Exploring Spanish Idioms: Common Phrases for Fluent Communication

Certainly - No One Is Born Knowing Everything - That's Why at WorldsAcross We Will Guide You on This Journey to Expand Your Spanish Vocabulary.

There Are Many Ways to Sound More and More Like a Professional in the Language, Learning Spanish Idioms Is One of Them.

What Are Idioms?

Idioms are idiomatic expressions or informal phrases specific to a language whose meaning cannot be deduced from the words that make them up. This means they have a certain level of abstraction, so they can be a bit difficult to understand and, of course, to include in your conversations. Like sayings, idioms carry much of the culture from where they originate, serving as a resource that gives life and color to the language. It’s definitely worth learning them!

Here we will teach you to distinguish an idiom from a saying and give you some examples to make it easier for you to use them. Don’t worry, as they say - practice makes perfect - and they will become more natural to you over time.

Let's start by understanding why using idioms can help you sound more natural. This idiomatic expression is full of color and life; Spanish idioms are loaded with the personality of each culture.

That’s why they allow you to connect with the communities that created them, getting closer to their ways of expression and creativity through these fun and interesting phrases.

Idioms ≠ Sayings

On the other hand, it’s very likely that you might confuse an idiom with a saying. Although both are short expressions of popular origin that result from collective cultural experiences and can be used in the same circumstances, the difference is that a saying contains some type of lesson, moral, or wisdom, while an idiom is just an expression that communicates an idea, mood, or thought.

Learn with Salsa Songs

One way to learn idioms and sayings in a fun way is through songs, as they are full of common Spanish phrases that Spanish speakers use all the time. There are rhythms that particularly connect with the Latin essence, such as salsa, merengue, and bachata. Many salsa songs use Spanish idioms and sayings.

In salsa, topics such as cultural identity, social justice, celebration, relationships, resilience, politics, and many others are discussed. Using Spanish idioms is ideal for these singers, allowing them to express their thoughts or feelings on these topics naturally, poetically, and authentically.

We have compiled some song fragments for you to see how these Spanish idioms are used. You can also listen to them and enjoy the music.

"Llanto de cocodrilo" (Ray Barreto):

“Yo te lloraré con llanto de cocodrilo, tú me llorarás con llanto de cocodrilo”

In this fragment, we see a transformation of the idiom: -crocodile tears- which is used to refer to a situation where someone is faking sadness, regret, or tears. Crocodiles shed tears when they devour prey; however, it is not due to pain or regret but a biological, instinctive process.

"Idilio" (Willie Colón)

“Que a besos yo te levante al rayar el día”

-Al rayar el día- refers to the moment when it begins to dawn and the first rays of the sun appear on the horizon. It is used to refer to the early hours of the morning.

"Camaleón" (Rubén Blades)

“Eso te está rompiendo el coco”

In this case, ‘el coco’ has a double meaning. It is used to refer to the fruit and how difficult it is to open, and it is also a way to refer to ‘the head’. This idiom means that one is working hard, thinking, reflecting to solve a problem, or finding an answer to a difficult question or situation, which is quite complicated to achieve.

"La agarro bajando" (Gilberto Santa Rosa)

“Déjala que siga, yo la agarro bajando”

This comes from the phrase: -I’ll catch you when you’re down- which refers to taking revenge or getting back at someone who did something wrong to another, and it will be done when they are off guard.

Now a Saying:

"Plástico" (Rubén Blades and Willie Colón)

“Se ven las caras, se ven las caras, vaya, pero nunca el corazón”

This phrase comes from the saying -faces we see, hearts we don’t know- which is used to express that appearances can be deceiving and we should not judge people only by their external aspect since it does not show their true feelings, intentions, or personality. It suggests that we should be cautious when judging others.

Some Songs Include Both Idioms and Sayings

"Plato de segunda mesa" (Héctor Lavoe)

“Plato de segunda mesa no soy yo”

The expression -second plate- is used to refer to someone who is considered a less desirable option, of lesser quality or importance compared to a better and more valuable one. It is used metaphorically to describe a situation where a person is relegated to a secondary role.

“Si tanto quiso abarcar, nada apretó”

This is a transformation of the saying: -he who grasps too much holds nothing- one of the common Spanish phrases that warns about the risks of trying to do too many things at once and suggests that taking on too many tasks or responsibilities makes them not be completed effectively.

Could you notice the difference between an idiom and a saying? As you saw, sayings leave a lesson or learning, and as they say -he who listens to advice lives to an old age- and -the devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil-.

We advise you to keep exploring these common Spanish phrases, as it will make the learning process more fun and help you expand your vocabulary.