¡Bienvenidos/as/es!

Welcome to the wonderful world of "Aprendiendo español con Dr. Paco". I'm thrilled you're here to begin this exciting language learning journey together.

To kick things off, let's take a closer look at our key word of the day - "bienvenido". This warm and inviting Spanish greeting actually comes from the combination of two words:
                       bien (well) + venido (come/arrived)
So when you say "bienvenido", you're literally offering someone a "good arrival". Isn't that a lovely sentiment?
Curiously, English has a very similar expression that arose from the same concept. "Welcome" originates from the Old English "wilcuma", which combines:
                       wil (pleasure/desire) + cuma (guest)
Over time, "wilcuma" evolved into "welcome", but the original meaning of receiving a guest with pleasure remains at its heart.
Many other Latin-based languages have their own "bienvenido" equivalents too:

• Italian: benvenuto
• Portuguese: bem-vindo
• French: bienvenu(e)

Noticing these connections between languages is a great way to expand your vocabulary and discover commonalities.

Now, let's put "bienvenido" into practice with a short activity. Imagine you're greeting a new Spanish-speaking friend. How would you welcome them?
Try writing or saying aloud:

"¡Hola! Bienvenido*^ a mi casa. Me llamo ____. ¿Cómo te llamas?"
Translation: "Hello! Welcome to my home. My name is ____. What's your name?"

*GRAMÁTICA: I want to make sure we create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcomed, so let's talk a bit more about those important greetings. In Spanish, adjectives often change based on the gender of the noun they describe. So with "bienvenido", we see a few variations:

• Bienvenido (masculine singular)
• Bienvenida (feminine singular)
• Bienvenidos (masculine plural)
• Bienvenidas (feminine plural)

^ATENCIÓN A LA DIVERSIDAD: More recently, some Spanish speakers have begun using "bienvenide" as a gender-neutral singular option. The "e" ending avoids defaulting to the masculine "o" while including non-binary folks. You might hear this in very progressive circles. So if I'm welcoming a group with different genders, I could say: "Bienvenidos, bienvenidas y bienvenides a la clase de español. Aquí hay un lugar para todos, todas y todes." (Translation: "Welcome one and all to Spanish class. There's a place here for everyone.")
Feel free to customize the greeting and add your own personal flair. The goal is to get comfortable using this new word in a real context.
I hope this "bienvenida" to the blog has left you feeling excited to learn more Spanish. Stay tuned for many more language insights, tips, and exercises to come. Together, we'll build your skills poco a poco (little by little).
My door is always open if you have any other questions. ¡Pregúntame! Ask away! I'm here to help.
Ahora, ¿están listos/as/es para aprender? ¿Sí? ¡Fantástico!
¡Hasta pronto! ;)