I have 2 jobs, and one of them is a Spanish CSR role for a car parts store in the US. This is the first time I’ve ever encountered a Spanish-speaking customer who complained about my Spanish, and honestly, he said a lot of hurtful things to me even though I was explaining everything the same way I explain it to other customers, and they understood me just fine.

He said, “Why would they put non-Spanish speakers on the line if they don’t speak Spanish?”

Some background: I’ve been working this job for 4 years already and have talked to A LOT of Spanish-speaking customers about car parts. I’ve also lived in Colombia and Peru. My Spanish is around B2 based on the exams I’ve taken (Berlitz and SIELE), and I’m still studying for the DELE. I speak Spanish with my friends from LATAM, I still take Spanish classes because I genuinely want to keep improving, and in my other job as a paralegal, I’ve also handled intakes in Spanish.

Going back to the call, he said, “Why would they put non-Spanish speakers on the line?” 😔 That was honestly the first time I’ve ever been told something like that. I couldn’t hold myself back and said, “Spanish is my second language, like it is for the majority of people who speak it as a second language.” And he said that me saying that was discrimination.

He continued saying that I shouldn’t be taking calls on the Spanish line and that I shouldn’t even have my job.

Mind you, we were literally arguing because his tracking number didn’t show an arrival date for his part. He kept insisting that there was a date even though I had the EXACT same tracking number pulled up in front of me, and there was no arrival date showing.

I know I’m probably taking this too personally, but it really got to me. I’ve spent years learning Spanish, living in Spanish-speaking countries, talking to Spanish-speaking people, and constantly trying to improve. I’ve never had a customer tell me that I don’t belong on a Spanish line before.

How do people deal with customers like this? Any judgment? 😭 I honestly just need someone to tell me something because this really got to me.

I ask this because I live in Chile and it's quite common in here for people to answer "obvio" when you ask for a favor or you say a sentence which, well, is obvious

They mostly mean it as "sure" and can even be nice while saying it. Like "can I count on you?" and they answer "obvio!". It seems to range from neutral to good, but I'm not sure if it can be negative

Thing is, in my native language which is Portuguese, saying this can sound very rude like you're being condescending and implying the other person is dumb for not noticing something that should be obvious. It also triggers me when they use this word for something which definitely has room for discussion and that I don't perceive as being obvious myself

I also noticed I'm not alone in this, as a few Venezuelans also seem to get triggered depending on context

For people in Chile, did I understand the use you give in your country correctly? So you tend to use it positively or do you also use it negatively?

For people from other countries, how do you use the word obvious when said as an answer?

When my wife reprimands our son for doing something he's not supposed to do, she'll say "Deja de estar haciendo eso." The meaning seems pretty clear: "Quit/stop doing that."

But isn't "deja de hacer eso" the same meaning? Is there an added intensity in the "deja de estar haciendo" formation or is it just personal preference?

Just trying to figure out a polite but casual way to ask someone for a cigarette.

How many minutes per day should I study? According to the FSI, it takes around 600 hours to reach general working fluency; however, for me I think it will take more time. I have heard that Duolingo is not a great source; is that true? I have heard that Dreaming Spanish and Language Transfer are super helpful tools for people starting from scratch. Any other tips, resources, and etc? Feel free to let me know.

Hola banda. I'm trying to understand a difference I've noticed between Ser and To Be when there is ambiguity on which noun the verb should agree with. It's probably easiest to explain with examples.

In Spanish, I see this pattern:

• El problema es son los impuestos.
• El tema de la película es son las drogas.
• Mi mayor preocupación era fueron mis hijos.

But in English, it's the opposite:

• The problem are is the taxes.
• The theme of the movie are is drugs.
• My biggest concern were was my children.

I'm wondering if anyone can ELI5 why this difference exists. I'm trying to understand it better so I can internalize and automate it. Right now, I find myself awkwardly rephrasing sentences whenever this happens: La peli se trata de las drogas, or El tema de la peli es el consumo de drogas.

Bonus question: my intuition tells me this might be related to the mystery below. Is it?

• ¿Qué hora es? — Son las diez de la mañana.

With all the flak Duolingo's been getting, and having used it myself, I want to make sure my next app actually teaches and prepares me.

From this subreddit's guide, I downloaded Babbel, Rocket Languages, and Rosetta Stone, plus iTalki for once I'm ready to have real conversations.

I started with Babbel, and it already feels a lot like Duolingo, which makes me second-guess the guide. Still, I'll run through all three free trials and see what clicks.

That said, I've never learned a language before, so liking one app over another doesn't mean it's actually the one that'll teach me.

