only took like 7 years! l1 german, l2 english, currently into welsh, portuguese, the scandi languages, translation, generally linguistics and occasionally other languages i might dabble in
Finnish speakers really look at our own words and go, you know what it's a good word, but now that I've considered it I've decided that we'll have as little of it as we can get away with from now on.
From the OP: "If you sit at a desk or stare at your phone all day, this is for you. Here's how to undo the damage:
- Banded Chin Tucks - Strengthen your neck flexors and fight forward head posture
- Banded Pull-Aparts - Target your rotator cuff and improve shoulder stability
- Banded Abduction - Activate the midline of your scapula for better posture
- Lateral Deltoid Raises - Build shoulder stability and control
- Banded Up-and-Overs – Boost scapular mobility and range of motion
These simple banded drills will help you stand taller, move better, and feel stronger - even after hours at a desk."
Some of these are the same or similar to the exercises my physical therapist taught me.
Do you have a definitive list of verbs that use the indirect object in place of the subject (verbs like gustar, e.g.)? Thanks in advance
It's not a definitive list - and I will also say that there are sometimes when the verbs could go either way but I'll include the ones I know that usually take indirect objects
I also did want to quickly correct something in your explanation - it's not that the indirect object takes the place of the subject; it's that the subject is the object of the sentence, which affects someone else - thus it's an indirect object
In other words; me gusta la película is translated as "I like the movie" but the literal translation is "the movie pleases me"... the subject is actually la película, but the yo is the one who is the object, so it's me
Please again keep in mind that this list is specifically in reference to indirect objects:
gustar = to like
encantar = to really like
doler = to hurt [body parts or your soul etc; your own personal body usually - hurting someone else is lastimar and it uses direct objects]
molestar = to annoy
importar = to be important to, to matter
preocupar = to worry
fascinar = to be intrigued by / to be obsessed with / "to really like"
quedar = to remain / to be left
quedar = to fit [as in no me queda bien "it doesn't fit well" when talking about clothing, or "it doesn't suit me"... the verb caber is "to fit" as in physical spaces, related to "capacity"]
costar = to be difficult
faltar = to not have enough, to be lacking
hacer falta = to not have enough, to be lacking
sobrar = to have too much, to have left over
bastar = to be enough, to have enough
convenir = to be in someone's interest, to be convenient, to suit someone, "to feel like" [as in si me conviene "if I feel like it" or "if it suits me"]
caer bien = to get along with, to have a good feeling about
caer mal = to not get along with, to have a bad feeling about
interesar = to be interested in/by
divertir = to amuse
dar miedo = to be scary, to scare
dar asco = to disgust, to gross someone out
dar vergüenza = to be ashamed [the other verb is avergonzar "to shame"]
dar rabia = to anger, to piss off
enojar = to anger
enfadar / enfurecer = to anger (someone)
entristecer = to sadden (someone)
hacer feliz = to be happy / to be glad
alegrar = to delight (someone), to make someone happy
inspirar = to inspire
impactar = to impact, to have an impact
impresionar = to impress
inquietar = to make uneasy, to worry
asustar = to scare, to make someone jump
dar un susto = to give someone a fright
apetecer = to appeal to, to feel like
decepcionar = to disappoint
hacer reír = to make someone laugh
ofender = to offend
sugerir = to suggest (to)
recomendar = to recommend (to)
jurar = to swear (to)
prometer = to promise (to)
mentir = to lie (to)
sorprender = to surprise / to come as a shock
recordar = to remind
sonar = "to ring a bell"
parecer = to seem
aburrir = to bore
fastidiar = to annoy, to get in the way
picar = to itch [usually body parts; can also be "to burn" in the sense of a rash or a bug bite]
incordiar = to annoy, to bother
halagar = to flatter
entusiasmar = to be very interested in, to be enthused by
tocar(le) = to be someone's turn [specifically only if tocar uses indirect objects that's what it means]
cabrear = to piss off [somewhat vulgar in translation]
joder = to fuck with, to annoy [vulgar]
echar de menos = to miss (someone) [Spain]
extrañar = to miss (someone) [Latin America]
Again, this is in reference to indirect objects only. There are times when verbs can take direct objects and/or indirect objects, or sometimes even reflexives
For an example; and probably the easiest one to understand the difference between direct objects and indirect objects - jurar or prometer
jurar algo = to swear something [like an oath]
jurarle a alguien = to swear to someone
You can also see indirect and direct objects together - te lo juro "I swear (it) to you", or te lo prometo "I promise it to you"
These also apply to verbs of speech; decir "to say", mencionar "to mention", sugerir "to suggest", recomendar "to recommend", gritar "to scream", susurrar "to whisper" etc.
