Uncategorized Archives - Homeschool Spanish Academy https://www.spanish.academy/blog/category/uncategorized/ 1-on-1 Online Spanish Lessons. Get to Spanish fluency on your time. Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:04:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://www.spanish.academy/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-Favicon_V_1-32x32.png Uncategorized Archives - Homeschool Spanish Academy https://www.spanish.academy/blog/category/uncategorized/ 32 32 13 Hilarious Latino Dad Jokes https://www.spanish.academy/blog/13-hilarious-latino-dad-jokes/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/13-hilarious-latino-dad-jokes/#respond Mon, 23 Jun 2025 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=29280 It’s not easy out there for Latino fathers.  As a Latino father of two beautiful girls, I know what I’m talking about. Our culture puts a lot of pressure on fathers, and traditional gender roles and stereotypes do not let us adapt easily to the challenges of today’s world. That said, Latino fathers love a […]

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It’s not easy out there for Latino fathers. 

As a Latino father of two beautiful girls, I know what I’m talking about.

Our culture puts a lot of pressure on fathers, and traditional gender roles and stereotypes do not let us adapt easily to the challenges of today’s world.

That said, Latino fathers love a good laugh and tell typical dad jokes, just like other fathers from around the world. 

Keep reading to learn more about the cultural significance of Latino fathers and the gender roles and family dynamics in Latino culture.

And you read that right; here, you’ll learn 13 of the most hilarious Latino dad jokes!

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Cultural Significance of Latino Fathers

Being a father in any culture isn’t an easy task, but Hispanic dads often struggle more. 

In a typical Hispanic family, obedience and respect for adult authority are core values, and Latino dads tend to be “control freaks.” 

Additionally, 64% of Latino fathers living in the U.S. are immigrants, often finding themselves in a more open society than the one they left behind. 

This situation puts pressure on them and their parenting practices, as the values of American society aren’t the same as those from their countries of origin. 

However, statistics show that 73% of Latino fathers in America live at home with all their children, and 85% have children with only one partner. 

These characteristics promote child well-being.

About Hispanic Gender Roles and Family Dynamics

First, if you want to know the definition of “Hispanic,” it’s important to remember that that term was created by the U.S. government back in the 1970s. 

They tried to “provide a common denominator to a large but diverse population with connection to the Spanish language or culture from a Spanish-speaking country.”

It was a flawed proposition. 

About gender roles, Latinos often hear that “Latino male is the economic provider, while the Latina women are responsible for the domestic roles, like taking care of the children.” 

Also, research has shown that “machismo and patriarchal authority characterize the male role.” 

Such is the role and prejudices that Latino men often face, and they also shape family dynamics. 

13 Hilarious Latino Dad Jokes

Although Latino fathers face plenty of challenges, it’s also true that the bond between a Hispanic father and their kids is one of the strongest out there. 

So, let’s have a laugh with these hilarious Latino fathers. 

1. A Cuban Dad in Mexico

  • Papá cubano: ¿A dónde va este autobús? 
  • Papá mexicano: A Tacuba. 
  • Papá cubano: ¡Ha’ta allá!

Translation: 

  • Cuban dad: Where does this bus go? 
  • Mexican dad: To Tacuba. 
  • Cuban dad: All the way there!

I know this is a Latino dad joke because my father, a typical Mexican dad, always said it.

The key to understanding this joke is to know a little bit about different types of pronunciation in Latin American countries. 

Cuban people tend to “skip over” the letter “s” when talking. 

So, when hearing the Mexican dad telling him that the bus was going a Tacuba (a Mexico City neighborhood), he took it as if a Cuban person had told him, “Hasta Cuba.” But because Cubans don’t pronounce the “s,” it sounds like Ha’ta Cuba.

That’s why he responds, “¡Ha’ta allá!” Because you can’t go from Mexico City to Cuba by bus. 

Cafe Tacuba Not The Band | © Señor Codo/Flickr

2. Handsome Son

  • Papá, ¿qué se siente tener un hijo tan guapo?
  • No sé hijo, pregúntale a tu abuelo. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, how does it feel to have such a handsome son?
  • I don’t know, son; ask your grandpa. 

This is the perfect joke to say on the next Father’s Day, as it involves a Latino father, a Latino son, and even a Latino grandfather. 

Try to determine who’s the most handsome of the three. Just don’t take it personal. 

3. Feeling Ill

  • Papá, me siento mal.
  • Pues siéntate bien. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, I feel ill. 
  • Well, sit properly. 

Latino fathers love a good grammar joke. 

The conjugation of the first person of the verbs sentir (to feel) and sentarse (to sit down) is the same: siento. The Latino dad is playing with that to tease his son. 

4. Who Are You?

  • Papá, en la escuela dicen que soy huérfano. 
  • ¿Y tú quién eres?

Translation: 

  • Dad, at school, they said I’m an orphan. 
  • And who are you again? 

Yes, Latino fathers can be cruel too, but they love teasing their children more than anything. 

Father. Child. Hispanic. | © Elvert Barnes/Flickr

5. Yellow Eyes

  • Oye papá, ¿cómo se dice “ojos” en inglés? 
  • Eyes.
  • No, “ice” es hielo.
  • No, “yellow” es amarillo. 

Translation: 

  • Hey Dad, how do you say “ojos” in English?
  • Eyes. 
  • No, “ice” is ice. 
  • No, yellow is yellow. 

Typical silly dad joke, but really hard to translate. 

Ojos means “eyes,” which sounds like “ice,” which means hielo in Spanish. Hielo sounds like “yellow,” which means amarillo. Dizzying, right? 

6. Keep Rowing

  • Papá, ya no quiero ir a Europa. 
  • Silencio. Sigue remando. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, I don’t want to go to Europe anymore. 
  • Be quiet and keep rowing!  

One more of those cruel jokes. Does anyone want to row to Europe? 

7. Watching TV

  • Papá, ¿puedo ver la tele?
  • Vale, pero no la enciendas. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, can I watch the TV?
  • Ok, but don’t turn it on.
Chistes de familia | © Bosque de Fantasías/Pinterest

In Spanish, “watching TV” literally translates as ver la televisión, which can also be understood as “watching the TV.” Again, another cruel joke just to have fun with his child. 

8. Eleven Anclas

  • Papá, ¿cuántas anclas tiene un barco?
  • Once.
  • ¿Cómo sabes?
  • ¿Nunca has oído eso de “eleven anclas”?

Translation: 

  • Dad, how many anchors does a ship have?
  • Eleven.
  • How do you know?
  • Haven’t you heard that shout of “eleven anclas”?

One more untranslatable dad joke. 

In Spanish, ship captains traditionally shout ¡leven anclas! before leaving the dock. It translates as “anchors aweigh” and means the trip is about to begin.

Latino dad just confused leven with “eleven,” which means once in Spanish.

Eleven Anclas | © Meme Generator

9. Fun Dad

  • Papá, ¿qué es una brigada?
  • Una mujer con ropa muy calientita. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, what does brigada mean?
  • A woman wearing very warm clothes. 

This is a silly Hispanic dad joke. 

Brigada means “brigade.” However, a Latino dad understands abrigada as a woman wearing warm clothes. 

10. Fun Dad

  • Papá, ¿qué había antes del Big Bang?
  • Cómo conocí a su madre.

Translation: 

  • Dad, what was there before the Big Bang?
  • How I Met Your Mother. 

Latino fathers can be funny when they just want to tease their kids. 

The child asks a scientific question about the Big Bang, and the Latino dad replies with a pop culture answer. 

Before the TV show “The Big Bang Theory,” there was another one called “How I Met Your Mother.”

