Derecha ..... derecho

[laepelba]

So we've been having the conversation about "girar" vs. "doblar" here: http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=3286 ... And meanwhile I'm spending a few days staying with friends in NY who are originally from Perú. The other day, my friend's husband and I got into this hilarious conversation about "derecho" vs. "derecha". I was NOT confused about "izquierda" vs. "derecha" until I learned the word "derecho". Now I am convinced that I will mix up the two words....

So, basically:
- derecha = right
- izquierda = left
- derecho = straight ahead
Correct?

Are derecho and derecha both derived from the same word? In the RAE, this seems to be the case. This friend of mine was talking about the use of the term in legal settings, and talking about "derecho" being what is "straight" and "right", etc. But that was more confusing to me. "Human Rights" is "Derechos Humanos" and I always missed the fact that it's not "Derechas Humanos". DOH!

So, I suppose I'm looking for commentary on the more broad context/use of the words "derecha" y "derecho" ...... and then how I can connect those usages to "go straight ahead" vs. "turn right"........


Gracias de antemano!

[Rusty]

My advice would be to learn what derecho means, in its various parts of speech. This will help you the most, I think.
Adjective:
el lado derecho
la mano derecha
siéntate derecho
Noun:
tenemos el derecho
los derechos humanos
Adverb:
sigue todo derecho

phrase:
a la derecha

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Rusty

My advice would be to learn what derecho means, in its various parts of speech. This will help you the most, I think.

Adjective:
el lado derecho - the right side (with "-o" because "lado" is masculine)
la mano derecha - the right hand (with "-a" because "mano" is feminine)
siéntate derecho - would this change if you're talking to a female vs. a male? (A una niña, "Siéntate derecha"??)

Noun:
tenemos el derecho - always masculine?
los derechos humanos - always masculine?

Adverb:
sigue todo derecho - continue straight ahead (this wouldn't ever change to an "-a" ending, either, correct?

phrase:
a la derecha - (as a direction: "turn...) to the right"

BINGO!!!!! THAT is what I wasn't getting ... to think of it in terms of parts of speech! THANK YOU, Rusty!!

[Rusty]

There is a feminine form of the noun. A la derecha is one such example. The word has a political use (right wing), too.

[bobjenkins]

Tambien a mi me confundan las palabras derecho y derecha, escribiré lo que sé

Como un adjetivo
La mano derecha
El hombro derecho

Como un nombre
Los derechos humanos son nuestros

En el imperativo
Siga derecho _ keep going straight
Gire a la derecha _ take a right

[chileno]

Soy derecho - (soy diestro) - I am straight, correct. (diestro= I'm right handed, opposed to siniestro - left handed)
Estoy derecho - I am straight (position)
Tengo derecho - I have (the) right.
Pertenezco a la derecha - I belong to the right wing party.
Dobla a la derecha - turn to the right.

@laepelba

Yes, derecho o derecha depending subject's gender.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Ser derecho(a)", at least in Mexican slang, can be interpreted as "to be honest".

@Hernán: Yo no diría "soy siniestra", sino "soy zurda"... suena menos siniestro.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

"Ser derecho(a)", at least in Mexican slang, can be interpreted as "to be honest".

Right. I looked at that "straight, correct" and I knew there was something missing, so I left it alone.

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Hernán: Yo no diría "soy siniestra", sino "soy zurda"... suena menos siniestro.

I forgot to mention "being lefty" = "zurdo".

"A la siniestra" although it is understood, it is not used much nowadays. Instead "a la izquierda" is used. Which means it is "to the left side"

[CrOtALiTo]

My brother has the lefty hand.

That's an example.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

My brother has the lefty hand is left-handed.

In English, the wording is a bit different...