The Spanish Dude Podcast (Audio): Recent Episodes
The Spanish Dude
Learn all about Spanish immersion schools: how they work, how to choose a school, how long to stay, the cost, safety (including single women), accommodation options (including what to request for the best experience), my favorite schools and more.Stuff Mentioned in This Video:Get the “Gracias” T-Shirt
Tico Lingo (my favorite school in Latin America)
Castila (my favorite school in Spain)
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They tell us that “escuchar” means “to listen” and “oír” means “to hear”. But then, in the real world, we see the EXACT OPPOSITE all the time–not only in a few situations. In this video, I’ll show you what is going on. Stuff Mentioned in This Video: FREE PRACTICE RESOURCES (opens in new tab)>Free Practice […]
I was taught that “ver” means “to see” and “mirar” means “to watch” or “to look”. But, in the real world, I often saw and heard the exact opposite. In this video, I show you WHAT is going on! Stuff Mentioned in This Video: FREE PRACTICE RESOURCES (opens in new tab) Speak in the Future […]
In this video, I show you a common reason why you might see two conjugated verbs in a row (as opposed to one conjugated verb followed by a verb in the infinitive form). Show notes: The Infinitive & Conjugation Logical Spanish Lifetime Membership One Line at a Time, All Episodes Sign Up for Updates
It used to drive me crazy when I’d see the same sentence in the same context–except one used “hubo” and the other used “había”. In this video, I explain how that could be. Show notes: One Line at a Time, All Episodes Sign Up for Updates PLAYLIST: Preterite Vs. Imperfect
What’s the difference between NORMAL “comer” and REFLEXIVE “comer”? Find out in this video! Show notes: One Line at a Time, All Episodes Sign Up for Updates PLAYLIST: Reflexiveness & Se
In this video, we talk about how to say “I can’t wait” when we’re excited about something. And, what I show you in this video doesn’t 100% jive with what a Spanish teacher once told me. Show Notes: Videos about Prepositions Videos about Pronouns Vocabulary Videos Sign up for Free Updates Get the T-Shirt
In this video, I show you seven uses of the verb “quedar” in less than six minutes. Show notes: Download The “Quedar” Chart Enroll in the “Quedar” Mini-Course Become a Lifetime Member Get the T-Shirt Sign up for Free Updates P.S. After much deliberation, I’ve decided to extend the “Name Your Price” special on the […]
In this video, we go over the seven most common ways that “quedar” is used. Ninety-five percent of the time that you see “quedar” used in REAL LIFE, it will be used in one of these seven ways. Show notes: Download The “Quedar” Chart Enroll in the “Quedar” Mini-Course Become a Lifetime Member Sign up […]
In this video, we compare three verbs that CAN all mean “to try”: “intentar,” “probar” and “tratar”. We’ll talk about when to use which, plus when they’re interchangeable and when they’re NOT. Stuff mentioned in this video: Spanish Tibits, All Episodes Sign Up for Updates PLAYLIST: Reflexiveness & Se SPANISH TIDBIT: Tratar, A 3-Part Rule […]
In this episode of One Line at a Time, we cover the “Preterite Vs. Imperfect” PLUS two topics I’ve never previously talked about: the “Present Perfect Tense” and “Deber Vs. Debería”. Stuff mentioned in this video: One Line at a Time, All Episodes Sign Up for Updates PLAYLIST: Preterite Vs. Imperfect Deber is Weird After […]
In this short video, I give you a 3-part rule of thumb for using “tratar” PLUS I reveal the central, core idea behind all the different uses of “tratar”. Related Videos & Links: WordReference.com, Tratar Spanish Tidbits, All Past Episodes Sign Up for Notifications of New Videos Follow me on Facebook Appear in a Future […]
This used to really confuse me. I first learned that “preguntar” is how to say “to ask” in Spanish. But then, I started to see “pedir” used for “to ask”. What is going on? Well, in this short video, I explain what’s going on. I give you a quick and easy shortcut for knowing when […]
Topics covered in this episode of One Line at a Time: — Reflexive Vs. Non-Reflexive — Preterite Vs. Imperfect — Por Vs. Para — Criar Stuff mentioned in this video: One Line at a Time, All Episodes PLAYLIST: Object Pronouns, Reflexive, Se PLAYLIST: Preterite Vs. Imperfect Sign Up for Updates
In this video, we talk about the last main verb tense–the conditional tense. The cool thing about the conditional tense is, it’s just as easy as the future tense (if not easier). There’s only one regular pattern for the whole tense. And, approximately 87% of the verbs out there, are regular in the conditional tense. […]
The verbs “jugar,” “tocar” and “sonar” can all mean “to play”. In this video, I explain what the heck is going on. Stuff mentioned in this video: Spanish Tidbits, Past Episodes Sign Up for Notifications of New Videos The Only Two Contractions in Spanish Follow me on Facebook Appear in a Future Spanish Tidbit: Submit […]
In this series, I dissect and analyze ONE LINE from the Netflix series, “The Good Place”. Topics covered in this episode include: Este/Esta/Esto, Ser Vs. Estar, Tu Vs. Tú, Mismatching Prepositions & Adjectives: Before or After? (Level: Beginner) Stuff mentioned in this video: One Line at a Time, All Episodes The Three Enemigos The Demonstratives […]
In this video, we compare the verbs “conducir” and “manejar”. These two verbs have different meanings, and can be used in completely different ways. But, the two meanings do have some overlap between them, so both verbs can be used as “to drive” (in Spain and Latin America, respectively). In this video, I show you some real-life examples (newspaper headlines) of exactly how and why that happens.
