feo – ugly
frecuentemente decimos – we frequently say
que pueden ser – that can be
pueden ser – they can be
un ejemplo es – one example is
el año pasado – last year
y otras frases similares – and other similar phrases
fuerte – strong
ahora – now
vamos a ver – let’s look at (see)
en ceirtas circunstancias – in certain circumstances
generalmente usada/o – generally used
apariencia – appearance
a menos que – unless
ofenderles – to offend them
significado – meaning
muy negativo – very negative
también se usa – it is also used
aquí hay dos ejemplos – here are two examples
abajo – below
un amigo latino – a Latin friend
él estaba conversando con – he was conversing with
ellos estaban hablando – they were talking
acerca de – about
feos – ugly (plural)
lo miraban – they looked at him
bonito – pretty
comida fea – ugly food
dicen – they say
el cual significa – which means
aquí hay otro – here is another
hace unos meses – a few months ago
de vacaciones – on vacation
estaba detrás de mí – was behind me
y entonces – and then
la gente piensa – people think
de una frase – of a phrase
ella estaba hablando – she was talking
un idioma diferente – a different language
de otro modo – otherwise
mucha confusión – a lot of confusion

In the English language frecuentemente decimos certain words que pueden ser very strong when spoken in Spanish. These are words that really should be avoided because pueden ser offensive. Un ejemplo es the word “stupid” that we talked about in a previous newsletter el año pasado. In English, some people commonly say, “that was stupid” y otras frases similares. The word “stupid” in Spanish is “estúpido” [es-too-pea-though]; it is incredibly fuerte and should be avoided as you learn Spanish.

Ahora on the opposite end of the scale, vamos a ver a word that is pretty strong in English but more commonly used in the Spanish language – en ceirtas circunstancias. It is the word “feo.” In English, “feo” is a pretty negative word generalmente usada to talk about apariencia. Because it is so fuerte, you would never call anyone feo a menos que you were purposely trying to ofenderles. In Spanish, the word “feo” has the same significado as its English counterpart and is also considered muy negativo. However, también se usa in a few different contexts. Aquí hay dos ejemplos (abajo):

This is a story to give you an example of this concept. I have un amigo latino that came to live in the U.S. from South America. El estaba conversando con his soon-to-be in-laws (from the U.S.), and ellos estaban hablando acerca de different foods. He talked about how certain American dishes were just plain “feos” to him. After he said that, lo miraban with a strange look because food usually isn’t referred to as “feo” in English. As Americans, we don’t refer to food as “bonito” or “feo.” After a few minutes of confusion, the family laughed when they finally realized that “comida fea” to him meant that it tasted bad. In Spanish, dicen, “la comida está fea” el cual significa “The food is ugly,” or “The food tastes bad.”

Aquí hay otro interesting Spanish use of the word “feo.” Hace unos meses, I was in Disneyland with my family de vacaciones. We were riding the parking trams and a Spanish speaking couple estaba detrás de mí. I love listening to Spanish speaking people talk, y entonce s surprising them by commenting to them in Spanish. Usually la gente piensa I don’t speak Spanish because I definitely look like a “gringo.” Anyway, the lady was talking and reminded me de una frase that is commonly used in Spanish. Ella estaba hablando acerca de a certain thing her friend had done socially and said, “Eso se ve feo.” The literal meaning is “That looks ugly.” Its equivalent in every-day English would be, “That doesn’t look good,” or “That just isn’t right.”

Moral of the Story: When you are learning un idioma diferente, it is important to learn some of the differences of how words and expressions are used. De otro modo you could inadvertently end up offending someone or causing mucha confusión. Differences in language and culture can be very educational and fun to learn about.

Sneak peek at the blog topic for next week: “Research Showing the Effects of Learning a Language on the Brain!”

If you turn on the television in the United States on New Year’s Eve, you’ll probably see Dick Clark, the Apple dropping in New York, hoards of people in time square making as much noise as possible, famous singers, and even some people dancing.

If you turn on the T.V. in Latin America, or in the U.S. to a Latin channel, chances are you will see dancing, dancing, and more dancing. The Latin people love to dance. We discussed briefly about Latin music and dancing in a newsletter earlier this year, but I want to spend a little more time on it today. Latin music is rich in culture; there is Salsa music, Meregue music, Tango music, and many other types of wonderful types of Latin music. The most popular and widely danced are probably the Salsa and the Merengue. They have a wonderful sound and beat. Unlike in the U.S. where you just move your body around to music (I’m exaggerating a little), dancing to Latin music usually takes a little bit more practice. As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, Latin parties (fiestas) always have dancing. If there is a Latin party without dancing, it is quite simply not called a “fiesta” (party).

