Today, I will talk about some learning Spanish mistakes that Gringos or Americans make, A few weeks ago, I finally got around to taking my Salsa classes again, and there is an American in my Salsa class. I have heard him make several mistakes in Spanish. I won’t say his name because he told me that he has subscribed to my email list.
Here are some of the mistakes that I have heard him make:
1. Using “viejo” when he should use “mayor.”
Error: Mi hermano más viejo baila bien.
Corrección: Mi hermano mayor baila bien.
(My older brother dances well.)
2. Using “joven” when he should use “menor.”
Error: Mi hermana más joven es doctora.
Corrección: Mi hermana menor es doctora.
My younger sister is a doctor.
3. Using “moverse” when he should use “mudarse.
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Error: Ella va a moverse este fin de semana.
Corrección: Ella va a mudarse este fin de semana.
(She is going to move this weekend.)
If you are going to say “to move” as in “to move” one’s home, house, apartment, etc., then you must use the verb “mudarse.
”
“Moverse” is used when you are talking about the change of one’s body position from one position to another.
Por ejemplo:
Mientras dormimos nos movemos muchas veces sin darnos cuenta.
(While we are sleeping we move many times without realizing it.)
4. Using “moverse” when he should use “correrse.”
“Fútbol” (soccer) is a very popular sport in Colombia. In fact, “fútbol” is a very popular sport in almost every country other than the U.S.A.
When the World Cup was taking place, I was sitting on the “sofá” in “la academia de baile” (dance studio), and the same American guy wanted me to “move over” or “slide over” so that he could sit down and watch the game too. He said the following to me:
Error: Muévete por favor. Quiero sentarme.
Corrección: Córrete por favor. Quiero sentarme.
(Move over please. I want to sit down)
“Correrse” means “to move over.” And “¡muévete!” means “get moving!”
A propósito (by the way), if you are playing a game of “ajedrez” (chess) or “damas” (checkers) and you want to say “your move” then you would say:
Tú mueves.
You could also say “te toca” (your turn) or “tu turno” (your turn).
