Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Ella es una candidata bilingüe y responde con calma. - She is a bilingual candidate and answers calmly.

Use ser (es) to classify or identify someone: she is a candidate. Estar is for states/conditions or temporary roles. You might hear Está de candidata to stress a temporary or current role in a race. Both are correct but carry different nuances:

Es candidata = She is (a) candidate (classification).
Está de candidata = She’s serving/acting as a candidate (temporary/role).

Do I need the article una after ser here?

With professions/roles after ser, Spanish often drops the article: Es candidata. However, when the noun is modified (by an adjective or phrase), using the article is common and often preferred: Es una candidata bilingüe. Both Es candidata bilingüe and Es una candidata bilingüe are accepted; the version with una sounds more natural to many speakers.

Why candidata and not candidato?

Spanish nouns usually agree with the person’s gender. Since it’s ella, use the feminine candidata. The article also agrees: una candidata. The adjective bilingüe is the same for masculine and feminine.

How do you pronounce bilingüe and what are the two dots for?

Pronunciation: roughly “bee-LEEN-gweh” (syllables: bi-lín-güe; stress on the second syllable).
The two dots (¨) over ü are a diaeresis, called diéresis in Spanish. It tells you the u is pronounced.
- güe = “gweh” (u is sounded)
- Without the dots (gue), the u is silent and you’d get a plain “ge” sound.

How can I type ü?

Phone/tablet: long-press the letter u and choose ü.
Mac: Option/Alt + u, then u (for ü); Option/Alt + u, then Shift + u (for Ü).
Windows (US-International layout): press " (double quote), then u. Or use Alt codes: Alt+0252 (ü), Alt+0220 (Ü).
Linux (Compose key): Compose, then " then u.

What’s the plural?

Singular: una candidata bilingüe
Plural: unas candidatas bilingües
The adjective pluralizes to bilingües. Full sentence in plural: Ellas son candidatas bilingües y responden con calma.

What does responde tell me about the verb?

Responde is third-person singular present indicative of responder. It can mean:

Habitual: “She answers/responds (in general) calmly.”
Right now/contextual present: “She’s responding calmly.”
A common synonym is contestar: Ella contesta con calma.

Are there preposition rules with responder?

Yes:

Responder a
- person/thing: Responde a las preguntas.
Responder con
- manner/tone: Responde con calma.
Responder de
- responsibility: Responde de sus actos (“answer for/be accountable for”).

Is con calma the best way to say “calmly”? What about calmadamente or tranquilamente?

Con calma is very common and natural for manner.
Tranquilamente also sounds natural: Responde tranquilamente.
Calmadamente exists but sounds more formal/less frequent.
Colloquially you’ll also hear a predicate adjective: Responde tranquila (if the subject is female) / Responde tranquilo (male), which effectively means “responds calmly.”

Can I drop Ella?

Yes. Spanish is a null-subject language. Es una candidata bilingüe y responde con calma is fine if the context makes the subject clear. Keep Ella for emphasis or clarity.

Why is the adjective after the noun (candidata bilingüe), not before?

Most descriptive adjectives follow the noun in Spanish. Some can precede the noun to add a subjective nuance, but bilingüe normally goes after. Una bilingüe candidata would sound odd.

Should y change to e here?

No. Y only changes to e before words that begin with the “i” sound (including hi- that sounds like “i”), e.g., padre e hijo, calma e inteligencia. Since responde and con don’t start with that sound, y stays y.

Does responde mean right now or generally? How do I say “is responding (right now)”?

Spanish simple present can be habitual or present-in-the-moment depending on context. If you want to make the ongoing action explicit, use the progressive: Está respondiendo con calma.

Any Latin American alternatives for candidata?

You’ll also see:

aspirante (a): Es aspirante a la alcaldía.
postulante (common in parts of South America).
All work; candidata is the default for elections. For “candidate for,” use a: candidata a presidenta / a la presidencia.

How do I say “She answers him/her/them calmly”?

Add an indirect object pronoun:

To him/her: Le responde con calma.
To them: Les responde con calma. You can also specify: Responde a los periodistas con calma.