Have you ever proudly declared to someone that you are the basement?
I have.
Today, after years of living in various Latin American countries—and once living with a girlfriend who didn’t speak English well—I can claim a high level of competence in Spanish. But it took a while to get there.
I first got serious about learning Spanish after my first major trip abroad, to the Dominican Republic. The following year, I enrolled in a Spanish course at a university in Montreal while working on a master’s degree and selling handmade jewelry in a downtown plaza.
There were numerous artisans in the plaza, many from other countries. Some were native Spanish speakers.
One day, I approached a guy from Argentina and asked how to say “best man” in Spanish. I had recently been asked to step up for a good friend who was getting married, and I wanted to learn the term. He told me it was “sótano.”
Any Spanish speakers reading this can already see where this is going.
Excited to try out the new word, I approached some Mexican vendors in the plaza, explained my friend was getting married, and enthusiastically exclaimed:
“¡Y yo soy el sótano!”
They were confused.
The Argentine had misunderstood me and thought I had asked how to say “basement,” not “best man.” When I explained in English what I was trying to say, they burst out laughing.
“You’re saying: I am the basement,” they explained.
I was mortified. And it would be a few weeks before I tried speaking Spanish with the group again.
Learning a language requires many things: dedication, relevant and engaging material, an environment where you’re forced to use the language, and encouraging, competent teaching.
But it also involves the ego.
When you begin to experiment with a new language, you will make mistakes. Some will be ridiculous. People may laugh. And your ego will want to retreat to the shadows.
Embracing—or abandoning—your ego is crucial, because what holds many learners back is often psychological, not grammatical.
Researchers talk about the concept of the language ego: that fragile part of your identity tied to your native tongue. It’s the voice in your head that screams “What if I look stupid?” when you try to speak the new language.
A rigid ego raises the affective filter1, increases inhibition, and literally blocks progress by making you avoid speaking or experimenting. In contrast, learners with higher ego permeability—people who are flexible, open to mistakes, and willing to sound imperfect—learn faster and more successfully.
Simply put: when you can step outside the fear of embarrassment—even laugh at your “el sótano” moment—you strengthen your language identity and allow real learning to happen.
Translation Fails That Might Make You Feel Better About Yourself
Let’s look at some infamous translation fails to boost your confidence. I mean, you can’t possibly screw up this badly… right?
Here’s a quick quiz: five questions, one at a time, based on famously bad translations. You’ll get three choices—one of them being the “I’m the basement” equivalent.
Enjoy—and try not to be the sótano.
NOTES:
1 The affective filter is a concept from second-language acquisition theory. It refers to emotional barriers—like fear, embarrassment, or low confidence—that block language input from being absorbed.
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When your affective filter is high, it’s like a wall blocking new words and grammar from getting into your brain.
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When it’s low, you’re relaxed, open, and ready to learn—even when making mistakes.
So, in the sentence: “A rigid ego raises the affective filter…” …it means: When someone is too focused on being perfect or smart, their anxiety or pride gets in the way of learning.
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