not worth it to lie because the truth will come out. German: Es lohnt sich nicht zu lügen, denn die Wahrheit kommt immer heraus. Origin: The image of a Lie having short legs suggests that someone with short legs simply cannot run that fast. So, the Truth with its longer legs (as we assume) can easily catch up to the Lie and expose the untruth.
8. Das ist Schnee von gestern.
Idiom: That's old hat. Literally: That is snow from yesterday. Explanation: The matter is no longer important. German: Die Sache ist nicht mehr von Bedeutung. Origin: Possibly, this expression goes back to François Villon's "Ballade des dames du temps jadis", (Literally: Ballad of the Ladies of Long ago), which has the line "Mais où sont les neiges d’automne ?" (But where are the snows of autumn?)
When something is "snow from yesterday", it means that it's not new, not important, not interesting, not fresh.
9. Etwas mit in Kauf nehmen
Idiom: to put up with something Literally: to accept something along with a purchase you've made Explanation: To accept something because it's inevitable. German: Etwas als unvermeidlich hinnehmen. Origin: This expression comes from the traditional world of trade and commerce. It was often customary for merchants to offer the combination of a high quality product with one of lesser quality. Or, the combination of a product that was high in demand, with one not so in demand. If the buyer needed the former product, he would also accept to take the latter one.
In that sense, "etwas in Kauf nehmen", means that if you really want something, you would accept certain unavoidable disadvantages that come with it. Or, accept the risks of an action that you see as inevitable.
10. Wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne.
Idiom: You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. Literally: Where a (carpenter's) plane is used, shavings will fall. (Image Credit: Clem Onojeghuo on Sawinery) Explanation: A decision can also have disadvantages. German: Eine Entscheidung kann auch Nachteile mit sich bringen. Origin: This is a saying that originated in the world of trades, and points specifically to a carpenter's craft. When you "plane" ("hobeln"), you keep removing layers of wood until you smooth out the rough spots.
On the one hand, this expression can be used to justify ruthless or drastic behavior. On the other hand, it can also be a bit of wisdom: Something that has a lot of positives could also have disadvantages.
11. Aus dem Schneider sein
Idiom: to be out of the woods Literally: to be no longer a tailor (Photo by Salvador Godoy on Unsplash) Explanation: "To be out of the tailor" means that you have overcome a difficult situation, that the worst is behind you. German: Aus dem Schneider sein, heißt eine schwierige Situation überwunden, das Schlimmste überstanden haben. Origin: In the card game Skat, to be no longer a "tailor" (a profession of low standing in earlier times) means that you have more than half of the points needed to win (i.e. more than 30 points).
The expression "aus dem Schneider sein" is still commonly used in German. Actually, I've heard it multiple times used in connection with the COVID-19 crisis in German TV broadcasts. When will we all be "out of the tailor"?
12. Das passt wie die Faust aufs Auge.
Idiom 1: They go together hand in glove. Idiom 2: They go together like chalk and cheese. Literally: That fits like the fist on the eye. Explanation: Things go together very well or they don't go together at all. German: Etwas passt sehr gut zusammen, oder gar nicht. Origin: The German expression "Das passt wie die Faust aufs Auge" seems to have a clear message: Having someone put their fist on your eye is not a good thing. However, curiously enough, this expression is mostly used to mean the opposite.
Initially, the idiom was "Das reimt sich wie die Faust aufs Auge" (That rhymes like the fist on the eye). For one, "Faust" and "Auge" do not rhyme. Plus, fist and eye don't go together, the fist is hard, the eye is soft and delicate.
But already early on, the idiom was used ironically to mean the opposite, that two things fit perfectly together. Though, the original meaning shows up too.
So, to clearly understand what someone is telling you, you have to pay attention to the context in which it is used, and/or the speaker's tone of voice. For example, what does it mean when your partner tells you that your shirt and scarf go together like "a fist on the eye"?!
Keeping a few idioms in your German language “quiver” will make your language more colorful and authentic. And maybe at the next post-coronavirus dinner party you'll contribute to some laughter and fun.
How to deal with grammar is a question we get a lot from language learners. Yes, classroom learning often focuses a lot on grammar.
I also plead guilty to having used this approach with my students during my college teaching years. But I now know that it does not help your speaking abilities early on.
Fortunately, if you're learning a new language independently, it's okay to put grammar on the back burner. Still, not focusing on grammar doesn't mean you ignore it completely. A good approach is to start with "baby steps" to learn gradually how your new language works.
Grammar in any language is a huge subject. However, knowing a grammar book inside out doesn't mean you can communicate in the language. All it means is that you can remember a lot of abstract rules. And these don't automatically translate into fluent communication.
So, what are a few "baby steps" that self-learners can take? Here are the steps that work for me when I start out in a new language. (My examples are from the four languages on our site.)
