How to Translate "To Get" into Spanish

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[@QrooSpanish]

Join the Qroo Crew for More Content www.skool.com/qroo Want to thank me? Buy me a coffee www.buymeacoffee.com/qroo

[@TysonJensen]

That's why learning a 3rd language is easier than learning a 2nd. The 2nd language is where you have to learn a bunch of vocabulary, a heap of grammar but also build an entire new brain structure whose purpose is to make your thinking more flexible so that you can think of multiple ways to express the same idea. My point is for learners to be gentle with themselves when learning Spanish as a second language. The brain can get there, but it's got a lot of work to do in addition to just learning some vocab.

[@MassMexi]

I appreciate your comments. Just when I reach the point of thinking I'm doing so well in Spanish, I almost immediately stumble and feel like a beginner again.

[@talesfromthemoribund702]

​@@MassMexi Yo, same. I've been speaking/learning Spanish for 5 years and some days I feel practically fluent and other days I feel like a novice. It's highly frustrating but I know that I've made a lot of progress. I usually surprise myself after speaking Spanish for the first 20 minutes and I realize that my brain has picked up more than I thought it had. The most important thing is to speak it consistently. I have a job where sometimes I'm able to have convos multiple times a week and sometimes I'm only saying a few words once or twice a week. I know that if I spent a few months in Mexico I would come back like a rockstar.

[@robertallair7278]

Your point about learning a third language is really good. You learn to be flexible, eventually, with your second language. If/when you get to a third language, you already understand the flexibility thing, so learning is easier. If this was an original observation of yours, well good on you!

[@TysonJensen]

@@robertallair7278 I wish I was the one who thought of it. Scientists have been putting monolingual and bilingual people in fMRI machines to see if the difference is visible and it totally is! You literally have to grow extra brain material the first time you learn a new language.

[@AddyGoesPlaces]

When learning a second language you're not just learning a second language, you're also learning how to learn a language.

[@jessetodd4004]

I think I get what you’re getting at with this video: There simply is no "get"! This video really got the message across about how pervasive this word has gotten in modern American parlance. I’ve still got to get better at getting these “get” words in my bag, and I think that getting even half of the forms of “get” translated will get my vocabulary to the next level. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a go-getter, but I’m not going to get cocky and say I’m getting close yet. I’ll get back to you when I do!

[@judithmartinez-ur8os]

I love your advice about interpreting rather than translating,. I was going at a snail’s pace until I popped into the more practical interpret modality, still a challenge but a much more practical tool. You have a great non-textbook way of approaching the challenge of learning a new language. So many internet teachers basically just repeat what I could easily read in a manual, but you provide the “chunks” and insights that click on the “aha” moment. Well done, profesor!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that the videos are helping you on journey to learn the language. I had a lot of those "aha" moments over the years when it comes to the Spanish language so I know exactly what you're talking about. :)

[@paulfaulkner6299]

"To Get" - my solution to this for both Spanish (and French decades ago) is to think of another word or phrase in English when "get" would be most natural to me. Examples: I got _bought_ a new car; I got in _returned home_ at 4 am; I got lost _went amiss_ in Manchester

[@cherylkolb9984]

Exactly! We’re translating the message, not the words. Great point!

[@HicksGribble]

I am so glad to find a native English speaker explain “to get.” After years of studying Spanish, it finally clicked for me that there is no “get” in Spanish. Overcoming that hurdle helped me improve quite a bit. I still stumble a bit on “conseguir” and other direct translations of “get” but I just need more practice.

[@pedroteran5885]

In 'conseguir', 'con' means 'together' and 'seguir' is 'to follow'. Thus 'conseguir' means to attain what you are pursuing. This is the aspect of 'get' that it captures. 'No tuve problemas para obtener el pasaporte' but 'Me costó mucho conseguir un trabajo'. 'Seguir' has the same root as 'sequence' in English as this is in fact a Latin word.