11. Princess Mom

Translation: 

  • Papá, después de tantos años sigues llamando “princesa” a mamá. Dime, ¿cuál es el secreto?
  • Olvidé su nombre y me da miedo preguntarle.
  • Dad, after all these years, you keep calling Mom “princess.” Tell me, what’s the secret?
  • I forgot her name, and I’m scared to ask her. 

This joke isn’t exclusive to Latino fathers but is still funny. 

12. Silly Manolito

  • Papá, ¿por qué el nombre que me pusiste significa “monumento de piedra de una sola pieza”?
  • De verdad que eres bobo, Manolito. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, why does my name mean “a single block of a stone monument?”
  • Geesh Manolito, you’re really silly.

Manolito looked for the meaning of his name and instead found the definition of monolito, “monolith,” in English. 

13. Silly Dad

  • Papá, ¿qué haces frente a la computadora con los ojos cerrados?
  • Nada hijo, es que la computadora me dijo que cerrara todas las pestañas. 

Translation: 

  • Dad, what are you doing in front of the computer with your eyes closed?
  • Nothing, son, it’s just that the computer told me to close all my tabs. 

The “tabs” on your browser are called pestañas in Spanish, which means “eyelashes.”

A Word From a Latino Father

As a typical Mexican dad, I can tell you that my involvement in my daughters’ education is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. 

Also, sometimes stereotypes about gender and family roles are just that, stereotypes. 

Being a dad isn’t easy, and every culture often faces challenges.

Latino fathers have their own specific challenges, and reflecting on them is an excellent way to overcome them. 

Learn Spanish and Tell More Latino Dad Jokes

If you liked these Latino dad jokes and would like to learn more and laugh with your children, learn Spanish and immerse yourself in this fascinating language!

At Homeschool Spanish Academy, we help thousands of students each month through our individualized lessons and flexible scheduling.

Sign up for a free class with a certified, native Spanish-speaking teacher from Guatemala and start making jokes in Spanish today! 

Wink, wink. 

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

Sharon K, Parent of 3

“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

Cindy D, 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

Erica P. Parent of 1

“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 to learn more about Hispanic and Latin American culture? Check these out!

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12 Multicultural Kid Blogs You Don’t Want to Miss https://www.spanish.academy/blog/12-multicultural-kid-blogs-you-dont-want-to-miss/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/12-multicultural-kid-blogs-you-dont-want-to-miss/#respond Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:03:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=29317 Multicultural kid blogs are a super effective tool to help your kid learn a new language! From the moment we speak a second language at home, every family member starts a beautiful journey toward multiculturalism. You and your kids will learn about the origin of that language, why it’s written the way it’s written, why […]

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Multicultural kid blogs are a super effective tool to help your kid learn a new language!

From the moment we speak a second language at home, every family member starts a beautiful journey toward multiculturalism.

You and your kids will learn about the origin of that language, why it’s written the way it’s written, why natives pronounce words the way they do, etc.

We know that learning about a new culture can be overwhelming, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Here are 12 multicultural kid blogs you don’t want to miss!

See also: What’s the Best Age for Kids To Learn Spanish?

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What Are Multicultural Blogs?

Learning a second language increases cultural awareness and helps our children broaden their horizons.

Learning about multiculturalism is important to help our children become world citizens.

Multicultural blogs can help you figure out how to do it without wasting hours of research

As you will see, most of the creators of these sites are parents themselves, and in their blogs, you’ll find friendly and casual content, so your kids can easily take in the lessons.  

These blogs will give you ideas about what to do at home to motivate your children to learn Spanish.

You will find articles that argue that giving your kids a chance to learn Spanish is the best gift in the world.

You’ll also read about national holidays from other countries that you can celebrate at home. Talking about immersive learning, right?

So, join us and learn 12 Multicultural Kid Blogs you must visit and subscribe!

See also: 13 Hilarious Latino Dad Jokes 

1.   Mommy Maestra

Monica Olivera, a homeschooling mother of three, founded the Mommy Maestra website.

Monica was born in Mexico and is currently based in Texas.

Mommy Maestra is a blog where teachers and parents find infinite resources in English and Spanish.

These materials are downloadable for a fair price.

This blog provides educational ideas and resources for families who wish to raise bilingual children.

What’s more, it has a library with over 2,000 thematic lessons to reinforce knowledge or work on it from scratch.

In each lesson, Monica lists materials like books, YouTube videos, printable sheets, coloring pages, and, of course, the main lessons.

Follow her on Facebook or Instagram

2.   Mama Latina Tips

Silvia Martinez was born and raised in Mexico and moved to California 21 years ago, where she currently lives with her husband and two children.

Silvia is the mastermind behind Mamá Latina Tips, a blog that will connect you and your children with Mexican culture.

She created this blog to share stories through delicious Mexican dishes; she has also introduced many dishes from other countries across Latin America.

You will also find movie recommendations, ideas for parties and trips, interviews with experts, and fun activities you can do at home.

So, prepare your kitchen utensils and get ready to learn about Mexican culture with your children.

Follow Mama Latina on social media to find more content:

See also: What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino? 

3.   Maritere Bellas

Maritere Rodríguez Bellas was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She moved to California to study and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

She raised two bilingual children going in and out of three cultures: Latino, Greek, and American.

Maritere is a parenting expert, speaker, podcast host, and influencer.

Due to her experience raising bilingual children, she decided to share her knowledge in multiple areas.

On her website, you’ll find many articles, videos, and podcast episodes with important information about bilingualism and multiculturalism.

The top element of her website is a podcast called Mamás411Podcast, where she and Argentine Erica Mirochnik talk about multiculturalism, tell personal anecdotes, and interview experts.

We are sure that by reading her content and listening to her podcast, you will be inspired to continue raising citizens of the world.

Follow Maritere on social media: 

4.   Bilingual Monkeys

Adam Beck is a father of two children who speak Japanese and English. He was born in the United States and moved to Japan in 1996.

He was an English teacher of bilingual and multilingual children in Hiroshima for many years.

With all the knowledge he acquired, he began his career as a blogger, writing, and coaching, and then he created Bilingual Monkeys. We love that name, by the way.

Adam’s blog offers strategies to support working parents who want to raise bilingual or multilingual children.

At Bilingual Monkeys, you can find practical ideas and resources that help your children become bilingual.

“But what is so special about this site?” you may ask.

Well, in it, you’ll find close to 500 articles written by Adam and professional experts in multilingual education, as well as hundreds of comments from parents that share their experiences.

If you want to be part of the global community, you can register for free at The Bilingual Zoo, where parents from all over the world give their advice and support each other.

Follow Adam and the Bilingual Monkeys on social media:

5.   LadyDeeLG

Diana “LadyDeeLG” Limongi is a Latina mom from New York with Ecuadorian roots. She is married to a Frenchman and has two children she is raising in a multicultural home.

Diana is the creator and owner of her blog LadydeeLG. She has studied migration and nonprofit administration.

You will find articles about raising bilingual children and multicultural families in her blog.

Additionally, due to her work and studies on migration, she writes articles on Latino culture in the US.

You will also find information on activism and activities related to the rights of children, women, and families.

LadyDeeLG also has a podcast called Parenting & Politics. This one is a must if you want to give your kids a head-start on politics.

Follow Diana on social media:

See also: 9 Tips for Learning How to Learn Two or More Languages at Once 

6.   The Cultured Kid Blog

Shannon Kelly, an Australian businesswoman and mother of two, is the founder and creator of The Cultured Kid.

After living in New York for a while, she returned to her hometown in Sydney, Australia, where she currently lives.

After being exposed to different cultures in the US, Shannon decided that she wanted to give her children a more global education.

