Leaning how to use your English Spanish dictionary is essential when learning the language of Spanish. Dictionaries can be filled with abbreviations and reference codes that we have never seen before. If you do not understand these, then your English Spanish dictionary may as well be written in Greek!
It is advisable to buy the best English Spanish dictionary that you can find or afford. Try to find an 'unabridged' version. Although this does not necessarily mean that it will contain all the expressions and words, it will have considerably more information than others. Dictionaries can also be visual or illustrated. Choose one that draws your attention and that is as comprehensive as possible.
Examine your dictionary carefully. It may well have other useful information besides the usual word translations. An English Spanish dictionary may list abbreviations and their meanings used in the Spanish language and offer tips on writing in English and Spanish. Often dictionaries do give a detailed explanation of how it's information is presented, which is well worth reading for a better understanding of the best way to use the dictionary. Other useful information may include pronunciations, mini-explanations of English and Spanish grammar, number translations, telling the time and date, and more tips on Spanish verb classes. A good dictionary should contain plenty of extra information.
Sometimes it is necessary to use both halves of the dictionary. Many times there are several possibilities offered when looking up the Spanish meaning of word/expression. It is good to then look up those possibilities from the Spanish point of view to determine the best one to use.
Understanding how the individual entries are organized in your English Spanish dictionary can save you time. Meanings of words can be grouped together in various ways:
o Parts of speech. Your sentence with the word you need to look up, will only make sense if the word is used in it's correct form. Sometimes the same word can be a noun and a verb. Become familiar with the different abbreviations for the parts of speech, such as 'adj' for adjectives and 'n' for nouns. Usually the dictionary will have a section for nouns and another section for verbs etc.
o A word may have various meanings. Each meaning may be numbered or lettered. Take note of the punctuation used in the dictionary. A similar meaning may be separated by a comma, and a semicolon may indicate that the next set of meanings written are somewhat different.
o A good English Spanish dictionary will offer information to assist you in finding the correct word. The dictionary may offer the various situations in which the word may be applied using field groups, such as 'general', 'medical', 'technical' etc.
o Dictionaries may also offer sample sentences to show how the different word meanings can be used.
Verbs can be problematic when learning Spanish. Even an 'unabridged' dictionary version will not display all the verb forms for each Spanish verb. You must try to determine the infinitive form and then look up the basic meaning. For example, if you have the word 'hechizaste', you will need to look up the infinitive form 'hechizar'. A better dictionary may list some irregular verb forms.
The Spanish-to-English side should indicate whether the Spanish noun is feminine, masculine or both. The term 'common' may be used to show that the noun can be used for both genders. Your dictionary should display the abbreviations used for feminine and masculine. Unusual Spanish plural nouns are often listed in the dictionary with the abbreviation of pl. for plural.
Knowing how to use your English Spanish dictionary effectively will save many hours of frustration. Find out as much information as you can from within the dictionary itself, but if you are still unsure, a teacher or a librarian may be able to offer some assistance.
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