When and if you turn on the T.V. this “Año nuevo” (New Year’s Eve), be sure to spend at least a few minutes watching the Latin channel(s) so you can get a good flavor for Latin music, dancing, and culture. I personally love to watch and listen to all types of Latin music. Trying to dance to it can also be quite fun. For “Año nuevo” in the past, I have gone Latin dancing with my wife and some Latin friends and we all loved it. They had a big buffet-type dinner first with Latin food, and then we all danced for hours. I have to say, I am not a great Latin dancer but I loved trying to dance and being surrounded by the Latin culture.

I would be excited if some of you, after reading this newsletter, decided to go Latin dancing for “Año nuevo”. If you do, please drop me a line afterwards and let me know how it went. I would love to hear from you.

For those of you who like dancing and want to get a taste for Latin culture, dancing, and practice some Spanish at the same time, I highly recommend enrolling in a Latin dance class; and if it were me, I would choose Salsa dancing. Like learning Spanish, enrolling in a Latin dance class can be a great New Year’s Resolution!

¡Próspero Año Nuevo! (Happy New Year!)

¡Hasta luego! (”Until later”)
David S. Clark — President / Director
U.S. Institute of Languages
Click here to learn Spanish!

noventa y cinco porciento – 95%
es Católico – is Catholic
una mayoría – a majority
durante el verano – during the summer
más tarde – later
primero vamos a hablar – first let’s talk
acerca de – about
Navidad – Christmas
Noche Buena – Christmas Eve
tan pronto como – as soon as
termina de hablar – finishes speaking
medianoche – midnight
para la familia – for the family
ayudante – helper
ya que – since
la cena Navideña – the Christmas dinner
es un pavo tradicional – is a traditional turkey
el dinero suficiente – enough money
dinero – money
pollo – chicken
juegan con sus regalos – play with their gifts
generalmente duermen tarde – generally they sleep in
para la Nochevieja – for New Year’s Eve
y como la Navidad – and like Christmas
una muñeca grande – a large doll
ropa vieja – old clothes
muñecas grandes – large dolls
en las calles – in the streets
y las queman – and they burn them
para mucha gente – for many people
la persona vieja – the old person
una persona nueva – a new person
cualquier parte del mundo – any part of the world
familia a familia – family to family
región a región – region to region
como regalo de Navidad – as a Christmas gift
si ordenan antes de las 2:00 – if you order before 2:00
para nuestra oferta actual – for our current sale

Because about noventa y cinco porciento of Latin America es Católico, Christmas is as widely or possibly even more widely celebrated than in the United States. Also, because una mayoría of Latin Americans live south of the equator, for them Christmas is actually durante el verano. As you will see más tarde, these have an influence on some of their holiday traditions.

Primero vamos a hablar acerca de Navidad. In Latin America, on Noche Buena, there is a Mass (religious worship service) at many Christian churches at 11:00 p.m. Tan pronto como the preacher or priest termina de hablar, the children run home to await Santa Claus who usually arrives around midnight (medianoche) with gifts (in many regions of Latin America). He knocks on the front door and brings the gifts in para la familia. (For those of you under age 10 reading our newsletter: Since Santa cannot be in everyone’s home at the same time, he usually gets a neighbor to be his official ayudante.)

Ya que they live in a warmer climate, there are fireworks around medianoche. La cena Navideña is also after medianoche where the main course es un pavo tradicional. Families that customarily would not have el dinero suficiente to buy a turkey try to save their dinero beforehand to make such a nice meal possible. If they still do not have el dinero suficiente for un pavo, they eat pollo. After dinner, children will usually juegan con sus regalos for a few hours and then go to bed around 3:00 a.m. Needless to say, generalmente duermen tarde on Christmas morning.

Para la Nochevieja they stay up at least until medianoche (like we do here in the U.S. ) y como la Navidad, they again light fireworks. One thing they do in many regions that I found interesting is they build una muñeca grande out of ropa vieja — usually stuffed with straw. On New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) [no-chay bee-eh-hah] around medianoche they take their muñecas grandes out en las calles, light them on fire, y las queman. (Do not try this at home!) Para mucha gente, this represents the end of “la persona vieja” and the beginning of “una persona nueva”.

As with cualquier parte del mundo, traditions vary somewhat from familia a familia and región a región.

¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!)

Sneak peek at next week: Dancing and Año Nuevo (New Years)

David S. Clark — President / Director
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