[@HicksGribble]

Never thought of it this way. Thank you 😮

[@janetleeharrison]

I'm so glad I found your channel! Now I see why I'm struggling with learning verbs! This just took away all of my frustration. I would learn the verb one way in one lesson and when asked in another I would use it, get it wrong, and be given a new word without understanding why it changed. You just opened the door for me. At this point, I feel like verbs are another language inside of a language. THANKS!🔥

[@QrooSpanish]

I'm glad you found the lesson useful. Learning the different ways verbs are used can be frustrating. For example, in Spanish you don't make decisions, you take decisions (tomar decisiones), You also don't "take steps" you "give steps": Di cinco pasos hacia la puerta) I took 5 steps toward the door. Don't get discouraged by those types of things. We've all been there. Just keep at it and you'll achieve your goals.

[@janetleeharrison]

I didn't know that...wow, thanks for the heads up! I need a book or something with all of this & examples. I feel like I need to study this before continuing on Thanks for replying!😃👍

[@Thelegendhaha]

When I first arrived in Spain I asked a Spanish friend to explain “how do I translate “to get” “ and now I understand the long pause and non commital answer…. It doesn’t exist that simply! Another obvious ‘game changer’ from you QrooPaul. Thanks for explaining things so well.

[@QrooSpanish]

Translating to get and to become are equally challenging.

[@susanhall6659]

Americans tend to use 'to get' rather more than Europeans. Did you get annoyed. VS. Did that annoy you. Get the phone, vs Answer the phone. I've got three oranges in my bag. VS. I have three oranges in my bag /. there are three oranges in my bag. You did convey this in your excellent video, Thank you for the most interesting lessons.

[@shirleywilliamswoodger1773]

I feel like my ability to expand my vocabulary has catapulted to a new level! I’m learning so much on your channel… can’t wait to impress my prof in the fall!😀

[@QrooSpanish]

Awesome! I'm so glad you are finding the videos to be helpful :-)

[@dynamicdiana333]

Learning more verbs in Spanish is helping me with my English.

[@nicedog1]

I was thinking the other how much we use ‘to get’ in so many different contexts. I have nothing but sympathy for English learners.

[@bakay138]

In addition to my traditional lessons, your videos are a cornerstone to my Spanish studies. Thank you for always making things so clear. For me, it is actually a strength in your teaching that Spanish is not your first language because you always manage to identify the exact issues I have problems with ! Thank you for doing these videos, QROO Paul is my go to when I need to deep dive on a particular issue that is confusing me. In another totally unrelated question, is that blue chair behind you (in many videos, lol) as comfortable as it looks? I love it!

[@RM-jb2bv]

I knew this was the word! Get is such a weird verb that native English speakers take for granted. Especially when it functions as an auxiliary verb.

[@strong60s]

Really enjoy your lessons Paul! I find you always have a few good tips! Please keep them coming!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for watching and especially for the positive feedback. I appreciate it. Take care. :)

[@dennisboyce813]

Right on topic and you broke it down excellently. I remember going over "get" and how often we use it awhile back and realized that it needed some extra thinking to turn it into Spanish. Your video should help the serious student on this.

[@hankasu67]

I never get tired of these videos, they always help me get closer to my goals and very helpful when you just don't get it. This makes me want to get back down to México an get back to learning Spanish. I would also second the request for a video on verbos de cambio.

[@JLZwissRN1950]

A nice surprise to receive your video this Easter morning. Way better than getting candy Easter eggs. 😄 Once again thank you!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for watching and have a very Happy Easter! Be sure to get a few candy eggs. Those things are delicious...lol.

[@jeannine1739]

Thanks for this, and Happy Easter! :)

[@jamesfreese4700]

Great video and subject matter-I too have found (to get) to be difficult to translate because of all the various ways it can be used-your lesson was super helpful-keep them coming!!!

