The Spanish verb ver means “to see,” “to view,” and “to watch.” 

Ver conjugation is mostly regular, although the pattern varies in the past participle, visto (“seen”), and the first-person singular present, veo (“I see”). 

Verbs derived from ver include prever (“to preview” or “to foresee”) and entrever (“to glimpse” or “to suspect”) and follow the same conjugation pattern. Mirar (“to look”) is similar in meaning but not interchangeable with ver.

Today, we’ll learn ver conjugation in three moods:

• indicative mood (present, past, conditional, and future)
• subjunctive mood (present and past)
• and the imperative mood. 

Let’s see just how this Spanish verb works and what forms it takes.

¡Vamos a ver qué pasa!
Let’s see what happens!

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The Ultimate Guide to Ver Conjugation

Since this is a complete overview of the ver conjugation, there may be tenses and forms that you are not yet familiar with. I suggest that you go through the lesson in bite-sized chunks. You can practice your newfound ver conjugation skills using some exercises later in this blog post!

Ver Conjugation: Verbals

For these ver conjugations, there are two forms of ver that you need to learn.

1. Conjugation of haber + past participle of ver
2. Conjugation of estar + gerund form of ver

The infinitive form of the verb is ver.
The past participle of ver is visto.
The gerund form of ver is viendo.

These compound tenses involve using the helping verbs haber and estar. The conjugation changes in these tenses happen within the helping verbs, while the form of ver stays the same. 

Let’s see them in action…

Mi amigo me quiere ver.
My friend wants to see me.

Juanita está viendo una película.
Juanita is watching a movie.

Yo nunca había visto algo así en toda mi vida. 
I had never seen something like that in my whole life.

Ver Conjugation: Indicative Mood

Ver is a common Spanish verb, and the indicative mood is the one most commonly used in Spanish. 

Present simple

Veo que ella me quiere ayudar.
I see that she wants to help me.

¿Ves el atardacer?
Do you see the sunset?

Nos vemos todos los días.
We see each other every day.

Past Simple

Vi que él estaba en la oficina.
I saw that he was at the office.

Maria vio que no iba a poder hacer que Pedro cambiara su mentalidad.
Maria saw that she wouldn’t be able to make Pedro change his mind.

¿Ustedes vieron las pinturas de Dalí?
Did you all see Dalí’s paintings?

Past Imperfect

Ellos veían la serie.
They used to watch the series.

Francisco veía los negocios como si fueran un juego. 
Francisco saw business as if it were a game.

Cuando éramos jóvenes nos veían como inocentes. 
When we were young, we were seen as innocent.

Conditional

Si yo pudiera, vería a mi mejor amiga todos los días.
If I could, I would see my best friend every day.

Si Olga supiera lo que he hecho, seguro que me vería diferente. 
If Olga knew what I have done, surely she would see me differently.

No sabía que veríamos a la familia allá. 
I didn’t know that we would see the family there.

Future Simple

Voy a ganar, ya verás.
I’m going to win, you’ll see.

Ella pronto verá la verdad.
She will soon see the truth.

Cuando lleguemos, veremos el paisaje.
When we arrive, we will see the scenery.

Ver Conjugation: Subjunctive Mood

We use the subjunctive mood to talk about hypotheses, hopes, wishes, or uncertainty.

Present Subjunctive

Yo quiero que tú veas lo que hiciste. 
I want you to see what you did.

Lo creeré cuando lo vea.
I will believe it when I see it.

Pinté el cuadro así para que se vean bien los colores.
I painted the picture like this so that you can see the colors well.

Past Subjunctive

Si tú vieras lo que yo vi, también estarías feliz.
If you saw what I saw, you’d be happy, too.

El profesor quería que nosotros viéramos su presentación.
The teacher wanted us to see his presentation.

Me gustó que ustedes vieran a mi mamá.  
I liked that you all saw my mom.

Two other subjunctive tenses exist: future and past perfect. The future subjunctive is rarely used, and the past subjunctive tense in the table above is the more common of the two. 

Ver Conjugation: Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used to give commands. These tenses don’t include most of the subject pronouns since you can’t give commands in the first person singular (yo) or plural (nosotros) or the third person (él, ella, ellos, ellas). 

No veas la pantalla tanto.
Don’t watch the screen so much.

Veamos un episodio o dos.
Let’s watch an episode or two.

¡Véala en internet ahora mismo!
See it online now!

Let’s practice!

Ver Conjugation Exercises

Check your understanding of ver conjugation with the following exercises! Be sure to check each answer with the answer key below. ¡Buena suerte!

Exercise 1

Identify the tense (and pronoun, if applicable) of each ver conjugation.

1. Vi

2. Verán

3. Ves

4. Visto

5. Veríamos

Exercise 2

Conjugate ver in the tense given.

1. Usted – future

2. Ellas – past simple

3. Tú – imperative, negative

4. Nosotros – present simple

5. Yo – conditional

Exercise 3

Fill in the blank with the correct form of ver.

1. Nosotros _____________ la obra de teatro. (present simple)

2. Ella ha _____________ a la misma doctora por dos años. (past participle)

3. Quiero que nosotros _____________ el documental. (present subjunctive)

4. Tú _____________ qué fantástica soy. (future)

5. Él _____________ la lluvia. (imperfect)

Exercise 4

Translate the following sentences to English.

1. Viste a mi mamá. 

2. Mañana veremos la siguiente parte.

3. Nosotros estamos viendo el espectáculo. 

4. ¿Verás a nuestro nuevo maestro?

5. ¿Verías el documento hoy?

Click to check your answers.

See Yourself Speaking Spanish!

Congratulations! You’ve learned about ver conjugation in Spanish and uses of the verb ver. If you would like to continue practicing, our live, native Spanish-speaking teachers are here to help you. Ask them about when to use each ver conjugation, how to memorize them, and how to best learn Spanish. Boost your Spanish fluency by engaging you in real-life conversation. Sign up today for a free class! 

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
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• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
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• How to Build a Spanish Practice Routine That Sticks (And Doesn’t Spark Eye Rolls)
• Why Learning Spanish Feels Harder as an Adult, And What You Can Do About It

Answer Key

Exercise 1

1: yo – past simple, 2: ellos/ustedes – future, 3: tú – present simple, 4: past participle, 5: nosotros – conditional

Exercise 2

1: verá, 2: vieron, 3: no veas, 4: vemos, 5: vería

Exercise 3

1: vemos, 2: visto, 3: veamos, 4: verás, 5: veía

Exercise 4 

1: You saw my mom, 2: Tomorrow we will see the next part, 3: We are watching the show, d: Will you see our new teacher? 5: Would you view the document today?

The post Ver Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDF appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

The challenge of determining your language proficiency is due to a lack of universal standards of measurement. In fact, several similar frameworks are currently in use.

According to Education.com, “Language proficiency is a measurement of how well an individual has mastered a language. Proficiency is measured in terms of receptive and expressive language skills, syntax, vocabulary, semantics, and other areas that demonstrate language abilities.”

Read this blog post to understand the different levels of language proficiency, find out how to determine your own level, and learn how to continue moving toward fluency!

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Common Language Proficiency Frameworks in the U.S.

The term “levels of fluency” refers to predetermined levels of language skills that pertain to your ability to listen, speak, write, and read in a foreign language. 

Your level of fluency helps potential employers assess whether you’re qualified for a specific job position, so it’s useful to include it on your resume. To assess your current skill level in a foreign language, you can take online assessments or official exams.

In the U.S., two commonly used proficiency frameworks exist: 

1. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
2. The Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale 

The ACTFL scale consists of five fluency levels: novice, intermediate, advanced, superior, and distinguished. Each level contains three sublevels of proficiency (low, medium, and high).

The ILR scale includes the following language proficiency levels: 

IRL Scale: 0-5 Levels of Language Proficiency 

The levels of language proficiency detailed below come from the Interagency Language Round-table (ILR) scale, which is established by the US Foreign Service Institute.

0: No Proficiency

Essentially, this level indicates no knowledge of the language. You may know a few words but can’t form sentences or engage in basic conversation. Also known as No Spanish. 

1: Elementary Proficiency

At this starting point of the levels of language proficiency, you can form basic sentences, including asking and answering simple questions. If you’re traveling to a new country and just beginning to study a language, this is your level. Also known as Elementary Spanish.

2: Limited Working Proficiency

At this level, you can handle basic commands and limited casual conversations. If you’re at this level, you still need help with more complex conversations and can only operate independently in basic conversations. Also known as Limited Working Spanish.

3: Professional Working Proficiency

Once you reach this language proficiency level, you can make contributions to meetings and hold conversations with customers or clients. You can speak at a normal speed in the language and have developed a fairly extensive vocabulary. You probably still need help to understand more subtle and nuanced phrasing. Many employers require a new hire to be at this level or above. Also known as Professional Working Spanish.

4: Full Professional Proficiency

At this level, you can have advanced discussions on a wide range of topics like personal life, current events, and technical topics related to your field. You may occasionally misspeak or make minor mistakes, but your vocabulary is extensive and you can carry on conversations with ease. Also known as Full Professional Spanish.

