Metaphors are widely used in Spanish and they are also very useful. Castilian or Spanish is a very rich language and therefore it is always a good idea to talk about metaphors. But what is a metaphor? It is understood as an expression related to a specific object or idea, but applied to another word or phrase to imply that there is a certain similarity between the two words.
In Spanish it is often used, such as: "You have two eyes like two stars in the sky." In this metaphor a comparison is made where the eyes are bright like the stars in the sky, we want to highlight that the eyes are beautiful. The usefulness of metaphors can also be understood to give some emphasis to words that want to be highlighted, as in the romantic realm.
Types of metaphors
As for the metaphors that exist, there are different types:
- Common
- Pure
- Complement
There are a few more as well, but each type has a different classification depending on how the phrase is constructed and how it is used. The metaphor used above as an example is a common metaphor: "You have two eyes like two stars in the sky."
The terms used for the mentioned metaphor are two terms:
- Term first: eyes
- Term two: stars of the firmament
This type of metaphor is common because since there is a relationship between the two terms, it is the same to say that A is B. Prepositional complement metaphors are different. For example if you speak of "glass eyes" there cannot be a direct relationship between the two terms because the preposition prevents it and this makes it not common.
What are metaphors for?
If you look at books, conversations, or even television shows, You will be able to realize that there are many metaphors that are used on a recurring basis. They are an idea way of expressing ourselves or of transmitting ideas. When we hear someone say: "I am faster than bullets", what they really mean is that they will go fast to get to the destination soon, for example.
When to use a metaphor
Strictly speaking, metaphors should be used only in creative writing, as they are based on figurative language (not literal meaning) and are therefore false statements. But this is only strictly speaking, because the reality is that metaphors in the Spanish or Castilian language are used daily and it is one more way of communicating with others in a less literal and more fun way, They are not only used in texts or works! We like to use them daily to be able to emphasize certain expressions.
Metaphors are also often vague and can seem too conversational for a formal job. Sometimes a subtle metaphor will turn into formal work (especially in the form of common phrases and cliches). This is fine once in a while but it's best avoided if possible so as not to sound too stuffy.
For example, if you were writing an article about Abraham Lincoln, it would sound rather strange to say that he had a "heart of gold." First of all, it is a cliché. Second, it is not literally true. And third, it doesn't really tell you much about Lincoln. So it is better to say something more specific and concrete, such as "For Lincoln, compassion was one of the most important moral virtues." And then, creatively you can add the metaphor, but after having previously used the explanation so that in this sense, it is better understood what we mean.
This is therefore important to remember. Because metaphors themselves do not make sense, you have to be able to contextualize them correctly so that they have an easy-to-understand meaning, to know exactly what or who they are specifically directed at.
A metaphor is not a simile
However, there is a rhetorical device (which people often mistake for metaphor), which you will see in formal writing all the time. It is known as a simile. Similes explicitly state that two things are equal, rather than simply equating them as a metaphor does. This can be a very useful way to explain complex ideas:
- With simile: The magnetosphere works like a large polarized window, it protects the earth from the sun's rays while letting some light and heat pass through ”.
- With metaphor: The magnetosphere is a large tinted window "
The use of metaphors, in this case, makes the sentence false. But the simile is a useful tool to clarify the writer's point. None of this, of course, applies to creative writing. In creative writing, metaphors are extremely effective, as long as you don't mix them up!
Examples of metaphors
Next, we are going to leave you some examples of metaphors so that you understand even better what they are and thus use them daily if you like them as a resource:
- Celestial fireflies decorated the night. (The stars were shining in the night)
- The eternal dream. (Death)
- The flower of Life. (Youth)
- The snow in her hair spoke of her history. (The gray in her hair spoke of her history)
- His mouth was like a strawberry. (His mouth was red and provocative)
- The horses of the sea. (To refer to the swell)
- That project is in its infancy. (Something very incipient)
- She is the light that illuminates my days. (The reason I have to live)
- There is a long way to go for your wedding. (A great period of time)
- His skin is velvet. (His skin is smooth)
- It wasn't a flood, it was her crying. (I was crying a lot)
- Thailand is paradise. (It is a very nice place)
- His heart is huge. (Is a good person)
- My work is an ordeal. (I do not like my job)
- I am crazy about him. (I like him a lot)
- It broke my soul. (I was very sorry)
With all that we have just explained to you, we hope that it has become clear to you what a metaphor is, its types, how to use it and with the examples, you have been able to understand how it is used in the rich Spanish language. Using metaphors enriches the expression, as long as they are not overused. If you know how to use them correctly they will be very useful for you, remember to always use them in moderation!