Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Levanto el brazo para saludar a mi vecino.

In Spanish, body parts usually take the definite article when it’s clear whose body part it is. Levanto el brazo implies it’s your own arm. Levanto mi brazo is possible but sounds contrastive/emphatic (e.g., not someone else’s arm).

Should it be reflexive "me levanto el brazo"?

No. Me levanto means “I get up/stand up.” Raising your arm doesn’t take a reflexive pronoun: Levanto el brazo. If you were raising someone else’s arm: Le levanto el brazo a mi vecino.

Why is there an "a" before "mi vecino"?

It’s the personal a, required before a direct object that is a specific person (or pet). Since mi vecino is a person, we say saludar a mi vecino.

Could I say "para saludar mi vecino" without "a"?

No. With people, keep the personal a: para saludar a mi vecino.

Why use "para" and not "por"?

Para + infinitive expresses purpose (“in order to”): para saludar. Por would express cause/motive and doesn’t fit here. Levanto el brazo por saludar is odd or wrong.

What tense is "levanto"? Can I use the progressive?

Levanto is simple present (yo). It can describe a current or habitual action. If you want to stress it’s happening right now, say Estoy levantando el brazo para saludar... Spanish often uses the simple present even for actions happening now.

Is "levanto la mano" different from "levanto el brazo"?

Yes:

Levanto la mano: raise my hand (e.g., in class, to volunteer).
Levanto el brazo: lift the whole arm (e.g., to wave or get attention).

Can I use other verbs like "alzar" or "subir"?

Alzar works: Alzo el brazo... (a bit more formal/literary).
Subir is generally not used for body parts here. Prefer levantar/alzar.

How do I say it for a female neighbor or plural?

Female: ...a mi vecina.
Plural: ...a mis vecinos (mixed/men) / ...a mis vecinas (women only).

Can I replace "a mi vecino" with a pronoun?

Yes: ...para saludarlo (him), ...para saludarla (her), ...para saludarlos/las (them). Attach the object pronoun to the infinitive. Do not put it before levanto, because lo levanto would mean “I lift him/it,” changing the meaning.

Should it be "lo" or "le" for a person?

In most of Latin America, use direct-object lo/la/los/las with saludar: saludarlo/saludarla. Some speakers use le as polite leísmo with usted (e.g., saludarle), but lo/la is the general standard.

When do I use "al" instead of "a el"? Why not "al mi vecino"?

a + el contracts to al: saludar al vecino.
You can’t contract with a possessive: it’s a mi vecino, not al mi vecino.

What’s the difference between "mi" and "mí"?

mi (no accent) = “my”: mi vecino.
mí (accent) = “me” after prepositions: para mí. Here you need mi.

Any pronunciation tips for Latin America?

v/b sound alike. In levanto/vecino, the v is pronounced like a soft b.
z and c before i/e sound like s: brazo = “BRA-so,” vecino = “be-SEE-no.”
Single r is a quick tap: brazo, para.
The d in saludar is soft between vowels.
Stress: le-VAN-to, BRA-zo, sa-lu-DAR, ve-CI-no.

Can I omit "a mi vecino" and keep it general?

Yes: Levanto el brazo para saludar. It means “to say hello” in general, without specifying whom.

Can I put the purpose clause first?

Yes: Para saludar a mi vecino, levanto el brazo. Use a comma after the introductory purpose clause.

How would I say this in the past or future?

Preterite: Levanté el brazo para saludar a mi vecino.
Imperfect (habitual/background): Levantaba el brazo...
Future: Levantaré el brazo... / Near future: Voy a levantar el brazo...

Is "saludar" direct or indirect with people?

Direct. You say saludar a alguien and the pronoun is lo/la: Lo saludé. The a is the personal marker; it doesn’t make it indirect.

What’s the difference between "saludar" and "saludo/saludos"?

saludar = to greet.
saludo = “greeting” (noun) or “I greet.”
saludos = “greetings” (common email sign-off).

Can "vecino" be an adjective too?

Yes, it can mean “neighboring”: el país vecino = “the neighboring country.” In your sentence it’s a noun: “neighbor.”

What common mistakes should I avoid here?

Saying me levanto el brazo (wrong reflexive).
Omitting the personal a: not saludar mi vecino, but saludar a mi vecino.
Using por for purpose: use para.
Misplacing pronouns: attach to the infinitive (saludarlo), not to levanto.

Could I use "al + infinitive" or a gerund to express the manner?

Yes:

Al levantar el brazo, saludo a mi vecino (upon raising my arm).
Saludo a mi vecino levantando el brazo (by raising my arm). They emphasize time/manner rather than purpose; para + infinitivo emphasizes purpose.