Idiomatic expressions and grammar essentials

[Marianopolita]

The definition of an idiomatic expression is provided in the beginning of this link. Here is the explanation:

One of the most difficult aspects of a language to master is the usage of idiomatic expressions. Idiomatic expressions are phrases that carry a specific meaning within the language. Normally, there is no logical way of translating them word by word. The only way to learn them is to memorize them, and to practice their use. Below, you will find a series of Spanish idiomatic expressions grouped by types, according to the verb or the preposition they contain, and their English counterparts.

This thread will be for grammar topics. I think grammar is essential (I would even say it is the key aspect to grasping a language and then speaking, reading and writing follow). To those who are believers in good grammar hopefully this thread will become interesting and helpful since there is potential for a lot of discussion. The spoken and written language differ greatly. Spanish, a language that has more than four hundred million speakers and is the official language of at least twenty countries needless to say is diverse.

Variations from region to region combined with archaisms (most are considered incorrect in modern grammar), slang, colloquialisms and anglicisms make the language interesting to speak and for some a challenge to understand. In my opinion, even in light of the differences from region to region, it's still not a complex language to learn and/or master. If you have a solid (grammatical) foundation, write well etc. the differences in the way the language is spoken should have little impact on you the observer/ speaker.

As you will notice the majority of the idioms are part of everyday speech and all speakers learn them as they learn the language. The idiomatic expressions presented in this link (12 pages. keep pressing pg down to see the full list) involve some of the most common verbs- what I call part of the top twenty-five most common verbs in Spanish. Therefore, it is good to learn idiomatic expressions associated with them. Are you saying and using them correctly? Keep in mind since they are idiomatic you can't change the expressions (with hopes of keeping the intended meaning) because that's when they do not make sense in Spanish. Quite ironic.

LIST OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS



-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

Might be better to have a list of Dominican idiomamatic expressions. One of my biggets problems here is that there are so many words which are so different form Spanish learned else where. ANd most Dominicans will deny that there is any other Spanish except that which they learned. We were wrestling with the word patacon earlier today, that there could be a different word for green fried platanos wasn't concievably to milady. platanos verdes fritos and tostones, but a nother word for the same thing from elsewhere. She gave me her "You're nuts look." Der FIsh

Sure. If you can find a list of Dominican idiomatic expressions go ahead and post the link. I have yet to see one. Idiomatic expressions in the link I posted are used in Spanish thus anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world including the DR. Look at the first page alone. All the expressions are used by Spanish speakers from any country and in the DR too. They are a part of the language.

You may be mistaking idiomatic expressions for regionalisms. They are not the same. Patac?n or patac?n pisao are regionalisms.


-MP.

 

[pollogringo]

Here's another I've always liked, Marianopolita:

estar a sus anchas

 

[Marianopolita]

pollo....

That expression is on the list. It's on the second page of the link (or page 28 of the text book that it's from). Estar a sus anchas is an everyday idiomatic expression in Spanish used by any Spanish speaker.

When I reviewed the list (all twelve pages) there was only a handful of expressions that I did not use on a regular basis. If one can use them correctly and in context, it's another sign of good command of a foreign language.

One that I like is: de vez en cuando. In no other language (that I speak) does it sound so sweet.


-MP.

 

[pollogringo]

That expression is on the list. It's on the second page of the link (or page 28 of the text book that it's from). Estar a sus anchas is an everyday idiomatic expression in Spanish used by any Spanish speaker.

When I reviewed the list (all twelve pages) there was only a handful of expressions that I did not use on a regular basis. If one can use them correctly and in context, it's another sign of good command of a foreign language.

One that I like is: de vez en cuando. In no other language (that I speak) does it sound so sweet.


-MP.

Se me escap?. Gracias.

 

[Rainwater]

I like this topic, Marianapolita, thank you!

While I was doing some research at Archivos de la Naci?n I came across a fascinating book on Dominicanismos. It is a scholarly work. Wish I remembered the author and exact title!

I love the phrase dar a luz...one of the most beautiful in the Spanish language.

 

[Lucifer]

I've never heard de s?bito, traer a colaci?n, a campo raso, venir de perilla, dorar la p?ldora...

 

[pollogringo]

I've never heard de s?bito, traer a colaci?n, a campo raso, venir de perilla, dorar la p?ldora...

I've actually said traer a colaci?n. LOL.I'm a geek like that.

 

[Rainwater]

I've never heard de s?bito, traer a colaci?n, a campo raso, venir de perilla, dorar la p?ldora...

...speaking of geeks! LOL! The only one I never heard/used is venir de perilla. I'll take a guess. Perilla as in handle or attachment? So...fifth wheel?

 

[pollogringo]

When my gf acts like an airhead she says que se le fue la guagua.

 

[La Profe_1]

I don't know if this is any help, but I have had this site bookmarked for some time. It covers both idiosyncratic usage and sayings in the Dominican Republic.

Palabras, acciones u objetos y sus respectivas traducciones

 

[Marianopolita]

I don't know if this is any help, but I have had this site bookmarked for some time. It covers both idiosyncratic usage and sayings in the Dominican Republic.