In this video, I’ll show you how regular future tense conjugation works. The best part about the future tense is, there’s only ONE regular pattern for the whole tense–these regular endings are applied to AR, ER and IR verbs! PLUS, about 87% of all verbs are REGULAR in the future tense. In other words, watch […]
In Spanish, why do they say “me amo” for “I love” sometimes, but other times, they say “me encanta” or “me encantan” for “I love”? And, why do they so often say “el,” “la,” “los” or “las” when we DON’T say “the”? In this video, we’ll address both of those questions. Stuff mentioned in this […]
Topics covered in this episode of One Line at a Time include: Ser Vs. Estar, Por Vs. Para, Ese/Esa/Eso & Este/Esta/Esto (The Demonstratives), the Before/After Question (adjectives), why “podrían” — why the conditional tense? And, more! Stuff mentioned in this video: Lifetime Membership, Name Your Price! How English Works: The 6 Parts of Speech Series […]
It’s time to talk about the sixth (and final) part of speech, conjunctions. In this video, though, we’re only talking about “within-clause conjunctions”. I’ll explain what they are, and the three big differences between conjunctions and prepositions. Stuff mentioned in this video: Logical Spanish Lifetime Membership, Name Your Price! How English Works: The 6 Parts […]
In this episode of One Line at a Time, after discussing a few miscellaneous issues, we’ll tackle a tricky topic: the before/after question. When do we put a descriptive adjective before the noun, and when do we put it after the noun? When do we say “chicos buenos” — and when do we say “buenos […]
In this episode of “One Line at a Time,” we’ll look at a few little things (vocab, prepositions, that stuff) before we get to the MAIN EVENT: Why they so often say “el” or “la” in Spanish when we don’t say “the” in English? Stuff mentioned in this video: Lifetime Membership, Name Your Price! How […]
In this video, we look at another line from the TV show, The Good Place. Issues discussed in this episode: preterite tense Vs. imperfect tense, ser Vs. estar, why do they use an article in Spanish, but we don’t in English? and words don’t mean words. Stuff mentioned in this video: Lifetime Membership, Name Your […]
This is the first episode of “One Line at a Time”. I pick one line from whatever TV show or movie I’m currently into on Netflix. I tell you what the character said in English, how the subtitlers translated it in Spanish, and I’ll point out anything that gets my attention–anything I find interesting or […]
It shocked me when I saw what prepositions really are and what they really do. So, in this video, my goal is to shock you too! I’m going to show you what prepositions really are and what they really do. Stuff mentioned in this video: How to Learn English: The 6 Parts of Speech (Part […]
Hola! I made a video about what I’m going to do for “The Big C”. But, the short answer is: I’m going to make more videos and make my premium videos accessible to everybody. To name your price, go here: https://spanishdude.com/premium/lifetime/?podcast I need your help, though! Watch the video, then send me your Spanish questions, […]
Adverbs are the most difficult “part of speech” for me to identify. In this video, we look at what adverbs really are, and what they really do–so they’re easier to identify when we’re confused. Stuff mentioned in this video: How to Learn English: The 6 Parts of Speech (Part 1 of 8) How to Learn […]
There are tons of words out there that we don’t think of as adjectives that ARE really adjectives. In this video, we go over some of the most common ones. Stuff mentioned in this video: How to Learn English: The 6 Parts of Speech (Part 1 of 8) How to Learn English: Nouns (Part 2 […]
In this video, we talk about verbs–what they are and what they’re NOT. We go over what “the infinitive” and “conjugation” are, and what they look like. Then, we discuss the five forms of a verb–four of which DO NOT count as verbs. Stuff mentioned in this video: How to Learn English: The 6 Parts […]
What are nouns? What are the different roles that nouns serve in our sentences? Why does The Spanish Authority consider “pronouns” to be a separate part of speech? Pronouns are nouns, right? In this video, we talk about all that--and more.
In this video, the first in an 8-part series, we talk about what the “parts of speech” are, and how they work. Plus, I’ll show you the framework that every clause in every sentence adheres to in reality.
