Comments on: Word origins: Chiste (joke)

By: Allison Overall

Allison Overall — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:27:40 +0000

Although this is more advanced,than at the point I am now, I found this very interesting. I will view this blog on a daily basis, also along with my “Spanish word of the day”. Thanks for your erudition.

Allison

By: Allison Overall

Allison Overall — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:16:29 +0000

Thanks so much for the timely information. I took French in high school and college. Unfortunately I’ve never really used it, perhaps this is the reason on the confusion with gender of objects, and animal names. I look forward to being proficient enough to make intelligent comments on the blog.

Kindest Regards,

Allison Overall

By: david carmona

david carmona — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:59:54 +0000

I’m afraid there is no way to predict gender. Try looking at the word ending for clues (-a/-o), and read or listen to as much content as you possibly can. Avoid forcing yourself to memorise this information, and let it be absorbed gradually. Remembering a word is much more important than remembering its gender, since you will be understood even if you get it wrong. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes at the beginning. In time, you will learn it without even trying.

By: Allison Overall

Allison Overall — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:48:15 +0000

I am a beginer in the stuy of spanish. I have byki delux and have been learning tems , words and phrases. I have a question about gender , and how it is arrived at. I.E. , fly=la mosca, insect=el insecto, rat =;a rata, mouse= el raton. There seems to be know set way to determine, el and la in many words. la cabeza, el braso,and on and on. Is there any way to determine gender other than memory? I hope my question is not to ignirnat, but if you could help me or show refer me to other resources, I woud be vey gratful.

Kindest Regards,

Allison Overall