it's a help if you can speak the language

with the help of sb., sth. — con l'aiuto di qcn., qcs.

can I be of help (to you)? — posso esserti d'aiuto?

to come to sb.'s help — venire in aiuto di qcn.

to cry for help chiamare aiuto; it's a help if you can speak the language serve saper parlare la lingua; there's no help for it non c'è niente da fare; he needs (professional) help — dovrebbe farsi vedere (da uno specialista)

to help each other — aiutarsi (l'un l'altro)

can you help me with this sack? — puoi aiutarmi con questo sacco?

to help sb. across, down, out — aiutare qcn. ad attraversare, a scendere, a uscire

I helped him to his feet — l'ho aiutato ad alzarsi in piedi

he didn't help matters by writing that letter — non ha migliorato le cose scrivendo quella lettera

it can't be helped! — è inevitabile! non ci si può fare nulla!

he can't help being stupid! — non è colpa sua se è stupido!

not if I can help it! — se posso evitarlo, no di certo!

he won't win if I can help it — non vincerà se riesco ad impedirglielo

don't tell her any more than you can help — non dirle più dello stretto necessario

I can't help that — non posso farne a meno, non posso farci niente

you can't help but pity him — non si può far altro che compatirlo

he never helps with the cooking — non dà mai una mano in cucina

to help with the expenses — partecipare alle spese

would it help if I turned the light off? — andrebbe meglio se spegnessi la luce?

to help oneself — servirsi

help yourselves to coffee — prendete del caffè

to help oneself to — (pinch) servirsi da, rubare da

he has been helping himself to the till — si è servito dalla cassa

to help oneself — frenarsi, trattenersi

with the help of sb., sth. — con l'aiuto di qcn., qcs.

can I be of help (to you)? — posso esserti d'aiuto?

to come to sb.'s help — venire in aiuto di qcn.

to cry for help chiamare aiuto; it's a help if you can speak the language serve saper parlare la lingua; there's no help for it non c'è niente da fare; he needs (professional) help — dovrebbe farsi vedere (da uno specialista)

to help each other — aiutarsi (l'un l'altro)

can you help me with this sack? — puoi aiutarmi con questo sacco?

to help sb. across, down, out — aiutare qcn. ad attraversare, a scendere, a uscire

I helped him to his feet — l'ho aiutato ad alzarsi in piedi

he didn't help matters by writing that letter — non ha migliorato le cose scrivendo quella lettera

it can't be helped! — è inevitabile! non ci si può fare nulla!

he can't help being stupid! — non è colpa sua se è stupido!

not if I can help it! — se posso evitarlo, no di certo!

he won't win if I can help it — non vincerà se riesco ad impedirglielo

don't tell her any more than you can help — non dirle più dello stretto necessario

I can't help that — non posso farne a meno, non posso farci niente

you can't help but pity him — non si può far altro che compatirlo

he never helps with the cooking — non dà mai una mano in cucina

to help with the expenses — partecipare alle spese

would it help if I turned the light off? — andrebbe meglio se spegnessi la luce?

to help oneself — servirsi

help yourselves to coffee — prendete del caffè

to help oneself to — (pinch) servirsi da, rubare da

he has been helping himself to the till — si è servito dalla cassa

to help oneself — frenarsi, trattenersi

¡mira quién fue a hablar! — look who's talking!

los datos hablan por sí solos — the facts speak for themselves

que hable él — let him speak, let him have his say

vamos a hablar en confianza — this is between you and me

¿hablas en serio? — are you serious?