The Spanish Dude Newsletter (get notified when a new video is posted) Logical Spanish (newest premium course) Lifetime Membership (every premium course for one price) ———- The Thing About ‘Lo’ ‘Se’ is a Monster (Monsters Aren’t Real) Going on a ‘Se’ Hunt State of the Gringo Address, 2018 ———- Can/May Meme
Hola! I saw a big, yellow school bus last week, and knew I had to get back to making Spanish videos for YouTube. I was going to start with a fancy video explaining where I’ve been these last 8-9 months, and what the plan is for the rest of the year. Then I realized, my […]
Important Stuff Download your free Spanish Battle Plans Download the book PDF’s (Sapiens & El Chapo) Become Lifetime Member before January 31st @ 11:59pm eastern
In this video, we take a look at all those “weird” uses of “llevar”. Which turn out… not to be so weird. We actually say the same things in English a lot of the time–we simply don’t realize it. But after this video we do =) Download the Battle Plans: Download the FREE Spanish Battle […]
At first glance, “llevar” and “traer” seem exactly like “ir” and “venir”. They ARE like them. But not EXACTLY. When schools, books and courses present them in a simple manner, they’re kinda missing the part that actually confuses us lol. If YOU’VE ever been confused by the words “take” or “bring” — watch this video! […]
It’s so close to the same! But the one difference is what makes “ir” and “venir” confusing. Spanish uses “venir” in only one context–and they’re very LOYAL to that context. English on the other hand, plays things a little looser. Watch this video to never be confused by “ir” and “venir” again. Download the Battle […]
I’ve got a problem. I can’t remember which “se” examples confused me before. None confuse me now! Of course, that makes me happy. But it also scares me. How do I know if I covered the hard ones? Please watch this video! Then tell me of any “se” example that STILL confuses you. Get a […]
“Se” is a monster! It’s so many things! It’s not just one thing. I used to say that too. But it’s NOT TRUE! When I finally looked closer, I saw with “se” what I see with most things: surprising simplicity. This video is all about “se”. Download your Spanish Battle Plans: Download Your FREE Spanish […]
In this video, you’ll see the four most common ways “lo” is used in Spanish. And it’s way easier than most schools, courses and books make it seem. And oh yeah, I MIGHT go another one of my rants… Download your Spanish Battle Plans: Download Your FREE Spanish Battle Plans Other Videos You Might Like: […]
Have you ever seen an extra “le” and wondered, “What is THAT for?” Me too! I wondered about that extra “le” for almost 20 years! But not anymore. I finally know the deal with that extra “le”. And you can too. Just watch this video! Download your Spanish Battle Plans: Download Your FREE Spanish Battle […]
We use “to save” three different ways in English. But in Spanish, they have a special verb for each of those ways! When you’re done watching this video, you’ll forever know how to choose the CORRECT “save”. Download the Battle Plans: Download Your FREE Spanish Battle Plans Other Videos You Might Like: How Words Work […]
In this video, see how the many (seemingly unrelated) uses of “ganar” and “perder” are actually VERY related. Plus, learn from two of the cutest mistakes Spanish-speakers make in English. Other Videos You Might Like: Dejar Vs. Dejar Vs. Dejar Reflexive Verbs How Words Work Saber Vs. Conocer All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies […]
In this video, learn the most common uses of “dejar” (there are lots). Plus, I’ll show you how all of dejar’s meanings, are really the same! Other Videos You Might Like: All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies (Grammar & Study Strategies) More Vocabulary-Building Videos! Get more info on Fun with Words (premium course) The […]
Spanish is Spanish–just like English is English. Even though most words are the same everywhere, SOME words are different from one country to the next. Like the words in THIS video! Other Videos You Might Like: All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies (Grammar & Study Strategies) More Vocabulary-Building Videos! Get more info on Fun […]
“Tener” is a very common and straightforward word. But it can get weird. And THAT’S what we’re looking at in this video. “Tener” at its weirdest. Other Videos You Might Like: How Words Work Adjectives Adverbs Website Category: The Basics All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies (Grammar & Study Strategies) More Vocabulary-Building Videos! Get […]
Get the Three Enemigos Mini Course for FREE! Three Enemigos Mini Course (FREE) Related Videos The Three Enemigos (Present Tense) Ser Vs. Estar (Present Tense) Regular, Present AR Conjugation Regular, Present ER Conjugation Regular, Present IR Conjugation Premium Verb Courses Verb Conjugation Boot Camp, Present Tense Edition Verb Conjugation Boot Camp, Past Tense Edition Become […]
In this video, you’ll see the one way “introducir” and “presentar” are confusing AND get a rule of thumb for all the other ways. Other Videos You Might Like: How Words Work All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies (Grammar & Study Strategies) More Vocabulary-Building Videos! Get more info on Fun with Words (premium course) […]
In this video, hear how The Spanish Dude got started, and SEE (w/ real video clips from Spain) how to ask directions to any site in the world with three questions, made of seven words. Other Videos You Might Like: The Bare Minimum Method The Pharmacy The Bus & Train Station Ordering Food All Travel […]
Both “volver” and “regresar” mean “to return”. But which “to return”? In English, there are at least three. In this video, you’ll learn when to use “volver” and “regresar”. And when you can use both! Other Videos You Might Like: How Words Work All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies (Grammar & Study Strategies) More […]
In this video, you’ll get the big picture, aerial view PLUS a rule of thumb that’ll help you choose correctly between the two Spanish past tenses 90% of the time. More Free Past Tense Videos: Regular, Preterite AR Conjugation Regular, Preterite ER/IR Conjugation Imperfect AR Conjugation Regular, Imperfect ER/IR Conjugation Preterite Vs. Imperfect, Life Lessons […]
In this video, you’ll see how “de” and “desde” are the same–and how they’re different. When you can use either one. And when you can’t. Other Videos You Might Like: How Words Work How Prepositions Work All Spanish Tidbits (Vocabulary) All Spanish Quickies (Grammar & Study Strategies) More Vocabulary-Building Videos! Get more info on Fun […]
In this video, we’re going to talk about three words. With these three teeny words, you can say (and compare) a million different things! Didn’t understand something? Watch these: How Words Work The Sexualization of Nouns Plural Forms of Nouns Adjectives Adverbs All Spanish Tidbits More Fun with Words! Fun with Words (premium course) The […]
“About” can mean many things in English. In this video, you’ll see three different ways to say ONE of them: de, sobre & acerca de. More videos like this: How Words Work How Prepositions Work Por Vs. Par, An Introduction Prepositions with Verbs All Spanish Tidbits More Fun with Words! Fun with Words (premium course) […]