5: Native/Bilingual Proficiency

If you’re at this language proficiency level, you were either raised speaking the language or have been speaking it so long that you’re completely fluent. Also known as Native Spanish or Bilingual English and Spanish.

Hand-picked for you: Spanish Reading Practice Tools for Spanish Learners of Every Level

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Although the CEFR placement test is not well-known in the United States, it is common throughout the rest of the world. Job candidates from Latin America, Africa, and Europe typically state their language proficiency level using the CEFR categories. It is an internationally recognized way of communicating your language skills. 

The six levels in this system ranges from A1 to C2. Most online Spanish language courses aim to get you to the same level in all areas, but don’t be surprised if your skill level varies across language acquisition areas. You may be at an A2 level for speaking, but a B1 level for reading. 

See also: 10 Effective Habits for All Levels to Learn Spanish and Speak It Fluently

A1 and A2

At these levels, you are considered to be a basic user. As an A1 user, you can understand slow, articulated speech and ask simple questions. At an A2 skill level, you can compose short phrases and common sentences and understand slower conversations. 

In other words, A1 and A2 users are beginners. However, an A1 student is not a complete beginner. According to the standards above, a student at the A1 level already has some primary mastery of the language. So, to reach the A1 level, you need to complete an introductory Spanish course.

B1 and B2

The B1 and B2 levels are for independent users. If you want to work abroad or travel, your goal would be the B1 level, or ideally B2. 

At the B1 level, you can confidently get around Latin America or Spain on your own. While you may not understand everything, you know enough Spanish to get directions and hold basic conversations. A B2 user has more vocabulary and can work a job that requires intermediate language skills. 

C1 and C2

The C1 and C2 levels are for proficient users. If your goal is Spanish fluency, aim for a C1 level in which you can fluently speak and express yourself. A C1 level does not mean you understand every word in the language but that you can handle most conversations and some tricky topics. 

The C2 level is complete mastery. Often, even native speakers do not reach this level. This level pertains mostly to college professors, language gurus, and experts in a specialized field. 

Discover your level with our professional Spanish teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy!

Learn more: The CEFR and How Homeschool Spanish Academy Uses It

Ready to Climb the Levels of Language Proficiency?

The journey through the different levels of language proficiency may not be quick and easy, but it’s certainly worth the effort! You now have an in-depth understanding of the official levels according to two frameworks. The next step is to practice your skills with a native Spanish speaker. Try out a free class with one of our friendly, certified teachers today! They will help you effectively move your Spanish skills to the next level.

Enhance your Spanish knowledge with our blog! Check out our latest posts:

• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
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The post What Are the Different Levels of Language Proficiency? appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Ser is one of the two prominent “to be” verbs in Spanish; the other is estar. Ser is an irregular -er verb, so it doesn’t follow regular verb ending patterns. Being able to use all the forms of ser in Spanish will make you a more fluent speaker.

Keep reading this blog post for a comprehensive, practical grammar guide to using ser in all its forms!

(For a more technical lesson on this verb’s conjugation, see Ser Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDF.)

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When to Use the Forms of Ser in Spanish

Let’s briefly review the most common usages of the verb ser. You’ll use it primarily in situations to express physical characteristics, times and dates, professional and relationships, and permanent descriptions (including origin, nature, identity, and possession).

1. Physical Characteristics

Ella es baja y delgada.
She is short and thin.

La casa es azul.
The house is blue.

Mi perro era grande y blanco.
My dog was big and white.

2. Times and Dates

Son las once de la noche. 
It is 11:00 p.m.

Ayer fue martes.
Yesterday was Tuesday.

Mañana es el primero de diciembre.
Tomorrow is December 1.

3. Professions and Relationships

Soy escritora.
I am a writer.

Elena es mi amiga.
Elena is my friend.

Juan fue mi esposo.
Juan was my husband.

Mi trabajo es difícil.
My work is difficult.

4. Permanent Descriptions

Soy yo.
It’s me.

Tú eres de este pueblo.
You are from this village.

La casa es mía.
The house is mine.

México es un país al sur de los Estados Unidos.
Mexico is a country south of the United States.

Now it’s time to dive into our complete guide to ser! The following sections are organized into present, past, future, subjunctive, commands, conditional, and progressive.

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Present Tense

The most common set of verbs in Spanish is the present indicative tense. Use these verbs to discuss things happening now.

Present Indicative 

¿Quién soy?
Who am I?

¿Quién eres?
Who are you?

Yo soy ____.
I am _____.

¿Qué es?
What is it?

¡Es una niña!
It’s a girl!

Ellos son Latinos.
They are Latin American.

Ustedes son inteligentes.
You all are intelligent.

Nosotros somos mujeres fuertes.
We are strong women.

La alumna es colombiana.
The student is Colombian.

Nosotros somos los primeros en llegar.
We are the first to arrive.

Los zapatos son míos.
The shoes are mine.

Present Perfect

The past participle of ser is sido.

Ha sido maravilloso. 
It has been wonderful.

Yo he sido tranquilo toda mi vida.
I have been calm all my life.

Ella ha sido maestra de yoga por veinte años.
She has been a yoga teacher for twenty years.

Hemos sido amigos desde la niñez.
We have been friends since childhood.

Estos procedimientos han sido utilizados en años anteriores. 
These procedures have been used in previous years.

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Past Tense

Spanish has two main past tense forms: preterite and imperfect. The preterite tells you precisely when something happened in the past, while the imperfect tells you in general terms when an action took place with no definite ending.

Preterite

Let’s take a look at ser in the preterite tense. If these conjugations look familiar, it’s because they’re also the preterite forms of the verb ir (to go). 

Fue una noche oscura.
It was a dark night.

Fueron escondidos detrás de los árboles.
They were hidden behind the trees.

Nosotros fuimos meseros de este restaurante. 
We were waiters at this restaurant.

Fuimos los mejores.
We were the best.

No fui yo, esta señora está confundida. 
It wasn’t me; this lady is confused.

¿No fui lo suficientemente claro?
Was I not clear enough?

Yo mismo lo fui.
I used to be one myself.

Las mujeres fueron las que corrieron. 
The women were the ones who ran.

Ella y su madre fueron encarceladas. 
She and her mother were incarcerated.

Imperfect

Ser is one of just three irregular imperfect verbs. Note that the first-person and third-person singular forms (yo and usted) are the same (era).

Cuando era niño, comía mucha papaya fresca. 
When I was a little boy, I used to eat lots of fresh papaya.

La directora de la escuela era estricta. 
The school’s principal was strict.

La librera era de mi abuela. 
The bookshelf was my grandmother’s.

Dickens era un gran escritor.
Dickens was a great writer.

Tú eras la secretaria de la oficina. 
You used to be the secretary in the office.

Éramos futbolistas.
We used to be soccer players.

¿Te acuerdas cuando eramos chicos?
Do you remember when we were children?

Eran las cinco. 
It was five o’clock.

Mis padres se casaron cuando eran muy jóvenes. 
My parents got married when they were very young.

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Future Tense

We use the future tense to discuss plans, intentions, predictions, and assumptions. Good news! Ser is regular in the future tense, so you can apply the regular verb endings here. Alternatively, use the present tense of the verb ir + ser to express the phrase “going to be” or “will be.”

Que será será.
Whatever will be, will be. 

Linda será una gran bailarina.
Linda will be a great dancer.

Ustedes serán bienvenidos.
You all will be welcome.

Tú serás la primera.
You will be the first.

Voy a ser enfermera.
I am going to be a nurse.

Vas a ser exitosa.
You’re going to be successful.

Vamos a ser esposos.
We are going to be married.

Van a ser actores.
You all will be actors.

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Conditional

Conditional sentences are sentences that express one thing based on something else.

Mejor sería comprar verduras frescas. 
It would be better to buy fresh greens.

Si no estuviera tan ocupada, sería más felíz. 
If she weren’t so busy, she would be happier.

Pensé que hoy sería diferente. 
I thought that today would be different.

¿Qué crees que sería justo? 
What do you think is fair?

¿Qué días de la semana serían las clases? 
What days of the week would the course be?

¿Cuáles serían las consecuencias?
What would the consequences be?

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

We use the Spanish present subjunctive to talk about situations of doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, or uncertainty.

Lo que sea.
Whatever.

Lo hago tantas veces como sea posible. 
I do it as often as possible.

Por muy tarde que sea, pasaremos a verte. 
However late it may be, we will come by to see you.

Cuando sea grande quiero ser arqueólogo. 
When I grow up I want to be an archeologist.

¿No te alegras de que tus primas sean tan felices? 
Aren’t you glad that Elisa and David are so happy?

Es necesario que sean socios.
They need to become partners.

¿Quiere que sea testigo?
Do you want me to be a witness?

No importa que sea de otro país.
It doesn’t matter if it’s from another county.

Imperfect Subjunctive

We use the past subjunctive (also known as the imperfect subjunctive) to talk about hypotheses, wishes, or uncertainty in the past.

Si yo fuera tú no lo haría.
If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.

Yo esperaba que ella fuera a la tienda conmigo. 
I was hoping that she would go to the store with me.

Aunque fuera clara, no le gustaba. 
Although it was clear, he didn’t like it.

Ellos esperaban que sus amigos fueran a la playa con ellos. 
They were hoping that their friends would go to the beach with them.

