I speak 2.5 languages. I'm fluent in Spanish (my birth language) and English, and I know enough Italian to help a lost tourist on the subway. Though being able to communicate in more than one tongue has its serious benefits — there are more jobs available to me, I have an easier time when traveling abroad, some studies even say we're smarter (tooting my own horn here) — there are struggles. Boy, are there struggles.
More than once, I have spoken Spanish to someone who has no idea what I'm saying, and words have come out of my mouth in a total jumble of Spanglish that not even I understand. Minor issues, sure, but if you're bilingual, you know it doesn't end there. Keep reading for a list of the everyday situations you probably also face — bilinguals, unite!
I don't try to speak in Spanglish; I just do sometimes.
Sobremesa. Empalagarse. Why, oh why?!
Sure. Yep. Sure.
No, autocorrect, I did not mean to say "Ayudan was" (what even is that?). I meant to say ayudame, and now I'm hurt because of you!
Why does that make no sense? Oh, you're speaking Spanish to me! OK, flipping the mental switch.
I can't concentrate! STOP!
Eye-rolling so hard my head hurts.
Hmmm . . . OK!
That was not Spanish at all, sir, but I will be polite and keep quiet.
What? Who did this? That's not what Jon Snow said AT ALL!
Sometimes I say English words with Spanish pronunciation and Spanish words with English pronunciation. So sue me.