It’s not easy to get started with a new language as an adult. It requires effort, motivation and not least the willingness to embarrass yourself – time and time again.
In our house we have a well-stocked account for more or less embarrassing language errors. And you have to hand it to the Spaniards, we have never experienced them laughing at our attempts to break their language code.
Learning a new language has never been easier than now – there are a lot of smart tools that translate both words and sentences in an instant, crossword puzzles, simple texts and textbooks that can both be read and listened to online. (More on that in future posts.) Not infrequently, they are even free. But nothing surpasses learning from Spaniards – face to face. And sometimes a word stays with you forever from the first time you hear it…
One such word for me is “pena”. I learned it years ago, and it has not required a single repetition. You can wake me up in the middle of the night, and I can give you the word and the translation in no time.
It was January 6 and just before another wonderful Christmas holiday was over. The snow and cold of Northern Europe were awaiting our return. Our last task before departure was to clean the dining room chairs. They were carried out on the terrace facing the street for a thorough cleaning. That is, before I was completely done, a small Spanish señora appeared, dressed in black from head to toe.
I had never seen this elderly woman before, and I doubt she knew me. But she stopped outside the gate and started talking, a lot – words I did not quite understand. She was in no way stopped by the fact that I looked like a question mark. On the contrary, my somewhat confused facial expression seemed to spur her on and she continued with increasing intensity. I smiled and tried to signal that I did not understand and that she had to speak (much) more slowly. When that did not help (at all), I went after a few minutes back to brushing and washing the chairs.
That’s when the lady lost it: She pointed a trembling index finger at me while shouting: Pena! Pena! Pena!
Then she left. As soon as the lady had turned the corner, I ran inside and looked the word up: “Sin!”.
I will never forget that word – and I have not had to practice to remember it either. In addition to adding another word to the glossary, I received a completely free lesson in cultural understanding.
Still don’t understand? You do not do housework in full public on the Three Kings’ Day itself!
Imagine if remembering all Spanish words was this easy!
Just a tip: It’s good to know a little about holy days in Spain. The things you can do and what you shouldn’t do.
Do you have Spanish words that you have learned so emphatically that you have never forgotten them?
Harry B., Find Your Spain!
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