EnglishisEasy/Elinglésesfácil

  -                               Europe and North America do not really look like separate continents.                                                                                                                                          [ A continent is one of the several masses in which surface land is divided. Curiously, the exact number of continents is one point that even today is a matter of discussion. Some say there are only four: Eurasia (Europe and Asia), Africa, America (not the U.S.), and Antarctica.  Most people claim there are five: Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania (no mention of Antarctica) .   Practical for the organization of world sports events! And of course, some include Antarctica in the previous group, so this group comprises six continents.  Finally, in the United States schools, students learn there are seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.  In fact, when you type in most browsers: MAP OF AM

"Snippy? Maybe, but my eyes are on you." SNIPPY is one of those words that every English learner should know, but they don't. The most likely translation in Spanish would be INSOLENTE.  The problem is that SNIPPY is being rude, but usually condescending.  In Spanish, we don't have a word for that specific way of being insolent. Probably we would resort to using a different word, Descortés perhaps. 

So, the duster does work! A CLEAN SLATE es otra manera de decir A NEW BEGINNING, es decir UN NUEVO COMIENZO. Muchos lo buscan porque quisieran comenzar de nuevo y sienten que donde están no podrán hacerlo. Para la mayoría de los latinomaericanos ese nuevo comienzo está en los Estados Unidos, pero eso puede ser una ilusión. No es que no haya oportunidades, lo que pasa es que no todo es fácil. Si usted quiere viajar y hacer un CLEAN SLATE allá, considere si en realidad esa es su única posibilidad. Lo mejor es informarse y preguntarse si lo que persigue es una ficción. Tal vez con una actitud diferente pueda encontar lo que busca aquí mismo o en un destino que no sea necesariamente los Estados Unidos, pues hay otros países que podría considerar.

"Can I be held ACCOUNTABLE for all these lightbulbs?" ACCOUNTABILITY is said to translate as RESPONSABILIDAD, and it is but not completely. For example, Ecuadorian politicians use ploys to avoid ACCOUNTABILITY for their actions . In Spanish: Los políticos ecuatorianos usan tácticas para evitar RESPONSABILIDAD por sus acciones . This translation is only acceptable because it is somewhat lacking. A much better option would be: Los políticos ecuatorianos usan tácticas para evitar HACERSE RESPONSABLES de sus acciones . HACERSE RESPONSABLE DE ALGO, ACEPTAR or ASUMIR RESPONSABILIDAD POR ALGO express more accurately in Spanish the real meaning of this word in English.      

So this  "So, this DIZQUE term is often used when gossiping. Can you believe it?" D IZQUE is an interesting word in Spanish since it is really the contraction of the expression SE DICE QUE (IT'S SAID THAT). DIZQUE can function as an adverb and also an adjective. when it's an adverb, it means SUPPOSEDLY or APPARENTLY. She was sick, APPARENTLY. --> Ella DIZQUE estaba enferma.   The word DIZQUE in this case has a connotation. The speaker could have used the term APPARENTLY, but the fact that DIZQUE was preferred indicates the speaker thinks it's a lie. This is why DIZQUE is more often used when gossiping. When DIZQUE is an adjective, it translates as SO-CALLED. There is that SO-CALLED lawyer, Bryan A. --> Ahí está ese DIZQUE abogado, Bryan A. DIZQUE and DISQUE may have similar sounds, but they are not the same since DISQUE is a verb in imperative form and it means: "DIAL!"      

"GEE! If I get any closer I'll fall down and drown!" GEE is an interjection mostly used in the United States that expresses mild astonishment, and it is little by little becoming archaic because fewer people are using it these days.  In Spanish, there are two interjections that are close in meaning and they are CARAMBA and CARAY. Just like GEE, these two words are becoming archaic in Spanish as well. Though not necessarily the same in meaning, these expressions are also possible: SANTO DIOS or DIOS MÍO. Funny, but also quite rare these days (you will find it only in the funny pages), there is also RECÓRCHOLIS.  

"A real party is when you party all the way till sunrise!" To understand the real meaning of AMANECERSE you need to know that AMANECERSE is not the same as Amanecer (to Dawn). In Spanish, we say: "Bailamos hasta que amaneció" which in English is "We danced until it dawned." But we could also say: " Nos amanecimos bailando." Literally, in Spanish, we say: "We dawned dancing" which does not make any sense in English. AMANECERSE in Spanish means to be engaged in this or that activity all night long until the sun rises.  So, for example if you want to say in English: " Me amanecí trabajando en el proyecto" you say "I worked on the project until sunrise" but not "I dawned working on the project."