First, she created a French playgroup in Sidney. With this playgroup, she discovered that learning a new language can be a fun experience.

At The Culture Kid, you will find hundreds of resources, including articles on how to help your children become bilingual.

Follow The Cultured Kid on social media:

7.   Pura Vida Moms

Christa Jimenez is a home chef, photographer, travel addict, bilingual mom, and blogger.

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Christa founded the Pura Vida Moms blog. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband and two daughters.

Living in the United States, they realized that there are millions of migrants looking for the same thing as them: a multicultural education for their children and ways to connect with their homeland.

So, Christa quit her job and used her knowledge as a teacher, cook, and Latina mom to build the Pura Vida Moms community.

In this blog, you’ll find Costa Rican recipes, tips for family trips, resources in Spanish, tips for bilingual parenting, printable material, and much more.

Don’t forget to prepare delicious recipes with your children and learn about Costa Rican culture.

Follow Christa on social media:

8.   Mamma Prada

Kristie, from England, and Graziano Prada, from Italy, are the creators of the Mamma Prada blog. They currently live in London with their two children.

The couple created Mamma Prada to keep a record of their bilingual children and share tips about traveling to Italy.

In this blog, you’ll find information about bilingual children, health, family trips, diverse parenting, activities to do at home, and more.

But the hallmark of their material is the importance of educating children in multiple languages.

Kristie and Graziano say that being a multicultural and multilingual family has taught them how to focus their energies on other important things.

In the blog, they share their experiences and tips on how, as a family, they created a thriving business while enjoying more time together.

And this is something you can aspire to!

Follow this English/Italian couple on social media:

See also: Top 10 Inspiring Art Books for Kids Who Homeschool

9.   Multicultural Classroom Blog

Roberto and Lorena Germán are a married couple based in Massachusetts.

Lorena is an immigrant woman born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the United States. Roberto is a native Dominican-American born in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Since they were kids, both have endured difficult experiences because of their backgrounds, either at home or school.

They created the Multicultural Classroom to offer educational alternatives when dealing with racial and cultural issues.

As a parent, you can explore the blog and podcast and find professional content on multiculturalism, migrant culture, etc.

This site is great for teaching your children about multiculturalism. As a result, they will be able to empathize with their surroundings better.

Follow the work of Multicultural Classroom on social media:

10. Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes

Frances Díaz Evans is a Puerto Rican/Ecuadorian mother, educator, and author based in South Carolina with her husband and teenager.

Frances founded the blog Discovering the World Through my Son’s Eyes over 10 years ago.

It started as a way to share her experience as a Latina mom in a multicultural and bilingual setting.

But it evolved into a multicultural parenting lifestyle website to help like-minded parents and educators.

The blog contains information, articles, and resources on culture, multicultural parenting, raising bilingual kids, Hispanic heritage, food, and travel.

Because Frances has extensive knowledge in education, all the content you will find on the blog is supported by pedagogical methodologies, and they have a strong academic approach.

Follow Frances on social media:

11. Bilingual Kidspot

Chontelle Bonfiglio is an Australian/Italian certified ESL teacher and a mother of 2 bilingual kids based in Melbourne, Australia.

Chontelle created the Bilingual Kidspot blog to share her knowledge on how to raise bilingual children.

She wants to spread the word about the importance of bilingualism and multiculturalism for young children.

On this site, you’ll find lessons in five different languages!

Each plan and lesson is carefully detailed, with links, books, content, materials to print, and much more.

You will also find articles on speech problems, speech, and language disorders, language for kids with special needs, and more!

It is a super professional blog that you will love to explore!

Follow Chontelle on social media:

12. Spanish Mama

Elisabeth Alvarado, born in North Carolina, is a teacher, and mother of 3 bilingual children, and she’s married to a Peruvian man.

She is currently based in Peru.

In this virtual space, you will find information on bilingual parenting, how to learn about diversity at home, and ideas for teaching new languages to your kids.

What’s more, in the site’s library, you can find information about books, movies, podcasts, apps, quotes, and more, all in Spanish.

We are sure that once you visit Elisabeth’s website, you will spend hours and hours exploring the material available.

Follow Elisabeth on social media:

Educate Your Children in Multiculturalism Right Now!

In a rapidly changing world, we cannot ignore our kids’ education.

Your kids will have a brighter future if they have access to bilingual and multicultural education.

Your kids can start their toward Spanish fluency today with us!

Sign up for your free trial class and let your kids experience our innovative, creative, and human-centered classes.

We’re here to support you! Click here to check our prices and our programs available for all ages.

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

Sharon K, Parent of 3

“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

Cindy D, 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

Erica P. Parent of 1

“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 for kids? Check these out!

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Internal Organs in Spanish: A Complete Vocabulary Guide https://www.spanish.academy/blog/internal-organs-in-spanish-a-complete-vocabulary-guide%ef%bf%bc/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/internal-organs-in-spanish-a-complete-vocabulary-guide%ef%bf%bc/#respond Sun, 10 Apr 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=27005 Every time you try to learn about inside body parts in Spanish, do you feel like you’re applying to med school?  If you’re looking to increase your vocabulary about organs in Spanish but don’t want to get too technical, this is the blog post for you. Keep reading to learn about the internal organs in […]

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Every time you try to learn about inside body parts in Spanish, do you feel like you’re applying to med school? 

If you’re looking to increase your vocabulary about organs in Spanish but don’t want to get too technical, this is the blog post for you.

Keep reading to learn about the internal organs in Spanish in a practical and simple way! 


Table of Contents:


Why Learn About Body Parts and Internal Organs in Spanish?

Learning a language is a process that involves many aspects. Among the most significant ones are grammar rules, pronunciation, reading and listening comprehension, and vocabulary. 

Without knowing the Spanish words to name things, you can’t hold a conversation or understand what someone tries to tell you. That’s why here at the HSA blog, we’ve been tirelessly working to provide you with all the vocabulary you need, from sports terms to accounting words, and, yes, even body parts.

Learning about body parts and internal organs in Spanish is important not only for people working in the medical sector, but also for anyone who goes to the doctor or travels in a Spanish-speaking country. So, basically everybody. It’s part of the deal, if you’re learning Spanish you need to learn this vocabulary. 

Without knowing the Spanish words to name things, you can’t hold a conversation or understand what someone tries to tell you.

List of Body Organs in Spanish 

To help you organize your learning process, I’ve distributed this comprehensive list of organs into the six main systems of the human body. 

For each organ I’m including its name in English, its Spanish translation, and a brief description of what it does. 

The Digestive System

Let’s start with the digestive system, which is responsible for processing food and “absorbing and moving the nutrients to where they are needed.” The digestive system contains the gastrointestinal tract (made up of a series of hollow organs), the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

OrganFunction
anus – el anoLets stool out of the body
appendix – el apéndiceUnknown
cecum – el ciegoAbsorbs fluids and salts
colon – el colon Removes water and nutrients from partially digested food
duodenum – el duodenoBeginning absorption of nutrients
esophagus – el esófagoMoves food and liquids through the gastrointestinal tract
ileum – el íleonAbsorbs nutrients and water from food
jejunum – el yeyunoHelps digest food.
large intestine – el intestino gruesoTurns food waste into stool
liver – el hígadoProcesses the blood, breaking down and creating nutrients
mouth – la bocaChews food
pancreas – el páncreasMakes enzymes to break down sugars, fats, and starches
rectum – el rectoHolds stool until evacuation
small intestine – el intestino delgadoAbsorbs nutrients and water from food
stomach – el estómagoMixes food with digestive juice
The Digestive System infographic

The Respiratory System

The respiratory system is “the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe.” The organs that make up the respiratory system are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. 