[@scotthullinger4684]

The thing to remember is that you shouldn't be translating words specifically, but your goal should be to convey the meaning you wish. This is why an appeal to the dictionary is often useless. And one way to easily make a more or less universal request is to just begin your sentence with ... "Favor de." Favor de traerme servilletas. - "Please bring me napkins." Just add the right verb.

[@davidpatton7298]

Gracias, QP. Loads of good info!

[@ajarnray4115]

Wow never realized all the different meanings of this verb to get in English. I picked them all up over the years as a non native English speaker. Thanks for the video.

[@ericbaugher]

I just watched this one and gave it a like. Seems like a good one to watch multiple times. Happy Easter Paul, you totally rock.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks Eric. Happy Easter!

[@garythieme1977]

This was a very good video. I recognized early on that we use “get” for so many verbs in Spanish. I also appreciated your idea of thinking about what it is that I’m wanting to convey rather than translating. I am at an intermediate level and trying to move past my plateau. Your videos have helped a lot!

[@darrylboom5973]

Thank you, great advice about translating! I shared video this with my friend who's learning English and helping me with my Spanish. We talked about get a few weeks ago. Sure is easy for us!

[@janbennett225]

Thanks Paul. Another great lesson- keep them coming!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks, will do!

[@calmontes651]

I think this is another great video!!! It took me a very long time to understand what you said at the end of the video: there isn’t a one-to-one relationship between grammatical structures. Although languages do the same thing, when a language doesn’t have the specific structure the speaker is used to, one feels there’s a gap in meaning. English doesn’t have the imperfect tense but it has a construction that we have in Spanish that kinda of works, it doesn’t uses a conjugated subjunctive but it has a construction that kinda of works, it doesn’t have diminutive but you kinda of use endearing words to communicate the feeling, it doesn’t have this conjugated SE to create derivative verbs such as “alegrarse, entristecerse” but it kinda of do that with “to get”. Once I understood there are gaps between languages, that are made of semantics beyond the grammar, I stopped that unconscious feeling that something was missing in my sentences. Understanding how our native language works is super helpful to improve in our target language. That’s why I watch your videos, even if Spanish is my native language.

[@jimmlygoodness]

This is so good, dude. Thanks! 🙏

[@MassMexi]

I am well along in my Spanish and doing well but still learning un monton from your channel. Thank you. Especially the use of llegar in this context.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad that you're getting something out of the videos. :)

[@marchyman5061]

Paul, I love your “tangents”, as you call them. Nuggets of gold!!

[@alexnewson6013]

So loved this!! Good coaching

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spanishwithrobyn]

Hola todos. Hola Paul. He estado viendo tus videos durante algunos años. Me encanta como explicas y enseñas español. Gracias 🎉😊😊

[@krysiaru8571]

Another perfect lesson Paul ,thanks

[@JohnC-py8vt]

This is a very helpful lesson. Thank you.

[@sleepychicken4878]

What an eye opener. Thank you so much Qroo!

[@QrooSpanish]

My pleasure!

[@leenobody3249]

Excellent lesson thanks again Paul 🤝

[@fildefaite2449]

Thanks Paul!

[@NanetteGeigerSpeaks]

Those distictions for 'to get' were SUPER helpful to me. Many thanks!!

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad you liked tglhem! Thanks for watching. Take care.

[@user-zj6vr6xy7c]

Outstanding! Thank you so much!

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheRealJoseramirez]

Paul, you're very good at this. Thank you. 👍

[@QrooSpanish]

I appreciate that. Have a great night.

[@mwiebe2663]

So well done. Your advice to get past (there is that “get” again 😅) word by word, literal translation is key to advancing in learning another language.

[@UnschoolingtheSpitz]

Love this!❤

[@ronseymour4976]

Very comprehensive and articulate presentation Paul. Thank you so much.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you.

[@ericlloyd663]

Super helpful as always!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for watching!

