Help from the locals and spanish speakers for learning spanish

[Alexep]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

For 'police station' should I use estacion de polica o el cuartel de policia?

Estación de policia.

[bizzokiki]

When saying you have 'a cold' would you use resfrio o resfriado?

[mofi]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

When saying you have 'a cold' would you use resfrio o resfriado?

I've never seen either.....most people will say Tengo gripe.

Although that is what my dictionary says as well, it's not commonly referred to like that.

Gripe= flu influenza, but often used when you are stuffed up, have a runny nose and cough.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

When saying you have 'a cold' would you use resfrio o resfriado?

Here is what my assistant just told me, when I asked him (he is a Spanish-speaking Mexican):

I have a cold= "estoy resfriado" or in my case, "estoy resfriada" (for a woman)

[Alexep]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

When saying you have 'a cold' would you use resfrio o resfriado?

You would say:

Tu tienes un resfriado. = You have a cold.
Ella tiene un resfriado. = She has a cold.
El tiene un resfriado. = He has a cold.

Resfrío refers as the condition of having a cold.
I can't think of another way to explain it, perdón.

Originally Posted by mofi

.....most people will say Tengo gripe.

Yes, this is another way to say it.

[bizzokiki]

Is camarero/a common for waiter/waitress or is there something else I should use?

[Alexep]

For waiter/waitress is mesero/mesera.

Saludos bizzokiki.


UPDATE: Camarero/Camarera is the person that fixes your room in a hotel.

[maestranba]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

Is camarero/a common for waiter/waitress or is there something else I should use?

Camarero = waiter, but not in Mexico

mesero/a is used in Mexico.

Camarista = maid (at the hotel)

[bizzokiki]

Is conductor/a correct to use for driver?

[Heather]

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

Is conductor/a correct to use for driver?

With our transport company, I always use "chofer," but I have heard
"conductor" also.

[mofi]

Chofer is more common in Mexico, well in playa at least.

[ele]

i've always wondered, what is the difference between pajaro and ave?

[mofi]

I believe pajaros usually refer to smaller birds, where as ave can be used for any type of bird.
Pajaro is used more in every day language, ave is more when speaking of spicies.
For example I would call a hummingbird a pajaro, but I would not call a rooster a pajaro.

[bizzokiki]

For the word 'sign', should I use letrero or senal(tilde over the n)?

[Anna Tortuga]

letrero

Originally Posted by bizzokiki

For the word 'sign', should I use letrero or senal(tilde over the n)?