OrganFunction
air sacs (alveoli) – los alveólosMoves oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the bloodstream
diaphragm – el diafragmaHelps with inhaling and exhaling
epiglottis – la epiglotisPrevents food and drink from entering the windpipe
large airways (bronchi) – los bronquiolosCarries air into the lungs
lungs – los pulmonesMoves fresh air into the body and removes gas waste
mouth – la bocaLets air in and out
nasal cavity – la cavidad nasalFilters and moisturizes the air before it goes to the lungs
nose – la narizLets air in and out
sinuses – los senos paranasalesMoisturizes the inside of the nose
small airways (bronchioles) – los bronquiolosCarries air into the alveoli
throat (pharynx) – la garganta (la faringe)Carries air into the larynx
voice box (larynx) – la laringe Carries air into the trachea
windpipe (trachea) – la tráqueaCarries air in and out of the lungs
The Respiratory System infographic

The Circulatory System

The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, “transports oxygen and other nutrients to all the organs and tissues in your body.” It’s made up of the heart and blood vessels.  

OrganFunction
arteries – las arteriasCarries oxygenated blood to the body organs
capillaries – los capilaresFacilitates exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste between the circulatory system, organs, and tissues.
heart – el corazónPumps blood throughout the body
veins – las venasCarries deoxygenated blood back to the heart
The Circulatory System infographic

The Muscular System

The muscular system “converts chemical energy from food into mechanical energy.” It’s responsible for movement, support, protection, heat generation, and blood circulation. There are 700 muscles in the human body, but you don’t need to know them all unless you want to become a doctor. 

However, it’s important for you to know that three types of muscles exist: visceral, cardiac, and skeletal. 

OrganFunction
biceps – el bícepsHelps with arm lifting and pulling movements
cardiac muscles – los músculos cardíacosMakes the heart contract and expand 
deltoid – el deltoidesHelps to move the arms
pectoralis – el pectoralHelps to move the arms
quadriceps – el cuadrícepsHelps to move the legs
rectus abdominus – el recto abdominalMoves the body between the rib cage and the pelvis
skeletal muscles – los músculos esqueléticosCreates movement in the body
tendons – los tendonesConnects muscles to bones
visceral muscles – los músculos visceralesMakes organs contract to move substances through them
The Muscular System infographic

The Nervous System

The nervous system is “responsible for the control of the body and communication among its parts.” The nervous system is divided into two parts: 

  • The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
  • The peripheral nervous system (nerves and ganglia)

Learn more detailed vocabulary about the brain and nervous system here.

OrganFunction
brain – el cerebroControls thought, motor skills, memory, and every other process that regulates the body
spinal cord – la espina dorsalCarries nerve signals from the brain to the body and the other way around
nerves – los nerviosSends electrical signals to and from cells, glands, and muscles
ganglia – los gangliosCarries nerve signals to and from the central nervous system 
neurons – las neuronasTransmits information between different areas of the brain
The Nervous System infographic

Learn the Inside Body Parts in Spanish and Improve Your Language Skills

Learning vocabulary about the internal organs in Spanish is an important step in your language learning process. It’s useful knowledge that becomes much more important in specific contexts. 

Practice at home this newly acquired vocabulary and keep improving your language skills. Remember that learning Spanish opens many doors for you, including the opportunity to get better jobs and to communicate with millions of people in the U.S

Sign up today for a free trial class at HSA with one of our certified, native Spanish speaking teachers from Guatemala. We teach over 24,000 actively enrolled students every month and offer flexible scheduling, and tailored Spanish programs

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

- Melanie

“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

- Abby

“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

- Maple, 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. I have appreciated the one on one interaction and teaching that my son gets from his teachers. He has gotten to know his teachers, which has increased his confidence in speaking Spanish. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Maple, Parent of 3

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

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14 Bilingual Books for Kids About Fall and Winter Holidays (Spanish-English) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/14-bilingual-books-for-kids-about-fall-and-winter-holidays-spanish-english/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/14-bilingual-books-for-kids-about-fall-and-winter-holidays-spanish-english/#respond Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=19669 Reading bilingual books for kids about the holidays is a wonderful way to practice Spanish, explore diverse ways of celebration, and learn about Latin American culture at the same time.  Bilingual books for kids help improve your child’s fluency through repetition of new vocabulary and grammar structures.  For kids who are new to Spanish, I […]

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Reading bilingual books for kids about the holidays is a wonderful way to practice Spanish, explore diverse ways of celebration, and learn about Latin American culture at the same time. 

Bilingual books for kids help improve your child’s fluency through repetition of new vocabulary and grammar structures. 

For kids who are new to Spanish, I recommend reading through the whole story first in English. Then, follow it up a second time in Spanish. This way, they’ll be aware of the main idea of the story and be more likely to understand its meaning in Spanish. 

Read this article to discover 14 wonderful bilingual picture books for kids about Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas!

14 Bilingual Books for Kids About Autumn and Winter Holidays 

It’s hard to believe that the 2021 holiday season is just around the corner! Check out these 14 bilingual books for kids that make for perfect autumn and winter family reading.

1. It’s Skeleton Time! (¡Es la hora de los esqueletos!)

bilingual books for kids

This book teaches readers how to tell the time in Spanish and English. It’s an adaptation of lyrics from a traditional Costa Rican song. Skeletons jump out of their tombs for some fun as the clock strikes each hour. 

With illustrations and content about Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and Central America, this rhyming bilingual book for kids brings a bicultural perspective to the Halloween season.

2.  Pumpkin, Pumpkin (Calabaza, calabaza)

Jamie learns about the life cycle of a pumpkin in this beautifully illustrated bilingual children’s book.

3. Rosita and Conchita (Rosita y Conchita

bilingual books for kids
  • Authors: Erich Haeger and Eric Gonzalez
  • Year published: 2010
  • Amazon link 

This is the heartwarming story of Rosita and Conchita, twin sisters who connect on Día de los Muertos. One is alive, and one is not. 

If you want to discuss grief or death with little ones, this is the ideal book. It focuses on the emotional connection between the hermanas (sisters) rather than the sadness of death. 

This book highlights key aspects of the Day of the Dead altar. This helps kids understand the idea of ofrendas (offerings) to the spirits and beloved ones who have passed to the other side. 

4. The Day of the Dead (El Día De Los Muertos

bilingual books for kids

Two children celebrate their ancestors by making traditional offerings of marigolds, sugar skulls, pan de muertos, and other yummy foods. This Día de los Muertos primer features vivid illustrations.

5. Where Is My Turkey? (¿Dónde está mi pavo?)

A sweet child dressed as a pilgrim and his pet turkey celebrate their first Thanksgiving. Prompt your child to find the turkeys hidden on each page. This book is ideal for beginning Spanish and English readers.

6. Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner? No, Thanks! (¿Pavo para la cena de Día de Gracias? ¡No, gracias!)

bilingual books for kids

Alma Flor Ada’s charming story is about a spider that helps a turkey find a unique way to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner.

7. Rubber Shoes: A Lesson in Gratitude (Los zapatos de goma: Una lección de gratitud)

bilingual books for kids

This is a great book for every child in your life. Trust me. It will teach them to be grateful and count their blessings. Gladys Elizabeth is very disappointed with the new shoes her mother picks out for her. After trying unsuccessfully to rid herself of the shoes, she is taught a lesson in gratitude that changes her feelings about them.

8. 20 Letters About Chanukah: 20 letras sobre Janucá

bilingual books for kids

Each letter of the alphabet tells one part of the story of the Hanukkah celebration with beautiful, artistic illustrations.

9. On Hanukkah (Janucá)

bilingual books for kids

This brief bilingual book for kids explains the meaning of Hanukkah. It outlines the popular traditions and activities associated with this Jewish winter holiday.

