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Cimiento

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DailyWord
September 27, 2009, 03:19 AM
This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word (http://daily.tomisimo.org/) for September 27, 2009

cimiento (masculine noun (el)) — foundation, groundwork, basis. Look up cimiento in the dictionary (http://www.tomisimo.org/dictionary/spanish_english/cimiento)

Hicieron el cimiento de piedra y concreto.
They laid the foundation of stone and concrete.

María José
September 27, 2009, 06:44 AM
I'm used to hearing this word, both in English and in Spanish in the plural:
los cimientos= the foundations

AngelicaDeAlquezar
September 27, 2009, 08:58 AM
I agree... "cimientos" in plural is more common.

brute
September 27, 2009, 04:55 PM
What is the Spanish for cement please? Is it also cimiento? Is it also related to cemetery (cimentero)?

laepelba
September 27, 2009, 05:46 PM
I wouldn't really use the word "foundations" in the plural unless you are literally talking about more than one:
- They laid the foundation of the house.
- While starting the new development, they put in the foundations of all the homes at the same time.

Is "cimientos" also used for theoretical ideas as well?
- Estoy aprendiendo los cimientos de los derechos humanos por leyendo en el sitio web del UNHRC (Naciones Unidas Comiciando para los Derechos Humanos).

Tomisimo
September 27, 2009, 07:13 PM
What is the Spanish for cement please? Is it also cimiento? Is it also related to cemetery (cimentero)?
cement = cemento
cementary = cementerio

ookami
September 27, 2009, 07:38 PM
yes laepelba :)
3. m. Principio y raíz de algo. U. m. en pl. Los cimientos de la fe.

AngelicaDeAlquezar
September 27, 2009, 08:23 PM
[...]
Is "cimientos" also used for theoretical ideas as well?
- Estoy aprendiendo los cimientos de los derechos humanos por leyendo en el sitio web del UNHRC (Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas Comiciando para los Derechos Humanos).

I agree with ookami. It can also be used in a figurative sense. :)

This is a mere matter of style, and I'd prefer "fundamentos" when you say you're learning ("estoy aprendiendo los fundamentos...").
I would use "Cimientos" as the "basis" in an argument, when you're more certain about it. But it's a good sentence, Lou Ann. :thumbsup:

pjt33
September 28, 2009, 01:47 AM
What is the Spanish for cement please? Is it also cimiento? Is it also related to cemetery (cimentero)?
Cement and cemetery aren't really related. It's just coincidence that they're spelt similarly.

Cement: c.1300, from O.Fr. ciment, from L. cæmenta "stone chips used for making mortar," from cædere "to cut down, chop, beat, hew, fell, slay" from PIE base *(s)k(h)a- "to strike" (cf. Skt. skhidati "beats, tears," Lith. kaisti "shave," Ger. heien "beat"). The sense evolution from "small broken stones" to "powdered stones used in construction" took place before the word reached Eng. The verb is from 1340.

Cemetery: 1387, from O.Fr. cimetiere "graveyard," from L.L. coemeterium, from Gk. koimeterion "sleeping place, dormitory," from koiman "to put to sleep," keimai "I lie down," from PIE base *kei- "to lie, rest" (cf. Goth haims "village," O.E. ham "home, house, dwelling"). Early Christian writers were the first to use it for "burial ground."

Source: http://www.etymonline.com/

bobjenkins
September 28, 2009, 02:58 AM
Hola puedo decir, "el anteproyecto es final, es cimiento" = the blueprints are final, they are set in stone"

irmamar
September 28, 2009, 04:38 AM
Hola puedo decir, "el anteproyecto es final, es cimiento" = the blueprints are final, they are set in stone"

Creo que es: el anteproyecto es definitivo, se asienta sobre (cimientos de) piedra.

laepelba
September 28, 2009, 06:09 AM
I agree with ookami. It can also be used in a figurative sense. :)

This is a mere matter of style, and I'd prefer "fundamentos" when you say you're learning ("estoy aprendiendo los fundamentos...").
I would use "Cimientos" as the "basis" in an argument, when you're more certain about it. But it's a good sentence, Lou Ann. :thumbsup:

Thanks, Malila! Interesting, I definitely see that I spelled "Comisionado" correctly. And for the wording of the name of the organization, I re-wrote what I saw on their website: http://www.ohchr.org/SP/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx - Anyway, thanks for the pointer on the nuances of that use of the word. :)