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idiom and Spanish idioma
In English
idiom
a fixed expression / saying
In Spanish
idioma
lengua
Spanish "idioma" means: language
Why they get mixed up Spanish "idioma" is a language, a people's linguistic system. English "idiom" is an expression whose meaning can't be deduced from its individual words. A language in English is "language."
If you want to say...
- idiommodismo
- languageidioma
- idiomaticidiomático o natural
Examples
"Break a leg" is a common English idiom.
"Break a leg" es un modismo común en inglés.
Idioms are hard to translate word by word.
Los modismos son difíciles de traducir palabra por palabra.
"It's raining cats and dogs" is an English idiom.
"It's raining cats and dogs" es un modismo en inglés.
Learning idioms helps you sound like a native speaker.
Aprender modismos te ayuda a sonar como un hablante nativo.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: "Estar en las nubes" es un idioma muy común.
Correct: "Estar en las nubes" es un modismo muy común.
Idioma means language. An idiom is un modismo or una expresión idiomática.
Incorrect: Aprendo idiomas como "a otra cosa, mariposa".
Correct: Aprendo modismos como "a otra cosa, mariposa".
Use modismos for idioms.
Phrases you will hear
- an English idiomun modismo en inglés
- a common idiomun modismo común
- idiomatic Englishinglés natural
- learn idiomsaprender modismos
- a languageun idioma
- speak a languagehablar un idioma
In a conversation
- A:
"Break a leg" is an idiom.
"Break a leg" es un modismo.
- B:
What does it mean?
¿Qué significa?
- A:
Good luck!
¡Buena suerte!
- B:
How many languages do you speak?
¿Cuántos idiomas hablas?
Test yourself
"English idiom" means...
To remember it
Idiom = a fixed expression/saying. The language you speak (Spanish "idioma") = language.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "idioma" mean?
Spanish "idioma" means "language". It looks like the English "idiom", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "idiom" means "a fixed expression / saying".
Does English "idiom" mean the same as Spanish "idioma"?
Spanish "idioma" is a language, a people's linguistic system. English "idiom" is an expression whose meaning can't be deduced from its individual words. A language in English is "language."