Say It Right in Spanish

Thats right. Go to the right. Its my right to vote for a candidate from the right. Its just not right. Youve got it right. As the above sentences indicate, right is one of those English words that has a multitude of meanings. Although  many dictionaries give derecho as the first choice of Spanish words meaning right, its use would be absolutely wrong to translate some of the above sentences. Right as a Direction The Spanish way to refer to the opposite of left is usually derecho  (and its forms for gender and number)  when used as an adjective or the phrase  a la derecha as an adverb. The technique of using the right hand to play the violin is something that ought to be learned correctly. La tà ©cnica de uso de la mano derecha para tocar el violà ­n es algo que debe aprenderse correctamente.Symbolic language is rooted in the right side of the brain. El lenguaje simbà ³lico està ¡ radicado en el lado derecho del cerebro.The doctors have to amputate Jorges right leg. Los mà ©dicos tienen que amputar la pierna derecha de Jorge.The car turned right to the end of the street. El coche girà ³ a la derecha al final de la calle.Look right!  ¡Mira a la derecha! A la derecha is also used to mean to the right: His political positions often are to the right of those of this rivals. Sus posiciones polà ­ticas con frecuencia estaban a la derecha de las de sus rivales.Look to the right side of your screen. Mira a la derecha de tu pantalla. Right Meaning Correct When right means correct, the cognate correcto (or its adverb form, correctamente) can usually be used. Other synonymous words or phrases often work well also. Examples include bien or bueno, depending on whether an adverb or adjective, respectively, is needed. To be right can usually be translated as tener razà ³n. I think the article is right. Creo que el artà ­culo es correcto.Take the time in order to make the right decision. Tà ³mese el tiempo para tomar la decisià ³n correcta.I want to pick the right curtains. Quiero elegir las cortinas correctas. If the inhaler is used right the aerosol shouldnt drip from your nose. Si el inhalador se usa correctamente el aerosol no deberà ¡ gotear de la nariz. Do you have the right time?  ¿Tienes el tiempo bueno? The customer is always right. El cliente siempre tiene razà ³n. Fortunately they werent right. Por suerte no tuvieron razà ³n. Right Meaning Just or Fair Often right carries the meaning of fairness or justice. In such cases, justo is usually a good translation, although in context correcto can have that meaning as well. Many poor people live here. That isnt right. Muchos pobres viven aquà ­. Eso no es justo.Thats true, it is difficult to do the right thing. Es verdad, es muy difà ­cil hacer lo justo. Right as an Entitlement A right in the sense of a moral or legal entitlement is a derecho. Civil rights ought to be respected, even during a national emergency. Los derechos civiles deben de ser respetados, inclusive en tiempos de estado de emergencia nacional.I have the right to be free of all types of abuse. Tengo el derecho de estar libre de todas las formas de abuso. Right Used as Emphasis Right is used in many contexts in English as a general word of emphasis. Often, it does not need to be translated into Spanish, or you may have to translate the meaning indirectly or with some idiom that is specific to what youre trying to say. Many variations other than those listed here are possible: What are you doing right now?  ¿Quà © està ¡s haciendo ahora mismo?If possible, the baby should get milk right after being born. Si es posible, el bebà © debe mamar inmediatamente despuà ©s de nacer.The solution is right here. La solucià ³n està ¡ aquà ­ mismo.Ill pay you right away. Voy a pagarte sin demora. Miscellaneous Phrases and Uses Often you can figure out a way of saying right by thinking of an alternative way of expressing the idea in English. For example, to say, The portrait is just right, you might say the equivalent of The portrait is perfect: El retrato es perfecto. Some miscellaneous phrases will have to be learned separately: right angle, right triangle; el à ¡ngulo recto, el trià ¡ngulo rectoright-click (computer use), hacer clic con el botà ³n derecho del ratà ³nright-handed, diestroright of way, el derecho de pasoright-shift key, la tecla derecha de mayà ºsculasright wing (noun), la derecharight-wing (adjective), derechistaright-winger, el/la derechistato right (make correct), rectifar, reparar, rectificarto right (make upright), enderezar Etymological Note Although it may not be obvious, the English words right and the Spanish words derecho and correcto are etymologically related to each other. They all come from a Proto-Indo-European root word that had meanings connected with  moving in a straight line or leading. From that root we get words such a direct (directo in Spanish), rectitude (rectitud), erect (erecto), rule, ruler, regal, rey (king), and reina (queen).