Easy way to learn Spanish words

Spanish words can be puckish. They have a lot of false friends (like "pie" or "diversion"), they force us to learn subtle differences (like this between "escala" and "transbordo"), and if that weren't enough, they fool us with crafty diminutives (like "palomas" and "palomitas"). All this without mentioning evil twins that change their meaning depending on the article (like "la cura" and "el cura").

But maybe, in order to compensante our efforts, some of the Spanish words are similar to the English ones (like "historia" and "history") and others, which I like calling "double words" change their meaning when we add a new element to them. This way, once you have learnt one word, just by adding another element, you easily learn another. It's such a clever way to learn new Spanish words, don't you think?

I really do, which is why, I have prepared a list of 10 (and in fact 20) words that change their meaning thanks to small modifications. Let's discover them together and let me know in comment section if you have your own examples.

Double Spanish words

A mountain and a roller-coaster in Spanish

Una montaña means mountain. Una montaña rusa however is not a Russian mountain, but a Spanish word for roller-coaster. Whoa!

A wheel and a press conference - what do they have in common?

Una rueda means a wheel, but if you say una rueda de prensa it will mean a press conference. Tricky, isn't it?

A helment in the old town

Un casco (a helmet) can be really helpful while you're walking through the old town (el casco antiguo). Indeed, you never know what can fall upon your head...

Spanish letter soup?

Una sopa means a soup. Letras means letters. How about sopa de letras then? No, it's not Alphabetii Spaghetti, but it's also nice. Una sopa de letras means word search puzzle.

Brainstorm in Spanish

La lluvia, if you spend a lot of time in Galicia, you already know that it means rain in Spanish. And the rain drops fall from the sky just like fresh ideas during a brainstorming session, hence brainstorm in Spanish is called lluvia de ideas.

A bench full of fish

Un banco in Spanish means either a bench or a bank. Un banco de peces however means a school of fish.

Tube Face

La boca means mouth (and it's also name of a famous district of Buenos Aires), but la boca del metro is something different, in other words, the underground entrance, even though sometimes snout seems to be a more appropriate expression.

Honeymoon in Spanish

This one is definitely the easiest one. La luna means moon, luna de miel - honeymoon. Literal translation rules!

Tax haven in Spanish

You will like this one as well. Un paraíso means paradise whereas un paraíso fiscal is tax haven. As easy as pie.

Chair with and without wheels

Una silla means chair. Una silla de ruedas - a wheelchair, so it's another example of a literal translation. The only difference is that in English you write the word together and in Spanish there are 3 words.

Right, that's it! The first part of economical Spanish words is ready. Hungry for more? Stay tuned and follow my Facebook fanpage, there will be more and very soon!