Past Perfect Subjunctive

The past perfect subjunctive is common when discussing past hypotheticals, conditionals, and past actions preceding other past actions.

Hubiera sido un error trágico.
That would have been a tragic mistake.

Hace seis meses hubiera sido totalmente inconcebible.
Six months ago, this would have been absolutely unthinkable.

Creo que hubiera sido algo que nadie habría aceptado.
I think that would have been unacceptable to everyone.

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Commands

Another word for Spanish commands is “imperatives,” and we use them to give direct orders by addressing someone (or a group).

No seas exagerado, no pasó de esa manera. 
Don’t exaggerate, it didn’t happen that way.

Sea amable con los huéspedes. (formal/usted)
Sé amable con los huéspedes. (informal/tú)
Be nice to the guests!

Seamos razonables, pidamos sólo lo necesario. 
Let’s be reasonable, let’s ask only for what we need.

No seamos hipócritas.
Let us not fool ourselves.

Forms of Ser in Spanish: Progressive

Lastly, let’s take a glance at one of the less commonly used forms of ser in Spanish: the progressive or continuous form. The gerund form of ser is siendo.

Estamos siendo vigilados por los vecinos.
We are being watched by the neighbors.

Ellos están siendo echado de su propio terreno.
They are being kicked off their own land.

Aún sigue siendo así.
That is still the case.

Ya iba siendo hora.
Not a day too soon.

¡Vas a Ser Bilingue!

You’re going to be bilingual!

Now that you’re learning the plethora of ways to use ser in all its forms, are you ready to take the next step? Try a free trial class with one of our certified Spanish teachers to practice using ser—plus learn more helpful verbs and vocabulary—while having a real-life conversation with a native speaker.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies? Check these out!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish

The post Master All the Forms of Ser in Spanish: Your Ultimate Grammar Guide appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Contemporary Latin American art is a general category of art originating from countries of that region from the mid-20th century to the present. Its dominant themes include conceptual, minimalist, protest, and performance art. Especially since the 1990s, Latin American artists have worked in a globalized context due to their growing exposure to the international art world.

Read this article to discover the most influential Latin American artists today who are creating meaningful art that is rich in history, infused with Latin American culture, and radical in appearance. 

10 Amazing Contemporary Latin American Artists

This list includes some of the most outstanding Latin American artists working today to transform themselves and their communities by changing paradigms and breaking the mold. Their creativity and uniqueness look to evoke deep feelings in viewers.

1. Doris Salcedo

The starting point of Doris Salcedo’s art is the personal histories of political victims in her native Colombia. Salcedo creates understated sculptures and installations with complex themes related to genocide, trauma, racism, and colonialism. 

Salcedo’s media include everyday objects such as household furniture, hair, and clothing. Since 1988, she has interviewed people whose family members were “disappeared” by the authorities during Colombia’s civil war. She regularly visits abandoned villages, murder sites, and mass graves.

According to Salcedo, “The way that an artwork brings materials together is incredibly powerful. Sculpture is its materiality. I work with materials that are already charged with significance, with meaning they have required in the practice of everyday life… then, I work to the point where it becomes something else, where metamorphosis is reached.”

2. Vik Muniz

Our next contemporary Latin American artist is Vik Muniz, a famous Brazilian artist and photographer. Initially a sculptor, he now focuses on photography and mixed media. His art shines a spotlight on the effects of globalization and economic inequality. 

Muniz is known for repurposing everyday materials to create intricate and heavily layered recreations of canonical artworks. His eclectic media range from trash to peanut butter and jelly.

Layered appropriation is a recurring theme in Muniz’s work. In 2008, he photographed trash pickers in Brazil as figures from emblematic paintings and recreated the photographs in large-scale arrangements of trash. The 2010 film “Waste Land” documented the project to raise awareness of urban poverty. 

3. Jose Alejandro Restrepo

José Alejandro Restrepo is a contemporary Latin American artist with more than 30 years producing electronic arts. His training and interests encompass the visual and performing arts, installation, photography, performance, and editorial production. 

Restrepo’s work attempts to dismantle the ideology of the system. It touches on religious themes, such as punishment, redemption, and sacrifice. 

A pioneer of video art, Restrepo uses video technology and electronic images to accentuate a deviation from the discourses of popular entertainment and mainstream contemporary art. He often re-appropriates and manipulates television images, reconstructing mass media messages to highlight the value given to images. 

4. Zilia Sánchez

Zilia Sánchez Dominguez is a Puerto Rico-based Cuban artist. Her career began in set design and abstract painting for radical theater groups in Cuba prior to the Cuban revolution. Her work was part of the influential exhibition Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960-85 at the Brooklyn Museum in 2018.

In the 1960s, Sánchez reinvented hard-edged, geometric abstraction by introducing shaped canvases and sensual undulating forms. In 1964, she traveled to New York, where she began making shaped paintings, a practice she further developed in Puerto Rico after settling there in the early 1970s.

Sánchez’s three-dimensional paintings feature pointy areas of the canvas that protrude into space. She blurs the lines between sculpture and painting by creating canvases layered with three dimensional protrusions and shapes. Her unique works are minimal in color and have erotic overtones.

5. Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara

21st century contemporary Latin American artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is an emerging Cuban performance artist and dissident known for his public performances that openly criticize the Cuban government. A self-taught artist, Alcántara hails from El Cerro, one of Havana’s poorest neighborhoods. 

Cuban authorities have detained him over 20 times in the last three years. Officials have cracked down on their enforcement of Decree 349, a 2018 law that prevents artists from showing their work without approval by the ministry of culture. 

Acting as a lightning-rod for violations of free expression, Otero’s works embody and raise awareness of Cuba’s ongoing repression of independent artists, writers, thinkers, and activists. In Otero’s piece, La Bandera Es De Todos (“The Flag Is for Everyone”), he wore the Cuban flag for thirty days.

After his most recent release, Otero declared, “We are going to keep producing art; it’s the biggest responsibility of our lives. We will keep fighting for a free Cuba.”

6. Tania Bruguera

Political and social justice are at the core of female Cuban artist Tania Bruguera’s performances, events, community projects, and exhibitions. She addresses oppressive systems and gives voice to the voiceless through her work. 

She has been both awarded and arrested for her presentations. In 2014, the Cuban government arrested her for attempting to stage a performance in Havana’s Revolution Square. She had planned to set up a microphone and invite people to express their visions for Cuba.

Brugera’s art directly relates to the Cuban Revolution and immigrant rights. The artist explains, “For me, the most important moment for an art piece is when people are not sure if it’s art or not.” 

In 2003, she developed the concept of arte útil (“useful art”)—art that transcends representation to offer practical solutions to social issues. Such art has led to backlash from the Cuban government. Most recently, Cuban officials detained Bruguera in Havana while on her way to a Black Lives Matter protest. 

7. Paz Errázuriz

Some contemporary Latin American artists are celebrated photographers. In the 1970s, photographer Paz Errázuriz dared to document communities that were being marginalized in Chile under the Pinochet-led dictatorship. She photographed marginalized and oppressed communities including sex workers, psychiatric patients, and circus performers.

Ignoring laws that restricted women’s access to certain areas, she entered taboo sites such as brothels, psychiatric hospitals, circuses, and boxing clubs. The resulting portraits exude intimacy and warmth, as well as a reverence for their subjects. 

According to Errázuriz, she focuses on “topics that society doesn’t look at… and my intention is to encourage people to dare to look.”

8. Mónica Mayer

Mónica Mayer is a feminist Mexican artist, activist, and art critic whose work encompasses performance art, graphic design, drawing, photography, and art theory. Art school piqued her interest in feminist activism, when she heard a group of male students state “that women were less creative than men because [they] gave birth.” 

In 1978, she moved to Los Angeles, where she interacted with pioneers of the American feminist art movement. Mayer brought her blossoming performance practice back to Mexico City, where she produced El tendedero (“The Clothesline”) in 1979. The interactive piece encouraged the public to finish the sentence: “As a woman, the thing I detest most about this city is…”

Mayer later founded two feminist art groups and has promoted her feminist ideology through channels outside of her practice. According to Mayer, “Doing research on women’s art, writing about them… teaching, protesting and supporting other women artists is part of my work.”

9. Luis Esquivel

Mexican artist Luis Esquivel is known for his unique neon artwork. Often inspired by electronic music, Luis fuses graphic art, textile design, and technology to form eye-catching and disruptive installations. 

Striking neon color gradients and geometric shapes characterize Esquivel’s emerging hyper-modern style. Breaking the mold of traditional modes of art, he finds new forms of visual media and self-expression.

The works of this contemporary Latin American artist are an electric medley of traditional mediums and hypermodern digital media and visuals. The emerging artist works with innovative media including spray paint, digital print and acrylic paint, PVC, wood, mud, and other textiles.

10. Marta Minujín

Argentinian artist Marta Minujín spent the 1960s ensconced by the Pop art movement, and she occasionally collaborated with Andy Warhol. In stark contrast to Warhol’s work, Minujín’s plush sculptures and public performances invited active participation and physical contact.

In the 1960s, she began to transform multicolored mattresses into bulging forms that referenced the human body. They became central elements of art installations, in which Minujín encouraged participants to leave their inhibitions at the door and roll around in a sea of cushions.