Step #1: A Quick Glance At Grammar Basics
I do mean a "quick glance", and really just basic grammar. Do it in whatever way works for you - on the internet or in a basic grammar book. You don't really want to know ALL the grammar rules right off. Especially not all the dozens of exceptions to those rules to boot.
What you want to know is how your new language works. How it is essentially different from your native language(s). Knowing these main differences will help you when starting out with conversations.
Pronouns
In English, you always use pronouns. The same goes for German and French.
Italian and Spanish usually drop the pronouns, unless they are needed for clarity or emphasis.
The Pronoun "you"
English has just one word for "you", and it works for familiar and formal, for singular and plural.
French, German, Italian and Spanish have different pronouns for familiar and formal, and also for singular and plural. You need to sort out which pronoun and/or verb ending to use for each of those situations.
Present Tense Verb Endings
English verb endings are pretty simple. Generally, you just have to watch out for the third person singular, which adds an "s". (I go, you go, he goes, we go, you go, they go.)
For Italian and Spanish the personal endings of verbs are important because of dropped pronouns.
For German and French, the different verb endings depend on which personal pronouns you use.
Articles and Gender
English has the definite article "the" and no gender for its nouns.
French, Spanish, and Italian have 2 noun genders.
German has 3 genders, plus various case-dependent forms of the definite article.
Negation
Each language has its own ways to express negation. English has "not", which is often attached to a helping verb, and contracted: "don't, isn't, can't, won't, shouldn't".
Generally speaking, negation is simple in Spanish and Italian. In Spanish you put "no" in front of the verb, and in Italian "non".
French uses the double negative "ne ... pas".
German has "nicht" for negating verbs and "kein" for negating nouns.
Basic Word Order
Here you don't want to learn any rules. You only want to observe and understand that there are differences.
Once you've had a quick glance at basic grammar differences between your native language and your target language, forget what you've read. It will all come back bit by bit, once you start listening, repeating and reading - a lot - in your new language.
Step #2: Look for Patterns
We may not feel that we are "wired for grammar" (as Noam Chomsky once suggested), but we are certainly wired for recognizing and internalizing patterns.
Sounds
For children in their early years, language is primarily sound. Even as adults we hear spoken language all day - in conversations, on the radio, on TV, on the internet.
Sound remains an important part of communication. When talking with others, we produce the correct sounds to get the message across. When we write, we often silently pronounce what we're writing.
Sentences
Learning the meaning of foreign words is important. But hearing and seeing them in complete sentences is essential: That's where "Grammar" is happening!
When learning a new language be sure to include the sound of words, phrases and simple sentences. Listen and repeat as much as you can. It's important to get the sound of what you're learning into your ear.
As you listen, repeat and read, watch for patterns. Patterns of verb endings are basic, so listen and look for them. Watch out for the differences between questions and statements. Try to notice simple idiomatic ways of saying things.
Stories
Easy stories are a good next step. They will put essential vocabulary in context and therefore give you a more precise meaning of words and phrases.
Stories also show how the language works. You'll hear and see questions, responses to questions, emphatic forms, the use of familiar or formal "you", negation, word order variations, etc.
Reading & Writing
Once you're reasonably happy with your pronunciation, begin to pay closer attention to the written text as you practice listening and repeating. It will help you to master the correlation between sound and written text in your new language. It's a good way to get into reading.
Reading is a fantastic tool for acquiring vocabulary and for internalizing typical patterns of a language.
Step #3 More In-depth Grammar
When you're happily into your new target language, when you continue to feel motivated and love the progress you're making, that's the time to tackle more grammar. But don't focus on rules. Focus on typical patterns. Below are two examples.
Gender and Articles
Italian Suppose you've been reading and listening to Italian and notice that the simple English article "the" has several Italian equivalents: "il, la, lo, l', i, le, gli".
You've probably figured out the articles "il, la, i, and le". But you're curious enough to check when "lo" and "gli" are used. From then on, each time you see or hear "lo" and "gli" in context, you become more familiar with its use.
French and Spanish They have have 2 genders, feminine and masculine, and four articles that go with it. In French, there's "le, la, l', les". In Spanish, you have "el, la, los, las". Good to know, but pretty easy to figure out on your own as you're hearing and reading a story.
German It has 3 genders: "der, die, das" (masculine, feminine, and neuter). Plus, the definite articles, including the plural forms, change depending on the case of the noun. So, it will take more effort to really learn the correct German forms.
You'll want to study the various German article/case combinations written out in front of you on a sheet. Then, saying the forms often helps to make them automatic. Still, perfect mastery is elusive for most, and that's okay. (You're not alone: Mark Twain in his “A Tramp Abroad”, Appendix D, makes some very funny, but cogent observations.)
Asking Yes-No Questions
There are often fundamental word order differences between languages.
