Coffee Break Spanish - 10 Spanish set phrases that use a different verb from English

Episode Date: August 17, 2026

Translating word for word from English is one of the quickest ways to sound unnatural in Spanish, and set phrases are where it shows most. In this episode, Pablo goes through ten everyday expressions where Spanish picks a completely different verb from English, covering questions, mistakes, parties, instruments and more, with an example of each so you can start using them straight away.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Love learning in short bursts? Our free weekly newsletter is packed with tips just like these: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, what-tall? So, Pablo, the coffee break Spanish. Today, we're going to look at something that trips up a lot of learners of Spanish. There are expressions where English and Spanish simply don't agree on which verb to use. And if you translate them word for word, something's going to sound off.

So up next, we're going through 10 of them, one by one, so that you know exactly what to say. And if you want to follow along with the video version, you'll find it over on our YouTube channel. The link is in the description. Venga, enpedamos. Let's go the number one How do you say to ask a question

in Spanish? Do you know? We actually don't use the verb to ask but a different one. Exactly. In Spanish we

make questions. For what so to make a question is to ask a question. You do an example. Pardona, can I ask you a question?

Excuse me, can I ask you a question? Very well. We're going to number two now. To make a mistake. This is a common one to get wrong. In Spanish, we don't use the verb to make here.

We actually use to commit, which I know it sounds a bit intense in English, right but don't worry in Spanish it sounds very normal so to make a mistake is therefore cometeer an error for example suspendie the examen because commenced much errors that is I failed the exam because I made a lot of mistakes well I hope not but if you did now you know how to say it in Spanish. Seguimos con the number

3 and this one I really really like to pay attention. Now in English attention gets paid as if I don't know it were some kind of currency but in Spanish however it gets

lent so we say prestar attention which literally means to lend attention and I just like like the idea of lending attention because it sounds like your attention is so important that when someone wants it, they ask you to lend it to them. And I think it sounds great. We'll see an example. No me prestaste attention when you told you it. And this is a phrase that

can come very handy at times. Let's go the number four. To throw a party. This is very divertida. I've always liked the English phrase here because it's quite a strange one for a learner of English. So in Spanish, though, we don't throw a party, we give one. give a fiesta. For example,

I'm going to give a feast in my house the sabbado. You apuntas? And that is, I'm going to

throw a party on Saturday. Are you up for it? Number five, to waste time. In English, you waste time, but in Spanish,

you lose it. So we say perder the time. For example, You're wasting the time with that and then you'll You're wasting your time with that and you'll complain later. A phrase I've heard often, I have to admit.

Seguemes with the number six and you may know this one. To play an instrument. So if you play the guitar in English, in Spanish you touch it. So, to talk an instrument. Then, then you'd say, I'd talk the guitar, and I'd like to

learn to talk the piano. I play the guitar, and I'd like to learn to play the piano. Continuamos. Numero 7. To make a decision. In English, you generally

make a decision, but in Spanish, we take one, to make a decision. So, I have to take a decision,

but I know what I have to make a decision, but I don't know what to do. A very useful sentence, whether it's

for a big life decision or I don't know, for when you simply can decide what to have for dinner, and not that

would know anything about that. Number 8 to be right, a very important one to get right, if you'll excuse the pun. Now, in English, you say you are right using the verb to be, but in Spanish, it works slightly different because we say, tenor, raison, which is literally to have reason. So next time you want to tell someone they're not right, you are going to say to them, no, tiener,

reason, but do what you're not right, but do whatever you want. A very useful sentence to use when you're arguing with someone. We're going to go the penultima phrase, the number nine. And this one is to make

sense. In English, things make sense, but in Spanish, they have sense. Tenor sense. Tenor For example, the explication no has a sense. The explanation doesn't make sense. And finally, for the terminate, the number 10. To take a risk.

In English, you take a risk, but in Spanish, and I really love this one, you run a risk. to carry a risk you know we're going to do you know we're not we're

that risk with a project so different we don't want to take that risk with

such a different project well there you do you the expressions

where the English and the Spanish and the simply not they're not so

they're I hope this one was useful. If you want to keep building on your Spanish between episodes, hop over to cofiberg Spanish.com and sign up to our free newsletter. We sent out mini lessons covering all kinds of topics, grammar, vocabulary, expressions, all straight to your inbox. Well, yeah would. Thanks for listening. Thanks for us. After the next. And as always, happy coffee breaken. You have been listening to a Coffee Break Languages production for the Radiolingo Network. Copyright 2026 Radiolingua Limited.

Recording copyright, 26, Radiolingua Limited. All rights reserved.