Not many contemporary Latin American artists can do what Minujín’s does. Minujín’s work also addresses the problems that result from totalitarian rule and oppression. For example, in her series, La caída de los mitos universales (“the Fall of Universal Myths”), she erected replicas of monuments like the Parthenon using books banned by the former Argentine dictatorship. 

When one of Minujín’s pieces is dismantled, its individual components are distributed to the public.

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Chocolate, roses, lingerie, and love poems are some of the common gifts people offer their loved ones each year on February 14th. While you could argue that it is a consumer holiday full of false expectations and cliche shows of “love”, Valentine’s Day is nevertheless a holiday with many traditions in countries around the world, including Spain and Latin America.

In Latin America, Valentine’s Day is better known as El Día del Amor y la Amistad, or the day of love and friendship. Let’s take a look at how different Spanish-speaking countries celebrate this day!

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V-Day Around the World

Spain

In Spain, Valentine’s Day is not for a platonic love; the holiday is all about passionate romance. At the same time, some Spaniards refer to the holiday as Día del Corte Inglés. Corte Inglés is a popular department store chain in Spain. Hence, the name pokes fun at Valentine’s Day. This is akin to someone in the US calling it a “Hallmark holiday.”

Mexico

In Mexico, the official name of the holiday is Día de San Valentin (St. Valentine’s Day), but it is more commonly called El Día del Amor y la Amistad. While many people do give chocolates, flowers, and balloons to their romantic partners, a greater emphasis is put on celebrating friendships. 

Guatemala

In Guatemala, the holiday is known as El Día del Cariño and it is celebrated similarly as in the United States. Candies, flowers, and romantic gifts are exchanged between companions. Furthermore, this is a special day for people to appreciate their amigos, familia, y compañeros (friends, family, and coworkers). This can be accomplished by exchanging gifts or just letting them know what they mean to you with a simple note or call. 

El Salvador

In El Salvador on Valentine’s Day, the children play a game called Angelito or Amigo Secreto, which involves exchanging names and giving anonymous gifts, similar to Secret Santa. 

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico celebrates Valentine’s Day by throwing large public parties. 

Ecuador

In Ecuador, the men traditionally serenade their loved one outside of their house at night. 

Peru

In Peru, the romantic observers of the holiday give out colorful orchids rather than roses. Some sweethearts get hitched in mass weddings designed to accommodate many couples simultaneously. Peruvians celebrate both Carnival and Valentine’s Day around the same time, making for a grand celebration of love and bliss.

Colombia and Bolivia

Colombia and Bolivia celebrate in September rather than February. On September 20, Colombian secret admirers are encouraged to give gifts and profess their love. 

Bolivians are doubly romantic, with Día del Amor y la Amistad on July 23, as well as Día de Amor (Love Day), which is celebrated in conjunction with Students’ Day, the Day of Spring, and Children’s Day. They exchange cookies, candies, and flowers on September 21. Both love-filled holidays take place during the long, cold Bolivian winter.

Argentina

On February 14, Argentines celebrate El Día de Los Enamorados (“Lovers’ Day”). Here, more of an emphasis exists on spoiling their significant other with gifts and sweets. Argentina also multiplies their celebration with a whole week from July 1-7 called Semana de la Dulzura (“Sweetness Week”) during which happy couples exchange sweets for kisses. 

Brazil

Finally, in Brazil, Día de los Enamorados is observed on June 12 in honor of St. Anthony, the saint of marriage and matchmaking. This delay is due to the fact that Brazil’s February is monopolized by their famous Carnival celebration and street parade. Brazilians typically celebrate the day with a romantic dinner, exchanging gifts, and dancing to their country’s signature samba beat.

Fun-loving Spanish Phrases For Valentine’s Day Cards

Spanish is one of the world’s most poetic languages. Here are a few examples of sweet and romantic things you can say or write to your special Valentine:

• Te quiero mucho. – I love you very much.  
• Te amo. – I love you.
• Te adoro. – I adore you.
• Acompáñame a cenar/bailar/etc. – Join me for dinner/dancing/etc.
• Abrázame. – Hug me.
• Besame. – Kiss me.

Te Quiero Versus Te Amo

Te quiero is the most common way to say “I love you” in Spanish. Since it translates literally to “I want you,” it may sound a bit strong to native English speakers, but in Spanish it has a lighter connotation of love and interest. Friends and relatives often say “te quiero” to each other.

Te amo is used exclusively in the romantic sense—not among family or platonic friends. Keep in mind that te amo could come across as a little overpowering if you haven’t been with your partner for long.

Here are some more helpful terms for expressing love and affection:

Valentine’s Vocabulary

More Pet Names in Spanish

Spanish offers a plethora of terms of endearment. Use amorcito with an –o at the end regardless of whether you’re referring to a man or a woman. Why? The noun for love, amor, is masculine. Love remains love regardless of gender, and so does amorcito. Likewise, cariño retains its –o ending regardless of your beloved’s gender.

Because querido and querida are adjectives (meaning “loved” or “dear”), you should use querido when referring to a male and querida when referring to a female. Here are a few more pet names to call your sweetheart:

• Corazón (heart)
• Mi amor (my love)
• Mi cielo (my heaven/sky)
• Mi vida (my life)

¡Feliz día del cariño!

Valentine’s Day is celebrated with a wide variety of traditions from place to place. Anywhere in the world this holiday is observed, it is a time for love, family, friendship and enjoyment. 

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In other words, an Afro-Latina is a Black person from one of the Latin American countries. 

About 30% of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean has African roots. Nevertheless, the Afro-descendant perspective is often absent from positions of power. 

For example, Afro-descendant organizations in Argentina estimate that the country’s Afro population is close to 2 million, but less than 200,000 people identified as such in the last census.

Keep reading to learn about the roots of Afro-Latinas—and discover 10 amazing women who’ve made a powerful impact on the world!

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Who Is Afro-Latina?

Being Latina or Latino refers to ethnicity, as opposed to race. Both White and Black Latinas (and Latinos) exist. 

While their races are different, Black and White Latinos share a common cultural background and experiences. They may or may not speak Spanish, but their cultural background is tied to Spain or Latin America.

Black Latinas (also known as Afro-Latinas) may speak Spanish (or French, in the Latin American country of Haiti; or Portuguese, if they are from Brazil). They may speak English if they live in the United States or Canada. 

In any case, Afro-Latinas’ cultural background is tied to both Latin America and Africa. 

A Brief History of Afro-Latinas 

All members of the African Diaspora faced unimaginable struggles and injustices. The slave trade started in the Americas in the late 18th century and brought the majority of Africans to Latin American countries. More than 10 million Africans were forcefully taken to Latin America, and cultural mixing was one of the byproducts of colonization.

Afro-Latinas have been historically marginalized and they need to be acknowledged, respected and visible. Barriers in access to social services and job opportunities remain common. 

July 25 is the annual International Day of Afro-Latina and Afro-Caribbean Women that aims to raise awareness and spur change with regard to discrimination, violence, sexism, exclusion, poverty, and migration.

10 Famous Afro-Latinas You Should Know

Drumroll, please! Check out our curated list of brilliant Afro-Latinas and learn who they are, what they’ve done, and how they’ve inspired the world.

1. Celia Cruz

Cuban legend Celia Cruz is the probably most famous Afro-Latina. She received the National Medal of Arts from Bill Clinton in 1994 for her contribution in spreading the spicy sounds of salsa music to the U.S. and the world. Also known as “the Queen of Salsa,” Celia still makes people shake their hips even after her death in 2003. 

This Afro-Cubana proudly embraced her heritage through her music. Her musical career began in Cuba in the 1950s, where she first received the name “La Guarachera de Cuba” because of her popularity in singing guaracheras (a type of music originated from Cuba).

When Cuba began to nationalize its music industry in the 1960s, she moved to Mexico and later Miami to continue her music career. She became increasingly famous, releasing many successful songs and bringing Afro-Cuban music into the mainstream. 

She released songs like La negra tiene tumbao (which roughly translates to “The Black Woman has Rhythm“), which associates Afro-Latina identity with pride and celebration. Throughout her life, Cruz gained international success, releasing an impressive 37 studio albums.

2. Julia De Burgos

Julia de Burgos was a Puerto Rican poet who tackled the complexities of womanhood, social inequality, and feminism. She was a woman before her time who lived in the 1930s and died an in 1953 at age 39.

Having been raised on a farm in extreme poverty influenced Julia’s writings and political outlook. She studied education at the University of Puerto Rico, where she earned credentials to become a teacher in 1933, which was almost unheard of for women of her era.

De Burgos was known for her work in the women’s branch of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. Her short yet prolific life was defined by her innovative work, radical politics, and a volatile personal life. 

While she achieved some level of critical and commercial success during her lifetime, de Burgos reached legendary status four decades after her death, when a new generation of Latinx scholars and readers discovered her work. Her poems experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 90s, when Caribbean Afro-Latina writers, in particular, recognized her work for its themes of colonialism, feminism, American supremacy, colorism, poverty, and Latinx identity–subjects de Burgos explored far before they were part of the mainstream.