el vino hace hablar — wine loosens people's tongues

hablamos por teléfono todos los días — we speak on the phone every day, we phone each other every day

acabo de hablar por teléfono con ella — I was just on the phone to her

¡ni hablar! —

de eso ni hablar — that's out of the question

habla bien el portugués — he speaks good Portuguese, he speaks Portuguese well

"se habla inglés" — "English spoken"

en el Brasil se habla portugués — they speak Portuguese in Brazil

hay que hablarlo todo — we need to discuss everything

eso habrá que hablarlo con tu padre — you'll have to discuss that with your father

exijo que se haga lo que yo digo y no hay más que hablar — you will do what I say and that's that

me gustan las películas de vaqueros y no hay más que hablar — I happen to like westerns and I don't see why I should have to justify it

habla más alto — speak up

habla más bajo — keep your voice down

hablar con la boca llena — to talk with one's mouth full

las cifras hablan por sí solas — the figures speak for themselves

mejor no hablar — I'd better keep my mouth shut

así se habla! — that's what I like to hear!

hablar por señas — to use sign language

hablar en público — to speak in public

un político que habla muy bien — a politician who is a very good speaker

quien mucho habla mucho yerra — the more you talk, the more mistakes you'll make

tenemos que hablar — we must (have a) talk

está hablando por teléfono — he's on the phone

hablar de algo/alguien — to talk about something/somebody

siempre habla mal de ella — he never has a good word to say about her

lo dejamos en 10.000 y no se hable más (de ello) — let's say 10,000 and be done with it

el viaje en tren sale caro, y no hablemos ya del avión — going by train is expensive, and as for flying...

háblame de tus planes — tell me about your plans

no sé de qué me estás hablando — I don't know what you're talking about

hablan muy bien de él — people speak very highly of him

me ha hablado mucho de ti — she's told me a lot about you

le hablé al director de tu caso — I spoke to the director about your case

ya hablaremos sobre eso luego — we'll talk about that later

no me hables en ese tono — don't speak to me in that tone of voice

háblale de tú — use the `tú' form with him

hablar de + inf — to talk of -ing, talk about -ing

se habla ya de miles de víctimas — there is already talk of thousands of casualties

se habla español — Spanish spoken

tenemos que hablar las cosas — we must talk things over

no habló ni una palabra — he didn't say a word

llevan meses sin hablarse — they haven't spoken to each other for months

habla más alto — speak up

habla más bajo — keep your voice down

hablar con la boca llena — to talk with one's mouth full

las cifras hablan por sí solas — the figures speak for themselves

mejor no hablar — I'd better keep my mouth shut

así se habla! — that's what I like to hear!

hablar por señas — to use sign language

hablar en público — to speak in public

un político que habla muy bien — a politician who is a very good speaker

quien mucho habla mucho yerra — the more you talk, the more mistakes you'll make

tenemos que hablar — we must (have a) talk

está hablando por teléfono — he's on the phone

hablar de algo/alguien — to talk about something/somebody

siempre habla mal de ella — he never has a good word to say about her

lo dejamos en 10.000 y no se hable más (de ello) — let's say 10,000 and be done with it

el viaje en tren sale caro, y no hablemos ya del avión — going by train is expensive, and as for flying...

háblame de tus planes — tell me about your plans

no sé de qué me estás hablando — I don't know what you're talking about

hablan muy bien de él — people speak very highly of him

me ha hablado mucho de ti — she's told me a lot about you

le hablé al director de tu caso — I spoke to the director about your case

ya hablaremos sobre eso luego — we'll talk about that later

no me hables en ese tono — don't speak to me in that tone of voice

háblale de tú — use the `tú' form with him

hablar de + inf — to talk of -ing, talk about -ing

se habla ya de miles de víctimas — there is already talk of thousands of casualties

se habla español — Spanish spoken

tenemos que hablar las cosas — we must talk things over

no habló ni una palabra — he didn't say a word

llevan meses sin hablarse — they haven't spoken to each other for months

ya sabe decir varias palabras — she can already say several words, she already knows several words

- tengo prisa -dijo — "I'm in a hurry," she said

olvídalo, no he dicho nada — forget I said anything

¿decía usted? — you were saying?

como decía mi abuela — as my grandmother used to say

como iba diciendo... — as I was saying...

