BajaNomad

Need recomendations for spanish dictionary

Santiago - 12-16-2007 at 09:45 AM

I have a small english-spanish-spanish-english dictionary from random house - it will fit in your shirt pocket but the print is so small no one my age or older can read it anymore. I am also unhappy that I see so many words on signs that aren't in my current book. Anyone have one they are happy with?

bajaguy - 12-16-2007 at 10:07 AM

Went to Wal-Mart and picked up a book by American Education Publishing titled: The Complete Book of Spanish-Grades 1-3.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Spanish-School-Specialty-Publ...

Has photos, excercises and a glossary. A really great learning tool

This is one of the book reviews:

"I teach Spanish at a community college. I also, from time to time, teach specialized courses in legal, medical, police, you-name-it Spanish. This would be a terrific supplement to the materials necessary for those courses. In addition to writing my own curriculum for each, this would give a needed boost to lots of concepts in a workbook format. I wish I could require it for my beginning college students! They would love it!"..............



[Edited on 12-16-2007 by bajaguy]

bajabound2005 - 12-16-2007 at 10:30 AM

I have several Spanish/English Dictionaries. My fave is the University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary. So many of the Dictionaries are using English from Great Britain and Spanish from Spain; you want to be sure you get one that is a least American English.

[Edited on 12-16-2007 by bajabound2005]

Oso - 12-16-2007 at 10:32 AM

LaRousse, unabridged. Added benefit of great exercise carrying it around. (Just kidding, they also have a small one.)

Russ - 12-16-2007 at 10:36 AM

Not a true dictionary but I like "501 Spanish verbs". Lots of good info on sentence structure and how to conjugate the verbs too. Very helpful for those just starting out. I also like "Spanish for Idiots". Certainly not a text book but really kind of fun to work in.
I forgot the dictionary, DUH! Franklin battery opperated. It doesn't translate well but is small and handy.

[Edited on 12-16-2007 by Russ]

losfrailes - 12-16-2007 at 10:42 AM

As mentioned above, the University of Chicago English-Spanish Dictionary is superb!

Very complete, both directions (Eng-Span, Span-Eng) with a well organized list of common phrases with specifics for Mexico, along with other idiomatic applications for Spain, Cen America, etc.

It is also not mind boggling huge.

It can be found easily by Google, and there are lots available.

Here is one: http://www.amazon.com/University-Chicago-Spanish-English-Dic...

[Edited on 12-16-2007 by losfrailes]

[Edited on 12-16-2007 by losfrailes]

bajamigo - 12-16-2007 at 10:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Russ
Not a true dictionary but I like "501 Spanish verbs". Lots of good info on sentence structure and how to conjugate the verbs too. Very helpful for those just starting out. I also like "Spanish for Idiots". Certainly not a text book but really kind of fun to work in.
I forgot the dictionary, DUH! Franklin battery opperated. It doesn't translate well but is small and handy.

[Edited on 12-16-2007 by Russ]


I have a Franklin, but the display is virtually unreadable, even when backlit. Does yours have that problem? BTW, when you can read it (such as in a dark closet), it's a pretty good tool.

DENNIS - 12-16-2007 at 10:59 AM

Velázquez is popular at the university level here. My neighbor, when I lived in town, was a professor at UABC and he used it. The one I have should come with a wheelbarrow. It's huge. I have no doubt it's available in smaller sizes. Many dictionarys are compiled for Spain rather than mexico.

[Edited on 12-16-2007 by DENNIS]

Dictionary

Loretana - 12-16-2007 at 11:08 AM

Webster's New World Spanish Dictionary
and 501 Spanish Verbs by Christopher Kendris.

Hook - 12-16-2007 at 11:12 AM

These are helpful, but they are not cheap. And you cant already have a generic one around the house.

http://www.latinbrides.com/

Santiago - 12-16-2007 at 11:20 AM

Hook????? I appreciate the link and all that and in fact I have a generic one but what's the connection??

elizabeth - 12-16-2007 at 11:27 AM

Another vote for the University of Chicago dictionary. I also think 501 Spanish Verbs is a great resource.

Russ - 12-16-2007 at 12:42 PM

bajamigo , This one the screen in fine but I had one of the talking ones that the screen was very dim. New batteries worked for awhile but ended up in the trash. The one I have now is 5 years old and works well ----- today.

debindesert - 12-16-2007 at 12:43 PM

30 years now. It has served me well.

Maybe I need a new one?

Hook - 12-16-2007 at 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Hook????? I appreciate the link and all that and in fact I have a generic one but what's the connection??


Well, these could act as your translator.

There are other uses, I have heard...............

debindesert - 12-16-2007 at 06:03 PM

Bought this little beauty for 75 cents at a used bookstore across the street from Whittier College. I noticed that on the right corner (when purchased) it listed 60 cents. Considering inflation and this 74th edition (1961), I think I got a deal.



Unfortunately, I spent most of my tuition money on Toga parties. Little left for stupid things like books. Maybe that’s why I still need a Spanish dictionary?
:lol:

vacaenbaja - 12-16-2007 at 10:53 PM

Go Poets! My vote goes with University of Chicago. All my professors endorsed the same.

vgabndo - 12-17-2007 at 12:00 AM

I vote for the Chicago too. That said, if I spent any reasonable time with any of the twenty books on Spanish on my shelves, any ONE would be adequate.:lol::lol::lol:

There are eighteen of these on E-Bay right now starting at fifty cents. Renew, reuse...recycle.....

[Edited on 12-17-2007 by vgabndo]

IMG_0280.JPG - 46kB

dean miller - 12-17-2007 at 09:23 AM

It has been our (Mrs Miller and I) experience in traveling thought out the world that if a dictionary is large enough to read is too large to carry in a pocket, if it is small enough to be carried in a pocket it is difficult to read and essentially useless. Therefore we posses a number of large school book size indexed dictionaries which are always with us in our Baja travels.

The most usefull therefore the one most often relied on for Baja travel is the "Oxford-Duden Pictorial SPANISH and English dictionary" ISBN # 0-19-864514-7 ( hard cover) 0-19 -864515-4 (paper back), 677 illustrated pages plus over 100 non numbered pages.

The key word is Pictorial...each page is devoted to a line drawing of a particular area of interest with each item identified with a number. On the same page or another page the item is identified in both Spanish and English

These "Pictionaries" as they are commonly referred to are generally available at upscale book stores in the US--They are not inexpensive-- Price $21.95 US Yankee dollars for the soft cover.

But who ever said a good tool was inexpensive?

sdm

BajaWarrior - 12-17-2007 at 08:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
Hook????? I appreciate the link and all that and in fact I have a generic one but what's the connection??


No dictionary needed, language of love...

Santiago - 12-18-2007 at 08:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dean miller
But who ever said a good tool was inexpensive?
sdm


My wife says I'm cheap - does that count?