“Recordar” and “Acordarse”. Two simple words. Yet they’re kind of confusing. In this video, we go over how they’re the same AND how they’re different. More videos like this: How Words Work Reflexive Verbs Indirect Object Pronouns All Spanish Tidbits More Fun with Words! Fun with Words (premium course) The Spanish Dude Newsletter: Subscribe to […]
When they use “bajar” and “subir” like we use “go down” and “go up”–these are simple words. Things get weird when they use them totally differently! In this video, we talk about the weird stuff =) More videos like this: How Words Work How Prepositions Work Reflexive Verbs Deber is Weird Enviar Vs. Mandar Beber […]
Do you know when to use “beber” and when to use “tomar”? It’s not JUST a regional difference. Watch this video to find out! More videos like this: How Words Work Deber is Weird Enviar Vs. Mandar Saber Vs. Conocer All Spanish Tidbits Build Your Vocabulary Fast! Fun with Words (premium course) The Spanish Dude […]
More videos like this: How Words Work Deber is Weird All Spanish Tidbits Build Your Vocabulary Fast! Fun with Words (premium course) The Spanish Dude Newsletter: Subscribe to The Spanish Dude Newsletter to get notified first when I post a new video + discounts + videos not available to the public. Appear in a future […]
More videos like this: How Words Work Saber Vs. Conocer All Spanish Tidbits Build Your Vocabulary Fast! Fun with Words (premium course) The Spanish Dude Newsletter: Subscribe to The Spanish Dude Newsletter to get notified first when I post a new video + discounts + videos not available to the public. Appear in a future […]
Get the First 2 Modules of BOTH Verb Courses Free! Get instant (and free) access to Module #1 and Module #2 of BOTH Verb Conjugation Boot Camps! IMPORTANT: Watch Part #1 First! How to Learn Spanish, Part #1 Strategy Videos The Flashcard Strategy The Conjugation Strategy The Bare Minimum Method The Puzzle Strategy The Song […]
Download the Battle Plans: Download the Battle Plans Show notes: Video: How to Be More Confident by Derek Halpern Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F by Mark Manson
Hola! I just uploaded a quick video to make two announcements: Announcements: New Video Coming + All T-Shirts In Stock! In short: ANNOUNCEMENT #1: I’ll be uploading a new Spanish Quickie next Wednesday called “How to Learn Spanish”. The most common question I get is “What do I do first? Then what? How do I […]
Hola! Another episode of Gringo on the Street is live! In last week’s episode, you saw how to order coffee in Spain–and that’s pretty much how you order EVERYTHING. Cool! Well this week, we’re going to PAY for all those coffees! And I’m not just talking about “la cuenta”–one of the first things we Gringos […]
Hola! The long awaited new episode of Gringo on the Street is LIVE. This time we’re ordering coffee. If you watch this video, no doubt you’ll be able to order coffee in Spain without a problem. But you won’t JUST see me ordering coffee in this video. You’ll see something else. You’ll see that every […]
The second I saw this commercial, I knew I had to share it. Not only is it hilarious, but the words are simple. So you can focus on hearing them. In this video, we take apart the commercial, analyze it, then put it back together. Free Practice Resources: Download the Commercial – Lola y La […]
Today, not only are you going to learn a very important lesson: what to do when you have TWO OBJECT PRONOUNS in the same sentence. But you’re going to witness… My worldwide… Singing debut! But seriously, this is a very important lesson. And once you’re done with this. I promise, no more pronouns for at […]
Reflexive verbs are a little weird in Spanish. Not hard. Just weird. Do you even know what reflexive verbs are? Yeah, neither did I. We just don’t use them that much in English. And that’s the problem. Most Spanish courses and books don’t specifically compare what happens in Spanish to what happens in English. But […]
I either didn’t learn or don’t remember this from school (as humans, we often block out traumatic events): Indirect object pronouns. As opposed to direct object pronouns. But when I started learning Spanish, I noticed right away–the pronouns were really confusing! One problem is… What is a direct object? What is an indirect object? Then […]
Verb conjugation is an attention hog. Rarely do I have a conversation about learning Spanish without verb conjugation coming up. And with good reason. It’s not easy. Lots of tenses. So many patterns. Plus all those exceptions. But lurking in the shadows… perhaps even more confusing… are the pronouns! Me mi mí. Tú tu te […]
In this lesson, I go over the whole masculine/feminine thing in Spanish. While not nearly as hard to “get” as all the verb conjugations, the sexuality of nouns still gives Spanish students a lot of trouble at the beginning. Or at least that’s how it was for me. Related Videos: Plural Forms of Nouns Definite […]
In this lesson, I present “ser”, “estar” and “ir” together. Very few books present “ser” and “estar” together. I don’t know why. Probably because the people who make those books have no idea how our Gringo minds work. All links mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://spanishdude.com/quickies/three-enemigos
“To be or not to be? That is the question.” I know very few lines from Shakespeare. But it’s no surprise to me that one of the few I do know, contains the verb “to be” twice. You see, I consider “to be” to be the mother of all verbs. I’d bet a lot of […]
One of the main reasons I failed Spanish my first time through is I was lost from the beginning. On the first day, the teacher starting using words like “conjugation” and “infinitive”. I didn’t even know what those words meant in English. Would’ve been nice of her to explain that, no? Free Practice Resources: Download […]
In this video we continue with TRAVEL SPANISH. For me, traveling wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if the different countries didn’t have different foods. The food is one of the best parts for sure. In this video, we’re going to Order Food in Spanish! Another video you should watch: The Bare Minimum Method: Learn […]
In this video, we continue with the travel Spanish tricks. This time, at the bus and train station in Spain. You’ll learn 5 steps for handling all public transportation when you travel. And we’ll go over Step #1 in depth, with video examples from Spain. Another video you should watch: Learn Spanish Like Kids Learn […]
In this video, not only will you hear how Gringo Español started, but you’ll SEE how to ask directions to any spot in the world with just three questions, made of seven simple words. This video features real video clips from Spain. Another video you should watch: Learn Spanish Like Kids Learn – The Bare […]
In this video you’ll get three steps to learning Spanish like a kid learns Spanish. When you’re done with this video, you’ll literally be ready to speak Spanish today! No exaggeration. Another video you should watch: Beginner Spanish Fact: Pronunciation Doesn’t Matter
Get the Word List for this video here: https://spanishdude.com/quickies/prepositions-with-verbs/?podcast.