¿cómo ha dicho usted? — pardon?, what did you say?

mi amigo dice que eres muy guapa — my friend says (that) you're very pretty

dicen que... — they say (that)..., people say (that)...

el cartel dice claramente que... — the sign says clearly {o} clearly states that...

decir que sí/no — to say yes/no

-¿viene? -dice que sí — "is she coming?" - "she says she is {o} she says so"

la miré y me dijo que sí/no con la cabeza — I looked at her and she nodded/shook her head

¿quién te lo dijo? — who told you?

se lo dije bien claro, pero no me hizo caso — I told her quite clearly, but she didn't take any notice of me

tengo algo que decirte — there's something I want to tell you, I've got something to tell you

hoy nos dicen las notas — they're telling {o} giving us our results today

me dijo que no vendría — he told me (that) he wouldn't come

ya te dije que no tiene ni idea — I told you he hasn't got a clue

¿no te digo que no puedo ir? — I've already told you I can't go

la profesora me dijo que esperara fuera — the teacher told me to wait outside

le dije que fuera más tarde — I told her to go later

dile que venga a cenar mañana con nosotros — ask him to come and have supper with us tomorrow

te digo que te calles — I said shut up

decir tonterías — to talk nonsense

¿cómo le dicen a esto en Perú? — what do they call this in Peru?

se llama Francisco, pero le dicen Paco — his name is Francisco, but he's known as Paco

le dicen "el torero" — he's known as "el torero"

en México se le dice "recámara" al dormitorio — in Mexico they say "recámara" instead of "dormitorio"

podemos ir a Portugal, ¿tú qué dices? — we could go to Portugal, what do you say?

¿tu familia qué dice de la boda? — what does your family say about the wedding?

había 8, digo 9 — there were 8, I mean 9

dirá usted aquel otro — you must mean that other one

¡qué digo! — what am I saying?

no puedo leer lo que dice — I can't read what it says

no me dice nada este libro — this book leaves me cold

mis súbditos se presentarán ante mí ¡he dicho! — my subjects shall appear before me: I have spoken!

aunque no es el director es, como quien dice, el que manda en la empresa — although he isn't the manager, he's the person in charge, so to speak, of the company

está, como quien dice, aquí al lado — it's just round the corner, as they say

como quien no dice nada — quite casually, as though it wasn't important

- gracias por todo -lo mismo digo — "thank you for everything" - "likewise!" {o} "thanks to you too!"

deberías buscar trabajo, vamos, digo yo — you ought to look for a job, that's what I say, if you ask me, you ought to look for a job

¡si te lo digo yo! — of course it's true!

¡lo digo yo y basta! — you will do it because I say so!

mi prima, es decir, la hija de Ana — my cousin, that is (to say) Ana's daughter

¿qué quiere decir "spatha"? — what does "spatha" mean?

¿qué quiere usted decir con eso? — what do you mean by that?

¿querrás decir un millón, no un billón? — do you mean a million rather than a billion?

les ha costado más cara que mi casa, y eso ya es decir — it cost them more than my house did, and that's saying something

no es que yo lo diga, pero... — it's not because I say so, but...

es, digamos, un comerciante — he's a dealer, for want of a better word, he's a sort of dealer

¡haberlo dicho!, ¡me lo hubieras dicho! — you could have told me {o} said!

y su madre, no digamos — not to mention his mother

no estuvo muy cortés, que digamos — he wasn't what you'd call polite, he wasn't exactly polite

¿cómo (lo) diría yo? — how shall I put it?

¿cómo diríamos? — how shall I put it?

¡quién lo diría! — would you believe it!, who would have thought it!

pero no quiso por el qué dirán — but she didn't want to because of what people might say

se preocupa mucho por el qué dirán — she's always worried about what people will say {o} think

-¿te puedo pedir un favor? -dime — "can I ask you a favour?" - "go ahead"

-¿te gustaría cambiar de coche? -¡hombre, ya me dirás! — "would you like a new car?" - "you bet I would!"

su nombre no me dice nada — her name doesn't mean anything to me

su mirada lo dice todo — her expression says it all {o} speaks volumes

una situación que tan mal dice de nuestro gobierno — a situation which shows our government in such a bad light

¿cientos de personas? - bueno, es un decir — hundreds of people? - well, figuratively speaking

ya dice `mamá' — he says `mama' now

no digas esas cosas, por favor — please don't say things like that

no digas estupideces — don't talk nonsense!

