Jerga/ Expresión idiomática

Idioms

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2022-11-18

In Spanish there are many idioms, i.e expressions that can't be translated word for word. These expressions are used in different situations, some are coloquial, some are more formal. Here are some examples:

Hace mucho calor en Sevilla.
It is very hot in Seville.

La policía ha hecho la vista gorda.
The police has turned a blind eye.

Ayer metí la pata en el trabajo.

Yesterday I put my foot in it at work.

Lessons with more detail on Jerga/ Expresión idiomática

Using me llamo [name] - to say your name in Spanish
Using Cuánto + verb in exclamations about quantities in Spanish
Por culpa de/gracias a = because of/thanks to in Spanish
Polite requests in Spanish: querría, quería and quisiera to politely say "I would like"
"There was"/"there were" in Spanish: había
Por vs Para in Spanish: Using por (and not para) to express a part of the day
Forming Spanish exclamatory sentences with qué [noun] or qué [adjective]
Using Spanish verbs seguir/continuar + present participle = to keep on [doing something]
Using dejar de + [infinitive] = to stop doing something/to give up something
Using lo de que / lo de to refer to something already mentioned
Acabar de + [infinitive] = to have just done / just did something in Spanish (perífrasis verbal)
Using Estar a punto de + [infinitive] = to be about to do something in Spanish (perífrasis verbal)
Using acabar/terminar + [infinitive/present participle] = to end up doing something in Spanish (perífrasis verbal)
Using volver a + [infinitive] to express repetition of an action in Spanish (perífrasis verbal)
Using A + la/las + [time] to say at what time something takes place in Spanish
Using poner/poner(se) + a + infinitive = to start to carry out an action (perífrasis verbal)
Using qué de + noun in exclamations about quantities
Difference between Spanish verbs saber and conocer (to know)
Using querer in the preterite vs the imperfect in Spanish
Spanish personal "a" verbs (ver, visitar, buscar, conocer)
Spanish Había vs Hubo (Imperfect vs Preterite)
Quedarse + [gerund] = to do something continuously in Spanish (perífrasis verbal)
Using vez/veces = time/times in Spanish
Empezar/comenzar a = to begin/start doing something (perífrasis verbal)
Using el de/la de/los de/las de to specify what/who you are talking about
Using convertirse en / ponerse / hacerse / quedarse to express "to become" (Spanish verbs of change)
Using the Spanish verb "tardar" = to take time
Using Cuánto + noun in exclamations about quantities in Spanish
Using Qué poco/s + verb/noun to express surprise about a small quantity or infrequency
Using porque, como and es que to express cause (subordinate causal clauses)
Difference between hay and está in Spanish
Spanish verbs Quedar, Quedarse and Quedarle (Different meanings of verb quedar)
Spanish modal verb Deber versus Deber de (obligation and assumption)
Sentir vs Sentirse (to feel) in Spanish
Using gustar in the conditional in Spanish = would like [to do something]
Use Hace + length of time + que + the preterite tense in Spanish to say how long ago something happened
Use "hace" for "ago" with the preterite tense (El Pretérito Indefinido)
Using Hacía + length of time + que + the Spanish imperfect tense to express duration in the past
Using "menos" to say except in Spanish
Using Spanish verb volverse to express to become/to turn (verbs of change)
Using tener + past participle to express the completion of an action (perífrasis verbal)
Cuanto/mientras más/cuanto menos... for The more/The less... in Spanish
Using llevar + present participle to express duration of an action in Spanish (perífrasis verbal)
Using con lo que + indicative for despite
How to use Spanish question tags: ¿no? ¿verdad?
Using ser or no ser + mucho de/ muy de/ tanto de/ más de + infinitive
Exclamatory sentence in Spanish: qué + noun + más/tan + adjective
Using ¿a que...? to seek confirmation / threaten / predict
Using llevar + past participle to express the completion of an action so far (perífrasis verbal)
Using ir + y / coger + y to introduce something unexpected and sudden
Spanish verb Costar vs Costar a alguien algo
Tal como/cual = Just as... (subordinate manner clauses)