10. The Gift of the Poinsettia / El Regalo de la flor de Nochebuena

bilingual books for kids
  • Authors: Pat Mora and Charles Ramirez Berg
  • Year published: 1995
  • Amazon link 

A book you can enjoy fully in either English or Spanish! This book will help kids learn about the value of giving gifts to those we love. It’s ideal for preschool to 1st grade.

11. The Christmas Tree (El árbol de Navidad)

bilingual books for kids

This fabulous volume by Alma Flor Ada is a poem in English and Spanish about the popular Christmas tree tradition. 

12. Jojo’s Christmas day (La Navidad de Lolo)

This bilingual book for kids starts when Jojo refuses to share his cherries on Christmas eve.

His friends don’t want to celebrate Christmas with Jojo. This funny story captures the spirit of Christmas and the joy of friendship and sharing.

Use it to not only talk to your child about the importance of sharing and apologizing but also to support them in learning Spanish. This upbeat Christmas story with lovely illustrations will touch you and your child’s heart.

13. Celebrate Las Posadas – Celebramos Las Posadas: A Bilingual Book in English and Spanish 

Las Posadas

In Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of the U.S., the nine days between December 16 and 24 are called Las Posadas. During this time, families act out Mary and Joseph’s travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of baby Jesus. 

People decorate their homes with nativity scenes and twinkling lights. They participate in parades, sing songs, break piñatas, and share delicious foods!

This bilingual book puts the spotlight on the customs and traditions of Las Posadas using easy-to-read text in both English and Spanish. Enjoy its 10 bonus pages for children with relevant songs and coloring pages!

14. Three Kings Day – Día de Reyes Mago: A Bilingual Book in English and Spanish

bilingual books for kids

People in Spain, Mexico, and many Latin American countries celebrate Día de Reyes Mago (Three Kings Day) on January 6th. This holiday honors the arrival of the tres reyes magos (three wise men) in Bethlehem shortly after the birth of baby Jesus on Christmas Day. 

This short bilingual book introduces the customs and traditions of the day. Read it with your child to teach them how the wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh for baby Jesus. Discover unique Christian customs in Latin America such as leaving hay out for camels.

The book features 10 extra pages of songs, puzzles, and coloring sheets!

Bring Up Bilingual Children

I hope you enjoy reading these special holiday-related books with your kids. Young children have an incredible ability to pronounce foreign and unfamiliar sounds. They’re also capable of understanding complex grammar rules. The earlier they begin, the easier it will be for them to learn—although any age is a fine time to start!

Sign your child up today for a free trial class with our certified, native-speaking Guatemalan teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Check out our programs and take a peek at our affordable prices

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For students ages 4+, sign up for a free Spanish class!

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10 Spanish Language Movies Available to Watch on Netflix US https://www.spanish.academy/blog/10-spanish-language-movies-available-to-watch-on-netflix-us/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/10-spanish-language-movies-available-to-watch-on-netflix-us/#respond Sat, 25 Sep 2021 12:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=18798 Are you on the hunt for Spanish-language movies? Look no further. The movies on this list are originally in native Spanish. They are also available in the U.S. on Netflix.  By watching Spanish language movies, you train your ear and learn more about Hispanic culture. Thanks to Spanish language movie streaming services, you can choose […]

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Are you on the hunt for Spanish-language movies? Look no further. The movies on this list are originally in native Spanish. They are also available in the U.S. on Netflix. 

By watching Spanish language movies, you train your ear and learn more about Hispanic culture. Thanks to Spanish language movie streaming services, you can choose the best Spanish language movies for you!

Netflix offers a wide variety of Spanish TV shows and movies. Read this article to discover the top 10 Spanish language movies on Netflix in the U.S.

Hand-picked for you: 10 Famous Hispanic Directors and Their Best Movies

10 Spanish Language Movies Available on Netflix US

Here are the top Spanish language movies on Netflix US to check out and improve your Spanish skills today. 

Pro-tip! Read this post on learning Spanish by watching TV to make your movie nights more fun and educational! 

Disclaimer: The majority of the movies on this list are for an older audience, 16+ and not appropriate for families with younger children.

1. Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World (Guatemala: Corazón del Mundo Maya) – 2019

Director: Ignacio Juansolo, Luis Ara

Genre: Documentary film

Rated: G

This documentary explores the cultural richness and geological wonder that Guatemala offers. An ancient Mayan city is one of the main landmarks in Guatemala and many consider Tikal to be a wonder of the world.

The film takes viewers to Semuc Champey, Guatemala City, and Antigua. It covers the unforgettable Semana Santa holiday and its celebrations.

See also: Top 10 Best Departments of Guatemala 

2. The Easiest Thing is to Complicate Everything (Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo) – 2018

Director: René Bueno

Genre: Romantic comedy

Rated: +16

This is a rom-com about Renata who has been in love with Leonardo for a long time. Leonardo is her half-brother’s best friend and older than her. But now Renata is of age and looking to have a relationship with her crush. 

Beautiful Susana suddenly appears in Leo’s life and stands in the way of Renata living her love story. Renata complicates everything to get what she wants. She plots to separate Susana and Leonardo. 

Will she get what she wants or is it too complicated? If you’re looking for some youthful fun, this is the perfect fit.

3. Xico’s Journey (El Camino de Xico) – 2020

Director: Eric Cabello

Genre: Kids animated movie

Rated: +7

This is the perfect choice to watch with the whole family. El Camino de Xico is the story of Copi, her best friend Gus, and her dog Xico. They want to save their town from a  company looking to take over the mountain that protects Copi’s village. 

While trying to reach their goal, all three characters face challenges that they have to overcome to help the greater good. 

4. Dad Wanted (Se Busca Papá) – 2020

Director: Javier Colinas

Genre: Family movies

Rated: +16

Blanca hasn’t been able to get over the loss of her father who died in an accident. Her mother is in constant fear because of the accident and is overprotective of her daughter. 

Blanca dreams of becoming a BMX rider even though her mom won’t let her ride. Blanca seeks a “fake dad” so she can sign up for a BMX competition. Watch this heartfelt Spanish movie on Netflix to see how her plot unfolds.

5. A Remarkable Tale (Lo Nunca Visto) – 2019

Director: Marina Seresesky

Genre: Comedy

Rated: 16+

This movie starts in a fictional town called Fuentejuela de Arriba in Spain. Its population is only 16 people, they’re all aging, and none of them have children. If the population lowers to 15 people, the town will disappear and become a part of Fuentejuela de Abajo. 

Teresa, a citizen of the town, decides to make four Africans on the run part of the town, in an act of desperation. The villagers mistrust the runaways and Teresa faces many challenges. 

The story is an unexpected story full of colorful characters. Check it out if you’re looking for good Spanish humor.

Spanish language movies
Lo Nunca Visto | © Netflix

6. Despite Everything (A Pesar de todo) – 2019

Director: Ignacio Juansolo, Luis Ara

Genre: Romantic comedy

Rated: 16+

This story follows four daughters after their mother’s death. Sara is a fashion executive in New York, Claudia is hiding her separation, Sofia is gay and hiding it from the family, and Lucía is a free spirit. 

At the lawyer’s office, the sisters find that their mom has left them a video letting them know that they all have different biological fathers. To get their inheritance, they need to find and meet their fathers. 

Spanish language movies
A Pesar de Todo | © Netflix

7. Heroes Wanted (Cuerpo de élite) – 2016

Director: Joaquín Mazón

Genre: Action comedy

Rated: 16+

After a failed operation, a secret team is diminished. The Spanish Interior Ministry decides to recruit new members to rebuild it again. The new group includes a mobility agent from Madrid, a civil guard from Andalucía, a squad boy from Cataluña, a public guard from Basque Country, and a legionary. 

