Tricky Words Part 3
I’m back today with some more tricky Spanish words.
Bizarro. This is not by any means a very oft-used Spanish word, but when you run across it, it will do you well to know it means gallant, brave, dashing, generous, or splendid, and not bizarre, strange or weird. To talk about bizarre or strange things, try raro or extraño. Note also that raro is closer in meaning to strange than to rare.
Coraje does not usually mean courage*, which would be valentía. Coraje actually means anger, rage.
* Apparently, there are some areas where coraje can mean courage, or “fighting spirit”, but by and large this isn’t the case.
Actual. Actual in Spanish means current. Actualizar means to upgrade, update or bring up to date. Actualmente means currently. So how to get the English meaning for actual? Try verdadero or real. For actually, try por cierto, de hecho, or al contrario.
Compromiso does not mean compromise in the sense of giving in to the other party or changing your ideals. Compromiso actually referrs to a commitment, obligation or even an appointment. “Tengo un compromiso” is the best way to say “I have something I need to do”, “I have an appointment/commitment” etc. So how can you talk about compromise? It’s actually a tough question, but the verbs tolerar (tolerate), and ceder (to yield) work pretty well. The dictionary has transigir, but I’ve never heard it in normal conversation.
Fútbol. In Spanish this word can be used with or without the accent mark, with the predictable change in pronunciation, but it can’t be used for the popular US sport named football, which would be fútbol americano. Fútbol actually means soccer. Of course, I can’t forget all the British English speakers, who actually do use the word football to talk about soccer. So much so that a soccer player is a footballer.