English For example, it's not easy for foreigners to understand when to use "do" or "are" in a question in English. You say: "Do you know?", while the question, "Are you knowing?" doesn't make sense. On the other hand, you would tend to say "Are you going?" The question "Do you go?" needs more context, such as "Do you often go to the movies?"
French There are various ways to ask yes-no questions. But these are different from English. For one, you can put the question particle, "Est-ce que" at the beginning of a sentence and thus turn it into a question, "Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ?"
Then there's the inversion of subject and verb, as in "Parlez-vous anglais ?" Or, you can just add "n'est-ce pas ?" at the end of a statement: "Tu parles anglais, n'est-ce pas ?" Finally, in informal speech, you can just raise your voice at the end: "Tu parles anglais ?" Once you start paying attention to questions when hearing and reading French, these patterns will become familiar and you'll learn when to use which.
Italian You can make a statement into a question by letting your voice go up at the end, and/or adding a tag: "È americano?, È americano, vero?, È americano, no?" It's as simple as that.
Spanish Similarly, you can change a statement to a yes-no question by using question intonation and sometimes adding a tag: "¿Hablas inglés?, ¿Hablas inglés, no? ¿Hablas inglés, verdad?" Or, in some cases, you can invert verb and pronoun: "¿Tiene Ud. sed?"
German For yes-no questions, you normally invert subject and the personal verb: "Sind Sie Amerikaner?" Or, "Wollen Sie jetzt essen?"
Make Grammar a Treat not a Chore!
There are exceptions, but most language learners don't learn grammar to become fluent in grammar. They learn a language because they want to be able to speak with others.
It's more fun to figure things out than to memorize rules. So, try to figure out little by little how your new language works. Don't focus too much on the rules.
Becoming fluent in another language is a hugely satisfying achievement. It's great fun to step out of your native language and step into another way of communicating. It can be a wonderful life-long adventure!
Bio: Ulrike Rettig is the co-founder of GamesforLanguage.com. She's a lifelong language learner, growing up in Austria, the Netherlands, and Canada. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and leave any comments right here below!
No better way to practice the German Modal Verb "können" than with one of Gamesforlanguage's most popular games: the German Modal Shoot. It's a three-minute interactive online game that gives you a quick practice of the basic forms of the German modals.
What are Modal Verbs?
Modal Verbs are helping verbs, also called auxiliary verbs. They add a chunk of meaning to the main verb of a sentence. In conversations they show up all the time.
German has six modals. They express ability, necessity, obligation, permission, a wish, etc. They are: - können (be able, can), - müssen (to have to, must), - sollen (shall, ought to), - dürfen (be permitted, may), - wollen (to want) and - mögen (to like).
So for example, take the sentence: Ich arbeite heute (I'm working today) and add the modals: - Ich kann heute arbeiten. (I can work today.) - Ich muss heute arbeiten. (I have to work today.) - Ich soll heute arbeiten. (I ought to work today.) - Ich darf heute arbeiten. (I'm allowed to work today.) - Ich will heute arbeiten. (I want to work today.)
But: Ich möchte heute arbeiten. (I would like to work today.) Arggh, here you would use the (subjunctive) "would" form in German: "möchte", not "mag". (The present forms of "mögen" can't be used with an infinitive verb.)
The modal "können" (can, to be able) is a very useful helping verb.
But its changing forms and conjugations often make it frustrating for the English-speaking learner, who is only used to “can” and “could”.
German Modal Verb "können" - Present Tense
In the Present singular form, "können" changes its stem vowel from "ö" to "a": - ich kann (I can) - du kannst (you[fam.] can) - er, sie, es kann (he, she, it can) - wir können (we can) - ihr könnt (you-all can) - sie, Sie können - they, you[form.] can
Below are examples of different ways you can use it.
"Können" - for a polite offer or request: - Ich kann Ihnen helfen. (I can help you.) - Können Sie/Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?) - Ja, das kann ich. (Yes, I can.)
"Können" to express know-how: - Er kann Gitarre spielen. (He can play the guitar.) - Kannst du Deutsch? (Do you know German? i.e. Are you able to speak German?) - Ja, aber ich kann kein Englisch. (Yes, but I don't know any English.)
"Können" to express possibility: -Das kann doch nicht wahr sein. (Surely that can't be true.) - Kann das wirklich stimmen? (Is that really correct?) - Ja ja, heute kann's regnen. (Yes yes, today it may rain.)
