Customer Reviews

Harpercollins Unabridged Spanish Dictionary

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This is an excellent dictionary. I could see just by glancing at it that it was a far better product than all the others, but when I actually sat down with it and took it for a spin I was amazed.

It includes such colloquialisms as heebie-jeebies, traipse, snoop, zit, and nosh. It includes such technical terms as theodolite (which the MS Word dictionary does not recognize), sprocket, and pixel. All the curse words and vulgarities I've ever heard are there, plus some additional ones I've never heard. And they have a special three-dot system whereby you can tell just how bad the word is considered by native speakers.

In the center of the volume is a very useful section on grammar and usage which has an abundance of the sort of examples you need when you're grappling with a new word.

While the coverage of Latin American Spanish is very good, there are still discrepancies and omissions that seem to stem from an Old World point of view. The letter(s) ll is said to be pronounced like the lli in million or like j in Latin America. But in over a quarter century of travel in Central and South America, as well as in conversations with Spanish speakers in the US, I have never yet heard anyone say "Como te liamas?" instead of "Como te yamas?"

Should you be planning a climb in the Andes, you can find the words for cairn and crampon, but you'll have to look elsewhere for carabiner and gabion (neither of which the MS dictionary recognizes). Considering all the Mexicans working in the US construction industry, you'd think the editors would include words for a wooden stud or 2-by-4, but they don't. A large percentage of these guest craftsmen specialize in concrete work, but Harper Collins doesn't have a listing for rebar. And whether you're using a carpentry tool or a networking device, you won't find the Spanish word for router.

Going for a hike in the desert of northern Mexico? Ask a doctor before you go what the word for antivenin is, because though it seems like a pretty important word, especially to someone who's just been bit by a serpiente de cascabel, it's not in this book.

It may sound like I'm finding fault with Harper Collins, but I'm not. I sincerely admire this dictionary and these are instances in which it could be made even better. An email address on the back cover could get these and other useful notes to the editors pronto.

I've compared all other unabridged Spanish/English dictionaries and found Harper Collins superior. It contains all of the following: extensive definitons; contextual references for each meaning; linguistic variations and examples between verbs for fine shades of meaning; excellent coverage of Spanish as found in North America, S. America, Central America; Language in Use section, unique among all, with copious examples; and excellent idiomatic coverage of real-life usage. Naturally, this dictionary is limited in some ways. One will not find "very slang" usage listed in general; nor will one find much coverage of very "regional" idioms. But this is normal; most dictionaries only list the most common idioms or phrases used. I am a fluent Spanish speaker and also possess an M.A. in Spanish and find this work to be the most complete on the market. Add to that the fact that this dictionary is updated every 2 years. Most are revised/expaned every 4-6. So...if you are looking for the best money can buy, ignore the others. This is the best in coverage and features that the market offers.

I'm studying for my doctorate in Spanish Literature so by this one can note that I've been using and going through a slew of Spanish dictionaries for many, many years. This dictionary is the best one I've ever used for many reasons.

For one, I'm referring to the 'hardcover' edition. It's so wonderful to be able to open the book to a specific page, and have the book lay down flat without my having to keep one hand opening the dictionary and one hand opening my book. This is a small and frivolous detail, but when having to read dialectal Spanish from the Caribbean or Old Spanish, one must constantly refer to the dictionary. Having a dictionary that lies flat when opened is a tremendous help.

Secondly, it's indispensable if you are reading literature from other Spanish speaking countries apart from Mexico and Spain. I've found Cubanismos that I've never found in other dictionaries -- this saves valuable time from having second rate dictionaries and having to look for these obscure words on the internet.

In the middle of the dictionary is a comprehensive grammar and communication guide in Spanish and English. Everything from a clear explanation of key grammar points to standard models for everyday correspondence, resumes, invitations and email. It's an investment, it's expensive, but it's well worth the price.

Concerning the comment of a reviewer never having heard the /ll/ pronounced as /li/ as in "¿Cómo te 'liamas'?", this pronunciation can be heard among many speakers of Argentina, I've heard it myself from an older Argentine woman who taught this pronunciation to the students she instructed in Spanish. This serves as additional proof of how thorough and complete this splendid tome is.

Harper-Collins has produced the best, most organized dictionary of the Spanish language out on the market. Excellent organization, classification, and regional distinctions (eg. where words are used among the various Spanish speaking nations of the world) has made Harper-Collins' dictionary series the best. Oxford, Larousse, and Penguin's dictionaries can't meet the organizational and thoughful research the Harper-Collins staff has done. This dictionary is worth every penny!

If you don't mind the British English slant, this is an excellent dictionary (and FAR superior to its abridged cousins). I do prefer the Simon and Schuster's for more technical and precise translation; but this is nevertheless an excellent dictionary which will not dissapoint you.

This 5th Edition beats the Oxford Spanish Dictionary. It is more comprehensive and polished. Collins has gone in the right direction with an expansion of coverage of science, technology, and business terms. But, there is still tremendous room for improvement in a dictionary that is supposed to be unabridged.

My first Collins was copyrighted in 1971. Over the years I have used all of the other excellent bilingual dictionaries (Larousse, Oxford, Simon & Schuster) and even the lesser ones, but Collins, then HarperCollins, was always the best. I agree with all the previous reviewers. After more than 30 years using dictionaries, I can say that HarperCollins is still the best.

After comparing almost every Spanish/English "unabridged" or reference dictionary available, this is no doubt the best, most comprehensive, useful and well organized that I have seen. Every serious student of spanish should have one.

This is the best dictionary I've used. I also have the Simon & Schuster International Dictionary (hardcover), but I prefer this one. Besides the added sytlistic hints, it has the most comprehensive regionalisms and slang of any dictionary I've found. Extremely useful reference tool!

I am very impressed with the scope of this dictionary. It provides sample phrases, lists the variations in meaning by country or region, and has a terrific set of appendices including sample business letters. I recommend it to all of my students.