Como en casi todos los idiomas, hay varios dialectos, vocabulario diferentes, etc.
En español es igual, pero hay un factor muy importante en el que hay que acordarse.  Ése factor es que en el español hay palabras que se dicen en un país que también se dicen en otros, PERO que tienen un significado MUY diferente.  Hay que tener en cuenta las diferencias ya que una palabra puede tener un significado opuesto, completamente diferente o uno muy vulgar!

En españa por ejemplo, todos "cogemos" el autobus, pero en algunos paises de latino america, sería mejor que no lo "cojas" nunca.  ¿Por qué?
Porque en españa, el verbo coger signfica "tomar" (como el inglés "to take", "to catch", "to get" the bus), pero en varios paises de latino america el verbo coger significa otro cosa... que es bastante vulgar y mejor no lo mencionamos. 

Si te interesa aprender algunas otras palabras que tienen significado diferentes en varios paises, ver Curiosidades Jergales.
¡Aprende español en españa! (Learn Spanish in Spain!)
¡Aprende español en latinoamerica! (Learn Spanish in Latin America!)
¡Pide tu folleto! (Request your FREE brochure!)

  Este escrito nace como un canto de unión de pueblos, razas y países en una época en la que, por desgracia, asistimos a continuos episodios xenófobos y de intolerancia, en un mundo, el nuestro, que se supone abierto, comprensivo y tolerante.
Os propongo que me ayudéis a completar un diccionario especial para decir "te quiero" en todos los idiomas. Ingles: I love you, Alemán: Ich liebe dich, Bosnio: Volim te, Chino: Wo ai ni ...   more »

Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is working on a new film, Los abrazos rotos. And in the process, he's created a wonderful opportunity for film fans and Spanish students to get an inside look at how a film is made: a blog, where he muses on the script, the best translation for an English title (he decided the title's abrazos are more "embraces" than "hugs"), Penelope Cruz's hairstyle and, seemingly, whatever crosses his mind.

Blogpedroalmodóvar is written in Spanish, with English and French translations. (Access the translations through the blog's main page,  www.pedroalmodovar.es .) If you're an intermediate or high beginner student of Spanish, the translations  will provide a quick way for you to understand vocabulary or colloquialisms new to you, before carrying on reading the blog in Spanish. 

El Castellano published an intriguing article a few weeks back about the effects of bilingualism on the brain. The article, titled "Los idiomas entrenan el cerebro" (Languages train the brain), describes the results of a number of studies on bilingualism.

My favorite finding? It never is too late to learn a language. In fact, learning a second language late in life has beneficial effects beyond being able to communicate with a whole new crowd.

The studies shed some light on why young children learn multiple languages so effortlessly and completely, as well.

And the article is in Spanish, so reading it alone will be a good workout. :)

I've just discovered three great resources for students and newer practicioners (like myself) of Spanish. All three are projects of Fundeú BBVA , a nonprofit organization formed to "collaborate in the good use of the Spanish language". All three are well worth a bookmark:

From the don Quijote weekly lesson:

Expresiones con partes del cuerpo: La cara
Expressions using body parts: The face

(FORMAL, INFORMAL y luego traducción en inglés)

Tener cara de pocos amigos
(Tener aspecto serio o enfadado)
(To look sad or angry)

Ejemplo: Esta mañana he visto a Pedro y tenía cara de pocos amigos. No le gustó lo que le dijimos ayer.

Ir/andar a cara descubierta
(actuar públicamente, claramente, sin ocultar las intenciones.)
(To act or speak openly)

Ejemplo: Ana siempre tiene problemas con su jefa porque va a cara descubierta y a su jefa no le gusta escuchar ciertas cosas.

Caérsele a alguien la cara de vergüenza
(Salir los colores al rostro mostrando vergüenza ante una situación)
(To be ashamed)

Ejemplo: Anoche se me caía la cara de vergüenza cuando me contaron vuestro comportamiento. No volveré a invitaros.

Dar la cara
(Responder de los propios actos y afrontar las consecuencias.)
(To face the consequences of what one has done)

Ejemplo: Alberto siempre da la cara, así que no habrá problema para corregir esos errores.

Sacar/Dar la cara por alguien
(Apoyar a otra persona o responder por él)
(To stand up for somebody, To stick up for somebody)

Ejemplo: Estoy muy contenta con mi jefa. Ayer sacó la cara por mí cuando me acusaron de estropear los planes de la empresa.

Echar algo en cara (a alguien)
(Recordarle algún beneficio que se le ha hecho)
(To reproach, to throw something in somebody's face)

Ejemplo: Cuando pedí un aumento de sueldo me dijeron que no y me echaron en cara que era el que más cobraba de todo el grupo.


Costar un ojo de la cara
(Ser muy caro)
(To be really expensive, to cost an arm and a leg)

Ejemplo: No podemos comprar ese coche, cuesta un ojo de la cara.