It can be "what you say" vs. "who you say it to"
And in that same vein there are verbs of "giving" I guess? - dar "to give" you can give a thing, or "give to" someone; dar "to give", lanzar "to throw", tirar "to throw", mandar "to send", enviar "to send", regalar "to give as a gift / to gift" ... things like that
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Others:
picar is sometimes the verb for "to cut (into smaller pieces)" but it's also the verb for insects to "bite" or "sting" - like bees and ants. Thus in an indirect object, it's "to itch" as if a bug had bitten or stung you
Or, encantar is literally "to enchant" so it can be "to cast a spell" or "enchant an object" in fantasy; but encantarle is "to really like" - it's kind of like "to be bewitched by" but similar to how fascinar is "to take great interest in" aka "I really like it"
Then there's sonar which is normally "to make a sound" or when electronics "ring"... but with indirect objects something like no me suena "I don't remember" or "it doesn't ring a bell"; and parecer "to look like" or parecerse "to resemble", then becomes parecerle "to seem like" as in no le parece bien "it doesn't seem like a good idea (to him/her)"
The other big one is extrañar which in some situations can be "to find strange"; no me extraña "it doesn't surprise me" or "I'm not surprised"... but it is also the verb for "to miss someone" in Latin America. The root word here is "estrange", so it can be "to be distant from" or "to find odd"
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Another is valer where normally valer is "to be worth", but valer(le) can be "to care about" or "to be worth", in some situations it can be "to suit someone" or "to be fine (for someone)"
...... then you have some more vulgar idiomatic expressions [as in me vale mierda "it's useless as shit (to me)", or just "it's not worth shit", or me vale verga is "it's worth dick to me" simply can be translated like "I don't give a fuck"]
...but then valerse (de) can often be "to take advantage of" - literally "to avail oneself of"
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Ones to be the most aware of are the ones that can change meaning:
costar = to cost
costarle = to be difficult
cuesta mucho "it costs a lot"... and then me cuesta "it is hard for me"
tocar = to touch / to play (an instrument)
tocar a alguien = to touch someone
tocarle (a alguien) = to be someone's turn
If you see something like me toca hablar it can be "it's my turn to speak" or "it's up to me to speak"; generally any time it doesn't seem like "touch
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Most verbs with emotion have an indirect object and a reflexive form; one where you can elicit the emotion in someone else, or have it come from you [reflexive - where subject and object are the same; so it's you doing it to yourself, or you feeling it yourself]
entristecer = to sadden (someone)
entristecerse / ponerse triste = to get sad, to be saddened
enojar = to anger (someone)
enojarse / ponerse enojado/a = to get angry, to be angered
preocupar = to worry (someone)
preocuparse (de) = to worry about
There are also some verbs that people debate whether they should be direct or indirect objects, and some regional variation - it's not usually a problem, but just something to keep in mind that there is a bit of leeway with some verbs
As in engañar "to deceive"; you can see it as engañar(le) "to deceive someone" or in passing you can see lo engañó or la engañó which can be "he/she cheated on them" or "he/she deceived them"
There's some debate over whether direct objects or indirect objects are better, depending on "agency" [the ability to act] of the object... the argument can also be related to personhood. In other words, a person had no agency in being tricked or cheated on so it could be direct object; but it is a person not a thing, so out of politeness you might use indirect object
It's a linguistic debate sometimes......... though I will say the majority of the verbs on that list need the indirect object rather than direct objects
I know I barely use this blog but since for some reason I've decided to learn how to code in the year 2026 -
this website has full courses, tutorials and reference lists for a whole bunch of different programming languages, all for free and without having to download anything or log in anywhere!! AND it's extremely beginner friendly so I thought I'd share!
A lot of people on twitter wanted me to explain how I draw expressions, so here you go
Unless you're drawing explicit realism, in my opinion, expressions should be exaggerated to some degree. If you aren't doing a 1:1 recreation, the point is to get the FEELING across. Try making the expression you want to draw and feeling how your face pinches and stretches.