Her legacy continues to influence Afro-Latina writers, and it is referenced in history and poetry classes around the world. Julia de Burgos is recognized for her ownership and celebration of her Afro-Latina roots–a stance that was just as radical in the past as it is today.

3. Rosie Perez

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Afro-Latina Rosie Perez proudly embraces her identity as a Black Puerto Rican. She is a product of the “Nuyorican” movement, the blend of Puerto Rican and New York City cultures.

After debuting in Spike Lee’s hit movie, Do the Right Thing, she went on to become a household name in the U.S. Her acting career has spanned decades, and Rosie is also a choreographer, author, dancer, and talk show host.

Perez is super involved in the Puerto Rican community. She co-directed the documentary ¡Yo soy Boricua, pa’que tú lo sepas!, which describes the history of Puerto Ricans. 

Perez was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDs (PACHA) by Barack Obama in 2010. Her candid attitude has served both her and her Afro-Latina community and made her a spokesperson for the Latinx people. Perez advocates for all Latins, regardless of their nation of origin or skin color, to come together and advocate for their rights and representation.

4. Gwen Ifill

Gwen Ifill was an African-American journalist of Panamanian and Barbadian ancestry who was the first Black woman to host a national political talk show in the U.S. She hosted PBS’ Washington Week and co-hosted PBS NewsHour. 

She covered seven presidential campaigns and moderated the vice presidential debates in 2004 and 2008. She authored a best-seller, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, which was published on inauguration day 2009.

Gwen Ifill won a Peabody Award for outstanding journalism and reported for major publications and networks including the New York Times, PBS, and The Washington Post. Gwen passed away in 2016 at age 61, but her legacy lives on. Simmons College recently named a media school after her, the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts and Humanities.

According to Barack Obama, “Gwen was a friend of ours, she was an extraordinary journalist. I always appreciated Gwen’s reporting even when I was at the receiving end of one of her tough interviews.” The former president called her a “powerful role model for young women and girls” who “blazed a trail” for female reporters everywhere.

5. Maritza Correia McClendon

Maritza Correia McClendon has the honor of being the first Black Puerto Rican to join the U.S. Olympic team. Now a marketing executive, Correia McClendon has made it her life’s work to help African-American children around the United States learn to swim.

When Maritza was a child, her doctor discovered that she had scoliosis and suggested that she take up swimming as treatment. Despite her condition, Correia McClendon went on to make history by setting U.S. and world swimming records. She won multiple NCAA championships and won a silver medal for her performance in the 400-meter freestyle at the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece in 2004.

6. Miriam Jimenez Roman

In 2010, Miriam Jiminez Román is the editor of the 2010 book,  The Afro-Latin@ Reader: History and Culture in the United States.

She used her experience as a Black Puerto Rican to pave the way for Afro-Latinas and all Latinos. Her book gave credibility and recognition to the Afro-Latino identity.

The Afro-Latin@ Reader focuses attention on a large, vibrant, yet oddly invisible community in the United States: people of African descent from Latin America and the Caribbean. It points out that Afro-Latinxs are uniquely situated to bridge the widening social divide between Latinxs and African Americans.

The book addresses history, music, gender, class, and media representations in scholarly essays, memoirs, newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, short stories, and interviews from over 60 authors.

She also heads the “Afro-Latin@ Forum”, which is another way Jiménez Román strives to bring awareness and pride to Afro-Latinidad. Miriam has helped create space for Black Puerto Ricans in amazing ways.

7. Janel Martinez

Janel Martinez is a Honduran-American Afro-Latina journalist and creator of the blog, Ain’t I Latina. Her writing has appeared on Cosmopolitan for Latinas, NPR’s Latino USA, HuffPost Live, Madame Noire, Black Enterprise and others.

Ain’t I Latina? is an online destination created by an Afro-Latina for Afro-Latinas. Due to the lack of representation in mainstream media, as well as in Spanish-language media, Janel Martinez created a space where millennial Latinas can celebrate their diversity. 

Martinez’s blog is celebrated for her witty writing, insightful nuance, and much-needed stories of being Afro-Latina. Already at age 30, she’s a prolific writer whose work focuses on intersectionality.

8. Susana Baca

Susana Baca is a famous Peruvian singer-songwriter. As a vocalist, she became internationally renowned with “Maria Lando,” a track from the 1995 David-Byrne-produced album, Afro-Peruvian Classics: The Soul of Black Peru. Her songs are rooted in deep emotion: pain, nostalgia, longing. 

Susana is also a school teacher, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and two-time Latin Grammy Award winner. This powerful now 76-year-old Afro-Latina is a key figure in the revival of Afro-Peruvian music.

Her backing band features indigenous Andean instruments, as well as acoustic guitar and electric upright baby bass. Although many of her songs are based on traditional Peruvian forms, she also incorporates elements of Cuban and Brazilian music.

Susana Baca is not only a wonderful musician but also a keen cultural researcher who has helped revive Afro-Peruvian folklore. 

She founded el Centro Experimental de Música Negrocontinuo (Institute of the Black Music Continuum), a cultural center dedicated to the study of Afro-Peruvian music and dance. In July 2011, Baca was named Peru’s Minister of Culture in the Ollanta Humala government, becoming the second Afro-Peruvian cabinet minister in Peruvian history.

9. Toto La Momposina

Sonia Bazanta Vides, also known as Totó la Momposina, is a Afro-Colombian cantadora (singer). She was born in the northern Colombian town of Talaigua Nuevo and is from the fourth generation of her family to be involved with music.

She has earned worldwide respect and admiration for her powerful voice and impressive performances. Drawing on the music and dance of the Colombian Caribbean, her work is informed and inspired by a rich cultural mix of elements from African, Indigenous, and Spanish traditions.

Totó’s 1993 album La Candela Viva gained her international attention. She accompanied Gabriel García Márquez to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982 as part of a Colombian cultural delegation performing during the award ceremony. Totó La Momposina has dedicated her life to representing the music of Colombia’s Caribbean coastline. 

10. Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American poet and author who lives in Washington, D.C. She proudly identifies as Afro-Latina.

Acevedo observed the lack of diversity in children’s books (especially for people who looked like her) and saw it as an opportunity to share her voice. She has written three young adult novels.

The Poet X, in which a young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world, is a New York Times Bestseller, Carnegie Medal and National Book Award Winner. 

Elizabeth is also the author of With the Fire on High—which was named a best book of the year by the New York Public Library, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal—and Clap When You Land, which was a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor book and a Kirkus finalist.

¡Viva las Afro-Latinas! 

As a group, Afro-Latinas have been historically marginalized for far too long. The talented women on this list are shining examples of the rich Afro-Latin culture. They are finally starting to receive the acknowledgment, respect and honor they deserve. 

Who else should be included on this list? Leave a comment, and let’s start a dialogue!

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The post 10 Famous Afro-Latinas Who’ve Made a Powerful Impact appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

We live in a rich and diverse world with a cornucopia of cultures. Although Latin America and the U.S. share the same hemisphere, many cultural differences exist between the two. If you haven’t spent time immersed in Latin culture, some of these differences may surprise you.

Ultimately, the key to meaningful and appropriate interactions with Spanish speakers relies heavily on understanding these distinctions. Let’s explore the 10 most prevalent cultural differences between these two groups.

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1. Official Language

The first difference between the two cultures is language. While English is the official language of the U.S., Spanish is the primary language in Latin America.

In the United States, English is the dominant language with over 230 million speakers. Spanish comes in second with more than 37 million speakers. 

Interestingly, people of Latin heritage are not the only ones who speak Spanish in the U.S. Studies show that more Americans who are not of Spanish or Latin American descent are learning the language. According to a 2016 study by Pew Research, 37.6 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish at home, and 2.8 million of them are non-Hispanic. 

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2. Personal Space and Affection

Latin Americans are an affectionate people who love hugs and accompany a kiss on the cheek with every saludo (hello and goodbye). Latinos and Latinas will get up close and personal, even when meeting for the first time. If they are close friends or family, the bear hug and cheek kiss come as a package deal.

On the other hand, folks in the U.S. greet each other with a firm handshake, and many don’t like other people being within an arm’s length of their bodies. Whereas in Latin culture, people tend to be more open to having someone physically close to them.

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3. Time and Pace 

Monochronic societies like the U.S. have a standardized and linear view of time. For polychronic (Latin) cultures, time is less tangible and more flexible. In other words, Latinos and Latinas have a looser definition of time than gringos.

Being on time is essential in the United States. Americans pride themselves on being punctual and efficient with their time. The cultural belief is that being on time is a sign of respect for other people’s time. Most Americans will apologize if they arrive for an appointment even five minutes late.

In contrast, most events in Latin America do not start on time. If the party invitation says 5 p.m., no one will show up until 7 p.m. In fact, many Latinos and Latinas think it’s rude to be right on time to a social function because the hosts are likely still getting ready. 

In Latin America, when someone says “I’ll be there in cinco minutos,” this can mean an hour or two of actual clock time. What’s more, it’s common to hear people say “ahorita voy,” (“I’m going right now”) when in reality they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. 