I made my first Spanish video three and a half years ago. It didn’t go well the first year. I made negative dollars. I switched gears in the second year, January of 2014. That’s when I started Gringo Español. In the beginning, I was just uploading free videos. And nobody was watching. But by the […]
All the links mentioned in this video can be found here: https://spanishdude.com/quickies/prepositions-work-spanish/
Hola! This is a brand-new video. I’ve been meaning to make this one for a while. The Puzzle Strategy is the best strategy I’ve got for improving your Spanish fast. With The Puzzle Strategy, not only will you learn new words and grammar–and see how real Spanish sentences are formed… But when you do The […]
Reflexive verbs are a little weird in Spanish. Not hard. Just weird. Do you even know what reflexive verbs are? Yeah, neither did I. We just don’t use them that much in English. And that’s the problem. Most Spanish courses and books don’t specifically compare what happens in Spanish to what happens in English. But […]
I either didn’t learn or don’t remember this from school (as humans, we often block out traumatic events): Indirect object pronouns. As opposed to direct object pronouns. But when I started learning Spanish, I noticed right away–the pronouns were really confusing! One problem is… What is a direct object? What is an indirect object? Then […]
Verb conjugation is an attention hog. Rarely do I have a conversation about learning Spanish without verb conjugation coming up. And with good reason. It’s not easy. Lots of tenses. So many patterns. Plus all those exceptions. But lurking in the shadows… perhaps even more confusing… are the pronouns! Me mi mí. Tú tu te […]
I recently heard a story of a French girl arguing with a Canadian guy about the meaning of “radical” for over an hour. But both their definitions were basically the same–just a little nuanced difference. Hahahahaha. They just don’t get it. That’s not how words work. The different uses of “radical” should be a fun, […]
Something different today… It’s different. And intense. Perhaps a little long. I’m pretty sure, it’s the most ADVANCED video I’ve made so far. But it’s important. Really important. For sure, you’ll learn a bunch of new words in this video. Or get to know words you already know, better. But more importantly, you’ll be practicing […]
I like to talk fast. Maybe that’s why I don’t breathe or blink in my videos? It frustrates me when my mouth can’t keep up with my mind. I need to calm down. I’m working on that. But that doesn’t happen to me nearly as much in Spanish… for a couple reasons: #1 — My […]
If you spend just 15 minutes watching this video and perusing the Word List, you’ll know 50 words you didn’t know before. Fifty good, usable words! There are way more than 50 words that follow this pattern. I just picked out 50 of the most common ones. Watch the video. Use the words. It’s that […]
This Spanish Quickie covers another cognate group. Which means more free words! Remember, cognates are free words because they’re basically the same in both English and Spanish. Just knowing these words exist, really is way more than half the battle. They’re a good investment of your time, is my point. Watch the video. Peruse the […]
And we’re back! Spanish Quickies, Season 3 starts… NOW! — Since the start of Gringo Español two years ago, we’ve mainly been focusing on grammar. But to use grammar, you need words. So for the next few videos, we’re going to focus on building up your vocabulary. But what words to learn? I say, learn […]
The biggest mistake I’ve made since starting Gringo Español is… swearing in my early videos. I always bleeped it out, but anybody with half a brain knew what I said. The truth is, I never imagined in a million years that real teachers would be showing my videos in their classes. Once I learned this […]
In today’s video, I’ll tell you about something that happened while I was away that really pissed me off! I probably haven’t stressed this enough. I said it, but I didn’t stress it. Pronunciation doesn’t matter. All the links mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://spanishdude.com/quickies/pronunciation-doesnt-matter/
In this lesson, I present “ser”, “estar” and “ir” together. Very few books present “ser” and “estar” together. I don’t know why. Probably because the people who make those books have no idea how our Gringo minds work. All links mentioned in this episode can be found here: The Three Enemigos
“To be or not to be? That is the question.” I know very few lines from Shakespeare. But it’s no surprise to me that one of the few I do know, contains the verb “to be” twice. You see, I consider “to be” to be the mother of all verbs. I’d bet a lot of […]
I failed Spanish 2 the first time I took it. And I recently started getting a lot messages from high school kids taking Spanish 2 saying they were having the same problems I had. This is my “open letter” to anybody who’s having problems with verb conjugation or Spanish. All links mentioned in this episode […]
This might sound weird, but we have no idea how words work. And this fact (our ignorance) causes a lot of problems when learning Spanish. At least it did/does for me. Have you ever had a problem with “saber” and “conocer”? Confused them with each other? They both supposedly mean “to know”. But that’s what […]
In this video we continue with TRAVEL SPANISH. For me, traveling wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if the different countries didn’t have different foods. The food is one of the best parts for sure. In this video, we’re going to Order Food in Spanish! Another video you should watch: The Bare Minimum Method: Learn […]
In this video, we continue with the travel Spanish tricks. This time, at the bus and train station in Spain. You’ll learn 5 steps for handling all public transportation when you travel. And we’ll go over Step #1 in depth, with video examples from Spain. Another video you should watch: Learn Spanish Like Kids Learn […]
In this video, not only will you hear how Gringo Español started, but you’ll SEE how to ask directions to any spot in the world with just three questions, made of seven simple words. This video features real video clips from Spain. Another video you should watch: Learn Spanish Like Kids Learn – The Bare […]
