This episode introduces three idioms that use the word cat. Listen to the examples to hear how to use them. Please send me a message if you would like a copy of the audio script.

Idiom Corner

Cat 

¡Hola! Welcome to Spanish from Zero, a podcast for people who are just starting the amazing journey that is learning Español. Today we’re gonna practice talking about occupations. 

Here’s how it usually goes:
• ¿Qué haces? (What do you do?)
• Yo soy… (I am…)

Note that in Spanish we tend to NOT use articles (a, an) when describing someone’s job title:
Yo soy profesora. (Literally: I am teacher)


The other thing we have to keep in mind whenever we’re describing someone is their gender. These are the most common word endings when it comes to occupations:

• Gender neutral endings:
ISTA: el artista / la artista, etc.
NTE: el estudiante / la estudiante, etc.

• Feminine vs. Masculine endings:
O / A: el secretario / la secretaria, etc.
OR / ORA: el profesor / la profesora, etc.


Okay! Now that the explanation is out of the way, let’s practice a little bit. I’ll say a couple of sentences and you need to figure out if I could be describing a man, a woman, or either one:

Es arquitecta 🏗️
Es programador 💻
Es analista 📉
Es presidente 🏳️
Es veterinaria 🐾
Es electicista 🔌
Es asistente 📋
Es dentista 🦷
Es fotógrafo 📷
Es mecánico 🔧
Es doctora 🩺

How was it? Let me know if you have any questions, and subscribe to get the new episodes as soon as they come out. ¡Gracias por escuchar! :)

Spanish from zero

Listening practice for beginners • Talking about occupations

矛 máo：spear; lance; pike，A type of ancient Chinese weapon
盾 dùn：A shield for protecting the body
自相矛盾[zì xiāng máo dùn]：oneself/each other/spear/shield，to contradict oneself 
夸赞kuā zàn：praise;commend 
质问 zhì wèn：query;inter pellate;question;call to account
哑口无言 yǎ kǒu w yán：Have nothing to say for oneself; be dumbfounded

乐读中文 (Lè Dú Zhōngwén) - "Joyful Chinese Stories"

自相矛盾[zì xiāng máo dùn]

El domingo es el día de la madre en España, por eso quería que este episodio fuera especial. Para ello hablé con mi hermana y dos de mis primas y decidimos grabar un episodio sobre frases típicas de madres españolas. Nosotras, como tantos otros españoles, hemos crecido con estas frases y estamos seguras que cuando tengamos hijos las usaremos también porque parece ser que son frases que pasan de generación en generación.

Como siempre, espero que disfrutes el episodio. Si lo haces, no te olvides de dejar una valoración.  Después de escucharlo, no te olvides de decirme si las madres en tu país también utilizan las frases que mencionamos, y si no, ¿qué frases son típicas de las madres en tu país?




Blanca to go 

138-Frases de madres españolas. Con mis primas

CHISTES MEXICANOS

MANCO.

Береза
Белая береза
Под моим окном
Принакрылась снегом,
Точно серебром.
На пушистых ветках
Снежною каймой
Распустились кисти
Белой бахромой.
И стоит береза
В сонной тишине,
И горят снежинки
В золотом огне.
А заря, лениво
Обходя кругом,
Обсыпает ветки
Новым серебром.
[1913] 

Russian poetry

Сергей Есенин. Береза

Hoy nos sumergiremos en el delicioso mundo de la comida. Aprenderemos vocabulario y frases útiles para pedir en un restaurante y hablar sobre tus platos favoritos. ¡Prepárate, que esto va a estar delicioso!

Español en Acción

Temporada 1 Episodio 11 Hablemos de Comida - Vocabulario y Frases para Pedir en un Restaurante y Hablar de Comidas

A look at received pronunciation and why it is so "British".

Teacher Joseph's Podcast

Received Pronunciation.

TRANSCRIPTION (explanation included)
These expressions of happiness and contentment span a spectrum of formality and tone. In everyday conversation, one might simply say they are "happy," "content," or even use the term "pleased" to express satisfaction. When the feeling is particularly strong, phrases like "I am genuinely happy" and "I am overjoyed" convey the depth of joy. In informal settings, a more relaxed approach may be taken with expressions like "on cloud nine" or "over the moon," indicating extreme happiness. For matters necessitating decorum, a formal approach may involve phrases like "I am pleased to inform you" or "I am delighted to announce," emphasizing the importance of the news. Politeness tempers the happiness in expressions such as "I'm really happy for you" or "That's wonderful news," demonstrating a genuine celebration of someone else's success. A touch of wit adds a layer of playfulness to the joy, as seen in expressions like "doing the happy dance" or "grinning from ear to ear." In more refined circles, the upper class might communicate their contentment with statements like "I'm quite content" or "I find myself in high spirits," maintaining an air of sophistication. For royalty, joy is conveyed with grace and dignity, as in "It brings me great joy" or "I am genuinely pleased," underscoring the formal nature of the response. Ultimately, the choice of expression hinges on the context and the level of decorum required for the situation at hand.