Spanish in Context

Spanish vocabulary, regional differences, false friends, expressions and grammar explained for Portuguese speakers.

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Mesma mulher em duas cenas urbanas na Espanha, estudando pensativa à esquerda e sorrindo ao sol à direita, com ícones que sugerem característica e estado.

Spanish in Context06/09/20266 min read

Ser vs estar in Spanish: how to choose by meaning instead of “permanent vs temporary”

Learn when to use ser or estar in Spanish by sentence function, state, location, and meaning shifts with adjectives.

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Placa de madeira em uma bifurcação com setas POR e PARA, checklist central e exemplos visuais de causa, meio, objetivo e destino.

Spanish in Context02/09/20267 min read

Por or para in Spanish? A 5-question test that beats memorized lists

Use cause, means, destination, recipient, and purpose to choose between por and para in Spanish, with pairs that show how the meaning changes.

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Composição em quatro cenas com televisão, sala de aula, show e acidente, ao centro placas de madeira com os verbos ver, asistir, mirar e presenciar.

Spanish in Context01/09/20266 min read

How do you translate Portuguese “assistir” into Spanish? Ver, mirar, asistir and presenciar

Portuguese “assistir” changes translation with the situation. Learn when Spanish uses ver, mirar, asistir a and presenciar.

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Capa didática com as palavras ustedes e vosotros em placas apontando para América Latina e Espanha, ao lado de caderno e materiais de estudo de espanhol.

Spanish in Context30/08/20269 min read

How to translate “vocês” into Spanish: ustedes or vosotros? How to decide by country, formality, and agreement

“Vocês” can become ustedes, vosotros, or vosotras. The choice depends on the variety of Spanish, the degree of formality, and the agreement required by the sentence.

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Capa educativa com quadro verde escrito “Qué ou cuál em espanhol?”, globo, livros e caderno com os exemplos “¿Qué es la gramática?” e “¿Cuál es tu libro?”, destacando Espanha e América.

Spanish in Context30/08/20269 min read

Qué or cuál in Spanish? How to choose in ¿qué es...?, ¿cuál es...? and before a noun

Learn to distinguish definition, identification, and choice when using qué and cuál, understand the case before a noun, and avoid a rule that breaks down between Spain and the Amer...

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Ilustração horizontal de estudo de espanhol com placas apontando para PERO, SINO e SINO QUE, quadro dividido entre contraste e correção, livros, caderno e uma caneca com a bandeira da Espanha.

Spanish in Context26/08/20268 min read

Pero or sino in Spanish? The test that separates contrast from correction and when to use sino que

Learn to choose between pero, sino, and sino que by meaning: contrast, correction, or replacement. See why a negative clause can still require pero and test practical examples.

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Infográfico em azul e laranja comparando “He comido” e “comí”, com balões de fala, relógio, calendários e mapas que representam diferenças de contexto e uso regional.

Spanish in Context22/08/202611 min read

“He eaten” or “I ate”? How to choose between pretérito perfecto compuesto and indefinite by context and region

In Spanish, “he comido” and “comí” are not separated just by “hoje” and “yesterday”. Understand the value of each form, regional differences and the trap for Brazilians.

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Capa educativa em uma mesa de estudos com a palavra aunque, contraste entre indicativo e subjuntivo, exemplos em um caderno, livros de gramática espanhola e uma caneca.

Spanish in Context16/08/20269 min read

Aunque + indicative or subjunctive? How to choose by meaning — and why “fact vs. hypothesis” is not enough

After aunque, the subjunctive is not just a hypothesis. Understand how hypothesis, statement and shared information change the choice of mode.

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