How to use a Spanish-English dictionary
This page is not an insult to your intelligence. Of course you know that a Spanish-English dictionary allows you to find words you do not know in Spanish.
| Why is this more complicated than it seems? | ...So what do you need to do to address this? |
| 1) Often a word in English or in Spanish has more than one meaning. | 1) If there is more than one definition in the English to Spanish direction, do not choose the translation arbitrarily. Look up the word in the other direction to see its translation into English. Is this what you mean? use a big dictionary that has sample sentences. |
| 2) Some words are even different parts of speech. "Lead" can be a verb or a noun (with various meanings). | 2) Look at the fine print in the definitions. For instance, "v.," "v.r.," "v.tr.," and "v. intr." mean verbs. The letter "s." means noun. |
| 3) Sometimes we use more than one word in English to express one idea. To "grow up" is an example. | 3) Look up ideas, not words. Do not look up each word in a complete idea, for example the verb "grow" followed by "up." Look up "grow up." Some dictionaries might have a separate entry, but usually the definition will be under "grow." There you will find "-- up" and the definition. |
| 4) Verbs are usually conjugated in a Spanish text, so if you look up the definition you must know the infinitive. Do NOT look up a conjugated form. | 4) Use the verb charts in the dictionary or your textbook, and study your verbs so you become familiar with tenses and conjugation conventions. |
| 5) Sometimes a noun in Spanish has two genders that distinguish between two meanings. | 5) Make sure you note the gender of the meaning you are seeking. |
Quiz: use your favorite dictionary for this. If it is not adequate, think of finding another favorite dictionary, or find a large one in the library. I recommend the Oxford Spanish-English Dictionary.
1. How do you say to "grow up" in Spanish?
2. How do you say to "lead" in Spanish, how do you say "lead" as in the heavy metal, and how do you say "lead" as in a dog chain?
3. How do you say "calf" (of the leg) in Spanish?
4. How do you say "street car" in Spanish?
5. What is the meaning of "la cólera" in English? What is the meaning of "el cólera"?
6. How do you say "order" in Spanish, as in an order of tacos al pastor?
7. What is the infintive of the following verbs?:
a. juegues
b. fuera
c. huele
d. te ríes
e. sepa