Plantar cara a alguien
(Desafiarlo, oponerse a él, resistir a su autoridad o enfrentarse a él)
(To confront somebody, to stand up to somebody)

Ejemplo: Cuando su compañero intentó mentir y acusarle a él, le plantó cara y la verdad salió a relucir.

Poner buena/mala cara
(Acoger bien o mal a alguien o algo)
(To react positively or negatively to something / to pull a face)

Ejemplo: Le pregunté a mi padre si podía ir a la fiesta. Al principio puso mala cara, pero al final me dijo que sí.

Know any more expressions? Leave us a comment!
¿Conóces más expressiones así? ¡Dejadnos un comentario!

Every month I surf my way across the web and through the refraneros we keep around the office, searching for the "expression of the month" to be published in don Quijote's monthly newsletter.

Today I stumbled upon a fabulous resource: a blog of Spanish expressions and commonly heard idioms, entirely in Spanish.

The writing is clear and down-to-earth and, with archives from as far back as January 2007, the site offers an extensive library of Spanish expressions.

Another great online learning resource:

The blog: Expresiones españolas para Erasmus en apuros

URL: http://erasmusv.wordpress.com/

Here's a Spanish culture article prepared by don Quijote for the English language local press in Spain - with a bit of vocabulary and a few handy Spanish phrases waiting at the end of the read. These are people you will read about, sometimes daily, in the Spanish news:

Spain's most famous – Los más famosos de España
Smooth Latino crooners? Hip-swinging dance stars? Fancy-footworking football legends? These are probably the stereotypes you'd bet would top a list of most influential Spanish celebrities… and you wouldn’t be too far from the truth. But how about a King, a leading economist and a 50-something gay film director? Thought not. From politics to music and from sport to film Spain has an eclectic mix of rich and famous. Here is a short guide to the country’s ten most influential and revered….

1. El Rey Juan Carlos
The Spanish Royal Family enjoys almost unrivalled popularity amongst its people compared to most other European monarchies. But what makes this Bourbon King so popular in Spain?

El Rey Juan Carlos was appointed the rightful King of Spain by Franco before his death in 1975. The monarch´s popularity is largely due to the King's critical role in Spain´s smooth transition to democracy after 36 years of dictatorship. On assuming power he immediately democratised the state to the surprise and great displeasure of many Franco supporters who had expected him to mainatin an authoritarian state.

El Rey Juan Carlos gave up his absolute power to the government and became a ‘reigning’ rather than ‘ruling’ monarch. The entire royal family including the King are approachable and involved with the life of Spain, most noticeable after the Madrid bombings in 2004, when they met with the victims' families and publicly shared their grief.

2. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Zapatero is the leader of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers Party) and, since becoming Prime Minister of Spain on 14th March 2004, has withdrawn troops from Iraq, legalised same-sex marriages and granted legal amnesty for illegal immigrants. Zapatero is supported by PRISA, a huge Spanish media group which produces El País and Canal+. Owned by one of richest men in Spain, Jesús de Polanco (editor's note: recently deceased), PRISA is said to have more influence and control of the media than Berlusconi in Italy. Of course the nature of politics dictates that he is not everyone’s cup of tea but, at any rate, he is Spain’s Prime Minister and so is undoubtedly one of its most influential characters.

3. Felipe González
González is a rather controversial personality. While being at the forefront of the Spanish transition to democracy, elected to the House of Deputies in its first elections in 1977 and being Spain’s longest-serving Prime Minister (1982-1996), he is also surrounded by scandal. A series of political and financial rumours tarnished his government but in spite of this he was elected to power for 4 terms! Despite his less-than-sparkling reputation, this charasmatic leader was incredibly important to Spain’s political development towards the end of the twentieth century and is certainly, if not the most, one of its most influential politicians.
 
4. Pedro Almodóvar
Director, producer and screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar is possibly the most famous cinematic figure in Spain’s history. He never judges his complex characters but portrays them in weird and wonderful situations, dealing with issues of desire, passion, family and identity. He has been nominated for four Oscars and has won two, his most famous works include Todo Sobre mi Madre, Hable con Ella and Volver. His success is inspirational. Coming from a poor and illiterate background, his family sent him to school in the hope that he would become a priest. Instead he moved to Madrid where he spent 12 years working for a phone company. Almodóvar has iconic status throughout the cinematic world and has been invaluable in promoting Spanish film.

5. Fernando Alonso
When he was three years old, Alonso’s father gave him a home-made pedal kart which was meant for his sister but she showed no interest in it and passed it to her younger brother. Today, Fernando Alonso is the youngest person to become a Formula One champion! He is the reigning two-time world champion and one of racing’s richest stars. However, Alonso is not without his critics, he has been the subject of controversy relating to break-tests and delaying other racers, even his own team-mates.

6. Seve Ballesteros
Ballesteros has 94 professional golf wins under his belt! He has won the British Open three times and the Masters twice. This golfing legend first learnt his craft at the beach near his home practising with the 3-irons his older brothers lent him. One of those brothers is now his manager. In fact Ballesteros comes from a family of golfers, his uncle Ramón Sota was a professional champion and finished 6th in the Masters in 1965 and his brother finished in the Top 100 of the European tour. Ballesteros helped to design many of the golf courses along the Costa Blanca.