Their first mission together is to recover a bomb. They face unexpected challenges and struggle to work together. This Spanish action comedy is a must-watch if you’re looking for a fun distraction. It is in Castilian Spanish. 

8. Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? (¿A quién te llevarías a una isla desierta?) – 2019

Director: Jota Linares

Genre: Drama

Rated: +16

This movie from Spain portrays the final days of Marcos, Ezre, Marte, and Celeste living together in Madrid. With their fear of the future and stepping into adulthood, they wonder what their lives will be like. 

Marcos is about to start working as a doctor. Marta will become a teacher; Celeste is still figuring it all out, and Ezre wants to move to London and learn film. 

This is an interesting film to watch and reminisce about life and what could have been. It’s set in beautiful Madrid and ideal to practice your Castilian Spanish if you’re looking to travel to Spain.

9. Toc Toc (Toc Toc) – 2017

Director: Vicente Villanueva

Genre: Comedy

Rated: +16

This comedy follows different people with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Blanca has Contamination OCD and tries to avoid touching people. Ana Maria has verification OCD and needs to repeatedly check everything. Emilio has Diogenes syndrome and hoards. Otto organizes everything; and Lily has echolalia, where she repeats what others say. 

They all think that they’ll have a private session with a famous psychologist, only to find out that they’re all scheduled to be there together. While they wait, they get to know each other and decide to have a group session. 

This unexpectedly entertaining comedy is worth the watch.  

10. Live Twice, Love Once (Vivir dos veces) – 2019

Director: María Ripoll

Genre: Drama comedy

Rated: +16

Emilio is a retired teacher who has been a widow for five years. He lives a normal, comfortable life until he struggles to find his way back home. He goes to the hospital and is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As he leaves the hospital, he runs into his estranged daughter. 

When Julia finds out about Emilio’s diagnosis, she invites him to a family lunch. After this family reunion, Emilio decided to look for his long-lost love, Margarita. 

This film touches on the value of relationships and making the most of the time we have on Earth.

Don’t Just Watch—Improve your Spanish, Too!

Watching Spanish language movies on Netflix is an entertaining way to practice your listening comprehension. It immerses you in the language you’re looking to learn. If you aren’t living in a Spanish-speaking country, watching Spanish language movies is a key way to create an immersive experience in the comfort of your own home.

Knowing Spanish is incredibly useful within the U.S. as well! The United States is home to approximately 53 million people who speak Spanish. In fact, it’s the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world with 41 million native Spanish speakers and counting. Find out why so many are learning Spanish and sign up for a free class today.

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How Speaking 5 Minutes A Day Can Stop You From Sounding Ridiculous In Spanish https://www.spanish.academy/blog/how-speaking-5-minutes-a-day-can-stop-you-from-sounding-ridiculous-in-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/how-speaking-5-minutes-a-day-can-stop-you-from-sounding-ridiculous-in-spanish/#respond Thu, 09 Sep 2021 13:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=18128 If you want to learn Spanish quickly because you feel ridiculous when you speak it, this article is for you.  Perhaps you have been studying the language for a while but you still don’t feel comfortable speaking it. Or maybe you think you sound ridiculous in Spanish and you’re starting to lose your motivation.  No […]

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If you want to learn Spanish quickly because you feel ridiculous when you speak it, this article is for you. 

Perhaps you have been studying the language for a while but you still don’t feel comfortable speaking it. Or maybe you think you sound ridiculous in Spanish and you’re starting to lose your motivation. 

No need to despair. This is normal and can be fixed with just 5 minutes a day. 

Keep reading to learn the easiest way to learn Spanish, as I’m going to give you five useful strategies to learn Spanish with just 5 minutes every day. 

What’s the Easiest Way to Learn Spanish?

If you want to know the best and easiest way to learn Spanish quickly, online, and at home, the first thing you need to ask yourself is, “what are you willing to do?” or even better, “which language skill do you want to develop first?”

Because you can read a book in Spanish every night before going to bed and you’ll get a lot of vocabulary and become great at reading. Or you can also get yourself a Spanish grammar workbook, and develop your writing skills. 

But, are reading and writing the skills you really want to start with? New Spanish learners usually want to learn the language to speak it. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a balanced approach to language learning that develops the four basic language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. But, if what you want is to learn Spanish quickly, then focusing on speaking is the way to go. 

learn Spanish quickly

Learn Spanish Quickly

The easiest way to learn Spanish quickly for free is to practice speaking for as little as 5 minutes per day. If you do that, I promise that you’ll stop sounding ridiculous in Spanish. It’s like everything else, “practice makes progress,” and almost perfect. 

Do you want to speak Spanish? 

Speak Spanish. Every day. For 5 minutes. 

Ok, but how? 

How To Learn Spanish in 5 Minutes

The easiest way to learn Spanish is to speak it for 5 minutes every day and you have a variety of options to do exactly that. 

Here, I’m sharing my Top 5 Strategies to learn Spanish quickly with you. 

1. Practice Your Pronunciation With an App

Language learning apps such as Duolingo or Brainscape are excellent tools to practice your pronunciation and learn Spanish fast. They usually come with pre-organized lessons that don’t take more than 5 minutes from your day, give you new vocabulary, show you how to pronounce it, and then challenge you to pronounce every new word yourself. Duolingo even goes as far as not letting you advance until you get the pronunciation right. 

The good thing about apps is that they’re always available in your own pocket and I’m sure you can find 5 minutes every day that you can actually spare. The important part is to remember to take your phone out and start practicing. Some of these apps will send you reminders, just in case you tend to forget your speaking practice. 

learn Spanish quickly

2. Record Yourself

This is one of my favorite exercises for my Spanish students. Get some Spanish text from any source you prefer, it can be a book, the vocabulary you learned from your app or workbook, or even the lyrics of a Shakira song. That’s up to you. 

Then, read it in front of the camera, record your pronunciation, and listen to yourself afterward. I recommend you to choose 5 different texts and read a different one every day of the week from Monday to Friday (I’m giving you the weekend off!). When the following week arrives, start over reading the same text from the previous Monday, and repeat the process for the whole week. 

Do that for 4 weeks in a row and you’ll end up with 4 versions of 5 different texts in Spanish by the end of the month. Now listen to them. Notice your progress. Focus on the details of your pronunciation and then you tell me if you still sound ridiculous in Spanish. 

3. Get Your Spanish Word of the Day

I’m including this strategy because I find it a very creative way of helping you to learn a language. I would go as far as saying that this might be the easiest way to learn Spanish for free. 

Think about it, you get to work or school, open your laptop, check your word list, and there you have a fast and easy way to get your Spanish going for the day. You can use options like forvo to get audio for the correct pronunciation of the word.  

Then you can make up sentences where your new word is applied. The next day, you get a new word. By the end of the year, you have learned 365 new words and you have pronounced thousands of phrases in Spanish. 

4. Read a Spanish Newspaper Aloud

Remember what I said before about how focusing on reading might not be your best way to learn Spanish quickly? Well, reading aloud changes that. That’s because yes, you’re reading, but crucially, you’re also speaking. 

Find a Spanish news site you like and read-aloud for 5 minutes every day. I recommend the following sites, but there are plenty to choose from. 

learn Spanish quickly

5. Call Your Native Spanish-speaking Friend

Ok, I know that you may don’t have a native Spanish-speaking friend, or that even if you had one, you wouldn’t be calling them every day to talk for 5 minutes. That would be weird, right? 