Skin doesn't just "disappear" when your face moves it around --- that's where wrinkles come from! Pay attention to where your skin creases when you emote, and use it to your benefit. It's a fine line between overdoing it and underdoing it -- find your own balance.
Ultimately, every expression has a little bit of push and pull, unless your face is completely neutral (and even then, there are still some wrinkles...). Learning to think of expressions as actions and reactions is VERY helpful in learning to draw them without needing a reference, and in learning how to stylize and push expressions based on references as well!
I think a lot of people end up with stiff or unexpressive emotions in their art because they're just trying to recreate a picture instead of understanding WHY and HOW the face is moving --- and it's a tough thing that takes a while to really pick up and learn. Hopefully is helpful in showing a way of thinking about it that can influence your process and approach to emotions!!!
Also, bonus: even without the lines, the planes alone still show a LOT of emotion.
We understand that the current catalog of FREE COURSES at Harvard is being EXTENSIVELY EXPANDED, so you'll want to check their website from time to time to see which new courses are being added.
Icelandic Fact of the Moment: Words Named After People
Sometimes, a person's behaviour becomes so iconic that they get permanently associated with that thing. Accordingly, Icelandic has some compounds where the first part is someone's first name, forever tying some lucky/unlucky individual to an abstract concept.
Gróusaga (gossip)
This one is admittedly not named after a real person. Instead, the namesake is Gróa á Leiti, a character from Jón Thoroddsen's 1850 romantic novel Piltur og stúlka, often considered the first Icelandic novel traditionally published in Iceland. Gróa, who in the book lived at the farm of Leiti, would spread salacious stories around, always keeping the source anonymous. Ever since, anonymous tales of gossip have been called gróusögur, or "Gróa stories". The word is generally used dismissively, to suggest a story is not true.
Þórðargleði (schadenfreude)
Schadenfreude is a fun German word encapsulating an important part of the human experience, namely the idea of taking joy in others' suffering. English just wholesale borrowed the word from the Germans. In Iceland, instead, we call it þórðargleði, or "Þórður's joy". In the 1947 memoirs of an Icelandic priest, Árni Þórarinsson, he explains how one day he met this one farmer Þórður, who was laughing uproariously about how in the north of Iceland it hadn't stopped raining all summer and everyone's hay was ruined, and he'd love to see the looks on their faces. Árni promptly coined a new word, and it stuck, forever immortalizing this guy as the epitome of a special kind of asshole.
Höskuldarviðvörun (spoiler alert)
In April 2016, the Progressive Party was in disarray after their chairman Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson finally very reluctantly resigned after being implicated in the Panama Papers. The party called a meeting, with a slew of reporters waiting outside to hear who would be the new chair and thus prime minister. MP Höskuldur Þórhallsson exited the meeting early and walked down the stairs into the crowd of reporters, who asked if he had anything to say, probably expecting a "No comment" at best. Instead, Höskuldur thought they already knew the results and were just asking for his take on it, so he told them he was fully behind the selection of Sigurður Ingi Jóhannesson in the prime minister position and more. The video is gloriously awkward.
A week later, Stöð 2 aired an episode of the sitcom Modern Family, in which a character saying "Spoiler alert" was subtitled with Höskuldarviðvörun, or "Höskuldur warning". Everyone took to this with glee because the incident was very funny and also something about the sound of the word feels very satisfying and appropriate. The translator, Arnór Hauksson, had been stuck on how to translate the term, which didn't have a good Icelandic equivalent at the time, and was then apparently inspired by tweets suggesting Höskuldur should have said "Spoiler alert!" before he started speaking. Today, höskuldarviðvörun has stuck and is legitimately used in, for instance, newspaper reviews of films that are about to discuss spoilers.
Oh the only other thing to really know about para is that it is sometimes shortened to pa' in common speech
While you officially would be saying para que, you might see pa que in text or hearing someone shorten it
This is also how you get that silly joke that involves "paella" - the exact joke depends, but it's usually some variation of someone saying pa mí "for me" vs pa ella "for her" rather than "paella" the food
this is prime proof that this ENTIRE WEBSITE is autistic because nowhere else would a no tags post that's just an informative list about slang get this much traction.
really funny that in english it's "liquor before beer, you're in the clear; beer before liquor, never sicker" because we have "vino y cerveza, dolor de cabeza; cerveza y vino, pedo divino". now wine isnt a liquor obviously but i think the principle is the same and yet the advice is the exact opposite.