It’s interesting to note that while lateness is admissible for social gatherings; it is not acceptable to be late to work. Even so, Latin Americans will take their time when doing business, influenced by the idea that it’s best not to rush meetings. In Latin culture, strictly adhering to a set agenda can negatively affect relationships and undermine trust.

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4. Food and Drink

Life moves at a slower pace in Latin culture. Things like dining at a restaurant take longer because the service is slower and amigos will linger for a chat before departing. In fact, waiters don’t even bring the check until you ask for it. 

Sitting around a table with the family, having elaborate meals, and chatting is integral to Latin culture. It provides a time to communicate and connect with loved ones. In most Latin American countries, breakfast is a light meal while lunch is the main meal of the day. A late afternoon snack of coffee or tea and pan dulce (sweet bread) is a daily ritual in Latin culture. At night, dinner is usually small. This differs significantly from the U.S. culture, where dinner is typically the largest meal of the day.

Naturally, folks in the U.S. have enjoyed Latin-inspired food for decades. Tacos, tamales, and burritos are infused into American culture. The reverse is also true: thanks to globalization and Americanization, many U.S. chains have opened franchises in Latin America, paving the way for American staples to enter the Latin diet. Nowadays, Latinos and Latinas can eat hamburgers and drink Coca-Cola freely. Interestingly, in Guatemala (where I live), McDonald’s is actually considered a somewhat upscale place to eat.

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5. Family Love and Togetherness

For Latinos and Latinas, family plays a central role. For this reason, they spend much of their time cultivating and strengthening family ties. In most cases, families either live together or get together frequently. Personally, I have fond memories of family reunions as a kid with my Mexican grandfather, his siblings, and their multitude of descendants.

More often than not, adult children in Latin culture continue to live with their parents for life. If they move, it’s likely they end up living on the same street or in the same neighborhood. 

In contrast, most kids in the U.S. grow up and leave home at age 18. 

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6. Community and Societal Norms

Latinos and Latinas are warm, friendly, and inviting. Even the “poorest” of Guatemalans (economically speaking) will invite you to a delicious dinner of corn tortillas, black beans, and scrambled eggs.

In stark contrast, most Americans guard their privacy and enjoy time alone. In the U.S., it’s not the norm to visit a person without first notifying them. Popping-in can even be considered disrespectful. 

The average Latino and Latina feels that it’s essential to maintain social harmony. Most of the time, a person will prefer to ignore a challenging issue in order to avoid social awkwardness and conflict. 

For Americans, it is easier to express dissatisfaction or disagreement in a direct way without damaging a personal relationship. In fact, two people can be in complete disagreement about something without it negatively affecting their relationship. In other words, the U.S. cultural norm is to “agree to disagree,” and the Latin cultural norm is to just say “yes,” even if you mean “no.”

Hand-picked for You: How to Disagree, Agree, and Express Your Opinion in Spanish

7. Music and Dance 

Many Latin Americans are great dancers and love to play loud music at every opportunity. Some distinctively Latin-flavored music genres include cumbia, salsa, bachata, and Cuban son. 

In Cali, Colombia, groups of decked-out salsa dancers in public parks are a common sight. Mariachis in Mexico liven up the streets and restaurantes. Even the Mayans in Guatemala play marimba in the plaza. 

Latinos and Latinas have rhythm and aren’t afraid to shake their hips and show off on the dance floor. In some Latin countries, it is common for young people to go out after midnight to dance and party until morning. While the two cultures share this last aspect in common, in general, North Americans have more inhibitions about dancing in public.

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8. Beliefs and Religion

Latinos and Latinas tend to be conservative and traditional in their lifestyle and beliefs. Male chauvinism is common among Latin men, whereas the average man in the U.S has been taught that this attitude toward women is unacceptable. In combination with Latin men’s dominating attitudes, the majority of Latina women are more subservient compared to their stateside counterparts. 

As for religion, Catholicism and evangelical Christianity are ubiquitous throughout Latin America, playing a significant role in daily life. The vast majority of the Spanish-speaking world is Roman Catholic. Historically, this religious worldview was a result of the influx of Spanish conquistadors in the area, and it has continued to influence the population over the centuries. Everyday, non-secular sayings such as Dios te bendiga (“God bless you”) are evidence of this historical influence.

Similarly, the Catholic religion is also predominant in Latino communities in the United States. The church influences life, family, and community affairs, giving a spiritual cohesion to Latin culture. The U.S. is a “tossed salad” of different faiths, as well as agnostics, atheists, and people who identify as spiritual but not religious.

9. Politics and Authority

Unfortunately, government ineptitude and blatant corruption rule in most of Latin America. Yet, can’t the same be said for the United States and many other developed nations? The difference is that the corruption in developed countries tends to be more subtle and hidden behind closed doors. 

In Latin culture, people respect and admire authority figures—including doctors, lawyers, military officers, and business executives—for the positions they hold. Conversely, in American culture, people are often more individualistic and anti-authority.

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10. Sense of Control and View of Death

American culture instills the belief that the individual is in control and that change is good. On the other hand, many people in Latin culture believe more in destiny and that change disrupts harmony. 

As for perspectives on the afterlife, these two cultures have divergent views on death. The cemeteries in Latin America versus the U.S. illustrate this stark difference. In Latin America, graveyards are colorful and eclectic; in the States, they are gray and uniform. 

In Latin culture, early November is a sacred time to honor deceased loved ones through memories, rituals, and meditations. But really, it’s an everyday attitude. People see death as a transformation and a natural end of life. It’s something to honor and celebrate. In U.S. culture, death is shrouded in fear. It is a taboo subject that is not openly discussed.

Diversity is Beautiful

I hope this summary of cultural differences has given you some insight into the nuances of Latin culture.

Can you think of any other important cultural aspects that should be added to this list? Let me know in the comments!

Want to learn more about the culture of Spanish-speaking countries? Check out these posts!

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• 10 Ways Learning Spanish Can Improve Your Child’s Behavior
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• What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
• Which Languages Do They Speak in Brazil?
• 7 Spanish Reading Games for Kids: Boosting Literacy Skills

The post 10 Differences in Latin Culture Compared to U.S. Culture appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

A “sentence” in Spanish and English alike can refer to either a grammatical unit—a set of words that typically contain at least one subject and verb to convey a statement, question, exclamation, or command—or a term of punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty of a particular crime.

Keep reading to discover all the ways to say “sentence” in Spanish, including relevant vocabulary words accompanied by common phrases and example sentences.

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1. “Sentence” in Spanish: la oración

While la oración can mean “prayer,” it primarily denotes a “sentence”—as in a series of words strung together meaningfully with a punctuation mark at the end. 

It also means “speech” or “oration.”

Common Phrases:

• La oración completa – complete sentence, full sentence
• La oración temática – topic sentence
• La oración seguida – run-on sentence
• La oración compuesta – compound sentence

Example Sentences:

Usar las palabras en una oración.  
Use the words in a sentence. 

¿Qué significa esta oración? 
What does this sentence mean?

Usualmente, una oración debe llevar un sujeto y un verbo. 
Usually, a sentence must have a subject and a verb. 

James Joyce, el autor irlandés, escribió oraciones larguísimas. 
James Joyce, the Irish author, wrote extremely long sentences.

Todas las respuestas deben ser escritas en oraciones completas. 
All answers must be written in complete sentences.

Establecer una idea central con una oración temática cerca del principio del primer párrafo. 
Establish a central idea with a topic sentence near the beginning of the first paragraph.

Una oración seguida tiene dos o más cláusulas independientes que no están correctamente unidas. 
A run-on sentence has two or more independent clauses which are not properly joined.

Una oración compuesta tiene dos o más cláusulas independientes unidas por la palabra “y,” “pero,” u “o.”
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined by the word “and,” “but,” or “or.”

2. “Sentence” in Spanish: la frase

The word la frase is the cognate of “phrase,” and despite the fact that a phrase is not a complete sentence, frase is often used to mean “sentence” in Spanish! 

It also means quotation or statement.

Common Phrases:

• Completar la frase – finish the sentence
• La frase hecha – set phrase, idiom
• La frase adverbial – adverbial phrase 
• La frase preposicional – prepositional phrase 

Example Sentences:

En este tipo de pregunta la respuesta indica si la frase es correcta o incorrecta. 
In this type of question, the answer indicates whether the statement is true or false.

La maestra le pidió a Yolanda que leyera la frase en la página 10.
The teacher asked Yolanda to read the sentence on page 10.

3. “Sentence” in Spanish: la pena

La pena means “pity,” “sadness,” “grief,” “shame,” and “sorrow,” and it can also refer to a legal sentence, penalty, or punishment.

For example: 

• Reconozca que la pena que está experimentando es única. 
• Recognize that the grief you are experiencing is unique.

• No puedo ir a la boda, ¡qué pena!
• I can’t go to the wedding; what a pity!

Two synonyms for the legal meaning of la pena are la sentencia and el veredicto.

For example:

• La sentencia fue pospuesta por seis meses.
• The sentence was delayed for six months.

• El acusado cerró sus ojos y oró después de oír el veredicto.
• The defendant closed his eyes and prayed after hearing the sentence.

