Stories Along The Way

Being bilingual is amazing.

But sometimes, it can also be pretty amusing.

When you speak two languages, your brain switches back and forth whenever it feels like it. You can be speaking in English while thinking in Spanish. You can start a sentence in English, finish it in Spanish, and throw a little Spanglish somewhere in the middle.

And if you’re talking to another bilingual person?

They understand you perfectly.

People often ask me, “Do you dream in English or Spanish?”

Honestly?

Both.

It depends on the dream.

I speak mostly English at work and both English and Spanish at home. I’ve also served as an interpreter at my job, so switching between languages has become a normal part of my life.

Sometimes someone will be talking to me in English, and suddenly I realize I’m translating everything they’re saying into Spanish in my head.

Nobody asked me to translate.

Apparently, my brain just decided it was time to go to work.

Then there are those moments when I know exactly what I want to say, but I can only remember the word in the other language.

I KNOW I know the English word.

But my brain says:

Nope. Hoy solamente español. 😂

It’s Not Always Word for Word

One thing people may not realize about being bilingual is that translating isn’t simply replacing an English word with a Spanish word.

Sometimes a direct translation exists, but it isn’t how we would naturally say it.

For example, in English we say:

“Start the car.”

But we wouldn’t say:

“Empieza el carro.”

Instead, we might say:

“Prende el carro” or “Enciende el carro.”

That’s the fascinating part.

Sometimes you’re not translating the words.

You’re translating the meaning.

Being Bilingual Doesn’t Automatically Make You an Interpreter

I’ve learned this through interpreting at work.

Being bilingual and being able to interpret are two different skills.

An interpreter has to listen, understand what the person actually means, and communicate that same message naturally in another language—sometimes within seconds.

You can’t always translate word for word. Languages have different expressions and different ways of saying the same thing.

Something that sounds perfectly normal in English can sound completely strange when translated literally into Spanish—and vice versa.

My brain is doing a lot more work than I give it credit for.

And Then There’s Spanglish

Of course, when English and Spanish can’t decide who’s in charge, there’s always:

Spanglish.

Sometimes you’re hablando en español and suddenly switch to English porque that particular word came to you first.

Did I notice?

Probably not.

Did the other bilingual person notice?

Maybe not.

Did we understand each other?

Absolutely.

That’s one of my favorite things about being bilingual.

Some thoughts naturally come to me in English. Others come in Spanish. Some memories even seem to belong to one language more than the other.

And apparently, even my dreams haven’t chosen sides.

So when someone asks:

“Do you think in English or Spanish?”

My answer is simple:

Both.

¿Y Spanglish?

También. 😂

And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.