I have a few questions about the use of Spanish idioms?

Question

I'm confused, when would I use an idiom instead of just saying what I want to say translated directly? Are they like a more slang way of saying something? Like if I would say "doy a luz", would that be a more slang way to say "I give birth"? Can someone just explain what they are and how they are used?

Answer 1

IT'S NOT SLANG

THE PROPER WAY TO SAY "I GIVE BIRTH" IS "DOY A LUZ"

Answer 2

A very good question, but there is no easy answer. "Doy a luz" is correct. "Parto" is also correct, and a more slang way of saying it as well as "Parir". These are common in the part of Mexico where I live. As far as other slang expressions, it would depend upon what you are trying to say. There is often times a slang way of saying something, but the slang is also sometimes considered low class, or crass. Hope this helps. Rob

Answer 3

I think idioms in Spanish are not the same as slang, just like in English. Idioms are expressions, "dar a luz" is an idiomatic expresion (idiom) to say "to give birth", but it's not slang.

So, they are used as figurative expresions of what you are describing (very similar to English).

Answer 4

That is the correct way to say it: Doy a luz.

Who said it was slang?

Answer 5

dar a luz is a much moe polite way to say give birth .. parir is just used for animals or by lowlifes to refer to humans. an idiom in english might be its raining cats and dogs. very confusing for a non native speaker. uses of tener with nouns to describe states are all idioms. its just the way language works. a good idiomatic use of parir would be " hijo de la puta madre q te pario" with an accent on the i.