You may have heard translation described as an art form. Many skills are required to capture not only the meaning, intent, and tone, but also the style, level of formality, and cultural implications – both in the source and target languages. Translating Spanish to English is no exception.
Spanish is a language that delicately fuses passion with subtlety, while also having many regional phrases, idiomatic expressions, and idiosyncrasies that can present translators with several challenges. The official language in no fewer than 20 countries and widely spoken in many more, Spanish truly is a cultural treasure – and a powerful tool for international communication. If you’re wondering how Spanish-to-English translators approach these many considerations, read on!
How to tackle Spanish regional variations
Not only does Spanish have a vast number of speakers (with some 500 million native speakers), but it is also among the most geographically widespread languages. This means it’s a language with a particularly high number of variations, including different dialects and even words with completely different meanings, depending on where they’re used.
For example, the word torta means “cake” in Spain but in Mexico, it refers to a “sandwich”. Meanwhile in Spain, if you wanted a sandwich, you’d use the word bocadillo. However, in Colombia and Venezuela, the same term bocadillo is used to refer to a type of sweet treat! These countries would instead use the English loanword sándwich when talking about the savory, bread-based snack.
Confused? Fortunately, skilled Spanish translators are seasoned experts when it comes to handling these complexities. Firstly, Capital Linguists’ professional Spanish translation service includes experts in all the major regional variations, which allows us to match clients with a specialist in the specific regional dialect they require. This prevents any mistranslations or misunderstandings that even a native Spanish speaker could make, depending on their background.
How Spanish translators approach idioms
Another potential source of confusion lies in the use of idioms. Spanish is particularly rich in these vivid, figurative expressions that don’t always make sense when translated word for word. For the Spanish translator (or Spanish interpreter), this means finding an equivalent expression in English that expresses the same idea – but almost certainly not in the same way! Often, this requires reflection time, which means it is a particular challenge for interpreters (particularly those carrying out simultaneous interpretation). Idioms tend to grow out of highly specific cultural, historical, or geographical circumstances, which makes them particularly hard to translate; often, even if there is an equivalent expression, it would feature completely different vocabulary.
For example, the Spanish expression de punta en blanco literally means “on point, in white”. Clearly, a literal translation is meaningless to an English speaker, so the translator would need to find something that expresses the idea behind the idiom. In this case, it’s a phrase used to express how well-dressed someone is, usually for a special occasion. A similar English phrase would be “dressed up to the nines”.
Beware of false cognates
Sometimes, an idiom sounds a little like an English expression, but the meaning behind it is different. This is a potential pitfall for the translator, who needs to consider both the cultural context and underlying message to avoid a misleading translation. One such example is llevarse el gato al agua – “take the cat to the water.” While it may recall elements of the English expression, “you can take a horse to water (but you can’t make it drink)”, often used to highlight the difficulty of persuading someone to do something despite the opportunities, the Spanish expression means something quite different. This idiom instead refers to managing something extremely challenging, or even impossible. An equivalent English expression (depending on the context) could be “to pull something off”.
As well as idioms, the Spanish language contains many individual words that present potential pitfalls, as they resemble English words with completely different meanings. Some of these “false friends” include:
- “Actual” (Spanish) versus “actual” (English)
In Spanish, actual means “current” or “present”, while in English it means “real” or “true”.
- “Embarazada” (Spanish) versus “embarrassed” (English)
You would definitely be “embarrassed” to get this one wrong: embarazada may look similar to “embarrassed”, but it means “pregnant”.
- “Carpeta” (Spanish) versus “carpet” (English)
In Spanish, una carpeta refers to a folder, rather than a floor covering.
- “Sensible” (Spanish) versus “sensible” (English)
Sensible means sensitive or emotional in Spanish, unlike its use in English, referring to being practical or reasonable.
- “Exito” (Spanish) versus “exit” (English)
While these words look similar, the Spanish means “success” and has nothing to do with a way out, like its English counterpart.
Translating from Spanish to English is a highly skilled art, which requires juggling the many aspects of language that influence its overall meaning. Beyond the individual words on the page, the Spanish language also includes a wealth of cultural nuances, regional differences, and playful turns of phrase. These aspects require a deep understanding of both languages, in order not only to understand the original intent but also to find the best way to express them in English. Fortunately, Capital Linguists’ network of highly experienced, accredited, and capable Spanish translators has you covered, regardless of the Spanish variant or specialty. Hasta pronto!