[@gracepatricio7116]

Awesome video 😃

[@johnvolker2838]

I taught English in Mexico for 10 years. Try teaching get to a Spanish speaker. I get into jazz music, get it on, I don't get it, get out!, get the phone. The list goes on and on. One big ball of confusion.

[@Run.Ran.Run1]

Thanks for this. I've been sending this to my Spanish students learning English. It makes things so clear for them. They also need to get away from the "make or do" translation of "hacer" or all of the functions of "to have". This is a great lesson for my Spanish too.

[@emmetmurray5102]

Excellent lesson 👏

[@theresapuckett7786]

This was AMAZING. Me encanta lo que dije sobre lis tiempos verbales, y interpretacion v. traduccion. 💜

[@sabrinashea198]

Gracias,Paul. Este vídeo es muy útil y hace sentido. 😊

[@goldvideo]

Not to be a “sabe lo todo” but “tiene sentido” would be a lot better to use.

[@dancersbythesea5656]

Sí! Es mejor pensar más en la interpretación que en las traducciones literales. ¡Gracias! Realmente me ayudaste mucho con este video. Ojalá lo hubiera visto hace un año.

[@lanceh.5671]

I am really enjoying your videos. I tried to learn some Spanish last year. I became so frustrated so fast till I said forget it. I decided to try again a couple months ago and I feel a lot better about my progress now. Number one reason is my attitude about it. I am doing it for fun now and really enjoying it instead of putting too much pressure on myself to learn too much too fast. Your videos are the best I have found so far. I do not have a lot of Spanish speaking friends so I enjoy using a translating app to speak into. Did you do that as well when you were learning?

[@saglamkal3632]

Paul you went so fast that I couldnt write down every word. Just kidding.🙂 I love your way of teaching and %100 agree with interpretation. It is a different level of knowing a language ı think. Cant translate a language word by word, hay que entender completamente.

[@amudlifecrisis]

💡💡💡Wow! Mind blown! Now I understand so much better, fantastic explanation! 💡💡💡

[@jimmychafins]

This is a great video…when I was very early in my Spanish learning journey “get” would really mess me up because I use it a lot in English…I started thinking of alternative words in English to the word “Get” like receive and obtain…etc. that helps a lot!!! Thanks again!!!

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@WahooWahoo-ig2lp]

This is really commentary on the topic of translating "to get." I've been speaking Spanish while traveling and studying abroad over the last forty years. The best thing is "to get" an ear for it which comes from listening to native speakers. Paul's tips are helpful to put you on alert that the direct translation from English may not be best. When you hear native speakers convey the "to get" idea, you understand the context Paul describes. Good luck. This is a tough one.

[@timstephens7474]

As soon as I saw caption, I guessed 'to get', I have struggled with that for awhile, glad you addressed it, helpful

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad it helped!

[@Andrew21882]

Muy bien explicado, sigue haciendo lo que haces, tus vídeos son muy útiles. Muchísimas gracias.

[@QrooSpanish]

Gracias. :)

[@booker2834]

Excelente, gracias

[@wafaaabdelaziz5118]

Muchas gracias

[@zeigbert1743]

I found when I was starting out I was trying to translate word for word but I soon realized that's hopeless and just focusing on the meaning of a phrase is better.

[@denise-stevens]

Thank you so much for this! This lesson is exactly why a native English speaker makes for an excellent Spanish teacher.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for the feedback. :)

[@loripisciotta]

Super helpful video!!! Thank you so much. I struggled with this. Now I won't. :) You are an excellent teacher.

[@QrooSpanish]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Greglofton2000]

I love these lessons this better then any app or classroom

[@20andgone2]

Great video.

[@tameraalvarez6438]

I've thought this for a while now. It drives me crazy!

[@CleonaPattersoneFluentEnglish]

Gracias Qroo Paul.👍 No sabía que podría usar LLEGAR.🎯

[@QrooSpanish]

Con mucho gusto. :)

[@miriamspandereta]

Phew! That’s a relief!

