Legal Spanish Blog
A lovely, nostalgic account of travel across the Río de la Plata, between Colonia, Uruguay and Buenos Aires in a previous era.
This piece is in Spanish, from Uruguayan newspaper El Observador. Contains some great maritime vocabulary!
Click here to read the article Recordando nuestros viajes a Buenos Aires.
A very useful dictionary of LGBTQ terms in Spanish from Uruguayan newspaper El Observador.
Click here for the dictionary/article.
This Finnish comedian has some great insights into the complex meanings and usages of the word “ass” in the English language.
Very funny and sweet. Think about how you might interpret some of these…
Watch the video here.
T.I.P.S. – Training for Intervention ProcedureS.
A certification program for the responsible service, sale and consumption of alcohol.
For bartenders, employees of liquor stores, cruise ships, casinos, etc.
More inforation here: https://www.tipsalcohol.com
Translations
This is a proper noun and acronym, and people who are aware of it will know it by its name.
Spanish – certificado de TIPS
Overheard in court…
Judge: Do you have any other questions for this witness before he steps down?
Plaintiff: Yes…can he tell the truth?
Cinder block – ladrillo de ceniza, bloque de hormigón
Depreciation – devaluación, desvalorización
Drywall/Sheetrock – panel de yeso/Tablaroca
Fiberglass – fibra de vidrio
Gate – portón
Gravel – grava
Rain gutter (on a house) – canal de desagüe, canaleta
Gutter (on side of road) – cuneta
Pour concrete – verter concreto
Retaining wall – muro de contención
Roofer – instalador de techos
Sewer – alcantarilla
Shingles – tejas
Siding – revestimiento
The scene: 8:00 am. The morning after Christmas. Walking to the courthouse, heavily bundled against the subzero temperatures.
I think to myself: it will probably be a slow day.
The reality that awaits me: A small claims suit that would last three hours, during which I would discover the intricate inner-workings of a car engine. Needless to say, I learned quite a few new words.
Antifreeze – el anticongelante
Ball bearing – el cojinete
Camshaft – el árbol de levas
Crankshaft – el cigüeñal
Dipstick – la varilla/indicadora de aceite
Gears – el engranaje
Head gasket – el empaque de cabecera
To idle the engine – marchar al ralentí/en vacío, estar en neutro
Metal shavings – virutas de metal
To misfire (an engine) – fallar
Reluctor wheel – la rueda reluctor
Salvage – materiales reutilizables/aprovechables
Solenoide – el solenoid
Struts – los puntales, las riostras
Timing belt – la correa de distribución
Timing chain – la cadena de distribución
Spanish interpreters, please feel free to submit ideas and alternative translations for the terms listed above. Leave a comment below, or send me an email here.
Don’t see your language? We need your help! Please submit possible translations in your language here. (Be sure to include the term in English as well.)
Happy Holidays from Décalage!
A life-threatening bacterial infection in the bloodstream or body tissues.
Even court interpreters need to know medical terminology! This term came up during a traffic case, because the victim had died of septicemia following a car accident.
Translations
Spanish – septicemia
Spanish interpreters, please feel free to submit ideas and alternative translations for the terms listed above. Leave a comment below, or send me an email here.
Don’t see your language? We need your help! Please submit possible translations in your language here. (Be sure to include the term in English as well.)
An excellent reminder for why it is crucial to seek out certification/credentialing in your language pair and always accurately represent yourself and your abilities.
Let’s not forget that we can all play a role in educating clients and people in general about the importance of hiring interpreters with proper credentials.
Watch the video here.
Décalage 