Language through Literature

One sentence of «Las medias de los flamencos»


Sentence 3 of 83 · Las medias de los flamencos, Horacio Quiroga, 1918

Los pescados, como no caminan, no pudieron bailar; pero siendo el baile a la orilla del río, los pescados estaban asomados a la arena, y aplaudían con la cola.

The fish, since they do not walk, could not dance; but as the ball was on the river bank, the fish leaned out over the sand and applauded with their tails.

Every word in it

As printedDictionary formMeaning
Los elthe (masculine)
pescados pescadofish (as caught or eaten) (n., m.)
como comoas, like; since (conj./adv.)
no nono, not (adv.)
caminan caminarto walk (v.)
pudieron poderto be able, can (v.)
bailar bailarto dance (v.)
pero perobut (conj.)
siendo serto be — what a thing IS, against estar, how it is right now (v.)
baile bailedance, ball (n., m.)
a ato; at; on (prep.)
orilla orillabank, shore, edge (n., f.)
del delof the, from the (de + el)
río ríoriver (n., m.)
estaban estarto be — where a thing is, or how it is right now, against ser, what it is (v.)
asomados asomarto show, put out; asomarse — to lean out, peer (v.)
arena arenasand (n., f.)
y yand (conj.)
aplaudían aplaudirto applaud, clap (v.)
con conwith (prep.)
cola colatail; queue (n., f.)

Read «Las medias de los flamencos» in the room → Every word glossed where it stands, the English a tap away. The whole tale is free and asks for no account.

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Cuentos de la selva, all eight tales · Horacio Quiroga