Spanish Word of the Day

December 13th, 2013 at 8:59:08 AM permalink
Nareed
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 346
Posts: 12545
Quote: Pacomartin
I would never have guessed that in a million years.


It's not that hard. You begin with the root "rex" for "king," which really has changed little in the past few millennia. You can imagine early Ye Olde Spanish speakers using "rexio" to reffer to kingly attributes, and that morphing to an easier, for them, "g" or "j" pronunciation. Thus "Regio." The rest just comes naturally.

The problem lies in reversing the terms vis a vis the city's name, And that English would go to the more simple "Monterreyan," one supposes, with typical American directness (that's mostly a good thing).
Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER
December 13th, 2013 at 4:57:27 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
Posts: 12569
Quote: Wizard
The question for the advanced readers is to confirm or deny a common etymology with ducha (shower).


The shower meaning comes from French "douche". I was told in Oaxaca that most people in Mexico did not use "duchar", instead using "bañarse".

The "skillful" meaning is from Latin words "dŭctus" or "dŏctus" which are ancestors of English "doctrine"

I think words like : diestro , derecho, hábil, o habiloso are more common.
December 13th, 2013 at 8:21:35 PM permalink
Nareed
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 346
Posts: 12545
Quote: Wizard
Today's SWD means skillful.


Now, that is a $0.01 word ;)

Quote:
El profesor esta muy ducho a arreglar las cosas. = The professor is very good at fixing things.


Typo aside, "..ES muy ducho PARA arreglar .."
Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER
December 14th, 2013 at 11:02:44 AM permalink
Wizard
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Fecha: 14-12-13
Palabra: desempeñar


Today's SWD means to carry out/redeem/play a part/free from obligation.

Ejemplo time.

Gilligan desempeño el papel de Hamlet = Gilligan played the role of Hamlet.
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
December 14th, 2013 at 8:42:35 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
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It's a complicated word. It is not obvious how it is related to it's cousins.

empeñar
to pawn (to sell something to a pawn shop)
to involve
to pledge

empeño
insistence, effort
obligation
persistence
eagerness
pawn
(Honduras, Mexico) pawnshop
deposit, container deposit (can or bottle deposit)
patron

Latin pignus
pledge, mortgage
hostage
wager, stake
December 16th, 2013 at 9:39:29 PM permalink
Wizard
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Fecha: 16-12-13
Palabra: Cobija


Today's SWD means blanket.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast cobija y manta.

Ejemplo time.

El viento sopló la cobija de Mary Ann de la cama. = The wind blew the blanket off Mary Ann's bed.
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
December 17th, 2013 at 6:56:18 AM permalink
Nareed
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 346
Posts: 12545
Quote: Wizard
The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast cobija y manta.


About $4 ;)
Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER
December 17th, 2013 at 5:43:46 PM permalink
Wizard
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Fecha: 17-12-13
Palabra: Privar


Today's SWD means to deprive.

There is obviously a common etymology with the English word deprive. What other words have the "prive" root, what does it specifically mean, and what is its origin?

Ejemplo time.

Ginger siente privado de atención. = Ginger feels deprived of attention.
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
December 17th, 2013 at 7:11:30 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
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Posts: 12569
The word privus is Latin for "one's own, individual"
The word privare is Latin for "to separate, deprive,"
In this case the prefix "de-" means "entirely" in English

Of all descendants in different languages, English is the only one to use the "de-" prefix
English: deprive
French: priver
Italian: privare
Occitan: privar
Portuguese: privar
Spanish: privar
Catalan: privar

The "intensifier" use of the prefix "de-" is relatively rare in English. Another example is devote. and denumerate
More common uses of the prefix are
1. removal of or from something specified: deforest ; dethrone
2. reversal of something: decode ; decompose ; desegregate
3. departure from: decamp
December 17th, 2013 at 7:35:34 PM permalink
Pacomartin
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 1068
Posts: 12569
Quote: Nareed
Quote: Wizard
The assignment for the advanced readers is to compare and contrast cobija y manta.


About $4 ;)


I take it that cobija is more of a "bedspread" as it is related to "cobijo" From Latin cubiculum (“bedroom, bedchamber”), from cubō (“I lie down, lie asleep”).

English: "cubicle" originally referred to a small bedroom in the 1400's, but the word went out of use for hundreds of years. It was revived in 1926 in reference to an office space.