Breakdown of El duende feo habla como si escupiera las palabras.
hablar
to speak / to talk
las
the (feminine plural)
como
as / like (such as, similar to)
si
if
la palabra
the word
feo
ugly
escupir
to spit
el duende
goblin
Questions & Answers about El duende feo habla como si escupiera las palabras.
Why is escupiera used here instead of the present tense escupe?
It follows the phrase como si (as if). In Spanish, como si is always followed by the past subjunctive because it sets up a hypothetical, unreal comparison. To describe a hypothetical action happening at the same time as the main verb (habla), you must use the imperfect subjunctive (escupiera).
Could I say como si escupiese instead?
Yes, you could! Both escupiera and escupiese are perfectly valid forms of the imperfect subjunctive. However, in Latin America, the -ra ending (escupiera) is much more commonly used in everyday speech, while the -se ending is mostly found in literature or formal writing.
In English, we might say "as if he were spitting." Does escupiera cover that meaning too?
Yes, it does. Spanish doesn't necessarily need a progressive form to convey an ongoing hypothetical action here. Como si escupiera translates naturally to either "as if he spat" or "as if he were spitting," depending on what sounds best in English.
Does the word duende always translate specifically to "goblin"?
Duende is a broad term for various small, mythical, humanoid creatures in Spanish folklore. Depending on the context, it can translate to "goblin," "elf," "leprechaun," or "sprite." In this sentence, paired with feo (ugly) and a harsh action like spitting words, "goblin" is the most natural fit.
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