Thread: Spanish Slang

How can we learn Spanish slang? Is there a lot of slang that is unique to Panama?

First, learn Spanish, then go to the country.
Honestly, there is no better way, or easier way. Spanish slang changes from country to country, and from the rural areas to the cities just as easily as it does in the United States. You might be able to find some written into blogs, or in online games, but unless you understand the context of the written Spanish, you are totally out of luck.
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Think of your experiences with American English slang; now go and watch a few hours of BBC comedies/dramas--ask yourself which bits you didn't understand. And its a version of your native language! The same slang that's popular in Boston is not going to be the same slang that's popular in the San Fernando valley, or even further north in the suburbs of San Francisco. A.E. is a very mutable language, we absorb loan-words everyday, and occasionally change the original meaning.
Do you really use the word 'dude,' to mean a guy in leather pants who works on a horse ranch? Or as a proper address for the pizza delivery guy?
Many people find that their language has to change as they age; the language that you use with your friends in high school is vastly different from the format of the language used in daily office conversations.
Ask yourself how and why you use your version of local American slang everyday, and then ask yourself why you want the Spanish version--and if you are willing to put in the time and effort necessary to learn a foreign language just so that you can learn the hippest local slang.

Cheers.

I suppose that makes sense. Slang is actually much more difficult to learn than more formal language, because it usually makes much less sense. It often involves idioms and purposeful pronunciations. Maybe I can just pick it up while in Panama.

Like I said--the easiest way to learn it will be to just go there and hang out. Go out and watch futbol games in bars, go see bands, anywhere you will be around a lot of different ppl and can pick up on a good conversation.
The phrases may be silly sounding to you as you try to translate them, but so do the actual definitions for words like, 'dude,' 'man,' 'word up,' etc.

Cheers.

I often hear people use new slang words in English, and I've been speaking it all my life. The most trendy slang seems to always be changing, because people think it's cool to use new slang.

Yep, and when you speak with younger people they will use even more slang, and possible slang that you may not be familiar with, even if you think you know most of the words.

This goes for every country, not just Panama. And yeah the slang varies from country to country, even the Spanish slang. While there may be some slang used in all Spanish speaking countries, some words will be unique to certain areas.

I am asian people..
can I understand the spanish slang? or I still need a translater?

Originally Posted by nuaeman

I am [an Asian person...]
Can I understand Spanish slang? Or [will] I still need a translator?

If you speak Spanish, then you can ask what the slang means, or figure out its meaning from the context. If you need a translator for any amount of Spanish, then you will need it for the slang!

Cheers.

but how much does it cost if I am willing to get a translator?
is it would be a very expansive fee?

Originally Posted by nuaeman

How much does it cost if I am willing to get a translator?

That depends upon which languages you need to translator to speak; Spanish/English would be the cheapest--rates change all the time depending upon what you would need to do; sightsee, conduct business, etc.

Originally Posted by nuaeman

Would [it] be a very [expensive] fee?

Once again...it depends; you might ask through your embassy or your hotel to see if they can recommend someone.
For future reference:
expansive = having a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive: expansive mountain scenery.

expensive= entailing great expense; very high-priced; costly

Cheers.

owhh forsure I will need to pay a very high fee because I'm leaving in Asian.

Where in Asia? Which country? You'll actually find decent numbers of both Spanish/Cantonese and Spanish/Japanese speakers in Panama City.

Cheers.

I'm from Malaysia.
Do you think could I find a person that can speak Malay?

Other way round, you can learn Spanish or slang on the net, chatting with the people speaking Spanish. I have been learning other languages this way. This way, even you will come across new people and learn about their culture.

Do you know what an English idiom push up daisies mean? Well, now with WikIdioms, you can know in no time. WikIdioms is a new collaborative effort of translators and language lovers who have created first Internet multilingual dictionary of idiomatic expressions. It is both useful and fun! Everyone can also contribute expressions that he knows. Visit WikIdioms(http://www.wikidioms.com), educate yourself, translate idioms, contribute, have fun!

Idiom translation is one hardest translation-related tasks. Idioms cannot be translated literally, as it will result in non-sense. In order to translate an idiom one should find the equivalent expression in the second language. It requires deep familiarity with the language and knowing the specifics of its metaphorical speech. WikIdioms is in fact a multilingual dictionary of idioms, created by native language speakers.

Regards, Anna

Google has a translator site that translates about 50 different languaages, including Malay, and many more. I find it helpful for email translation and my PC based Spanish lessons on Rosetta Stone.

Yes, you're right. For emails translation, Google is more than enough. It's doing translation "word by word"
But Google not always can translate idiom of one language to another, because idiom's translation is the process that must save the "meaning" and not only execute word by word translation

For example, try translate spanish idiom "hacerse el de los oídos sordos" to english.

With Google you'll get: "be that of the deaf"
With Wikidioms.com you'll get: "turn a deaf ear to"

Try to make translation of Google English to Spanish back using Google Translate:
"be that of the deaf" -> "ser la de los sordos" You missed the meaning!!!! Google's translation is not correct!