Writing in a language that is not your native language can be exciting but it can become overbearing. There are often common misinterpretations based on the specifics of the Spanish language (grammar, structure, and word choices) when native English writers rewrite a message in Spanish. There is even the possibility for an English speaker to know how another English speaker should understand a combination of words or phrases. On the other hand, once the idiom has been written, whether it is changing the verb tenses or accenting the proper syllable to give meaning, the writer may not know how to apply this example to their work. In other words, creating and rewriting that is meant to convey a clear conversational message is difficult and feels like work even for a competent writer in either language. With the organization of this information at the writer’s fingertips, the writer can create respectable Spanish content that is clear and represents the author’s meaning.
A major potential difficulty arises from phrases used every day that appear simple in English but have nuanced meanings in Spanish. For example, if you were to greet someone, knowing how to say how are you in Spanish conveys a feeling and context when addressed correctly. Attempting to use that phrase incorrectly or translating directly can create awkward or confusing writing that may mislead readers familiar with the language. Spending an extended amount of time understanding the cultural and linguistic nuances of expressions is one way for Native English speakers to avoid these pitfalls and write authentic content for a Spanish audience in Spanish.
Literal Translations of Idiomatic Expressions
Translating idioms directly from English to Spanish often leads to a sentence that is confusing or even doesn’t make sense at all. One example of this is the phrase “it’s raining cats and dogs.” Outside of the original English language, this phrase likely won’t hold any meaning in the Spanish language. The Spanish version is “está lloviendo a cántaros,” or “it’s raining in pitchers.” If you attempt to use the other literal form of the phrase, it may obstruct the ability to communicate or it may create awkwardness if the listener doesn’t understand. The same concept even applies to more basic phrases as well. Knowing how to naturally greet a person using the words How are you in Spanish will allow you to gain logistics of a more natural conversation quickly.
To avoid such situations both on a literal and metaphorical level, it is a good practice to become familiar with idioms or phrases specifically for the particular predicament, whether it be greetings or other interactions. The positive use of an idiom shows a level of linguistic ability and cultural competence, which is a major part of building trust and connection in conversations—in addition, greeting someone correctly with a phrase like ¿ ¿Cómo estás? shows a level of respect for the language and engages the reader(s) and creates opportunities for clearer interactions and more effective communication across a range of social dynamics.
Incorrect Use of Gendered Nouns
One of the challenges for English speakers is to distinguish how to work with nouns that have a gender-specific form. In Spanish, a noun is either masculine or feminine, which also affects the article (“el” or “la”) and the adjective endings. People often misapply an article and adjective to a noun, such as “la problema,” which is incorrect because it should be “el problema.”
This minor slip can make a sentence sound awkward and change the meaning. Just knowing the gender of nouns you commonly use and knowing the exceptions to the rules will improve the quality of your writing in Spanish.
Misplacement of Adjectives
In Spanish, adjectives typically follow nouns, as opposed to English. “The red car” in English is “el coche rojo” in Spanish, meaning the order has been reversed from what learners expect. The sentence “el rojo coche” is grammatically incorrect in most circumstances and sounds odd in all circumstances. Adjectives are placed to create smoothly flowing sentences in Spanish which makes your writing more comprehensible or understandable for a native speaker.
Overuse of Subject Pronouns
Spanish is a referentially ‘pro-drop’ language, meaning that subject pronouns (e.g., yo, tú, él, etc.) are often omitted when the verb inflection clearly indicates the subject to the reader or listener. An English speaker may include the pronoun (“Yo hablo español”), but native Spanish writing is usually more succinct: “Hablo español.” The use of subject pronouns constantly diminishes the flow of your Spanish writing and sounds forced and overly formal.
Confusion Between “Ser” and “Estar”
Although “ser” and “estar” both mean “to be,” their uses differ. “Ser” describes qualities or identity, i.e., where you are from, your job, or your physical appearance. If you mix them, for example, saying “Soy cansado”, which to English means “I am tired” but in Spanish would be “Estoy cansado” – you spoke wrong, and this is simple for a native speaker to know.
Incorrect Verb Conjugations
Spanish verbs require subject, tense, and mood conjugation. Even the most adept English speaker may, understandably, write “sabo” instead of “sé” for (I know). The only way you will improve your writing in Spanish is through working with the vernaculars you know best, as well as credible sources. There are many resources available online that will help you through this process.
False Cognates
False cognates are phrases that look alike but have different meanings in the languages concerned. An example of a false cognate is the word, “actualmente” in Spanish, which most people would tend to translate as “actually,” but actually means “currently”. One can imagine how funny, and often confusing, relying on something that looks like that would be. It is important to know about false friends, especially in business or academic contexts in which it’s critical to use the right terminology.
Misuse of Prepositions
Prepositions are very idiomatic, and Spanish often uses prepositions in different ways than English. “Pienso en algo” means “I think about something”, but you cannot reverse the words. The best way to learn these patterns is just to memorize them instead of trying to think deductively from English.
Conclusion
English speakers who write in Spanish will encounter certain specific difficulties, but by identifying idiomatic expressions, grammar, and cultural context, they can communicate more confidently and authentically. By striving to avoid these top mistakes—literal translations, gender mismatching, adjective placement, overusing subject pronouns, using ser/estar interchangeably, verb conjugation mistakes, false cognates, and ill-conceived preposition usage—you will build not only technical skill but cultural fluency as well.
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