Have you seen those words that seem to have more personalities than a Hollywood actor?
One of them is “como.”
Yes, “como” can mean many things:
“Yo como pizza” → I eat
“Es como un juego” → It’s like a game
“Como te decía…” → As I was saying…
“¿Cómo estás?” → How are you?
And the best (or worst) part is that there are many words like that in Spanish.
If we talk about versatile words, we can’t leave out “ya.”
“Ya comí” → I already ate
“¡Ya!” → Enough! / Stop it!
“Ya no quiero” → I don’t want it anymore
“Ya va…” → I’m coming… / Hold on…
Sometimes, words take on a metaphorical or symbolic meaning when they are part of an idiom or expression. That’s what happens with the word “luz” (light), for example:
- “Encendí la luz” → I turned on the light.
Aquí, luz tiene un significado literal: se refiere a la electricidad que usamos para iluminar una habitación.
Here, luz has a literal meaning: it refers to the electricity we use to light up a room.
- “Vi la luz” → I saw the light.
Here, luz has a metaphorical meaning: we are talking about a revelation, a deep understanding, or a shift in consciousness.
In Spanish, we have many metaphorical expressions and idioms that use parts of the body
That’s why I invite you to read the blog post:
https://verbum.biz/phrases-in-spanish-expressions-using-parts-of-the-body/
“Body Parts in Spanish Expressions”
And while many words have multiple meanings and can be used in very different contexts, that’s not always the case. Sometimes — as Freud said — ‘A cigar is just a cigar.
Words like “como” and “ya” might seem to have a mind of their own — but once you understand their logic, they become your best friends in Spanish.
Whether you’re in Buenos Aires or learning from home, we’ll help you make friends with them all.