"Können" to ask or give permission: -Kann ich jetzt gehen? (Can I go now?) - Nein, das können Sie nicht. (No, you can't. [formal]) - Ja, du kannst. (Yes, go ahead. [familiar])
Unfortunately the Simple Past is not that simple for English speakers, who conveniently use "could" for all persons. In German, the stem drops the umlaut, and is "konn-" for all persons. But you still need to add the so-called "weak" personal endings for the Simple Past: - ich konnte (I could) - du konntest (you could) - er, sie, es konnte (he, she, it could) - wir konnten (we could) - ihr konntet (you-all could) - sie, Sie konnten (they, you could)
Past situations: - Sie konnte mich nicht verstehen. (She couldn't understand me.) - Ich war in Deutschland aber ich konnte kein Deutsch. (I was in Germany but I didn't know German.) - Warum konntest du mich nicht anrufen? (Why couldn't you call me?)
For making excuses: The Simple Past of "können" is also perfect for making excuses, especially when you add "leider" (unfortunately) - Ich konnte leider nicht anrufen. (Unfortunately, I couldn't call .) - Leider konnten wir nicht früher kommen. (Unfortunately, we couldn't come earlier.) - Mein Mann konnte leider seine Autoschlüssel nicht finden. (Unfortunately, my husband couln't find his car keys.)
Modal Verb "können" - Imperfect Subjunctive Tense
This unapproachable-sounding tense is actually easier, if you remember the Simple Past forms above. You just add an umlaut to every Simple Past form. - ich könnte - I could, would be able - du könntest - you could, would be able - er, sie, es könnte - he, she it could, would be able - wir könnten - we could, would be able - ihr könntet - you-all could, would be able - sie, Sie könnten - they, you could, would be able
Use this tense for polite requests (with or without "bitte"): - Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen ... (Could you please tell me ...) - Könntest du mir das Salz geben? (Could you pass me the salt?) - Könnte ich etwas anderes bestellen? (Could I order something different?
Make a polite suggestion: - Wir könnten jetzt gehen. (We could go now. Let's go now.) - Ich könnte dich morgen anrufen. (I could call you tomorrow.) - Du könntest auch später gehen. (You could also go later.)
Express a tentative possibility: - Das könnte teuer werden. (That could get expensive.) - Es könnte morgen schneien. (It could snow tomorrow.) - Wir könnten den 8Uhr Zug nehmen. (We could take the 8 o'clock train.)
Related verbs: können and kennen
Hearing the difference between “können” and “kennen” is often a challenge for the beginning German learner. We've seen that the auxiliary verb "können" means "to be able, to know how". On the other hand, the verb "kennen", means "to know, be acquainted with", referring to a person, a place, a song, a book, etc. You say: - Peter und ich, wir kennen uns. (Peter and I, we know each other.) - Ich kenne Helsinki noch nicht. (I don't know Helsinki yet.) - Kennen Sie London gut? (Do you know London well?) - Kennst du dieses Buch? (Do you know this book?)
One clue to know whether you hear a form of “können” or one of “kennen” is to listen for another verb: In most cases, the auxiliary verb “können” needs another verb. (But as you've seen above there are exceptions.)
So, go ahead and use "können" as much as you can. Ich kenne dich nicht, aber ich weiß, du kannst es. (I don't know you, but I know that you can do it.)
Sometimes, your day can just become a little brighter after you have been pleasantly surprised. In this case it concerned my glasses. And here is the little story:
During our recent skiing vacation, Ulrike and I decided to walk down to Gstaad. We had skied the day before, and in the evening I discovered that one of the little nose pads on my glasses was missing.
It's about an hour's walk through fields and past chalets to get to Gstaad from Schoenried, where we usually stay. On this day, the weather felt like spring and there was no snow. (Snow was to arrive the next day.)
Mirage – Gstaad, Switzerland
On our way down, we visited Mirage Gstaad, a house made of mirrors that stands in the middle of an open field. It's another installation of such a house by the well-known American artist Doug Aitken.
The outside walls mirror the beautiful natural scenery that surrounds the house. Inside, as you go through the rooms, you see yourself move reflected in dozens of images.
Gstaad Mirage has become quite a destination for many visitors in the Gstaad area and is an interesting idea. As one of the Italian visitors called out: Che bella idea!
"Offerieren" @ Optik Gstaad
But on to my quest for those little nose pads. Normally, in the US I find pads like that in a drugstore, but I knew it was unlikely that a Gstaad pharmacy or a “Drogerie” (i.e. drugstore) would have them.
In Switzerland, shops are more specialized than in the US. When we asked at a Drogerie, the clerk pointed us to “Optik Gstaad”, the only optician in town.
There I showed my glasses with the missing nose pad to a friendly saleswoman, and she understood immediately. I also asked her for a couple of extra pads in case I should lose another one. She nodded, suggested that we take a seat and disappeared to the back of the store. I had expected that she would just sell me a bag with a few pads.
About 15 minutes later – I was already wondering what could take so long – a young man appeared holding a silver tray: on it were my spotlessly clean glasses, with one new and one replaced nose pad, as well as two additional pads and a little bag on the side.
