The Dangers of Overheard Conversations (part I)

When you learn Spanish or any other language eavesdropping other people’s conversations is a dangerous game. You might pick up some new words but you might also end up misunderstanding something and talking absolute nonsense. If you want some proof then look no further.

A Koala Ice Cream

I wanted an ice cream and went to one of the touristy restaurants in town. What could possibly go wrong? The woman who was sitting at the next table asked for one as well. I heard her say, “Una copa” and I silently slapped myself on the back for being such a language genius and man of the world. Then the waitress threw me by asking her, “¿Koala?” Eh, are they offering marsupial ice creams now? What next? Kangaroo milkshakes and possum pie? The mystery was solved later on when a friend pointed out something which I never picked up on when I first came here to learn Spanish. In Bolivia they incorrectly use the word “cuala” as the female version of “cual”, which is “which”.