How to use 'Literally' + 'Figuratively' - It's time to Learn English

It is true that the English  language can be quite confusing.

Es cierto que el idioma inglés puede ser bastante confuso.

There are so many things you have to remember,

Hay tantas cosas que debes recordar,

so many rules that must be followed and obeyed.

tantas reglas que debes seguir y obedecer.

One thing in particular is the  use of literal...literal meanings.

Una cosa en particular es el uso de significados literales... literales.

When we talk about things that are literal

Cuando hablamos de cosas que son literales

it means that they are happening

significa que están sucediendo

or have actually happened in real life.

o han sucedido en la vida real.

It has literally happened.

Literalmente ha sucedido.

There is of course figurative as well.

Por supuesto, también hay figurativo.

Figurative means something has been imagined

Figurativo significa que algo ha sido imaginado

or perhaps you are using a  term or a word as an idiom.

o tal vez estás usando un término o una palabra como modismo.

You are using it figuratively.

Lo estás usando en sentido figurado.

For example maybe something embarrassing happened

Por ejemplo, tal vez sucedió algo vergonzoso

and you might say 'ah I was so  embarrassed I literally died'.

y podrías decir 'ah, estaba tan avergonzado que literalmente morí'.

That is not true because  you are clearly still alive

Eso no es cierto porque claramente todavía estás vivo

telling the story.

contando la historia.

You did not literally die.

Literalmente no moriste.

We can of course use death as figurative,

Por supuesto, podemos usar la muerte en sentido figurado,

that is to say you can say 'I nearly  died' or 'I thought I would die'.

es decir, puedes decir 'Casi muero' o 'Pensé que moriría'.

We are using death figuratively.

Estamos usando la muerte en sentido figurado.

In other words you didn't actually die.

En otras palabras, en realidad no moriste.

You are saying that you felt as if you were

Estás diciendo que te sentías como si lo fueras

or perhaps you thought you would.

o tal vez pensaste que lo harías.

You didn't die. You didn't literally die,

No moriste. No moriste literalmente,

you died figuratively.

moriste en sentido figurado.

So remember next time you  want to state the way you feel

Así que recuerda la próxima vez que quieras expresar cómo te sientes

or maybe something you want to express,

o tal vez algo que quieras expresar,

don't forget there is a difference  between literal and figurative.

no olvides que hay una diferencia entre literal y figurativo.

Literally means it did happen or it is happening,

Literalmente significa que sucedió o está sucediendo,

figuratively means that it  is imagined as happening...

figurativamente significa que se imagina que está sucediendo...

and that is all I have for today.

y eso es todo lo que tengo por hoy.

Enjoy yourself.

Diviértete.

Stay happy

Mantente feliz

and of course...

y por supuesto...

ta ta for now.

ta ta por ahora.