In this video you’ll get three steps to learning Spanish like a kid learns Spanish. When you’re done with this video, you’ll literally be ready to speak Spanish today! No exaggeration. Another video you should watch: Beginner Spanish Fact: Pronunciation Doesn’t Matter
Watch this last video comparing the preterite tense and the imperfect tense. You’ll see quotes from Orange is the New Black to see how to use the two past tenses when things aren’t so clear! Related Videos: Preterite Vs. Imperfect, Rule of Thumb Regular, Preterite AR Conjugation Regular, Preterite ER & IR Conjugation Imperfect AR […]
In this video, we use Orange is the New Black quotes to learn when to use the preterite tense and when to use the imperfect tense. Related Videos: Preterite Vs. Imperfect, Rule of Thumb Regular, Preterite AR Conjugation Regular, Preterite ER & IR Conjugation Imperfect AR Conjugation Regular, Imperfect ER/IR Conjugation
This is the last past tense conjugation video. Watch this week’s video not only to learn imperfect ER/IR conjugation, but also so you can get the most out of the next video, where I’ll show you quotes from Orange is the New Black–how the past tense is used in real life. Related Videos: Preterite Vs. […]
The past tense in Spanish can be tricky. But if you break it into the smallest parts possible, each individual part, really isn’t that hard. That’s what we’ve been doing, and continue to do in this video. After you know the preterite conjugations, it’s time to learn the imperfect conjugations. Starting with AR verbs. Related […]
This video should be watched after the video on regular, preterite AR verbs. If you don’t know the conjugations from that video, this one will be more confusing than it needs to be. But if you do know those conjugations well, this video (regular, preterite er/ir verbs) won’t be hard at all. CLICK HERE FOR […]
In this video, we begin the journey that is past tense conjugation. Learning it all together is impossible. It’s best to break it down into small groups and learn one conjugation pattern at a time. Starting with this video, the regular, preterite AR conjugations. CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE PRACTICE RESOURCES Related Videos: The Infinitive […]
This is the first past tense video I’ve created on this site. The past tense is a bit tricky for us English speakers because there are two past tenses–each with a full conjugation. This video is a big picture, aerial view of what’s going on, how it’s different than what we do in English, and […]
This video is the continuation of my dinner in Merida, in Mexico. This features actual video of footage of all my interactions that night. This video gives you the chance to practice your Spanish listening skills (comprehension). And you get to see how Spanish is used in REAL LIFE. Free Practice Resources: Raw Video From […]
The Flashcard Strategy is used to memorize new vocabulary words. The Conjugation Strategy is for learning all the different conjugations of verbs. In this video, present The Song Strategy. One of the best ways to practice Spanish COMPREHENSION. Free Practice Resources: Raw Video From Mexico Spanish Transcript English Transcript Related Videos: Antojitos #1 (Food in […]
The Flashcard Strategy is used to memorize new vocabulary words. The Conjugation Strategy is for learning all the different conjugations of verbs. In this video, I present The Song Strategy. One of the best ways to practice Spanish COMPREHENSION. Some of my favorite songs for The Song Strategy: Sorry about the YouTube ads. I always […]
In this video, you’ll learn about four more “antojitos”–Mexican snacks (for lack of a better term). This Spanish Tidbit (and the last one too) is required viewing for this Spanish Quickie: Eating in Merida, Part #1. So make sure you watch this video in order to better understand (and fully appreciate) that Spanish Quickie. In […]
In this video, you’ll learn about some of the most common antojitos in Mexico. Antojitos are Mexican snacks like tacos, quesadillas and burritos. But there are way more than just that. Watch this video to learn more. This Spanish Tidbit (and the next one too) is required viewing for this Spanish Quickie: Eating in Merida, […]
I won’t shy away from the fact that I really like this lesson. It’s important. And not just for the vocab, though that too. “Faltar” is a close relative of “quedar” (featured in the last Spanish Tidbit)–in fact, it could be considered the opposite. But there’s something else going on in this video. One of […]
This Spanish Tidbit is a good example of “life Spanish” Vs. “book Spanish”. When I traveled to a Spanish-speaking country for the first time, I already knew what “quedar” meant. But that didn’t really help me when I heard it being thrown around in other ways. In this video, you’ll learn the two most common […]
In this video, you’ll learn how to say you’re going to eat a meal (hint: it’s different than in English) AND how these words differ around the world. Check out my new show: Spanish Tidbits
While I traveled through Mexico, there was tons of little stuff I was seeing that I wanted to share with you. In fact, if you’re walking the streets of any city in Mexico, virtually EVERYTHING is a real-life Spanish lesson. So during my six week trip, I shared several Spanish Tidbits. Little, teeny, bite-sized Spanish […]
I failed Spanish 2 the first time I took it. And I recently started getting a lot messages from high school kids taking Spanish 2 saying they were having the same problems I had. This is my “open letter” to anybody who’s having problems with verb conjugation or Spanish. Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation […]
In this video, we pick up where we left off last week–you’ll learn more ways to be polite when traveling. This video includes more real examples from Spain. Want to ask somebody politely to get out of your way? Or apologize for bumping into them? Or ask if you can take a picture? Watch this […]
In this video, we cover some different ways to say “hello” and “goodbye”. Not just “hola” and “adíos”. There are many other ways to say “hello” and “goodbye”. Most Spanish courses and books don’t teach the real ways, because they’re often not real words or phrases.
