palabra por palabra
Lemma Details
Translation: word for word; verbatim; literally
Part of Speech: adverbial phrase
Etymology: This Spanish phrase combines 'palabra' (word) from Latin 'parabola' (comparison, speech) with the preposition 'por' (for, by) to create a direct equivalent to the English 'word for word'. The construction follows the same pattern in both languages, making it relatively transparent for English speakers.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El estudiante copió el texto palabra por palabra.
The student copied the text word for word.
La traducción debe ser palabra por palabra para este documento legal.
The translation must be word for word for this legal document.
No es necesario que memorices el poema palabra por palabra.
It's not necessary for you to memorize the poem word for word.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'palabra' as similar to 'parable' (a story) and remember that both Spanish and English use the same structure: word + for + word.
- Visualize each word being carefully matched with its counterpart, like building blocks placed one by one.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in academic, translation, and literary contexts when emphasizing the exactness of a quotation or translation. In Spanish-speaking cultures, precise quotation is often valued in formal discourse and academic writing.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'palabra por palabra' means 'word for word' (emphasizing exact correspondence), 'palabra a palabra' would suggest 'word by word' (emphasizing sequence or progression).
Confused word:
Aprendió a leer palabra a palabra, progresando lentamente.
He learned to read word by word, progressing slowly.
Notes: 'Palabra por palabra' is the standard expression, while 'palabra a palabra' is less common and typically used in specific contexts involving progression.
Mnemonic: 'Por' suggests equivalence (one word FOR another), while 'a' suggests movement or progression (going FROM one word TO another).