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thfarrell

Oct 19, 2005, 1:08 PM

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dictionary recommendation?

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Hi...

Anyone have a recommendation for "the best" dictionary of Mexican Spanish (ie, one that includes "american continent spanish" - not, eg, the dictionary of the Real Academy).

Also - no "ant writing"... it's got to be readable without a magnifying glass. Please, no "well the writings small, but" sort of things.

Gracias antemano,

Tom
---
"Beauty is in the i of the Beholder"
(Julia Mandelbrot)

jerezano

Oct 20, 2005, 8:18 AM

Post #2 of 13 (5481 views)

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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Hello thfarrell,

Your best dictionary obviously is a cultured Mexican friend or neighbor. And our good friend Sr. Francisco Quevedo here on the forum is also very helpful.

For mexicanismos which can be used on Television and radio, I have found the Diccionario anaya de la lengua published by the Fundacion Cultural Televisa in various editions starting in 1979 and apparently terminating in 1981 to be very useful. It is published in Spanish and does not have any English definitons.

For general Spanish-English/English Spanish definitions which cover both Spain and the rest of the Spanish World (mainly Latin America as a whole including Mexico) the Oxford Spanish Dictionary has over 275,000 words and is almost always adequate. I have found the English definitions of Spanish words particulary apt. The Real Academy will usually fill in with more abstruse words, although the Pequeño Larouse is also helpful. (Both in Spanish only)

For street Spanish, you will find your friend and neighbor absolutely necessary. Many times you will hear words and phrases that only he can define and how to use them or when NOT to use them. Pendejo, for example which too many Americans have learned but have never learned how NOT to use. Sangrón is another that had best be forgotten.

For pocket use the Chicago University pocket edition of Spanish/English can be helpful.

I haven't yet in 18 years found a "best"dictionary.

Good luck. Adios. jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Oct 20, 2005, 8:41 AM)

juditha16

Oct 20, 2005, 2:48 PM

Post #3 of 13 (5465 views)

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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I love the on-line resource from "Word Reference.com" that was recommended by someone here on MexConnect, I think. It is always running on my toolbar. Simply type in a word in English or Spanish. The translation will give you many examples of equivalent words used in context and often attributes the usage to various countries where appropriate. It's very helpful and instantaneous and the download is free at: http://www.wordreference.com/ Oh, the program also allows you to post questions on a forum for input/ clarification from others.

I also use the Williams Diccionario Español-Inglés Inglés-Español by Edwin Williams, University of Pennsylvania, McGraw-Hill Publishing. It's pretty huge and I can't tell you the price. It was a gift from the publisher. What is special about this dictionary are the 31 "Bilingual Thematic Vocabularies" which list words by category (i.e. administration, computer science, accounting, sports, electronics, legal terms, etc.) The main part of the dictionary uses rather small print, but the Thematic Vocabularies sections use a larger font. My copy is about 10 years old and is getting a little dated. There may be a newer edition available.

I have a program on my Palm Pilot that I like to use if I'm reading a novel in Spanish. I think it is by "UltraLingua" and we found it on-line. It's great for reading in bed without much light. If you're interested in something for your Palm, email me and I'll let you know how to get a copy. (I'll have to check with my techie, Nancy.)

I find the best way to improve my vocabulary is by reading novels in Spanish. I started with translations of novels I had already read in English. But I've since graduated to Angeles Mastretta. She is wonderful, but really pretty hard for me. I had a much easier time with El Alquimista and Veronica decide Morir , also El Codigo DaVinci. Pick your favorite novel and find a Spanish translation. It's great practice. (You can look in the Spanish language section of Barnes & Noble or try Libros en español on Amazon.com.) Buena suerte.
Judith

Rolly

Oct 20, 2005, 3:33 PM

Post #4 of 13 (5461 views)

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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I have listed several eleectronic dictionaries and translators on my website at http://rollybrook.com/translators.htm including online and offline ones.

I especially like The American Heritage® Spanish Dictionary: Spanish/English, Ingles/Español, by Houghton Mifflin Company. It pronounces the words, both Spanish and English.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

song_of_joy

Oct 20, 2005, 5:04 PM

Post #5 of 13 (5456 views)

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Re: [Rolly] dictionary recommendation?

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I have several dictionaries, but for American Spanish, I prefer the Larousse.

esperanza

Oct 20, 2005, 5:18 PM

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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For many years, I only used the Bantam New Collegiate Spanish-English dictionary. Then I bought the Larousse. Now my primary dictionary is here:

http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/...9495211191/index.htm

This is an online dictionary of Mexican Spanish. It's not helpful for translating from one language to another, but it's helpful for the intermediate to advanced learner to increase his/her vocabulary.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

quevedo

Oct 20, 2005, 5:20 PM

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Re: [thfarrell] El D.R.A.E., sin duda

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Desde hace años la Real Academia Española (http://www.rae.es/) desarrolló Academias locales en los países de habla hispana, de modo que su diccionario incluye los regionalismos más comunes y aceptados. No puedo dejar de recomendar este diccionario como el mejor.

Un saludo cordial,

Quevedo

jerezano

Oct 21, 2005, 1:21 PM

Post #8 of 13 (5429 views)

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Re: [quevedo] El D.R.A.E., sin duda

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Hello all,

Señor Quevedo tiene razón. Yes, he is right, the dictionary of the Royal Academy is without doubt the very best Spanish dictionary just as the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language is the best English dictionary ever created (some 30 years in creation and it is constantly updated).

One unfortunate circumstance of the RA Dictionary for those of us who need the word translated: all definitions are in Spanish. True by looking at the sinonyms one can often find a recognizeable word. But if you have to look up each in a Spanish/English dictionary you are off on a research project.

If you must have a paper Spanish/English English/Spanish dictionary, as I must, then I recommend again the Oxford English/Spanish dictionary which has an extraordinarily large number of words and explains their use as well. It is not cheap. The desk edition runs about $85 us dollars per copy.

Adios. jerezano.

quevedo

Oct 21, 2005, 5:08 PM

Post #9 of 13 (5418 views)

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Re: [jerezano] El D.R.A.E., sin duda

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Cien por ciento de acuerdo con usted, amigo Jerezano.

Un abrazo,

Quevedo

Marta R

Oct 22, 2005, 10:26 AM

Post #10 of 13 (5400 views)

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Re: [quevedo] El D.R.A.E., sin duda

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Oxford University Press occasionally puts its dictionaries on sale -- it's always worth checking at their website. They also carry some "pocket" versions:

Bilingual Dictionaries

Marta

thfarrell

Oct 23, 2005, 10:16 PM

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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Hi...

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated!

Gracias otra vez,

Tomás
---
"Beauty is in the i of the Beholder"
(Julia Mandelbrot)

Marta R

Oct 24, 2005, 1:02 PM

Post #12 of 13 (5341 views)

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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Oxford University Press has a deal on their Spanish dictionaries: $25.00 for a set including the desk set and a portable volume. The Spanish Dictionary Set

Marta

Georgia

Oct 29, 2005, 4:12 PM

Post #13 of 13 (5277 views)

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Re: [thfarrell] dictionary recommendation?

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My favorite is Cuyas. Published by Appleton.