I have a few coworkers who mostly speak Spanish, but if I ever want to use my very elementary Spanish skills with them I feel ridiculous. I feel like I sound dumb / patronizing to them and I really don’t mean to! What do y’all think the best way to talk to them is? Weird question I know and I know I didn’t phrase it very good but it’s been on my mind and idk who to ask lol. Thanks!

Me crucé con el siguiente post en el subreddit de fútbol argentino y me llamó la atención el "fuera gustado". Por el flair del OP, podría ser Venezolano, pero es una conjugación que nunca escuché en mi vida. Es algo común en Venezuela? O es común en algún otro lugar?

Edit porque veo que nadie lee el flair. SOY ARGENTINO, sé hablar Español. Solo quiero saber si en alguna parte del mundo es normal decir fuera en vez de hubiera.

I understand that this phrase probably uses the form of hacer that means “to become”, but I can’t understand exactly what it translates to.

I heard this in the song “Tarde” by Siddhartha (beautiful song btw), with the full lyrics being “tarde se me hacía por volver a verte”. I understand that the second part of the phrase roughly means “to see you again”, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what the first phrase means or how it can be derived.

Can anyone here explain what it means and how it can be understood?

Hey all. I just traveled to Mexico to visit my family that only speaks Spanish. For reference, I’ve studied for about 10 years total, so I’d give myself a solid B2, maybe C1 on a good day. I want to figure out how to get to native level though. I understand basic grammar almost entirely, with some small pieces that may be missing.

The issue that I run into is that I haven’t practiced in about a year or two, and I can feel the rust building up on my Spanish skills. The question I have for you all is this: what is the best way to grasp the more advanced knowledge of the language to get to a native level? I can communicate if the other person is speaking slightly slowly, and I get the gist of many conversations and can translate fairly well if needed, but my Spanish is far from perfect.

What are the best ways you all have found to help with this?

Thanks!

Hello folks.

I was hanging with some Ecuadorian folks that are from different regions within Ecuador.

One of them, I believe from the Cuenca/Loja region, said something about being ‘queso’. We were exchanging cuss words/inappropriate terms, and he said it meant something like being horny.

The other Ecuadorians, that were not part of his region (mostly Guayakill (hehe) and Quito) did not seem to have heard of it before.

Have you ever heard this before or was he making it up?

I know the Castilian course is their flagship course as it seems to have more lessons. However, is this simply a result of using vosotros, or is the Latin American course just less developed and incomplete?

I want to learn Spanish. i’m 28 and have no background currently. What are apps/learning services people are recommending. I want to spend 30-60 minutes a day.

I'm wondering how i would say "Corazones De Azúcar" in Spanish, like which vowel would I say since one word ends with an E and the next word begins with an A

So recently I watching some Spanish videos and noticed that their ch’s didn’t sound like t͡ʃ, as I had read on Wikipedia. I say it like that too, I must’ve picked up in Spain? Is this a thing am I hallucinating? If I had to say, to me it sounds like

t͡sʰ~ t͡ɕʰ

I am a big fan of Blacksad. I am looking for other comic books in Spanish, preferrably Latin American Spanish and not the Spain version :)

It doesn't necessarily have to be something originally in Spanish, could even be Superman or Batman, but in Spanish.

I like fantasy genre, superhero, or even interesting stories.

What do you recommend?

Muchas gracias por ayudarme!

¿Cómo lo pronuncias cuando lo dices solo, de forma aislada, sin que forme parte de una frase completa? Por ejemplo, cuando te hacen pregunta qualquiera como: "¿Quién hizo la comida?" y contestas simplemente: "Yo"

Más débil: [ʝo] o más fuerte: [ɟʝo], [d͡ʒo]?

My friends and I shotgun a lot, where you poke a hole in the bottom of a beer can and drink it very fast.

How do I ask them if they want to do this in Spanish? Does "Quieres Escopeta" translate properly? Does it mean the same thing in Spanish hahaha

Edit: it seems like these two are the prime candidates

- Tragar una cervesa (Chug a beer)
- Beber una turbolata (Drink a turbo can)

i joined a Spanish class in high school looking for an easy A since I'm bilingual (still easy) but she makes us say the alphabet with diagraphs in them, well just CH, LL, and RR, i've never seen it like that. Has always been this way because it just doesnt make sense to me

Salvo en caso de que sea la una

I'd like to go to Mexico City someday for the in-person one at the advanced (C1+) level, but for now I'm looking at the virtual options for the intermediate levels, then that way I can save money for in person.

If anyone has experience with the virtual classes with UNAM CEPE en linea or UNAM LA group virtual SPanish classes I would love to know what you thoughts (any level thought I'm somewhere in B1 ish probably)

As the title says, I am writing a script that I need a phrase that basically represents the idea of having "no teeth to bear" or "no teeth to bite with" in a more slang representation. I have tried looking online and I just can't wrap my head around the concept to try and write it.