As I moved over to the payment counter – already trying to calculate what this little repair might cost – the young man wouldn't have any of it and said in Swiss German: “... mi möchtn's offerieren!”. I didn't really catch the first part of his explanation. But it took me only a moment to understand what he meant, i.e. that there was not going to be any charge, neither for the replacement nor for the extra pads.
In fact, in this context “offerieren” did not just mean “to offer” - the usual translation, but to offer the provided service (and product) for free.
I thanked him in my best Swiss German and put on my glasses. As I left the store, the world looked indeed very bright and clear through them.
And where do you think, I will buy my next sun glasses? This Swiss business clearly understood how good will is created. Rather than selling me a few Silicon pads for a Swiss Frank or two, the folks at Optik Gstaad understood that they are also in the service business. (And if you should be traveling to Switzerland in the near future you'll find travel tips in All about Swiss.)
“Offro io” – It's on me, my treat ...
Why did I understand, after only a moment's surprise, what the young man was telling me? Maybe it was because I had recently played our Italian Quick Game: “In an Italian Café”. The game starts with the expression “Offro io”, which means, I offer it, it's on me.
In English, "to offer something" generally means to provide something, free or with a condition attached. The other person can accept or reject the offer.
“Darf ich Ihnen einen Cognac offerieren?” - May I offer you a Cognac? If you hear this question asked at a dinner party, you don't expect to have to pay for it. On the other hand, if a waiter asks you that in a restaurant at the end of your dinner, and you accept, you'd better expect to see the charge for it on your check.
So the meaning of “offerieren” and “to offer” without any condition, will very much depend on the context and situation in which it is used.
As a noun, “die Offerte”, just translates as “the proposal” for a service and/or product and typically includes conditions such as price, delivery schedule, etc. It's used quite frequently in business German.
Well, that's the true fun of learning a language: It gets you out of your monolingual corner and opens you up to surprising moments of discovery and pleasant personal encounters. That way, life becomes so much brighter and more interesting.
Being "fluent" in a language is not a very precise term. Actually when we learn a language, we go through various stages of fluency. Plus, fluency in a language is often a subjective issue and can mean different things to different people.
Here are a few takes on Fluency by several well-known Polyglots in a recent Lingualift post. You'll get the drift.
• Benny Lewis, The Irish Polyglot: If I can talk to people confidently about normal things, at a normal speed, and understand their replies without them having to adjust to me as a beginner, then this seems like a reasonable place for us to assign “fluency”.
• Lindsay Williams, Lindsay Does Languages: What if there’s different types of fluency? You’re ready for your holiday to Germany? You’re holiday fluent. You spend all day emailing Thai companies about Facebook? You’re business email fluent.
• Luca Sadurny, MosaLingua: After building up your vocabulary and practicing, you start to express your thoughts in a more automated, fast and spontaneous way, even if you make some mistakes.
• Ellen Jovin, Words and Worlds of New York: Language fluency for me is when my words have the consistency of a liquid rather than a solid. For example, if I suddenly can’t remember how to say “broccoli,” I can replace it, as I continue talking along unimpeded, with “you know, that green vegetable that looks like a little tree that George H. W. Bush refuses to eat.”
• Shannon Kennedy, Eurolinguiste: I feel that there are also different degrees of fluency — one can have a fluent reading ability or they can be fluent in the language just for a specific industry (for example, they can talk about laws and contracts without hesitation but might not be able to talk about the weather) or they can even just be conversationally fluent (and unable to go too in-depth on really specific topics).
Conversationally Fluent
To me, being conversationally "fluent" in a language means not needing to prepare every sentence in my mind before saying it. It means feeling pretty comfortable talking about everyday things. I'm not constantly stumbling over basic grammar or getting stuck because I can't find that exact word I need. But it does not mean that I don't make any mistakes.
Obviously, the best way to improve your fluency in speaking a language is to talk regularly with others, ideally with native speakers. And, for keeping your conversations going, you need enough vocabulary and a sufficient familiarity with relevant language patterns (word order, idioms, types of sentences, verb endings, etc.). For that, reading and listening a lot to your target language is helpful.
But to improve the flow of your speech, you can practice some specific techniques. They might just give you that extra push to better fluency.
These three practice techniques have helped me to speak more fluently in a couple of my languages. You can do them feeling none of the stress and anxiety you get when speaking up publicly. In Ellen Jovin's words, they have given my speech, "the consistency of a liquid rather than a solid".
1. Practice Sentences Aloud
Take an audio story that matches your level and which allows you to easily stop and replay any of the audio chunks.
A lot of programs have these. For example Duolingo has such stories for four languages. (I'm using the ones for Portuguese right now.) But there's also LingQ that has mini-stories and podcasts in more languages. You can also use a YouTube video, video series you watch on your computer, books on audible, etc.