7. Rodrigo Rato
This smooth economist, born into a rich textile company, comes from a family of business men, although his father, uncle and brother all went to prison for having capital hidden in Switzerland. Rato became involved in politics in 1977 when he joined the AP (Popular Alliance) before it became the PP (Partido Popular). This party was made up of ex-Franco ministers and Rato was considered their economics expert. When Aznar and the PP came to power Rato became the Economics Minister and later the 9th President of IMF in 2004, a post he will hold until next year.

8. Penelope Cruz
This international movie star started her career as a dancer before she made the transition to television presenting, and eventually film. Penelope's first major film was Jamón Jamón in 1992 and since then she has had huge success making major films in Spanish, English, Italian and French, all which she speaks fluently. As an "A-list" celebrity both in Spain and in the USA, she has had high-profile relationships with many Hollywood heart-throbs such as Tom Cruise, Orlando Bloom, Lenny Kravitz. Arguably her most successful role (to date) was in Almodóvar’s recent production Volver, for this she has been nominated for various awards.

9. Antonio Banderas
Famous among kids for the voice of Puss in Shrek 2 and Shrek 3, Antonio Banderas is a Spanish actor and singer. He has made dozens of Hollywood films such as Philadelphia, Desperado, EvitaMask of Zorro. This Spanish heartthrob, along with Penelope Cruz, carries the Spanish flag for Spain in Hollywood. and

10. Alejandro Sanz
Grammy award-winning Spanish pop/ballad musician Alejandro Sanz has outsold Julio Iglesias as Spain’s most successful singer-songwriter. He has sold 21 million albums worldwide. Sanz started playing the guitar at the age of seven and started writing songs three years later, since then he has taken home 14 Latin Grammys and 1 regular Grammy, an outstanding career by anyone’s standards.

Without a doubt, there's many more famous people that need to be added to this list. Such a wide range of influential careers and professions demonstrates the variety of Spain’s popular culture. Pick up any gossip magazine in Spain and you not only will be reading about the lives of pop-stars, actors and footballers... but also about royals, sportsmen and politicians, too!  

Useful Vocabulary – Vocabulario Utíl
Have you heard of…?     ¿Te suena…?
No, who is that?             ¿No, quién es?
What does he/ she do?  ¿Qué hace?
What's your job?            ¿En qué trabajas tú?
Celebrity                       Celebridad/ persona famosa
Famous                         Famoso/a
Career                          Carrera
Singer                           Cantante
Actor/Actress               Actor/ Actriz
Politician                      Político/a
Royal                            Real
Sportsman                    Deportista
Gossip Magazine           Revista de corazón, prensa rosa

Another of the "Living in Spain" pieces we've published in English language media, this article introduces you to the diversity of Spain's 17 regions, by offering a look at Andalucía, Cataluña, El País Vasco and Galicia. We've included phrases and vocabulary to learn at the end of the article. Enjoy!

Las Regiones de España – Spanish Regions

Flamboyant fiestas, noisy tapas bars, flamenco dancing, blue skies and a glistening green sea are just some of the images traditionally conjured up at the mention of Spain. There is no wonder that some 400,000 foreign nationals have taken up residence in the south and some 55 million tourists flock to the country each year. However, while these sunny notions of  Spain are accurate there is a whole lot more to be discovered! There is not enough space here to justify Spain's enormous diversity but this is a brief guide to some of its most famous and distinctive regions.   more »

Here's another practical "living in Spain" lesson published by don Quijote in English language media (primarily for a British audience) here in Spain. Read through: you 'll find vocabulary to learn at the end of the article.

Living in Spain: Spanish Television

Whether it’s soap operas, game shows, chat shows, sport or news you want to watch, you’re guaranteed to find something that tickles your fancy on Spanish TV. Although not necessarily renowned for its quality, you cannot fault the energy and enthusiasm of the Spanish media. Live audiences, immaculately turned out hosts and plenty of drama (whatever the show!) lead you to laugh, but you’ll inevitably be glued to the screen.

Ready for TV? Pick up a copy of one of Spain’s most popular publications, Teleprograma, and check out what’s on. Beware, however, that Spanish televsion schedules are ‘flexible’ and programmes will often start up to an hour early or late. Go on… take a break from the social scene and have a night in... it’s great practice for your Spanish!

Considering that only 6% of Spain’s population receive cable, Spain’s four main national broadcasters and its numerous regional television stations, available on terrestrial TV are extremely popular. Of course digital, cable and satellite are also now widely available too. So, what to watch? Here is a guide to what kind of shows each channel provides, how to make sure you catch the news and avoid Big Brother…

TVE
TVE is Spain’s answer to the BBC. It is a partly state-owned public broadcaster that is financed by the government and also rasies capital through advertising. TVE has two main channels TVE1 (known as Primera) and TVE2 (known as La 2). Primera is more light-hearted than La 2 and, not surprisingly, attracts around..    more »