[@TalkingAmerican]

Buen trabajo, Paul

[@QrooSpanish]

Gracias.

[@believeinpeace]

Thanks!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you so much!

[@geraldsalgado3776]

Gracia's for teaching us Spanish and just like English, there spoken by beautiful proud people of ALL nationalities, and that regardless of languages, Dispite the very bias News/ Hollywood/TV industries, YOU my proud white American cousin, that WE ALL MATTER and that it's always cool to share and care,,, so again, Gracia's,,, A FAN of humanity, Latinos, Americans and watching your videos,,,Rock on !!! GERALD 🇵🇷 Baltimore md

[@dsbarclayeng1]

Good points. Good lesson. Much of the confusion is due to the fact that common English usage has devolved greatly. If you think of classical British English, using the appropriate verb instead of 'get', its easier to translate for one example.

[@dsbarclayeng1]

Translate the 'idea' not the words - absolutely. Great lesson.

[@tubedogsurf]

Thank you for making these. To get stumped me for a while. I started by switching out consiguir for every time I would use get. Of course that didn’t work. This perspective help huge. Are you familiar with the Pimsluer method? I find it effective

[@peterzavon3012]

Many of these examples follow a simple pattern in Spanish ad knowing that may make the process easier. Many of the translations were of the form vereb+self, as is vestirse for "got dressed," which more literally "to dress self". (polish it if you want, but a lot of those different Spanish possibilities for different meanings of "get" follow this.

[@adgepeterb]

Hi your by far the best spanish channel for me.. do you do 1 on 1 lessons?

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks. No, I don't do any tutoring anymore.

[@runescapekolya]

Hey man! I really enjoy your vids and your way of teaching. I was actually wondering, did you remove your video about your journey to becoming fluent “how I learned to speak Spanish fluently”?

[@MikeS29]

Hey, I finally get it... oh wait, "get it..."

[@michaelabercrombie7698]

Obtener would be my first guess.

[@pauls.9954]

Muchísimas gracias

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you very much!

[@itsvonnieb]

You are genius.

[@erics7992]

'Me llegó...' fue muy útil. Me parece que lo he oído varias veces en series de televisión pero no pude entender su significado. Gracias.

[@believeinpeace]

I know you look at the statistics and see how many people watch all the way through , well I accidentally touched something that brought me elsewhere, how do I do these things, and returned to your magnificent lesson. Muchas Gracias Paul por esta perfecta lección. I hope i got the por vs para right 🤦‍♀️

[@QrooSpanish]

No worries. Thanks for watching. All the views help me. :)

[@dancingbear142]

Thanks for this video! I still have the problem of trying to create sentences on the fly using the translation method and it’s not going well. I’ll definitely try to think about creating sentences in a more interpretative manner. The intermediate plateau is definitely real!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you so much for the super thanks!

[@dancingbear142]

As an American learner, I really appreciate your perspective for learning Spanish. Thanks for making these videos. It’s helping me a lot. Native Spanish teacher’s don’t understand why these concepts are hard to grasp.

[@enriqueiii9209]

First create the sentence in English also go to translate google. Good luck

[@greadore]

Good video. Before finding out you were going to talk about the verb “to get” I thought the toughest English word was going to be “to become” which has many possibilities depending on context. Can you do a video about the verb “to become”? Thanks a lot!

[@QrooSpanish]

That's a good topic idea.

[@goldvideo]

Whatever you do, both in LATAM and in Spain, avoid this kind of construction: “Puedo tener una café” in a restaurant. It is understandable but it really sounds weird to them. In Spain you’ll more commonly hear “me pones un café” or “me traes un café”. In LATAM, I think “me trae” (the usted version) would be more common.

[@ron61584]

Can you do a video on when to use the past perfect subjunctive and when to use hubiera followed by past participle . Like would I use si supiera, or si hubiera sabido? Or si tuviera vs si hubiera tenido. Idk if they’re interchangeable or there’s specific times to use each one.