¿cómo pudiste decir eso? — how could you say that?

¿eso lo dices por mí? — are you referring to me?

no lo dirás en serio! — you can't be serious!

dijo que sí con la cabeza — he nodded

no se dice `andé', se dice `anduve' — it isn't `andé', it's `anduve'

eso no se dice! — you mustn't say that!

¿cómo se dice `amor' en ruso? — how do you say `love' in Russian?

bonita, lo que se dice bonita, no es — she's not what you would call pretty

es el sábado; ni que decir tiene que estás invitado — it's on Saturday; you're invited, but that goes without saying

haberlo dicho antes — why didn't you say so before?

¿tendrá tiempo de hacerlo? - dice que sí — will he have time to do it? - he says he will

¿no lo encontró? - dice que no — didn't he find it? - no, he says he didn't

digan lo que digan — whatever people say

decirle algo a alguien — to tell somebody something

eso no es lo que me dijo a mí — that's not what he told me

¿sabes qué me dijo? — do you know what he told me?; (expresando sorpresa, indignación, etc) do you know what he said to me?

se lo voy a decir a papá — I'm going to tell Dad

hoy nos dicen el resultado — they're going to give us the result today

Andrés me dijo lo de tu hermano — Andrés told me about your brother

a mí me lo vas a decir! — you're telling me!

ya te lo decía yo! — I told you so!

fue algo espantoso, todo lo que te diga es poco — it was terrible, I can't begin to tell you how terrible

no me digas que no es precioso! — isn't it beautiful?

dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres — you can judge a man by the company he keeps

porque lo digo yo! — because I say so!

harás lo que yo diga — you'll do as I say

papá dice que vayas — Dad wants you

dice que llames cuando llegues — she says (you are) to phone when you get there

dijo que tuviéramos cuidado — she said to be careful

decirle a alguien que + subj — to tell somebody to + inf

diles que empiecen — tell them to start

le dije que no lo hiciera — I told him not to do it

decir adiós — to say goodbye

decirle adiós a alguien — to say goodbye to somebody

di adiós a tu vida de estudiante — you'd better say goodbye to your student days

¿qué dice aquí? — what does it say here?

el diario no dice nada sobre el asunto — there's nothing in the paper about it

se llama Rosario pero le dicen Charo — her name is Rosario but people call her Charo

la forma de vestir dice mucho de una persona — the way someone dresses says a lot/tells you a lot about them

el tiempo lo dirá — time will tell

algo me decía que no iba a ser fácil — something told me it wasn't going to be easy

¿te dice algo ese nombre? — does that name mean anything to you?

decir misa — to say mass

querer decir — to mean

¿qué quiere decir esta palabra? — what does this word mean?

¿qué quieres decir con eso? — what do you mean by that?

¿quieres decir que ya no te interesa? — do you mean (to say) that you're no longer interested?

¿y los padres qué dicen? — what do her parents think of it?, how do her parents feel about it?

habría que regalarle algo, no sé, digo yo — we ought to buy her a present, well, I think so anyway

es muy fácil - si tú lo dices... — it's very easy - if you say so...

a decir verdad — to tell you the truth, to be honest

como quien dice — so to speak

papá - dime, hijo — dad - yes, son?

quería pedirle un favor - usted dirá — I wanted to ask you a favor - certainly, go ahead

se decían secretos al oído — they were whispering secrets to each other

se dijeron de todo — they called each other every name under the sun

yo sé lo que me digo — I know what I'm talking about

tú te lo dices todo — you seem to have all the answers