Replay and repeat each chunk or full sentence two or three times in natural rapid speech, imitating the speed and melody of the speaker. If your pronunciation is already pretty good, you can even take just a written text and read it aloud, repeating each sentence several times.
This practice has helped me: • Focus on and smooth out sound combinations that are hard for me • Sharpen my sentence intonation • Speed up my speech to a more natural pace
2. Explain Things in your Target Language
When you explain how to do something step by step in another language, it forces you to be both imaginative and precise. That really helps you to become more versatile in using your target language.
Finding "how to do topics" is easy. Think about a hobby, a sport you love, a dish to prepare, or something practical, like ordering a book online, or fixing something that's broken. Use topics and vocabulary that interest you.
Conversations with a native speaker are the perfect place to try out some of your explanations. Urge him or her to keep asking questions to make you clarify what you mean. If you don't have someone to talk to, write your explanations in a journal. You can then go over what you've written, check vocabulary, figure out other ways of saying it, etc.
This practice has helped me: • Find ways to keep going even when I can't remember a specific word • Become more resourceful in creating new sentences • Aquire vocabulary for topics that I'm interested in
3. Talk in your Head
If you're like me, you often talk silently to yourself. Sometimes I do it just to make sure I'm focused on a particular task. But you can do self-talk your target language at any time during the day. It's a useful stepping stone to thinking in the language.
Tell yourself stories, go over things you need to do, figure things out verbally, or have internal arguments with an imagined conversation partner. You may even end up dreaming in your new language! I'm told that's a sure sign of improved fluency.
This practice has helped me: • Keep the language in my mind off and on throughout the day • Learn to think in my target language • Try out conversations without the stress of being in a real one
Learning a language is a journey of discovery with many ups and downs. As you go along, it's not always obvious that your fluency has improved.But there may be moments, when you realize you were talking away in your target language without thinking about endings or worrying about stumbling. Those feel great!
We're well into January and I've already had a few days of cool skiing behind me. (And no, that's not me, but a photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash.)
It's high time though to put together some goals for this year's language learning. But is learning a language even worth the effort?
Here we are at the doorstep of a new decade. New technology - such as instant translators - will make learning a foreign language unnecessary, if not obsolete. So why bother?
We're getting used to wanting things fast (by ordering from Amazon, believing in instant personal transformations, etc). But learning a language takes time. Certainly more than 10 days (as promised by Pimsleur) or 3 months (as promised by Benny Lewis).
Life is getting more automated (think of self-driving cars, robots for the house, etc). Why go to the trouble of memorizing and practicing words, figuring out weird grammar, or struggling to decode a stream of "gibberish"?
Yesterday, I reread Kirsten Winkler's 2015 piece on LinkedIn: The Grim Future of Language Learning. There she concludes: "It might sound like sci-fi, but at the current rate, we’re going to have working technologies in our ears and in front of our eyes that will make language learning pretty much irrelevant for most people". Argument closed!?
For a couple of hours, I felt a little depressed. But then I looked at my own life and went happily back to my language learning routine.
TECHNOLOGY AND SELF-LEARNING
For sure, advances in technology have revolutionized and disrupted the classical model of language learning - which in my time was a chapter textbook with short reading passages, grammar explanations, and exercises.
Many of us remember some of that from our college language classroom. (I taught college German for some years using the classic textbook plus-pattern-drill approach. But funny enough, it just wasn't the way I myself learned languages best.)
Now we have everything we need for successful self-learning. We can use language apps, join language groups on social media, access online language sites, learn with YouTube videos, watch foreign language movies with (English or other) subtitles, play other-language audio books, listen to online radio stations from other countries, participate in language exchanges, and so on.
Some of us also have the opportunity to travel and try out our language skills on location.
So what's holding us back? Is it the assumption that we can thrive in a global world just with English? Is it laziness, or the feeling that we have no time? Is it the idea that we've missed the language learning boat, because we're now "too old" - at 30, 45, 60, or at 70?
WHY MAKE THE EFFORT?
Once you're out of school, language learning is no longer a "subject". It becomes part of what makes life interesting and adventurous. Passing exams is no longer part of it. Your goal is to have a conversation with someone who speaks the language. Or to watch a film, read a book, listen to an audio book - all in another language. When you can do that, it's huge.
No doubt, it does get somewhat harder to learn other languages as an adult. Not so much because you have lost all abilities that you had when you learned your first language. It's more because work, family, and social commitments now fill your days. Your priorities have changed.
And there are some other reasons too. For example, from the time we are young, we gradually lose the ability to hear certain sounds. Young children can absorb other languages easily because their brain can identify a broad range of sounds. (See Beyond "Learning a Language Like a Child".) But as children grow into adults, the sounds of their native language become dominant and their ability to hear some sounds of other languages diminishes.
Still, studies have shown that listening to other languages can give us back the ability to hear a broader range of sounds again. Have a look at Gabriel Wyner's article in Scientific American: How to Teach Old Ears New Tricks.