But if you really want to learn Spanish quickly you have got to do whatever is necessary. You may have to look for a Spanish language partner, other people call them “Spanish parents,” but the point is the same. Find a native speaker with whom you can talk every day. 

There’s no substitute for that. 

If you want to learn how to play chess, for example, you go and play with those who know how to play it. Same thing with Spanish. 

Do you want to speak Spanish? Go and speak with those who’ve been speaking it since they were toddlers. 

You Can Learn Spanish Quickly!

Now you know it, the easiest way to learn Spanish is to speak 5 minutes a day and soon you’ll stop sounding ridiculous. Use one of the five strategies I just shared with you, or mix them up and make it even more interesting. The important part is to invest those 5 minutes in your Spanish speaking skills every day. 

Those 5 minutes can change your life! According to The Economist, speaking a foreign language with fluency can add anywhere from $50,000 to $125,000 to your annual salary. Sign up for a free class to practice your Spanish in real-time with real teachers. Gain fluency faster by speaking with native, certified tutors from Guatemala—we offer flexible scheduling and tailored Spanish packages!

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100+ Circus Words and Phrases in Spanish https://www.spanish.academy/blog/100-circus-words-and-phrases-in-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/100-circus-words-and-phrases-in-spanish/#respond Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=14810 Did you know that the first (modern) circus started in 1768? Yes! It’s that old! Of course, Romans referred to the circus thousands of years before, but that’s a very different story.  The circus is a great place to go and have fun whenever it comes to town—it’s also an entertaining theme to use for […]

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Did you know that the first (modern) circus started in 1768? Yes! It’s that old! Of course, Romans referred to the circus thousands of years before, but that’s a very different story. 

The circus is a great place to go and have fun whenever it comes to town—it’s also an entertaining theme to use for learning Spanish.

Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, or simply an avid Spanish learner who wants to improve their vocabulary, stick around to learn all about the circus in Spanish!

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Circus Tent and Ticket Booth in Spanish

The very first thing that comes to mind when you think about a circus is the circus tent, isn’t it? 

But inside that tent there are more things! 

EnglishSpanish
(circus) tentla carpa de circo
stairsel graderío
seatslos asientos
stageel escenario
ticket boothla taquilla
ticketel tíquet o tiquete
flagslas banderas

Example Sentences in Spanish

Compremos tres boletos en la taquilla.
Let’s buy three tickets at the booth

El escenario es espacioso.
The stage is spacious.

La lona del circo es muy colorida.
The circus tent is very colorful.

Spanish Traveling Circus Vocabulary

Many circuses travel from town to town to entertain a wide range of people—regularly packing and unpacking all of their belongings. 

They use stuff like cages for the animals, and trucks to carry everything from place to place.

EnglishSpanish
truckslos camiones
cageslas jaulas
boxeslas cajas
ropeslas sogas o pitas
hookslos ganchos
refrigeratorslos refrigeradores o las refrigeradas
bedslas camas
suitslos trajes
make upel maquillaje
ringslos aros o anillos
propslos artículos de utilería

What to Eat at the Circus in Spanish

circus

After you buy your ticket and sit down, what’s your plan? To buy some snacks, of course! You may find the following snacks at a circus near you:

EnglishSpanish
popcornlos poporopos*
peanutsel maní o las manías
cotton candyel algodón de azúcar
ice creamel helado
hot dogel hot dog o perro caliente
sodala gaseosa
iced teael té frío
milkshakeel batido
pizza sliceel pedazo de pizza
corndogel corndog
sandwichel sándwich
snackslos bocadillos
chocolate (pieces)los chocolates
pushbuttons (like M&M’s)las botonetas
candylos dulces
(bottled) waterel agua embotellada

FUN FACT! The word “popcorn” wildly varies in Latin America from country to country. Los poporopos is the way we call it in Guatemala, but there are several other words. In Mexico Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Spain, and Nicaragua, they call them las palomitas de maíz. Pochoclo in Argentina, poporocho in Bolivia, cabritas in Chile, rositas de maíz in Cuba, canguil in Ecuador, pororó in Paraguay and Uruguay, rosetas de maíz in Puerto Rico and cotufas in Venezuela.

Example Sentences in Spanish

Compremos unos bocadillos para la función.
Let’s buy some snacks for the show.

Quiero comer un hot dog y beber una gaseosa.
I want to eat a hot dog and drink a soda.

La pizza en el circo no sabe muy bien.
Pizza at the circus doesn’t taste very well.

¡Me encanta el algodón de azúcar!
I love cotton candy!

Items That Circus Performers Use in Spanish

Just before we learn all about the performers, it’s a good idea to learn which instruments they use to perform on stage, because some of their names are related to their performer. Check them out:

EnglishSpanish
microphoneel micrófono
magic wandla varita mágica
hornla bocina
chainsawla motosierra
trapezeel trapecio
safety netla red de seguridad
whipel látigo
straitjacketla camisa de fuerza
chainla cadena
lockslos candados
canyonel cañón
puppetslos títeres
unicycleel monociclo
fireel fuego
swordla espada o el sable
stiltslos zancos
ballla pelota o la bola
hornla bocina
tight ropela cuerda floja

The Performers at the Circus in Spanish

circus

The performers are the best part of the circus—they make the show! Here are the most popular ones.

EnglishSpanish
performance or showla función o el show
showmanel presentador
magicianel mago
circus clownel (o la) payaso(a) de circo
jugglerel (o la) malabarista
trapeze artistel (o la) trapecista
acrobatel (o la) acróbata
tamerel (o la) domador(a)
contortionistel o la contorsionista
escapistel o la escapista
bullet manel hombre bala
mimeel mimo
puppeteerel titiritero
unicyclistel o la monociclista
fire eaterel o la tragafuego
sword eaterel o la tragasables
ventriloquistel o la ventríluoco
stilt manel o la zanquero(a)
tightropeel funámbulo

Example Sentences in Spanish

¡Vamos al circo a ver payasos!
Let’s go to the circus and see clowns.

El mago no tiene ninguna varita. ¿Qué va a hacer?
The magician has no wand. What is he going to do?

¡Quiero ver al trapecista ya!
I want to see the trapeze artist now!

¡La malabarista hace malabares con motosierras!
The juggler juggles chainsaws!

¡Ese tragasable es increíble!
That sword eater is amazing!

No hay una red de seguridad para el funámbulo. ¡Qué peligroso!
There is no safety net for the tightrope. That is dangerous!

Stunts at the Circus in Spanish

Circus performers wouldn’t have such an exciting name for themselves if they didn’t rely on their stunts. In this next list, see the most popular stunts that occur in circuses worldwide.

EnglishSpanish
jugglinglos malabares
contortionla contorsión
escapologyel acto de escapismo
fire eatingcomer fuego
fire breathingrespirar fuego o escupir fuego
glass eatingcomer vidrio
glass walkingcaminar sobre vidrio
magic trickel truco de magia
magic showel show de magia
jokeslos chistes
sword swallowingtragar espadas
blade boxla caja de cuchillas
snake charmerel encanta serpientes
tamingdomar
tightrope actel acto en la cuerda floja
spectacleel espectáculo
stilt showel espectáculo con zancos
opening actel acto introductorio
grand finaleel gran final

Animals in the Circus in Spanish

Some circuses still use animals to entertain the crowd and go to great lengths to treat them well with kindness and respect. Classic circus animals include:

EnglishSpanish
elephantel elefante
lionel león
tigerel tigre
bearel oso
sealla foca

FUN FACT: Some Latin American countries prohibit using any type of animal at the circus—including Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Paraguay.

Example Sentences in Spanish

¡Quiero ver al oso montar el triciclo!
I want to see the bear ride the tricycle

¡Qué divertidos los chistes del payaso!
The clown’s jokes are very funny!