Estar para + infinitive to say someone/something is ready for something
Repetition of a word to give emphasis in Spanish
Tocar + infinitive for "it is time for someone to do something" (perífrasis verbal)
Using the Spanish expression "no salirle algo a alguien"
How to say I think so/I guess so /I hope so in Spanish
How to say to remind someone of something with the verb recordar
A + [time] + de + infinitive for within + [time] of + gerund in Spanish
How to say I can't wait/I can't wait to do something in Spanish with no ver la hora
Por mucho / más / muy que for no matter how much
Using ser fácil/difícil + infinitive vs ser fácil/difícil de + infinitive
Using preposition "a" to indicate how/in which style something is done
Si + Imperfect subjunctive for "if only/I wish"
Darle a alguien por [hacer] algo = to take up something/to feel like doing something (perífrasis verbal)
A tan solo + [length of time] + de for just [some time] before
El/la/los/las + noun + que + verb to indicate quantity/intensity (exclamations)
La de + noun + que + verb to intensify
Using the simple future and the perfect future to express surprise or rejection
Lo que + verb + subject for emphasis
How to say to have something done in Spanish - mainly beauty and body contexts
Using the imperative of mirar/oír with specific meanings -irony, attention, supposition
Using hacer/mandar + infinitive in Spanish for "to have something done"
How to say to have something done with a sentence using the verb in the 3rd person plural
Using Cómo/dónde/quién/qué + ir a + infinitive to state the obvious/impossible
Using "anda, anda que, anda que no" for surprise, encouragement, emphasis (interjections)
Using Qué + noun/adjective/adverb + que + subjunctive to express feelings
Using Spanish verb venir a + infinitive to indicate approximation/end of a process (perífrasis verbal)
Using "como si" + the imperfect subjunctive for an ironic reproach
Using the Spanish gerund as a command
Using ir por to express what point/stage someone has reached
Using dar algo por + past participle/adjective
How to say to lend/to borrow in Spanish with prestar/pedir prestado
Spanish verbs Decir vs Contar (to tell)
Spanish verbs Traer vs Llevar (to take/to bring)
Using the verb tomar for having food/drink
Expressing the beginning and end of a period or space in Spanish
Using por poco/casi/un poco más y + present tense for nearly/almost in Spanish
Spanish verb "faltar": different meanings
Talking about measurements and distances in Spanish
Using dársele bien/mal algo to say you are good/bad at something/doing something
Spanish verb Pensar + infinitive to express intention
Difference between hay, ahí and ay
Using "como si" in Spanish with indicative to express indifference
El/la/los/las + muy + adjective
Using the present tense in Spanish for making suggestions
Spanish verbs Perder/perderse (pronominal verbs)
Using por qué no/y si/ qué tal si for suggestions in Spanish
Using "y eso que" in Spanish for despite/even though
Spanish verb sobrar: different meanings
Using "a ver" for "let's see"
Using Spanish verb verse + past participle (perífrasis verbal)
Verbs jugar and tocar: differences
Yo que tú / Si yo fuera tú / Yo de ti for If I were you in Spanish
Using ir + y / agarrar + y to introduce something unexpected and sudden
Talking about measurements and distances in Spanish
Spanish verbs Pedir vs Preguntar (to ask)
Using en/a/por in Spanish to express a part of the day
Using cómo de + adjective/adverb to ask about the degree or extent of a specific quality
Using qué tan/cuán + adjective/adverb to ask about the degree or extent of a specific quality
Spanish verbs Llevar vs Llevarse (pronominal verbs)
Using "más + adjective + jamás + participle/subjunctive
Using "cómo no" to say "of course"
Using dar de + infinitive with eating and drinking related verbs
Using "cómo es que/cómo que" for "how come/what do you mean?"
Using ser de un (adjective) que
Talking about decades in Spanish
Using que si...que si... in Spanish
Using Spanish verb temer(se) with indicative or subjunctive
Using the Spanish verbs "tardarse/demorarse"= to take time
Verbs that always use "se las" in Spanish
Menos mal / menos mal que to express relief
Spanish verbs crear, creer and criar
Using si / sí for emphasis in Spanish
I'll be right with you...