Another complaint we have as adults: we don't like memorization. But language is not just a list of words, it's also context, grammar patterns, tone of voice, etc. By experiencing language as communication, you work your brain on a much more complex level.
Besides giving our brain a boost, learning another language gets us out of the monolingual way of seeing the world. It opens up other cultures to us, teaches us empathy, and helps us become citizens of the world.
Having a device for instant translation can definitely help in certain situations. Especially, if you use it to communicate specific information. But having "technologies in our ears and in front of our eyes" all the time when talking with people, can't be pretty or pleasant.
And, when you have no understanding at all of the local language in the place you're visiting or even living in, you'll remain shut out. Locals are not going to speak English with each other just for your benefit.
So, why is learning a language worth the effort? Because it gives you the tools to live a richer and more interesting life. At any age.
4 TIPS TO MAKE LANGUAGE LEARNING PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE
1. Add language learning to your identity
For many of us, what we do in our free time becomes part of our identity, in addition to the work we do. I see myself as a teacher, but also as a skier, tennis player, and yes, a language learner.
These are things I love to do and to talk about with others. They are often my priority. When I ski, play tennis, practice or use another language, it gives me the chance to stretch my abilities. It feels good. I get a sense of accomplishment.
2. Find your inspiration
Without question, learning a language takes time and determination. You have to recall words and phrases often until they become automatic. Only with practice can you improve your pronunciation.
How do you inspire yourself to keep going even when you get discouraged? For some, the advice of a language hacker or a polyglot - such as Benny Lewis or Steve Kaufman - will do the trick. For others, doing something fun with the language - such as playing a game or listening to a story, will keep them engaged.
Do whatever gets you excited about the language - from listening to songs or audio books, to planning a trip to the country or region you always wanted to visit.
3. Check your mindset
Having the right attitude helps a lot. Learning a language cannot be an instant achievement, but rather stretches out into a series of small, enjoyable successes. If you accept that, you're well on your way. But there's more.
Making mistakes is simply part of learning and nothing to worry about. Learning a language is a process of learning, forgetting, and relearning, like any new skill.
When you make your language learning a fun habit (rather than a chore) it is easier to keep going.
4. Do something in your new language every day
Make a list of "small things" that you could do in the course of your day. Listen to a song, do a few flashcards, watch a YouTube, read a page, write a few lines, list a few words, scan news headlines, check an Instagram account, make a grocery list, copy out a few sentences, read out loud, record yourself and play back, listen to an audio book or podcast, play a game. The list could go on and on.
Make some of the items part of your daily schedule. For example: sing a song in the shower; do a few flashcards with your morning coffee; write a few lines in a journal; take a break and play a language game; read a couple of pages on the bus home or at night before sleeping; watch a film.
So, go for it, take some risks, become adventurous, try things out. And remember these eight words: "Some is good. More is better. Everything counts."
It was first the sound of Portuguese that I loved, a language we often hear spoken in the Boston area and in a small New Hampshire village where we vacation. The intriguing part: Portuguese looks very similar to Spanish but sounds so different.
So, before a March visit with family in French Switzerland, we discussed the idea of going to Lisbon for a week from there.We had just started our site, Lingo-Late. Why not seize the opportunity to test its basic premise: Learning about 20-30 essential phrases before traveling to a new country is not difficult - even if you do it late, just before your trip - and adds to the fun and pleasure of the visit.
Unless you're a dedicated Polyglot, you probably cannot become fluent in every language you try to learn. But, you can definitely master basic greetings, polite phrases, learn some easy "where is..." questions and a few directional words and phrases. That's what we did for Portugal and you can do as well with Learn Portuguese For Travel!
A BRAZILIAN IN PORTUGAL
Our nonstop flight from Geneva to Lisbon took about 2 1/2 hours. From the Lisbon Portela Airport, we took an Uber into town. (Uber is available throughout the city.) Our driver Eduardo was from Brazil and clearly eager to practice his English. We, in turn, took the opportunity to ask him about the differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese.
Was the language a problem for him? Oh, he said, no problem with the language: Brazil versus Portugal is similar to US versus UK. The big difference is that Brazilians speak with open vowels, in contrast to speakers from Portugal, who “eat their vowels”.
And, he added, you have to be careful about a dozen words or so, since they have different (sometimes offensive) meanings, depending on the country you're in. He also said that speakers of Portuguese can understand Spanish quite easily. But, Spanish speakers usually have trouble understanding Portuguese.
MY LANGUAGE BOOKLET
As always, I had a little notebook along. In it were written down all the phrases I had practiced on Lingo-Late. The key for me is to practice saying words and phrases often and with a kind of spaced-recall practice. (For example, I recall/test myself the next day, then four days later, then after a week, etc.)