Common Phrases:

• La pena de prisión – prison term/sentence, jail term/sentence, term of imprisonment
• La pena de muerte – death penalty
• Bajo pena de – under penalty of
• La pena capital – capital punishment, death penalty
• La pena máxima – maximum penalty, maximum term, maximum punishment

Example Sentences:

El médico perdió su licencia para practicar medicina y recibió pena de prisión. 
The doctor lost his license to practice medicine and was sentenced to serve time in prison.

Lo condenaron a la pena de muerte por sus crímines imperdonables. 
He was given the death penalty for his inexcusable crimes.

Bajo pena de perjurio, yo juro que las respuestas que he dado en esta solicitud son completas y correctas. 
Under penalty of perjury, I swear that the answers I have given on this application are complete and correct.

La junta confía en que esta iniciativa sirva para consolidar la tendencia hacia la abolición de la pena capital. 
The board is confident that this initiative will reinforce the trend towards abolition of capital punishment.

Cada cargo entraña una pena máxima de ocho años de reclusión y una multa de 100,000 dólares. 
Each count carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a $100,000 fine upon conviction.

4. “Sentence” in Spanish: la cadena

La cadena is typically the word for “chain,” as in bicycle chain or chain store. It can also mean string, network, station, ridge, or strand. 

For the purposes of this blog post, we are honing in on the phrase “cadena perpetua,” which translates to “life imprisonment” or “life sentence.”

Example Sentences:

Le dieron la pena de cadena perpetua por el homicidio. 
He was given life imprisonment for the homicide.

Si la víctima fallece, el perpetrador será condenado a cadena perpetua. 
If the victim dies, the perpetrator faces a life sentence.

Una sentencia a cadena perpetua significa que usted permanecerá toda su vida en prisión, sin salir, hasta su muerte. 
A life sentence means that you serve your entire life without getting out of prison prior to your death.

5. “To Sentence” in Spanish: condenar

The regular -AR verbs, condenar and sentenciar mean “to sentence” in Spanish. 

• Sentenciar – to sentence, adjudicate, convict, condemn
• Condenar – to sentence, condemn, convict, doom, damn, indict, deplore

Example Sentences:

Como Paola era inocente, la corte no la sentenció. 
As Paola was innocent, the court did not sentence her.

Tenemos que condenar la intolerancia y la xenofobia.
We have to condemn intolerance and xenophobia.

La jueza condenó al acusado a quince años de prisión.
The judge sentenced the defendant to fifteen years in prison.

Se le va a sentenciar pasado mañana.
He will be sentenced the day after tomorrow. 

Learn to Compose a Sentence in Spanish

Whether you’re discussing grammar or court cases, you are now equipped to use the word “sentence” in Spanish!

Did you know that one of the fastest ways to gain fluency in Spanish is through personalized classes? Sign up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy to discuss the use of synonyms and practice speaking Spanish with one of our certified, native-speaking teachers from Guatemala. They’re friendly, experienced, and equipped to provide you with meaningful and enjoyable guidance in Spanish. 

(If you’re not yet convinced, learn more about how HSA classes work!)

Want more free Spanish content, lessons, and strategies for learning fast? Check these out:

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• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
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• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills

The post How to Say ‘Sentence’ in Spanish: 5 Useful Synonyms appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

These two terms actually mean the same thing—they refer to a category of irregular Spanish verbs. When conjugated in the present indicative, these verbs end in -go in the first person (yo) form.

For example:

Yo hago mi tarea. (hacer)
I do my homework.

Yo pongo mi cuaderno en el escritorio. (poner)
I put my notebook on the desk.

Tengo dos hermanas. (tener)
I have two sisters.

Keep reading to learn all about the “go verbs” and how to use them to speak about yourself in the present tense! 

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Sign up for your FREE TRIAL SPANISH CLASS today!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 9 Most Common Go Verbs
• 3 Categories of Go Verbs
• Spanish Go Verbs Practice Quiz

9 Most Common Go Verbs

Even though it means “to go,” the Spanish verb ir is not a “go verb” because its first-person present-tense conjugation is voy. 

Here are the 9 most common “go verbs” in Spanish, along with their English translation and first-person present-tense conjugation.

• Decir – to say – digo  
• Hacer – to do, to make – hago
• Poner – to put – pongo
• Salir – to leave, to go out – salgo
• Tener – to have – tengo
• Venir – to come – vengo
• Caer – to fall – caigo
• Traer – to bring – traigo
• Oír – to hear – oigo

In some cases, only the yo form changes, whereas some of these verbs are also irregular in other forms. 

And did you notice that “go verbs” only include verbs ending in -ir and -er? There’s not an –ar verb to be found in this category! 

3 Categories of Go Verbs

Spanish “go verbs” fall into three categories. Let’s go through them one by one. Nearly 80 Spanish verbs fall into this category in Spanish, but they’re all derived from the ones listed below.

1. Hacer Go Verbs

The verb hacer is one of the most frequently used “go verbs” in Spanish. We form the following “go verbs” using hacer with a prefix: 

• Rehacer – to redo
• Deshacer – to undo
• Contrahacer – to counterfeit
• Satisfacer – to satisfy

Although these prefixes change the meaning of the main verb, the conjugation pattern remains the same as the root verb (hacer).

Example Sentences

Hago mis ejercicios en la tarde. 
I’m doing my exercises in the afternoon.

Yo hago mi cama todas las mañanas.
I make my bed every morning.

PRO TIP! The subject yo is optional. It’s not necessary to use the subject in sentences in the first person, since the verb conjugation tells you who the subject is.

Como periodista, rehago mis artículos para que queden perfectos. 
As a journalist, I rework my articles to make them perfect.

Yo deshago todo mi trabajo.
I undo all my work.

Contrahago una obra de arte.
I counterfeit a work of art.

Satisfago las necesidades de mis clientes. 
I satisfy my customers’ needs.

2. +G Verbs

The second category of “go verbs” in Spanish are conjugated regularly in the present indicative, except for the first person conjugation (yo) form, where you must add a g before the suffix -o.

These verbs include: 

• Oír – to hear
• Poner – to put
• Salir – to leave, to go out
• Tener – to have
• Valer – to be worth
• Venir  – to come
• Asir – to grasp

The verb poner conjugates to pongo, rather than pono in the first person simple present indicative. Likewise, it’s salgo (not salo) for salir.

Example Sentences

Oigo un ruido raro afuera en el patio. 
I hear a strange noise outside in the garden.

Pongo lechuga, zanahoria y cebolla en la ensalada. 
I’m putting lettuce, carrots and onions in the salad.

Salgo mañana con mis amigas. 
I’m going out with my friends tomorrow. 

Tengo tres perros peludos.
I have three furry dogs.

¿Cuánto valgo para la organización?
How much am I worth to the organisation?

Yo vengo de la oficina.
I’m coming (home) from the office.

Yo asgo las maletas.
I take the suitcases.

3. -igo Verbs

Lastly, for a few verbs including, we simply add -igo as the first person present tense verb ending. These Spanish verbs include:

• Decir – to say
• Caer – to fall 
• Traer – to bring

Example Sentences

Digo la verdad.  
I’m telling the truth.

Yo digo lo que pienso es correcto.
I say what I think is right.

¡No caigo en esa trampa!  
I’m not falling in that trap!

A veces me caigo bajando las escaleras.
I sometimes fall going downstairs.

Traigo pan de banano y té de menta.  
I’m bringing banana bread and mint tea.

Yo traigo mi maleta al aeropuerto.
I bring my suitcase to the airport.

PRO TIP! The yo-go verbs also add the medial -g– (or -ig- when the root ends in a vowel) in the present subjunctive. For example: tener – tenga, decir – digas, venir – vengan, and hacer – hagamos.

Spanish Go Verbs Practice Quiz

Conjugate the verbs in parentheses in the simple present tense.

1. Yo ______ (tener) un dia libre mañana. (I have a free day tomorrow.)

2. Yo me ______ (caer) cuando llevo tacones. (I fall when I wear high heels.)

3. Yo ______ (poner) dos tazas en la mesa para nosotros. (I put two tea cups on the table for us.)

4. Yo ______ (traer) un regalo para el cumpleaños de mi hermana. (I bring a gift for my sister’s birthday.)

5. Zachary ______ (tener) problemas de salud. (Zachary has health problems.)

6. ¿Mi papá ______ (venir) con nosotros? (Is my father coming with us?)

7. La escultura ______ (valer) $1000. (The sculpture is worth $1000.)

8. Yo ______(salir) del trabajo a las 4 pm los martes. (I leave work at 4pm on Tuesdays.)

9. Yo ______ (oír) un ruido de ese cuarto. (I hear a noise from that room.)

10. Yo siempre ______ (hacer) una sopa para la cena. (I always make soup for dinner.)

Click here to see the answer key.

Go Further with Your Spanish Abilities! 

You now have a great list of “go verbs” to get you started with speaking about yourself in the present tense. At Homeschool Spanish Academy, we offer 1-on-1 sessions for adults who need a tailored class to suit their language needs (as well as classes for kids and high schoolers). If you are looking for a native Spanish speaker to practice your new skills with, try a free trial class with one of our experienced, professional teachers! They will answer all your questions and help you skillfully move beyond the “go verbs” into more advanced Spanish territory.  