Palabras, acciones u objetos y sus respectivas traducciones

That's a good list for those who have questions about regionalisms and phrases that are typical of the Dominican vernacular. In my opinion, it's a not a list of idiomatic expressions in Spanish. I think this will help Derfish as per his post #2 because these reveal vocabulary, phrases etc typical of the DR. What I found interesting also was many of the definitions are even explained in a colloquial way which normally it would be in standard Spanish so any speaker can understand.


-MP.

 

[mambodog]

I like this topic, Marianapolita, thank you!

While I was doing some research at Archivos de la Naci?n I came across a fascinating book on Dominicanismos. It is a scholarly work. Wish I remembered the author and exact title!

I love the phrase dar a luz...one of the most beautiful in the Spanish language.

I have a copy of a Diccionario De Dominicanismos by Orlando Inoa, published by Letragrafica in 2010. ISBN 978-9945-410-54-9. I think I must have found it in La Sirena - but I doubt they have a copy now!

 

[LuisSanchez]

Greetings, I am a 57 years old dominican living in USA and making plans to return soon to the land of the free, my lovable Quisqueya. I have been lurking around for a while and I decided to share something with you about this topic.
I could be wrong but we dominicans use language in a very odd way: any word can have almost any meaning depending on the context. We even tend to invent new meaning as needed during a conversation. And, even crazier, the same words can mean its opposite...for example...."Esto es terrible"...podria significar that something is either very bad or very great and smart...all depends if the person add a smile or a laugh or add a "wao" at the end. You figure!

Look, I am married to a German who speak fluent Spanish and she inmeditely knows when I start talking as a dominican: metaphores, double meaning, implying meaning, tone of voice...that can drive people crazy...For example, the word "vaina" has some many meaning that it would very difficult to write down without missing some. Even, we do not seem to care about the difference between "v" and "b", pay no attencion to "r" versus "l"...It seems that we do no really care about the language at all... we just want to make a point...how the point is made is not even important...that is probably why sometimes we chop the sentences, the words, suspend the verbs...and always use the hands to contribute to conversation. What to do? I suspect that the best is to be inmersed in the culture: join the people, make some dominican friends, they are always ready for a talk...darn, they love to talk specially to foreigners, unending talks for hous and hours....Why? No dictionary can capture a people that speak in so many different levels at the same time. Tough luck. I am happy that alreay know it. I do not believe I have the energy do it again. Cheers,

 

[pollogringo]

Greetings, I am a 57 years old dominican living in USA and making plans to return soon to the land of the free, my lovable Quisqueya. I have been lurking around for a while and I decided to share something with you about this topic.
I could be wrong but we dominicans use language in a very odd way: any word can have almost any meaning depending on the context. We even tend to invent new meaning as needed during a conversation. And, even crazier, the same words can mean its opposite...for example...."Esto es terrible"...podria significar that something is either very bad or very great and smart...all depends if the person add a smile or a laugh or add a "wao" at the end. You figure!

Look, I am married to a German who speak fluent Spanish and she inmeditely knows when I start talking as a dominican: metaphores, double meaning, implying meaning, tone of voice...that can drive people crazy...For example, the word "vaina" has some many meaning that it would very difficult to write down without missing some. Even, we do not seem to care about the difference between "v" and "b", pay no attencion to "r" versus "l"...It seems that we do no really care about the language at all... we just want to make a point...how the point is made is not even important...that is probably why sometimes we chop the sentences, the words, suspend the verbs...and always use the hands to contribute to conversation. What to do? I suspect that the best is to be inmersed in the culture: join the people, make some dominican friends, they are always ready for a talk...darn, they love to talk specially to foreigners, unending talks for hous and hours....Why? No dictionary can capture a people that speak in so many different levels at the same time. Tough luck. I am happy that alreay know it. I do not believe I have the energy do it again. Cheers,

Looking forward to your insights, Don Luis!

 

[LuisSanchez]

I will try...Being reading the forum for a couple weeks and I am happy to know that some people here learned to love it. It is so full of secrets and beauty...and friendship...So many happy memories of forgone time in SD...

 

[pollogringo]

I will try...Being reading the forum for a couple weeks and I am happy to know that some people here learned to love it. It is so full of secrets and beauty...and friendship...So many happy memories of forgone time in SD...

I've been in love with your language since I was a young teen. Always appreciate new opportunities to learn.

 

[LuisSanchez]

So are you there? If so, you know what I mean. For dominicans, friendship is everything and it lasts forever and ever. The whole society works in a web of relationships. To understand Quisqueya, an expat has to find a way to insert himself into that web. Otherwise, he will be always be a tourist to be taken advantage of. Amen!

 

[pollogringo]

So are you there?

On and off. Went for the first time at 18 with a friend whose grandmother lived in the capital. Befriended a girl that lived on Jacinto de la Concha. Later married a girl from Bayaguana in Alto Manhattan. Had a handsome and talented son with her. I'll be there shortly, in the East.

 

[LuisSanchez]

Interesante. My family is from Bonao, but I lived in SD: Villa Consuelo, Quisqueya and, crazy of me, I became an dominican york for a while. I am going to SD next week and began my plan to return within 4 years, and watch the moon reflexion on top of the ocean. Darn I miss so much the caribean sea that I cannot stand the American beaches!