The second I saw this commercial, I knew I had to share it. Not only is it hilarious, but the words are simple. So you can focus on hearing them. In this video, we take apart the commercial, analyze it, then put it back together. Free Practice Resources: Download the Commercial – Lola y La […]
Today, not only are you going to learn a very important lesson: what to do when you have TWO OBJECT PRONOUNS in the same sentence. But you’re going to witness… My worldwide… Singing debut! But seriously, this is a very important lesson. And once you’re done with this. I promise, no more pronouns for at […]
Reflexive verbs can be kind of tricky for we Gringos. We have them in English. But they’re not used nearly as much as they are in Spanish. Furthermore, using reflexive verbs means learning more pronouns. And pronouns were ALREADY confusing! This takes some getting used to. In this video, the goal is just to get […]
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use words like “gustar” and “encantar”. Words that sure seem to work in the opposite way that most verbs do. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Verbs Like Gustar Answer Key: Verbs Like Gustar Related Videos: Direct Object Pronouns The Personal A Indirect Object Pronouns
Once you know your direct object pronouns in English, you’re done. Direct and indirect object pronouns in English are exactly the same. But not in Spanish. Oh no. So… You can’t just say “him” or “her” or “them” when you’re talking. In today’s video, not only will I explain what the heck direct and indirect […]
The personal a has no English counterpart. It’s just something you have to get use to. In this quick video, you’ll not only see how to use the personal a. But when to use it. And when NOT to use it. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: The Personal A Answer Key: The Personal A Related […]
Direct object pronouns is one of my least favorite subjects in Spanish. After 15 years, it still gives me troubles sometimes. In this video, you’ll see how to use direct object pronouns in Spanish. Then a comparison with the other pronouns you’ve learned. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Direct Object Pronouns Answer Key: Direct Object […]
There are two different ways to say “to know” in Spanish, “saber” and “conocer”. And there are a bunch of rules regulating when to use each one. But in this simple video, I share a little trick that’ll help you AVOID those rules, and still choose the right word every time. Free Practice Resources: Blank […]
Pronouns haven’t been very hard for us so far. We’ve only covered subject pronouns. It gets more confusing every time you add another set of pronouns. Not only is it more little words to remember, but you also have to choose which to use and when. In this video, I go over the second set, […]
In today’s video, I’ll tell you about something that happened while I was away that really pissed me off! I probably haven’t stressed this enough. I said it, but I didn’t stress it. Pronunciation doesn’t matter. Related Videos: Spanish Pronunciation Pronunciation in Spain
As you now know, there are three types of verbs in Spanish: AR, ER and IR. And each type has it’s own conjugation rules–how you change the endings of the words. “Hablar” is to “talk”, but I talk is “hablo”. However, there are also irregular verbs–where not only do you change the ending based on […]
I went back to Spain recently for the first time in over 10 years. I was chatting with my buddy Manuel, and he said something quickly that sounded like gobbly gook. I had acclimated myself to the Latin American way of talking. There are differences. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t understand Manuel in […]
When you’re learning Spanish, lots of rules are important to see once, then forget. How adverbs work, is a good example. When I did a little Googling, I saw there are five ways adverbs are used. Ugh. More rules. Then, after a few seconds, I noticed something… adverbs in Spanish, work exactly like they do […]
There are only two contractions in all of Spanish. And they are both very common when you’re traveling. These two words saved my butt the first time I ever went to Spain. In today’s video, I tell you that story and all about the only two contractions in Spanish. Related Videos: The Three Enemigos Two […]
This is, minute-for-minute, one of the very best lessons I’ll ever give you. In this short lesson, you’ll learn how to speak perfectly in the future, without learning any more conjugations. When I first discovered this, I was pissed they hadn’t taught it to me earlier. Instead, they buried me deeper and deeper in conjugations! […]
These two little teeny words saved my butt big time the first time I went to Spain and found myself at a little train station in the south–where nobody spoke English. In this video, not only do I tell you the straight up definitions, but I show you a few different ways to use “de”–one […]
CRAZY! Since I started studying Spanish over 10 years ago, I’ve always told people: “Whenever you don’t know a word in Spanish, just take the English word and Spanishify it!” But over the last couple weeks, as I made the three “Fun with…” videos… I was still shocked by just how many words there are […]
Today I go over the present tense, regular IR conjugation. IR verbs are the last type of regular, present tense verbs we need to learn.
