Spanish Idioms Frequency List/Dictionary

[James29]

Is anyone aware of a resource (book or list) of Spanish idioms that are organized in order of frequency similar to a frequency dictionary? If not, what are the best resources for learning the most common (100-200) Spanish idioms? I have some great resources, but they contain way too many idioms. I'd like to learn the most common ones first.

[zenmonkey]

I don't think you will find this (I hope I'm wrong) because creating a word frequency list is relatively straightforward - one grabs a lot of text to create a corpus (a few books, newspapers, wikipedia, what not) and you have a program that count words (and groups grammatical variants) - voila! A frequency list!

Idioms don't often appear in written text - they may be oral expression - local-regional dependent and low register. The real idioms of Chile differ a lot from those of Mexico.

However, what you may be able to find is a base that has a limited number of frequently understood idioms and work off of that. It won't be a frequency analysis but it will focus on those that are frequently understood.

Here is one that I've previously shared - I find it hits a good number of well known and often used idioms.

http://www.spanish-learning-corner.com/ ... ons-p.html

[MorkTheFiddle]

I googled 'common Spanish idioms' (without the quotes) and got several hits of short lists of idioms and espressons.

This sort of search works for other languages, too, obviously, including the elusive Pashto.

About: Spanish turned up a few as well.

Whether these are the most frequent phrases I can't say.

[extralean]

I don't think you will find this (I hope I'm wrong) because creating a word frequency list is relatively straightforward - one grabs a lot of text to create a corpus (a few books, newspapers, wikipedia, what not) and you have a program that count words (and groups grammatical variants) - voila! A frequency list!

Idioms don't often appear in written text - they may be oral expression - local-regional dependent and low register. The real idioms of Chile differ a lot from those of Mexico.

However, what you may be able to find is a base that has a limited number of frequently understood idioms and work off of that. It won't be a frequency analysis but it will focus on those that are frequently understood.

Here is one that I've previously shared - I find it hits a good number of well known and often used idioms.

http://www.spanish-learning-corner.com/ ... ons-p.html

I don't suppose you have a similar thing for French?

[zenmonkey]

I don't think you will find this (I hope I'm wrong) because creating a word frequency list is relatively straightforward - one grabs a lot of text to create a corpus (a few books, newspapers, wikipedia, what not) and you have a program that count words (and groups grammatical variants) - voila! A frequency list!

Idioms don't often appear in written text - they may be oral expression - local-regional dependent and low register. The real idioms of Chile differ a lot from those of Mexico.

However, what you may be able to find is a base that has a limited number of frequently understood idioms and work off of that. It won't be a frequency analysis but it will focus on those that are frequently understood.

Here is one that I've previously shared - I find it hits a good number of well known and often used idioms.

http://www.spanish-learning-corner.com/ ... ons-p.html

I don't suppose you have a similar thing for French?

It's your lucky day - There are actual books for these - Sky my Husband! takes a good look at some and there is a large database for French:

http://www.expressio.fr/toutes_les_expressions.php
They have a top 50: http://www.expressio.fr/palmares.php

[iguanamon]

For a humorous take on Spanish Idioms from Spain take a look at this article en El País- ¿Por qué “mojamos el churro”? and the English version Why do the Spanish S#!* in the Sea.

Of course there's Spanish and there's Spanish. How many of these would ever be heard or understood outside Spain I have not a clue. I doubt they are the most common either but I will be ordering a copy of the trilingual (ES, EN, FR), illustrated to humorous effect, book Con dos huevos.

[MorkTheFiddle]

Never ask the Spanish-speaking grocer, "¿Tienes huevos?" and never refer to cool weather in a Spanish-speaking men's room by saying, "Pretty chilly."

[arthaey]

I will be ordering a copy of the trilingual (ES, EN, FR), illustrated to humorous effect, book Con dos huevos.

Oh wow, that looks like a Spanish version of a book I loved as a kid, A Chocolate Mousse for Dinner. (The early signs of language-nerdy were so clear, in retrospect. )

[languagecrawler]

There must be one for Spanish because here is a good one for French:
Top 1001 French idioms explained (huge 1000-page book): Les 1001 Expressions préférées des Français:
http://amzn.to/1OmqeIa

[Spoonary]

I was browsing the Wordreference forums the other day and I came across this thread which may have something for you.