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Spanish courses for foreigners - The Spanish blog - The word of the day: Olé

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Hello #Vivers! In our Spanish courses for foreigners, we always try to teach our students to use the words they know best in our language, such as the word "olé". Without a doubt, this is one of the most international words in Spanish. Who hasn't used it or heard it at some point? Although many people relate it to the world of flamenco, bullfighting or football. It is usually used to express admiration for the good work someone does, such as a good Almodóvar film, a good song, or a Mbappe dribble, but do you know what its true origin is?

There are many hypotheses about the origin of this word. There are those who claim that it comes from the Greek verb ololizin, used as a shout of joy. Others say that it comes from the Bible, when Jacob is deceived at his wedding with Rachel, because people tried to warn him that it was Leah and not his beloved, saying Oh, Leah! But the most widespread hypothesis has to do with the Arabic expression Allah (Oh, God). The RAE, on the other hand, notes that olé! comes from the Arabic exclamation Wa-(a)llah (By God!), an exclamation of enthusiasm at surprising or excessive beauty or joy. In the Arabic language, there is no vowel “e” and sometimes the vowel “a” sounds similar to “e”.

Surely Olé is a word that you have used when you wanted to imitate the Spanish. If you want to learn Spanish and enrich your vocabulary, you should start with the Spanish courses for foreigners from the Luis Vives Spanish School. Take a look at the Spanish classes that we offer, they will surely adapt perfectly to your needs. Luis Vives Spanish School The best option to learn Spanish in Madrid!

Spanish academies in Madrid - The Spanish blog - Dar pumpkins

give someone pumpkins

By Administrator

January 19, 2023

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Hello #Vivers! Have you ever heard this expression? Have they given you pumpkins or have you ever given pumpkins to someone? The students in our Spanish classes for foreigners find this a very curious expression. If you want to know more about this expression, in our new article we explain its meaning and origin.

This expression means "to reject someone lovingly." In the 1780 edition of the Academy's Dictionary, this meaning is found for the first time, specifically defined as "women rejecting a boyfriend's proposal."

Gonzalo Correas, in his «Vocabulary of sayings and proverbial phrases«, suggests that it has its origins a few centuries ago. At that time, those who learned to swim used gourds (as floats, under their arms) that they abandoned or "threw aside" when they were already able to move in the water without them.

To explain the relationship between love rejection and pumpkins, there are those who allude to the anti-aphrodisiac character attributed to them by the ancient Greeks, so that giving pumpkins would be an invitation to abandon love affairs.

In monasteries of the Middle Ages, pumpkin seeds were used in rosary beads to ward off lascivious thoughts. Furthermore, the pumpkin is a fruit that is very apparent on the outside but not very dense and not very tasty. In that sense it is usually contrasted with the melon, which is the symbol of fertility, abundance and luxury.

And you, have you given pumpkins or have they ever given you pumpkins? If you want to learn many more expressions like this, come to the Luis Vives Spanish School and take a look at the Spanish classes for foreigners that we offer. They are sure to adapt perfectly to your needs. Luis Vives Spanish School The best option to learn Spanish in Madrid!

Spanish academies in Madrid - The Spanish blog - Not knowing or J

Not knowing a damn thing

By Administrator

January 16, 2023

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Hello #Vivers! Have you ever heard the expression “not even knowing J”? It is an expression widely used in Spain but normally students who come to our courses to learn Spanish in Madrid find it a bit strange.

We usually use this expression, “I don't know a thing” or “I don't understand a thing,” when someone has no idea about something, doesn't know about a certain topic or doesn't understand it, but what is the origin of this expression?

The letter 'j' comes from primitive Middle Eastern languages such as Hebrew, Chaldean and Syriac. The predecessors of this letter were the Greek iota and the Hebrew yod. These were the smallest of the 22 letters used in those languages. Furthermore, in the case of Hebrew, the yod was the beginning or the first feature of each of the letters of the alphabet.

Therefore, to say that someone 'does not know a thing' means that he does not know or know the smallest letter, nor the most insignificant thing; In short, he is ignorant.

If you like the Spanish language and you don't want to be one of those people who doesn't know a thing about our language, you are surely looking for Spanish courses in Madrid to learn to speak Spanish fluently like a native, and improve your grammar. Pass by the Luis Vives Spanish School and take a look at the Spanish classes what we offer. They will surely adapt perfectly to your needs. Luis Vives Spanish School, the best option to learn Spanish in the heart of Madrid!