[@mickmorrison]

I the UK we say. Could you bring me more water? Would you bring me more water? This sounds more like a command to us.

[@ron61584]

Great video as always. I agree to get is the hardest translation. Question, if I asked who are you related to, as far as family, is it con quien estás relacionado? Or is there a better way to speak about being related to someone?

[@QrooSpanish]

Hi Ron. Thanks for watching. I would ask, ¿quiénes son tus parientes? You can narrow that question to be nearest relatives (parientes más cercanos), blood relatives (parientes consanguíneos) etc.

[@kcorpora1]

Paul real good video...Nothing more to add!.."To get" in spanish can "Get you." Lol. My bad, I do have 1 to add "Meterse" to get into. no me meto en problemas. te metes en problemas cada vez te veo. Good stuff!!!!!

[@QrooSpanish]

I actually thought about adding meterse but dropped it in editing. :)

[@kcorpora1]

@@QrooSpanish Good stuff...But you hit them with a lot of verbs...I know their heads are spinning! Good stuff Q!!!!!

[@thecaliokieconnexion]

Thanks! I need this video! Saved the rest for later. I will be back, hopefully soon! 😄 ( I got to 7:38.)

[@QrooSpanish]

Great, I hope you enjoy the rest :-)

[@alambara5042]

asustarse = acojonarse: menudo acojone me da eso... that freaks me out..

[@gottlos7]

nice videos. just 2 things. 1. when you pronounce deprimirse, deprimido, the first "i" sounds a bit like an E, and the U in aburrirse sounds like an O. 2. 6:29 is it really reflexive though? ;)

[@alambara5042]

4:37 en españa decimos " ponerse de mala hostia " " me pone de muy mala hostia" " me pongo de los nervios" " me pongo del higado" " me pones cachondo" " me pones ( you turn me on) " mosquearse, chinarse, son sinonimos de enfadarse en registro coloquial

[@RUT812]

It never hurts to say please and thank you.

[@QrooSpanish]

True. But as English-speakers we tend to overdue it to a point that seems awkward in Spanish. Learning the culture is as important as learning the language.

[@RUT812]

@@QrooSpanish My husband is Nicaraguan and we lived in Costa Rica for almost a decade. We now live in Mexico. So yes, we know the culture. I just have to learn to speak like a Mexican because the lingo is a bit different.

[@jc9291]

Man these videos really put into perspective how dumb I really am, I don’t know why I want to learn Spanish when I don’t even understand the English language 😂

[@rsmrymcgwn]

I liked your funny comment. I find all the time that I reflect back on English. Learning Spanish has made me realize how much English grammar I have forgotten since it was so many years ago or in some cases I don’t think was taught. We just knew by speaking English. It’s the same for native Spanish speakers, ask them, Why is it said that way? and chances are they don’t have an answer. Not dumb.👋

[@anonmon6236]

what about the word 'do'? like 'do you want to go outside?' or 'do you like ice cream?', or 'how do you do?' no translation for that either. Is that why the have the upside question mark at the beginning of a question?

[@QrooSpanish]

That's a good observation. In English, we use the word "do" in our questions, but Spanish does not have anything similar to that. The upside down question mark is helpful when it comes to knowing to use the correct voice inflection to make it sound like a question.

[@hiruu]

😮, a lot of verbs to make flash cards for , 😂. Pause button is your friend.

[@machprt8218]

thank you for your videos. would it be possible to use more spanish when explaining?

[@QrooSpanish]

I have some videos where I explain everything in Spanish, but I'm not a fan of that format. As a native English speaker, one advantage that I have is to explain things in a way that make sense to English speakers. If I speak Spanish, I lose a lot of those folks.

[@joetart9905]

Maybe we can incorporate "to get" into Spanish somehow 🤔