Superheroes, transitional phrases, and getting ripped off

Hello friend,

We're traveling to Argentina, in this edition, to introduce you to a real-life superhero. Then we explore transitional phrases, learn an idiom for getting swindled, and share an article on building effective language learning habits. ¡Avancemos!

Featured story
El superhéroe

There's a real-life superhero in Argentina. His name is Menganno, and he leads a double life. He has a wife and kids, and is the owner of a private security company. But several nights a week, he puts on a costume and roams the streets of Buenos Aires fighting crime in disguise.

Siempre dije yo: "El único poder que tengo es llamar la atención".

Soundbites from El superhéroe explore the Argentinian accent, explain the reflexive hacerse, uncover the logic behind the name Menganno, and much more.

Want to listen to the full story? Subscribe to unlock the entire catalog of Stories and Soundbites. 

Artwork by Agustina Grasso

Language learning tip
Transitional phrases

If your conversational Spanish tends to be of the "T-shirt and flip flops" variety, we've got just the way to dress it up. Try these connecting phrases to make one sentence glide effortlessly into the next, like a real language pro. 

Sin embargo: 'Nonetheless' or 'however'
Use this when you need to introduce a contrast, or a contradiction, between phrases.

• Me cae muy bien Rafael. Sin embargo, puede ser mucho a veces.
• “I really like Rafael. However, he can be a bit much at times.”

Por lo tanto: 'Therefore' or 'so'
Use this for drawing conclusions.

• El tráfico estaba muy pesado, por lo tanto llegué tarde a la reunión.
• "Traffic was heavy, so I got to the meeting late."

Además: 'In addition’ or ‘also’
Use this to include extra information or add to your point.

• Tengo que terminar mi trabajo antes del viernes, y además, tengo un montón de pendientes de la semana pasada.
• "I have to finish my work before Friday, and I also have a ton of tasks left from last week."

En cambio: ‘On the other hand’
Use this to compare phrases or ideas.

• He logrado evitar comer carne por una semana. El queso, en cambio, es otra cosa.
• "I've managed to go a week without eating meat. Cheese, on the other hand, is a whole other thing."

Start sprinkling these into your Spanish to make your conversations feel polished and natural.

ICYMI: Getting ripped off

We hope you never need this, but, just in case, here's a short video that teaches you an idiom about getting duped en español. The phrase involves a cat, a hare, and some deception regarding what's actually for dinner. 

Want us to make a video on a specific aspect of Spanish? Send us your requests and you just might see it appear on one of our social media channels or in this newsletter.

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