I like having the option to record my voice (easily done on Lingo-Late), and then to play back and compare. For a new language like Portuguese, it feels a little awkward at first, but with time I get used to my own voice trying out unfamiliar sounds. Once the sounds of the essential phrases are solidly in my head, I find it easy to pick up new words and phrases that I hear or see during my travels.
SEVEN HIGHLIGHTS
Lisbon is a beautiful, cosmopolitan city with a wealth of things to do. Here are seven places and activities we especially enjoyed.
1. Exploring Bairro Alto
Our rental apartment was in a building on Travessa da Espera, in Lisbon's Bairro Alto (Upper District). It's a trendy neighborhood where many restaurants and bars line the narrow streets. Most evenings, we found a restaurant nearby.
At a couple of them, we definitely needed our basic Portuguese phrases, as the owners barely spoke any English. Our best and most fun experience was at the small restaurant A Nossa Casa, which features an amazing array of "petiscos" (the Portugese version of "tapas").
2. Praça do Comércio
On our first day, once we had lunch and studied the city map, we headed to the historic Praça do Comércio, a generously laidout U-shaped square.
There, at the Story Center, we learned about the different periods in Lisbon's history, from the early sea explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries, the devastating earthquake of 1755, to Salazar's dictatorial rule (1932 to 1968), and the 50 years since then.
3. Miradouro das Portas do Sol
Later that first day, walking back to Bairro Alto, we were talked into a 90 minute e-TukTuk tour that turned out to be perfect. Lisbon is built on seven hills. The narrow streets go up and down and up again. In her quiet electric cart, our guide Maria drove us through several different neighborhoods.
In her fluent French - the preferred tour language of our little group - she told us stories about Lisbon's history and its people. Because of its hilly cityscape, Lisbon has a number of Viewpoints (Miradouros) scattered throughout. Maria took us to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Doors of the Sun).
The soft late-afternoon sun gave us a stunning first view of the city and the Tagus River (Rio Tejo). Over the next days, we were always on the lookout for other such viewpoints.
4. Day Visit to Belém
Once we had figured out the city's transit system, we took a bus to Belém (the Portuguese word for Bethlehem). The bus was crowded mostly with locals and the ride took about 30 minutes.
Our reward was a wide, open promenade that stretches along the Tagus River. On it stands the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a stone monument celebrating the achievements of the Portuguese Explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. It is a 52 meter high ship's prow and has on it more than 30 statues of historical figures of the time.
The one best known is that of Henry the Navigator, (1394-1460), a prince who financed many of the explorations, but who is also known for founding the European slave trade. The excellent Marine Museum in Belém tells the story of Portugal, the seafarer nation.
5. Train Trip to Sintra
To get to Sintra, famous for its 19th century Romanticist architecture, we took a suburban train from Rossio Station. Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is only 27 km (16.5 miles) from Lisbon but the trip took about 45 minutes, since it's a commuter route with many stops.
Exploring Sintra (on foot and by local bus) took us into the world of somewhat eccentric architecture. We were glad we could ask in Portuguese where the bus stop was for the bus to the palace - and understood the directions. The Palace of Sintra is in the lavish Mujédar style of architecture (Moorish revival); the old center of town, a little higher up, consists of narrow streets, stairways, and quaint mansions; still higher up, you have the ruins of the Castle of the Moors; and finally, on top there's the colorful Disney-style Pena Palace.
Best of all, the large terrace at Pena Palace opens up an incredible view of the countryside.
6. A Walk through the Maurario and Alfama Districts
We took a day to do some casual sightseeing on foot. We walked to the top platform of the Santa Justa Lift from a hill (we didn’t take the lift because of long lines).
From there, we slowly made our way through the hip Maurario district, with its street and tile art, and into the historic Alfama district, going past the city walls and ending up at the Castelo de São Jorge.
7. Ferry to Cacilhas
On our last day, we took the ferry across the river Tejo to Cacilhas on the other side. Then we caught the local bus to Cristo Rei - a monumental statue inspired by the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro.
An elevator takes you up to a 80 meter high platform, from where you have a panoramic view of the entire Tagus Estuary, the 25th April suspension Bridge, and the seven hills of Lisbon.
Afterwards, we took the bus halfway back to the town of Olho de Boi, rode the Boca do Vento (Mouth of the Wind) elevator from cliff-top down to the river's edge, and walked the 15-minute path along the river back to the Ferry Terminal.
Because we had learned and practiced greetings in Portuguese, asking for directions, and ordering in a restaurant, we tried these out whenever we could. For sure, we weren't even close to being fluent.
But, people appreciated our willingness to use Portuguese, rather than immediately throwing English at them. Because of our persistent attempts at using the local language, we had many a conversation that otherwise would not have happened. It clearly added to the enjoyment of our stay in Lisbon.