Trying something new today. I’m a little out of my element here. You’ve heard of a tortilla right? Well, in Spain, they have tortilla too–it’s just totally, 100% DIFFERENT. Not only will you learn a few important words in this video, you’ll also see exactly how I prepare one of my favorite foods from Spain. […]
In today’s video, we continue with the verbs. This time, ten of the most common, regular ER verbs. Related Videos: Fun with Words Present Tense, Regular ER Conjugation The Flashcard Strategy
We are really getting somewhere now! In today’s video, not only will you learn how to conjugate regular ER verbs in the present tense… I’ll also teach you the word for “idiot” — and maybe give you an example too! Free Practice Resources: Blank Conjugation Practice Sheet Conjugations – Answer Key Related Videos: The Infinitive […]
Today, we’re going to continue with regular AR verbs. In this lesson, I show you 10 of the most common regular verbs–especially for travel. I personally use these words all the time. So either watch the video or don’t. The important thing is you learn these words. The video explains them a bit. But I […]
Argh! If somebody had taught me how to use the Spanish-English dictionary correctly–I wouldn’t have wasted so much time being confused… and I probably also wouldn’t have failed high school Spanish the first time I took it. Woulda, coulda, shoulda… This video is my attempt to help you avoid wasting time and getting frustrated, like […]
This lesson is very important. I’ve been avoiding conjugation almost completely until now. But it’s starting to hold us back. I wanted to talk about adverbs today, but that’s kind of hard when we don’t know any verbs. So today, you’ll learn how to conjugate regular AR verbs in the present tense. Remember, there are […]
One of the most beautiful parts of learning Spanish when you already know English is, so many words are essentially exactly the same. In this lesson, I use pause, liquor and bank as three examples of this. “Pausa”, “licor” and “banco” respectively. But there are treacherous enemies about. False friends. These are words that look […]
If you watched the lesson called Personal Pronouns, you know there are two ways to say “you” in Spanish–formally and informally. At first this really sucks–especially since most teachers and programs don’t explain it all that well. But for this lesson, I made the video I wish I had when I started speaking Spanish. Related […]
I talk fast. I like to get as many words out as possible in as short of a time frame as possible. It’s my nature. So… I took it as really good news when I found out: In Spanish, you usually don’t have to use subject pronouns (I’ve been referring to them as Personal Pronouns […]
There are a couple tricky parts with adjectives. In this lesson, not only do I tell you the rules and exceptions to the rules for adjectives, but I go over those tricky parts to. It’s not difficult if you just focus. Then you’ll never have to worry about it again. Free Practice Resources: Adjectives Worksheet […]
There aren’t many words to learn in this lesson–all but one have been taught in past lessons (see the Related Lessons section). This is more of an “idea” lesson. So just sit back, relax and listen to what I have to say. Free Practice Resources: No Worksheet for this lesson, contrary to what I say […]
Sometimes using terms when you’re learning a language can hurt more than it helps. This is possibly one of those times. But we need to refer to stuff somehow, right? In today’s lesson, I go over Definite & Indefinite Articles in Spanish. If you don’t know what those are, join the club. Even when I […]
Plural forms of nouns in Spanish are very much like plural forms of nouns in English. The sounds are almost exactly the same too. In this quick video, I give you two rules that have no exceptions and give you some examples of both rules–and how they compare to what we do in English. Free […]
In this lesson, I go over the whole masculine/feminine thing in Spanish. While not nearly as hard to “get” as all the verb conjugations, the sexuality of nouns still gives Spanish students a lot of trouble at the beginning. Or at least that’s how it was for me. Related Videos: Plural Forms of Nouns Definite […]
Every Spanish-speaking country has a different accent. The trained ear (definitely not mine) can almost always tell you what country somebody is from just from their accent. Not me. But even I can tell when somebody comes from Spain. Except for perhaps Argentina, Spain’s accent is the most unique. Related Videos: Spanish Pronunciation Present Tense, […]
In this lesson, I present “ser”, “estar” and “ir” together. Very few books present “ser” and “estar” together. I don’t know why. Probably because the people who make those books have no idea how our Gringo minds work. Free Practice Resources: Blank Conjugation Sheet Ser & Estar Conjugation Key Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation […]
In this video, I’m going to go over the exact strategy I used when I was first learning Spanish, to practice all the different conjugations of a verb. Free Practice Resources: Blank Conjugation Sheet Estar Conjugation Key Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation Personal Pronouns The Flashcard Strategy The Three Enemigos
“To be or not to be? That is the question.” I know very few lines from Shakespeare. But it’s no surprise to me that one of the few I do know, contains the verb “to be” twice. You see, I consider “to be” to be the mother of all verbs. I’d bet a lot of […]
Personal pronouns in Spanish are pretty easy and straightforward. The words are small and they work generally the way they do in English. But there are a couple common pitfalls for gringos like you and me. Formal/Informal, Latin America vs Spain. But don’t worry, that’s what we’re here to talk about today. Free Practice Resources: […]
Ahhh, The Flashcard Strategy… this one is near and dear to my heart. Anybody that knows my story knows I have a deep affection for making flashcards to memorize words. But you shouldn’t just throw the words on the cards and jump in randomly and haphazardly. Oh no. Related Videos: The Conjugation Strategy The Song […]
One of the main reasons I failed Spanish my first time through is I was lost from the beginning. On the first day, the teacher starting using words like “conjugation” and “infinitive”. I didn’t even know what those words meant in English. Would’ve been nice of her to explain that, no? Free Practice Resources: Download […]
In this video, I go over basic Spanish pronunciation. I made this video first because pronunciation is always on people’s minds. But to be honest, pronunciation and accent is the LAST place you should spend your time at the beginning. When you learn new words, you can say more things. When you pronounce a word […]