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

Answer Key

1. Tengo

2. Caigo

3. Pongo

4. Traigo

5. Tiene

6. Viene

7. Vale

8. Salgo

9. Oigo

10. Hago

The post What are Spanish ‘Go Verbs’? appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Languages reflect cultures in which they’re spoken, and Latin America is truly a land of warm, friendly, and affectionate gente (people). In Cali, Colombia, for example, people on the street will smile and say things like “hola, mami” and “chao, papi” as a casual greeting to passersby.

Learning the Spanish words for “beautiful” empowers you to lavish praise on someone or something. “Beautiful” is a positive and potent word to describe a person, and having plenty of words for “beautiful” in your toolkit makes it easy to give compliments. 

The most common translation for beautiful in Spanish is bonito/a, but myriad synonyms exist, which we’ll explore in this article, along with tips on sentence structure and grammar to help you sound like a native speaker.  

14 Synonyms for “Beautiful” in Spanish—and How to Use Them

How do you say “beautiful” in Spanish? The language has loads of words that mean “beautiful” or refer to a similar concept. Because there are so many options, deciding which word to use in which context is a bit tricky. Luckily, this section provides you with a handy cheat sheet of three-sentence structure formulas into which you can insert a word that means “beautiful” in Spanish. 

Eres + adjective 

Eres bello.
Eres linda.
Eres hermosa.

You’re beautiful.

Tienes + noun + adjective 

Tienes ojos lindos.
You have beautiful eyes.

Tienes pelo divino.
You have beautiful hair.

Tienes piernas maravillosas.
You have beautiful legs.

Me encanta tu/tus + noun + adjective

Me encantan tus manos preciosas.
I love your beautiful hands.

Me encanta tu cara guapa.
I love your beautiful face.

Me encantan tus bonitas pestañas.
I love your beautiful eyelashes.

Are you blushing yet? Keep reading for 14 synonyms for “beautiful” in Spanish, along with their nuanced meanings and more example sentences. 

Pro Tip: Although you can use both ser and estar with the following adjectives, these two “to be” verbs have different meanings in Spanish. For example, estar guapa means that a woman looks pretty at that moment, whereas ser guapa means that she is always pretty.

1. Bonito/a

In English, this word translates to “beautiful,” “pretty,” or “lovely.” Bonito/a is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries, and it’s generally a loving word.

¡Qué bonito eres!
How lovely you are!

¡Hola, bonita!
Hello, beautiful!

2. Guapo/a

Guapo/a is the direct translation of “good-looking,” “beautiful,” or “handsome.” Although it may be flattering to be called guapo or guapa, many people don’t consider this word to be particularly romantic.

In some regions of Spain, guapo/a is more general. In addition to meaning “attractive” when describing a person, it can mean “cool” or “awesome.” In other places, guapo/a means “brave” or “bold.” In parts of Latin America, it can refer to a bully or braggart. In Puerto Rican Spanish, calling a man guapo could even cause a fight.

You do hear women being called guapa, but it’s more common to hear them being called bonita. In contrast, men are more likely to be called guapo than bonito.

¡Qué guapa está Anita!
How beautiful Anita is!

¡Qué guapo te ves!
You look very handsome!

3. Bello/a – Beautiful

Bello/a means “beautiful” or “lovely.” It’s a bit formal, especially in Spain Spanish (Castellano). A closely related noun is la belleza, which means “beauty.” This is a romantic and common word to call a person “beautiful” in Spanish.

¡Te ves muy bella!
You look very pretty!

Eres una chica bella.
You’re a beautiful girl.

4. Lindo/a – Lovely

Lindo/a is more common in Latin America than in Spain. Like bonito/a, it means “beautiful,” “pretty,” “lovely,” or “sweet.”

It usually doesn’t have a romantic connotation. You could use lindo/a with your friends, and it wouldn’t necessarily mean you want to date them.

¡Que lindo eres!
How lovely you are!

Estás muy linda.
You’re very pretty.

5. Bueno/a – Good-looking

Bueno/a is one of the most common words in the Spanish language. It typically means “good,” as in moral, virtuous, and correct. However, it can also mean “good-looking” or “attractive.”

This usage is well known in all Spanish-speaking countries. 

Karla, estás muy buena.
Karla, you are so good-looking.

6. Hermoso/a – Gorgeous

The translations of hermoso/a include “beautiful,” “gorgeous,” and “nice.” La hermosura is a noun that means “beauty.” 

In some countries, this word might be considered a bit formal. For a romantic gentleman (or woman), this word is ideal.

Eres hermosa.
You’re gorgeous.

Tienes ojos hermosos.
You have gorgeous eyes.

8. Atractivo/a – Attractive

Atractivo/a is a cognate (a word that’s similar to the English) that means “attractive” and expresses physical interest. 

Te ves muy atractiva.
You look very attractive.

Eres muy atractiva.
You are so attractive.

9. Radiante – Radiant

Another cognate – radiante means “radiant” or “beaming.” It’s not limited to describing people. Un día radiante means “a radiant/beautiful day.”

Me encanta tu energía radiante.
I love your radiant energy.

10. Precioso/a – Gorgeous or Lovely

Precioso/a means “precious,” “gorgeous,” or “lovely.” A diamante (diamond) is a piedra preciosa (precious stone). Many people use this word to flirt. 

Eres preciosa.
You’re precious.

11. Chulo/a – Cute

In some Spanish-speaking countries, chulo/a is another way to say “cute” or “pretty.” Although it can be similar to the Spanish word lindo/a, chulo/a also expresses that a girl is beautiful.

¡Que chula eres!
How cute you are!

12. Mono/a – Pretty

Mono/a is a word with many meanings. As a noun, el mono means monkey—but it’s actually not offensive to call a person mono/a. When used as an adjective, it means “pretty” or “cute.”

Be careful not to confuse it with moño, which means “ribbon” or “bow.”

Mono/a means that the girl not only is physically beautiful but also has a nice personality.

Conocí a un chico muy mono.
I met a very cute guy.

Eres super mona.
You are super cute.

13. Deslumbrante – Stunning or Dazzling

Deslumbrante is the Spanish word for “stunning” or “dazzling” that is used in all Spanish-speaking countries. It’s a formal word that many young Spanish speakers don’t often say. However, it’s a polite and unique way to compliment someone.

Paola está deslumbrante hoy.
Paola is dazzling today.

Te ves deslumbrante.
You look stunning.

14. Divino/a – Divine

This word is the direct translation of “divine.” Like in English, in Spanish, divino/a is reserved for especially beautiful people (or situations). 

Estás divina.
You are divine.

Andrea se ve divina.
Andrea looks divine.

See also: 100 Spanish Describing Words: Adjectives for People, Places, and Things

Using Adjectives to Add Emphasis

Most of these adjectives can refer to both people and other things (as in animals, places, items, or ideas). The exception is guapo/a, which is typically used exclusively to describe a person. 

Review the following 4 guidelines to use Spanish adjectives appropriately and to add emphasis to your expression of someone’s beauty.

Noun-Adjective Agreement

In Spanish, the adjective adapts to the gender and number of the noun. While in English, you always have just “beautiful” as the adjective, in Spanish you have four different versions of the same adjective. For example:

• Bonito
• Bonita
• Bonitos
• Bonitas 

In fact, the entire sentence structure depends on the number and gender of the noun, so mastering that part first is key before tackling adjectives. 

Muy 

The word muy in Spanish means “very” or “so.” Therefore, including muy before an adjective adds emphasis to the describing word.

Te ves muy chula hoy.
You’re looking very cute today. 

Eres muy linda.
You’re so beautiful.

-ísimo/a

The suffix -ísimo/a works with certain adjectives to achieve the same goal.

Mi novio es guapísimo.
My boyfriend is very handsome.

Tienes una boca bellísima.
You have a very beautiful mouth.

Estas buenísima. 
You’re very good-looking. 

Superlative Adjectives 

For the superlatives in Spanish, we have two forms with several variations. The formula is: 

el/la/los/las + ser + más + adjective

Eres la mujer más bella de la clase.
You’re the most beautiful woman in the class.

Eres el más guapo del equipo de fútbol.
You’re the most attractive one on the soccer team.

Tienes los ojos más hermosos que he visto.
You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.

Speak Spanish Beautifully

Learning to speak fluent Spanish is not only helpful for romantic endeavors but also to enhance your life in general! According to a study by The Economist, a person can earn an extra $50,000 to $125,000 just for knowing a foreign language! In the United States, approximately 53 million people speak Spanish. (The U.S. is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world!) According to CNN, there are 41 million native Spanish speakers in the US who speak Spanish By learning Spanish, you’ll improve your cognition and decision-making abilities—and experience easier and more meaningful travel to Spanish-speaking countries. 

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for a free 1-on-1 class at Homeschool Spanish Academy to smooth out your conversational skills while practicing with a friendly, certified, native-speaking teacher from Guatemala.

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• Your Child Knows Some Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary Into Real Conversations
• 29 Cool and Catchy Spanish Phrases To Use With Friends [+Audio]
• Fun Ways to Practice Spanish with Family (Even If Everyone’s at Different Levels)
• 10 Simple Spanish Words Your Preschooler Can Learn This Week
• The 25 Most Useful Spanish Phrases You Need to Learn Today

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