Thread: Hello from a new member

Hello all,

I know some Spanish but I am the type that wants to make sure I am using it right. I work with some people that are Mexican who are helping me. I'd like to be familiar with the informal, "everyday" ways of speaking.

"Como estas?" seems to be preferred, but I wonder about other ways to express this, like "How's it going?" or "What's new?" (and ways to answer these like "mas o menos.")

Thanks -


Also, for those who are familiar with this, I use the Im Translator online which is great, but it seems like it sometimes gives interpretations that are TOO literal, and changes the tense or person. And the "back translation" is a little confusing. Any thoughts?

Dabeed,

I suggest you get into a beginner's Spanish class (They are available in most areas and on-line). No on-line translator will provide the kind of translations wou will need if you are conversing with Spanish speaking natives.

To get you started here are a few common expressions:

Qué tal? Qué hay? Cómo te va? - What's happening? How's it going?
Qué hubo? Qué onda? - Same meaning (Common in Mexico)
Estoy bien. - I'm fine.
Bien, bien. - I'm very fine (Common in Mexico)
Siento bien. Siento mal. - I feel fine. I feel bad.

Now go and learn.

Joel

I'm pretty well beyond a beginner, which is why I am trying to get a better feel for a more natural way of speaking, but the Translator does help a lot.

Incidently, I tried "Siento bien" on a lady who is helping me, and she corrected me, saying "Me siento bien." It is this adding of me, te, le and saying "Yo no se" instead of "No se" that can be difficult.

Sorry for your confusion. Me siento bien is the proper form because it comes from the reflexive sentirse (to feel). Siento bien is slang and many of my esteemed cohorts in this forum would say unacceptable. I hear slang used so often I accept it but perhaps it is better for non-native speakers to avoid it.

By the way don't confuse indirect objects (me, te, le) with pronouns such as yo or te. Especially when they are used in reflexive verbs.

Joel

Thanks!

it sounds like you know your stuff, and grammatically too. That is a big help.