11 Todavía Aun Más Still Even Yet More Fun Things This American Has Learned About The Spanish Language

I know. I'm shocked too, that I could even possibly think of anymore things to add to the list of fun things I've learned about the Spanish language/culture. But, lo and behold, here's another list! Catch up with the others and then enjoy this one!

Part one - New to Spanish
Part two - Getting the hang of it
Part three - Hitting my stride
Part four - Finding myself in native territory
Part five - Feel like a native for two minutes before reality hits
Part six - Realizing that I'm nowhere near native
Part seven - A bit of hope for my mastery of the language

1. Ya vs. ía vs. lla - Spanish vowels are consistent (as I've been told a bajillion times by native speakers) but their consonants are not playing by the Spanish rules. The "y" and "ll" have the same sound, but when in front of an "a", it sounds ALMOST the same as "ia". I doubt I'll win any Spanish spelling bees.

2. Did I hear that right? - I guess have to be cautious about where the gold is.
Estar al loro (to be cautious) ≠ estar al oro (to be at the gold)

3. Fun with food - Once I was at a restaurant in Spain, and I saw a very interesting / curious / cannibalistic menu item. I understand the country has strong Catholic roots, but I don't think that a dish can be appetizing with a name like "deditos de Jesus" (~baby Jesus fingers). Swap some chicken in and I'm game though!

4. Something to add - adding the -ón suffix is a way to indicate a large version of something... usually. 

abeja (bee) = abejón (bumblebee) 
cabeza (head) = cabezón (big head) 
rama (branch) = ramón (big branch / a guy's name) 
carta (letter) = cartón (cardboard... not a big letter) *
tacos (bad words) = tacones (high heels... not big bad words) 
pez (fish) = pezón (nipple... not a big fish)

*Also means map, menu, playing card

Interesting expressions

5. Entre pitos y flautas (between whistles and flutes) = one way or another

6. El hilo de pensamiento (string of thought) = train of thought

7. Estar de baja / bajón (to be down / big fall) = to be sick or depressed

8. Hablar cristianismo (to speak Christian) = to speak in layman's terms

9. Por el interés te quiero Andrés (for the interest, I love you Andrew) = Liking someone for the benefits they can give you

10. Quien se fue a Sevilla perdió su silla (He who went to Seville lost his seat) = finders keepers, losers weepers / you snooze you lose

11. Sólo te hace falta un negro que te abanique (You're only missing a black person to fan you) = things couldn't be any better

I will keep reading, listening to, speaking, and writing about the Spanish language. So, stay tuned for more! In the meantime, check out my other articles about Spanish.