Mexico Lifestyle

The Gender Problem in Spanish Language Grammar

In Spanish, feminine words end in an 'a' and masculine words in an 'o', and so do corresponding adjectives—but there are a number of exceptions

Driving Tip: Read the Signs, then Ask for Directions

Even today with many modern roads and bridges putting a first-world stamp on major cities, Mexico still has some notorious sign posting

Terremoto or Temblor? Well, it Depends

Mexican Spanish contains three terms for the word 'earthquake,' and choosing which one to use depends on a range of factors

Variation on a Theme: the Spanish Verb Poder

The Spanish verb "poder" —to be able— can get tricky for Spanish language students as well as be a cause of headaches for Spanish speakers learning English

The Versatile Ending that Transforms Words in Spanish

A versatile Mexican Spanish suffix used as a kind of superlative for nouns can create a word that almost does the work of an entire sentence

Traders in Mexico City's main square. Zocalo

Avid Trade and Five Hundred Years of Mexican Commerce

It will take more than a desire for modernity to do away with Mexico's deep-rooted traditions of commerce, which stretch back to Pre-Columbian times

Dichos y Refranes: A Saying For Every Occasion

Mexico has a wide variety of sayings, maxims, or phrases intended to convey truth or natural wisdom that admits no argument

(Don’t) Read This Until You’re Ready

There is one area where Spanish language usually omits a negative which in English is necessary, related to the word 'Hasta'

The Spherical Object is in the Back of the Net

Among the many versatilities of the Spanish language is the use of a descriptive noun referring to a person, place or thing

Speaking with the Right Accent in Spanish

In Spanish, accents are used for words that don't follow the rules for natural stress, to differentiate words with different meanings, and to split weak vowels