As most of us seem to be struggling with our Spanish/ Catalan I thought perhaps we could have a new Spanish/Catalan word or phrase each week on the forum to help increase our vocabulary. Of course we would need some kind, responsible soul to post suitable ones for us to learn!  ;D

Here's one to start you off..
In English we have a saying 'Splitting hairs' when arguing over a trivial difference.
In Spanish they say 'Hilando fino' which translated means spinning fine (as in spinning a thread)  - hilar is the verb 'to spin'

Also, be careful in Spanish as pronunciation can be critical...
Happy new year is 'Feliz año' or 'Feliz año nuevo' (the Spanish tend no to say the nuevo as it is assumed) however not pronouncing the ñ (enya) makes it 'Feliz anno' or 'Feliz anno nuevo' which translates to 'Happy asshole'.. so be warned!

Thanks Nigel, I shall definitely be careful with that pronunciation!!
We will try throwing in the 'splitting hairs' phrase when talking to our Spanish neighbour-I'm sure he will be very impressed.

..just remembered this topic.

Another good expression is 'habia cuatro gatos'  - there were four cats.
Used when you go somewhere and there was hardly anyone there - i.e. a bar/restaurant with 2 other people. You would say something like:

'La semana pasada fui al restaurante de Paco y habia cuatro gatos'
Last week I went to Pacos restaurant and there were only a couple of people there'

Here's another...

Instead of saying "You're pulling my leg", in Spanish it's "You're pulling my hair"  Me estás tomando el pelo.  ;D

I shall try to memorise these to impress my neighbour whilst also making sure I don't use the dreaded 'anno' - so easy to slip up with that one! :-[

Sorry, senile dementia alert! Just realised I said much the same a few weeks ago-now where did I put my glasses....

Hen Fox, good idea.

If you really want to impress your neighbours at the local BBQ then learn a couple of Spanish and Catalan tongue twisters.

In Spanish they are called 'Trabalenguas'. Here are a couple to get you started:

Spanish:
Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en tres tristes trastos sentados tras un trigal.
Sentados tras un trigal en tres tristes trastos tragaban trigo tres tristes tigres.

Catalan:
Setze jutjes de un jutjat mengen fetge de un penjat.
Si el penjat es despenje es comeria les setze fetges de los setze jutjes que l'han jutjat.

If you search on Google you will find many more.

Thanks for that one Nigel. I shall pop it into the conversation as soon as I can!
P.S. What does it mean? ;D

Spanish:
Three sad tigres swallow wheat on three sad 'things' (trasto can refer to almost anything - odds and ends, something that is of little value or worth etc.) sat next to a wheat field. It's then the same but in reverse.

Catalan:
Six judges from a court eat the liver of a hanged man. If the hanged man unhangs himself he would eat the livers of the six judges that hanged him.

Thank you!