Language Learners

French word of the week: vers

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French word 'vers'. Read More

Indirect speech

Indirect speech or reported speech reports something that was said, but does not use the actual words that the speaker uttered. Lynn asked whether Pippa had been to the new shopping mall. Pippa replied that she hadn’t, but she had heard that there were some really cool shops there. Reported speech always has two clauses. The words… Read More

Spanish words of the week: cubierta or cubierto?

Continuing with our pairs of Spanish nouns whose meanings can be completely different depending on whether they are masculine or feminine, we move on to 'cubierto' and 'cubierta'. Read More

Direct speech

Direct speech gives the actual words that a speaker has used. It is common in novels and other writing where the actual words of a speaker are quoted. The reporting verb may come before the words that were actually spoken, or after them, or at a natural pause inside the reported sentence. Read More

French word of the week: combien

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French adverb 'combien'. Read More

Spanish words of the week: punta or punto?

Continuing our series looking at pairs of Spanish nouns whose meanings can be completely different depending on whether they are masculine or feminine , we look at 'punta' and 'punto'. Read More

French word of the week: sauf

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French word 'sauf'. Read More

Spanish words of the week: cuenta or cuento?

The meanings of the words 'cuenta' and 'cuento' are completely different. Read More

Learning Italian: Making a call

Talking on the phone in a foreign language can be intimidating. You’re unable to see the facial expressions and body language of the other person on the phone, which are often useful communicative signs that help language learners to understand the gist of what someone is saying. Also, many countries… Read More