A couple short Spanish translations
January 21, 2014 9:09 PM   Subscribe

I'm working on a Spanish course, and I'm having trouble with a couple of questions dictated to me. I simply do not know what word they are using. Maybe I'm just mishearing it, and it really is something I know. Or maybe its a devious plot to confuse me. Anyway, these are the questions, as well as I can hear them.

Cuando medas television?

Recives regalos de tostillos?

Bebes in medas la television al mismo tiempo?

In particular, I've never heard this medas word. I'm sure I'll put a palm to my forehead and feel like an idiot after someone answers, but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Thanks!
posted by Gargantuantoe to Writing & Language (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Ahhhh, never mind on the second one. I just heard it wrong. It was asking about my uncles.
posted by Gargantuantoe at 9:12 PM on January 21, 2014


Best answer: Is it possible that "medas" is "miras" but they're pronouncing the R with a touch of the tongue against the front of the palate? This seems to be fairly common pronunciation in my experience.

So, "bebes y miras la television al mismo tiempo?"

It was asking about my uncles.

"tus tios" for those playing at home.
posted by LionIndex at 9:15 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: You know, that must be it. It makes a lot of sense. And, as predicted, I feel like an idiot. Thanks a lot! You've helped a bunch.
posted by Gargantuantoe at 9:18 PM on January 21, 2014


'medas' is almost certainly 'miras'. Recives is 'recibes'.


A couple of things to note about spanish consonants:

'r' often sounds like english 'd'

'b' and 'v' are pronounced identically.

'y' often sounds like english 'j'
posted by empath at 9:20 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


Also, vowels are very consistent in spanish --

A is always pronounced as english 'ah'
E is always pronounced as english long a (as in 'way')
I is always pronounced as long 'e' (beet)
O is always pronounced as long o (boat)
U is always pronounced as long u ('tune')
posted by empath at 9:24 PM on January 21, 2014


D in the middle of words is a light th.
posted by brujita at 9:48 PM on January 21, 2014


Cuando medas television?

Note that "me das" = "you give me", and "¿Cuándo me das la televisión?" = "When will you give me the TV set?"

Also, keep in mind that "¿Cuánto miras la televisión?" = "How much do you watch TV?"

It is important that you learn to *listen* to Spanish. The spelling is mostly straightforward, but vowel or consonant changes can alter the meaning of most words.
posted by sukeban at 12:04 AM on January 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


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