¿Podemos ver al mago hacer un truco?
Can we see the magician perform a magic trick?

No me gusta mucho ver los malabares.
I don’t like to see juggling very much.

¡El tragafuego es impresionante!
The fire breather is impressive!

¡Me encantó venir al circo!
I loved coming to the circus!

Spanish Verbs About the Circus

You just read and learned 97 new nouns in Spanish! By incorporating the following list of verbs, you can integrate grammar into your Spanish circus lesson.

  • to attend – ir o estar
  • to do or to make – hacer
  • to throw – tirar
  • to eat – comer
  • to join – unir o unirse
  • to spit – escupir
  • to blow – soplar
  • to walk – caminar
  • to lay – acostarse o recostarse
  • to disappear – desaparecer
  • to laugh – reír o reírse
  • to break – romper
  • to repair – reparar
  • to cut – cortar
  • to divide – dividir
  • to split – partir o separar
  • to open – abrir
  • to close – cerrar
  • to begin – empezar o comenzar
  • to finish – terminar

Example Sentences in Spanish

¡La función está por comenzar!
The show is about to start!

¡El mago va a separar a su asistente en dos!
The magician is going to separate his assistant in two!

El mago desapareció.
The magician disappeared.

¡Ese hombre está escupiendo fuego!
That man is spitting fire!

¡Esa mujer está acostada en una cama de clavos!
That woman is laying down on a bed made of nails.

La función ya terminó, pero estoy muy feliz.
The show is over but I am very happy.

Quiero escaparme y unirme al circo.
I want to run away and join the circus.

PRO TIP: The verb hacer is super useful with a lot of stunts that stuntmen perform. You can say many things like:

  • hacer malabares (juggling)
  • hacer magia (magic)
  • hacer chistes (jokes)

Spanish Adjectives About the Circus

So far we’ve covered 127 new words in Spanish. Along with the nouns and verbs, sprinkle some descriptive adjectives into your lessons to help your child or student learn to express their opinion about the circus in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
prettylindo(a)
uglyfeo
amazingimpresionante
boringaburrido
entertainingentretenido
dangerouspeligroso
secureseguro
noisyruidoso
silentsilencioso
stressingestresante
relaxingrelajante
fundivertido
funnychistoso
memorablememorable
circus circense

Example Sentences in Spanish

El truco que hizo el malabarista fue muy cool.
The stunt that the juggler pulled was very cool.

El payaso es muy chistoso.
The clown is very funny.

Lo que hace el tragasables es peligroso.
What the swordeater does is dangerous.

El elefante es muy ruidoso.
The elephant is very noisy.

Ese tigre es lindo, pero parece verse enojado.
That tiger is pretty but looks angry.

La función del circo fue impresionante.
The circus show was amazing!

Kids Songs About the Circus in Spanish

These following 4 songs about the circus in Spanish will support your efforts in teaching Spanish to those around you.

Music is a great way to teach language!

1. Había una vez un circo – Rondas y canciones infantiles

2. El Circo – Canti Rondas

This one will surely stick in your head! It mentions the trapeze artist (trapecista), puppets (marionetas), magicians (magos).

3. Los Payasos – Canciones para Niños

This one talks about clowns and how they dress up, mentioning elements such as:

  • Wigs (me pongo la peluca)
  • Make up (me pinto las mejillas)
  • Suit (me meto en el traje)
  • Nose (me pongo la nariz)
  • Shoes (me pongo los zapatos)

4. Canción el Payaso Malabarista – Música en Colores

This song is called el payaso malabarista (the juggling clown), it’s a song that mixes fruit, the circus and music, here is the translation of the lyrics:

El payaso malabarista tira y tira las pelotas como es malabarista las transforma en jugo de frutas. Con el Fa hace naranjas, con el Sol hace frutillas, con el La jugo de mora y con el Mi hace limón. 
The juggling clown throws and throws the balls, and because he is a juggler he transforms them (the balls) into fruit juice. With the F (this refers to the musical key) he makes oranges, with the G he makes strawberries, with the A blackberry juice, and with the C he makes lemon.

Inspire Your Child to Speak Spanish to a Native

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Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

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Which Online Spanish Program is Best for my Child? Three Great Options to Consider https://www.spanish.academy/blog/online-spanish-best-child-options/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/online-spanish-best-child-options/#respond Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:18:03 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=2018 The search for a good Spanish program can be lengthy and difficult, especially if you’re not sure what kind of program you or your child will respond to best. Do you want to spend the money on a private instructor and hope the teacher knows what they’re doing? Or should the two of you navigate […]

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The search for a good Spanish program can be lengthy and difficult, especially if you’re not sure what kind of program you or your child will respond to best. Do you want to spend the money on a private instructor and hope the teacher knows what they’re doing? Or should the two of you navigate a set of textbooks or a software-based curriculum at the kitchen table and hope for the best?

Weighing your options is always a good idea. Here are three different approaches you can use to guide your learning and help you speak Español excelente.

Rosetta Stone Online Program

Developed in 1992 in Virginia, this is a Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) software. Like HSA, it encourages users to go at their own pace and enjoy the process. Unlike HSA, it’s taught by an automated program, not a teacher that speaks and connects with the student.

Rosetta Stone uses images, text, sound and repetition to help the user learn Spanish. It offers a chance to analyze things like how many questions the student answered correctly, how accurate their pronunciation is with the help of visual sound graphs and how long each lesson is taking. There is no text book and no instructor attached to each learner.

Pros:

  • Easy to get started – a visit to their website and a payment gets you started
  • Very analytical and practical
  • Image heavy – the screen never looks like a test, even when it is

Cons:

  • No book or instructor. Each learner is truly on their own
  • Every learner gets the same presentation, so if they get bored or lost, there’s no adjusting the curriculum
  • No free trial, you have to buy it
  • No instructor to guide you through the program

Pimsleur Online Program

The Pimsleur program has taken language learning and done some reevaluating in how we learn and why we may not acquire new vocabulary and structure as we might hope. This program claims to have an entirely new approach they’ve termed “Graduated Interval Recall.” Basically, students remember by being asked to recall specific phrases and then wait to see how they did. This makes for active listening in a program that is purely audio.

Users have reviewed the program as usable, yet overly formal. It was originally created for the standard travelling businessman who needs to talk about his wife and kids, not a young person visiting family or a student on break.Again, there’s no book or teacher – the student interacts with the program itself and it can’t be tailored.

Pros:

  • Audio based and highly interactive, students want to guess the right phrase and feel elated when they succeed.
  • No reading or note taking, just a conversation

Cons:

  • Students learn a formal version of each language and may sound a little old-fashioned as speakers
  • The program focuses on a married, male perspective, making this less than ideal for young learners
  • No teacher or textbook

The Homeschool Spanish Academy (HSA) Online Learning Program

Easily one of the best options around. The program not only has its own, highly refined curriculum, it’s also entirely up to you when your child starts and how often he or she takes classes. Instruction happens one-on-one with a real live instructor, meaning each student has their teacher’s full attention throughout the lesson. Your son or daughter will be speaking introductory Spanish after just one lesson and can do review with you in the program’s textbook.

Best of all, HSA offers a free, no-risk trial for one or two students at a time before you commit. You don’t give your credit card information or make any decisions until you are positive this program is perfect for your little learner.

Pros:

  • Personal, tailored instruction with a human teacher and printable textbook
  • A free, no-commitment trial class prior to any purchase
  • Siblings can take classes together
  • Classes encourage speaking, interaction and true language acquisition

Cons:

  • Online only – this isn’t really a hindrance as students can access the classes on any device

Is your little learner ready to start learning Spanish? Click here to sign up for a free class today.

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