Spanish Word of the Day

Spanish Word of the Day Saturday, August 10, 2013 Yesterday's Word - Previous Words - Help cabo, noun end In one of its uses cabo means the end of something: con un cabo de cuchillo que le asomaba por la cintura with the end of a knife which was showing at his waist But it is much more often used in two phrases you are likely to come across. First of all, al cabo de followed by a noun - generally a time expression. This is a more formal way than después of saying after: Regresó al cabo de unos instantes After a few moments he came back The phrase al fin y al cabo means after all, or at the end of the day Al fin y al cabo lo que importa es que seguimos juntos At the end of the day, what matters is that we’re still together Content By  © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2006. All rights reserved. Spanish Word of the Day Sunday, August 11, 2013 Yesterday's Word - Previous Words - Help compromiso, noun engagement; arrangement Compromiso is another word which isn’t quite what it seems. In one of its uses it means engagement or arrangement rather than ‘compromise’. El ministro tuvo que cancelar todos sus compromisos The minister had to cancel all his engagements Mañana no puedo ir, tengo un compromiso I can’t go tomorrow, I’ve got something on ¿Tiene algún compromiso para esta noche? Have you got anything arranged for tonight? Content By  © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2006. All rights reserved. Spanish Word of the Day Monday, August 12, 2013 Yesterday's Word - Previous Words - Help comprometerse, reflexive verb to commit yourself; to promise Comprometerse is another word which isn’t quite what it seems. In one of its uses it means to commit yourself to something, rather than ‘to compromise yourself’. No te comprometas demasiado pronto Don’t commit yourself too soon If you commit yourself to something you need the preposition a: La empresa se compromete a una subida salarial The company is committed to a pay rise When comprometerse is followed by a and then an infinitive, it means to promise to do or to undertake to do. Me comprometí a ayudarte y lo haré I promised to help you, and I shall Los grupos organizadores se han comprometido a no actuar como lo hicieron en la última manifestación The organizing groups have undertaken not to behave as they did at the last demonstration Content By  © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2006. All rights reserved.