Duda

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for December 28, 2009

duda (feminine noun (la)) — question, doubt, uncertainty. Look up duda in the dictionary

Nadie pone en duda su capacidad para realizar el trabajo.
Nobody questions his ability to do the job.

Tengo una duda. Si los niños llegan a las cinco de la tarde, ¿quién los va a cuidar hasta que lleguen los maestros a las seis?
I have a question. If the children are going to arrive at 5:00pm, who is going to watch them until the teachers arrive at 6:00pm?

Tengo mis dudas sobre la teoría del Big Bang.
I have my doubts about the Big Bang theory.

Se hizo un análisis de sangre para saber si está embarazada. La duda la está matando.
She has had a blood test done to know whether or not she's pregnant. The uncertainty is killing her.

[bobjenkins]

Nunca dudéis en que los comerciales para vender a las cosas muy inútiles van aburriros al muerto, esas son palabras desnudas sin falta
(never doubt that the infomercials bore you to death, it´s inevitable

Tengo dudas en los programas de televisión porque no me interesan a mi! Son más aburridos !
I´ve doubts in the shows because they are so boring


embarazada - palabra nueva gracias!

PD

Se hizo un análisis de sangre para saber si está embarazada. La duda ++++la está matando.
She +++has had a blood test done to know ++whether or not she's pregnant. The uncertainty is killing her.

+++¿Puedo decir "se ha hecho un análisis de sangre..." o quizás se podría decir "se ha tenido un análisis....? "¿Se podría contemplar en usar el verbo tener en esta situación porque en ingles yo diría "I´ve HAD a blood test?"

++¿Cómo se diría en español , por supuesto , "whether or not" ? ¿Será suficiente para decirlo simplemente así, como en el ejemplo, "No sé si tiene una gata"? (si = whether or not)

++++El uso del pronombre con estar ahí me ayuda muchísimo muchas gracias, me gusta que la palabra del día haya mejorado muchísimo porque la gente amable aquí escriben muchas buenas oraciones!!!

Dios mio ya me aparece que he escrito tanto

[laepelba]

Mis conatos:

Todos los empleados están empezando tener dudas sobre las aptitudes del jefe nuevo.
(All of the employees are beginning to question the abilities of the new boss.)

Tengo dudas que el tiempo será bastante bueno hoy a conducir a NYC.
(I have my doubts that the weather will be good enough today to drive to New York.)

[laepelba]

Still thinking about this one. In English, to say that we are certain about something, we can start the sentence with: "Without a doubt....". In Spanish would that be "Sin duda..." or maybe even "Sin una duda..."?

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Still thinking about this one. In English, to say that we are certain about something, we can start the sentence with: "Without a doubt....". In Spanish would that be "Sin duda..." or maybe even "Sin una duda..."?

Pienso que estás correcta

¿Se debería usar el subjuntivo con la frase "sin duda que"?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Still thinking about this one. In English, to say that we are certain about something, we can start the sentence with: "Without a doubt....". In Spanish would that be "Sin duda..." or maybe even "Sin ninguna duda..."?

Thanks for bringing that up.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Mis conatos intentos:

"Conato" is usually understood as something that had been started, but wasn't accomplished.
"Un conato de incendio" is a fire that had started but was put off very soon.

Todos los empleados están empezando tener dudas sobre las aptitudes del jefe nuevo. For reasons of style, "nuevo jefe" would be more euphonic.
(All of the employees are beginning to question the abilities of the new boss.)

Tengo dudas Dudo que el tiempo será lo bastante/suficientemente bueno hoy a para conducir a NYC.
(I have my doubts that the weather will be good enough today to drive to New York.)

"Tengo dudas" doesn't seem wrong, but I never hear it, so I'd prefer it was avoided.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

"Tengo dudas" doesn't seem wrong, but I never hear it, so I'd prefer it was avoided.

So, like in the example sentences, it should be "tengo una duda" or "tengo mis dudas" or simply use "dudar" without the "tener"?

[irmamar]

I know that I can't say "I have a doubt" in English. But it is very common to say "tengo una duda" in Spanish. I don't know how I could translate "tengo una duda" in the following sentence, since "I have a question" doesn't fit (or I think so) :

Tengo una duda: no sé si ponerme el vestido negro o el azul.

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I know that I can't say "I have a doubt" in English. But it is very common to say "tengo una duda" in Spanish. I don't know how I could translate "tengo una duda" in the following sentence, since "I have a question" doesn't fit (or I think so) :

Tengo una duda: no sé si ponerme el vestido negro o el azul.

Thanks.

I have a question
I can't make up my mind:
I don't know what to do:
I have to decide:
I can't decide:
I am in two minds:
I have an incredibly difficult and important decision to make:
In trutina mentis dubia:

[poli]

You can use the verb ponder too.
I'm pondering about whether to wear blue or black.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by poli

You can use the verb ponder too.
I'm pondering about whether to wear blue or black.

I didn't know this verb. Thanks!

Edit: and thanks, Perikles, too. I hadn't seen you answer. A flower for you, too.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by poli

You can use the verb ponder too.
I'm pondering about whether to wear blue or black.

Yes, of course, and also I'm wondering about whether to wear blue or black. (I don't think I've ever said that sentence before. )

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, of course, and also I'm wondering about whether to wear blue or black. (I don't think I've ever said that sentence before. )

I guess you don't.

Thanks.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I didn't know this verb. Thanks!

Edit: and thanks, Perikles, too. I hadn't seen you answer. A flower for you, too.

¿En España no se pondera si uno va a hacer una u otra cosa?

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by chileno

¿En España no se pondera si uno va a hacer una u otra cosa?

Se efectúan ponderaciones en cálculos matemáticos (por ejemplo, la media ponderada). Pero no pondero si voy al cine o al teatro . ¿Tú sí?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

¿En España no se pondera si uno va a hacer una u otra cosa?

Hey - it's the same verb. I wonder why Irmamar has never heard it. I must ponder that.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Se efectúan ponderaciones en cálculos matemáticos (por ejemplo, la media ponderada). Pero no pondero si voy al cine o al teatro . ¿Tú sí?

No solo yo.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by chileno

No solo yo.

Ya me entiendes

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Hey - it's the same verb. I wonder why Irmamar has never heard it. I must ponder that.

Originally Posted by irmamar

Ya me entiendes