German has Bier auf Wein, das lass sein – Wein auf Bier, das rat ich dir - which made me curious what some other versions are and it seems english is the odd one out with liquor -
I’m living in Spain and my partner is Spanish so I often get confused by their slang and curse words. do you know any good common curse and slang words I should know
For Spain, I think the most common are joder "fuck" and mierda "shit", and the standard hijo de puta/perra "son of a bitch"
The other standards are cabrón/cabrona "asshole" - though Spain might tend towards capullo or gilipollas for "asshole"
[etymology-wise, cabrón is "big goat" and it was like calling someone a "cuckold" in very old etymology; and el capullo means "bud" like in flowers... so it can be a shock if you read it the wrong way]
They're kind of standard everywhere, but Spain will use joder as an interjection more than Latin America will; for reference, joder can be a verb "to fuck with" or "to annoy" - like a vulgar version of molestar "to annoy" or fastidiar "annoy/tick off"
You often see it as no me jodas "don't fuck with me" or something like a vulgar "cut it the fuck out"
Also, joder can be jodido/a "fucked up" in every kind of sense you'd expect from English
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mierda or as a noun la mierda is "shit" and it's probably the one used the most by every country that speaks Spanish
It's sometimes used to mean "fuck!" like an exclamation of surprise or anger or disgust
(a softer non-NSFW way to say it is miércoles which is "Wednesday", but it's the mier- that gets you to approximately the same idea)
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Related to that, cagar "to shit" is also "to fuck up"
I have to say that as far as vulgarities in Spanish, Spain in particular uses me cago "I shit" for a lot of things
In fact, if you're really wanting to swear like a native, your swear usually includes poop and blasphemy like someone who went to Catholic school for too long
It's similar to Quebec in that there's a lot of religious based profanity, but for different reasons
me cago en Dios "I shit on God", me cago en la Virgen "I shit on the Virgin", me cago en tus muertos "I shit on your dead (ancestors)", me cago en la mar "I shit in the sea" [sometimes la mar which it is normally el mar but that's a whole other topic]
A big one for really angry is me cago en la leche "I shit in the milk" and leche can be NSFW as "cum" or it can just be "milk"
These are all varying vulgar expressions and you can direct them at people like me cago en tus muertos or me cago en tu puta madre "I shit on your whore mother", or just at life in general like me cago en todo
Also de mierda is "shitty", or "fucking" but usually like "low quality" sort of thing like el coche de mierda can be "this fucking car" or "this shitty car"
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Spain also likes to use (la) hostia which "communion wafer"
A common expression of anger or disbelief is hostia puta which is like "fucking hell" but literally "fucking host"
The way to make that not a swear but get it across anyway is they sometimes say ostras which is "oysters"
...But you see it a lot, like salir cagando hostias is like "to get the fuck out of there", literally "to leave shitting communion wafers"
Or you see una paliza de la hostia "a fucking beat down", like dar una paliza de la hostia is "to beat the shit out of someone", or pegar una hostia is like "to get hit" or "to get your shit rocked" more euphemistically
la hostia can be used as an intensifier
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I would also caution about bastardo/a which is "bastard" which is used like English, but usually more intense
It's primarily a word that invokes contempt and hatred, it can be said jokingly but you usually see cabrón or gilipollas or hijo de puta used that way
bastardo/a comes out more heated; and it's also not used in the sense of "the poor bastard" like pitying someone if something happens to them - that's desgraciado/a which is like "unfortunate" or "someone who had something extremely bad happen"
I usually see bastardo/a used either in the literal "no father" sense, or in really angry speech
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Related is la puta "whore", sometimes la perra "bitch" [lit. female dog] or la zorra [lit. "female fox/vixen"]
The actual word is puto/a which can be used as "whore", but also as an adjective like "fucking" - hazlo de una puta vez "fucking do it already / do it for fucking once" [where de una vez "once and for all/for once" is the basic expression], or todo el puto día "all fucking day"
But be very careful as a noun... el puto does mean "male whore"; but it is also the equivalent of the F slur in Spanish (or at least one of them)
As swearing and using it as an intensifier it's not read that way at all, just be real careful calling anyone that
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Also people will sometimes just tack on a mierda or joder to the end of a sentence if they want it to be very vulgar
I've seen some translations where doing it is like "for fuck's sake" at the end
Anyway I'm sure there are more that I've missed; a lot of it is more universal but the use of gilipollas or hostia is more Spain
