From TBO to tebeo: Spanish A2
Read how a Barcelona magazine founded in 1917 gave Spanish the word «tebeo», and learn useful comic vocabulary.
De TBO a tebeo: una revista que vive en el diccionario
Tap any word to see its translation
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1943: . . .
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About this article
What you'll learn
Spanish comic vocabulary, the meanings of «tebeo» and «bocadillo», simple past narration, and constructions with «se»
A reader explores the history of TBO, its 1917 launch in Barcelona, and the way its title became the common noun «tebeo».
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
dio nombre a
newgave its name to
The expression says that one thing became the source of another thing's name.
Useful for explaining where words and names come from.
Con el paso del tiempo
newover time
The phrase describes a change that happens gradually across a long period.
It helps connect an earlier situation with a later change.
dejó una huella en la lengua
newleft a mark on the language
This figurative phrase describes a lasting influence on the way people speak.
Useful for describing cultural influence on language.
sin saberlo
newwithout knowing it
The phrase means that a person does something without being aware of a fact.
It is natural when revealing an unexpected link with the past.
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
Tebeo
tebeo
comic, comic magazine
The word can name a children's or young people's publication with drawn stories, or such a story itself.
It is a characteristic Spanish word for talking about comics.
Viñeta
viñeta
comic panel
One of the framed panels in which drawings and text form a story.
An essential word for describing how a comic is built.
Bocadillos
bocadillos
speech balloons
In a comic, these are outlined spaces containing a character's words or thoughts.
It prevents confusion with the same word meaning a sandwich.
Historietas
historietas
comic strips, drawn stories
These are stories told through a series of drawings, with or without text.
It is a useful synonym for «cómic».
Número
número
issue of a publication
Here the word means one issue of a magazine, not only a number.
This meaning is common in texts about newspapers and magazines.
Disparatados
disparatados
absurd, nonsensical
The adjective describes ideas that lack good sense.
It helps explain the humor of «Los inventos del TBO».
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
«Se publicó»
se publicó durante muchas décadas
was published
The construction with «se» presents the action without naming a specific publisher.
It is common in historical texts about books and magazines.
«Se convirtió en»
se convirtió en un nombre común
became, turned into
The verb «convertirse en» describes a change from one state into another.
It is useful for narrating changes in the past.
«Aunque» for contrast
Aunque TBO dejó de publicarse
although TBO stopped being published
«Aunque» links two contrasting facts: the magazine ended, while the word continues.
It lets you contrast two situations naturally.
«Cuando» with the present
cuando alguien dice tebeo
when someone says «tebeo»
«Cuando» with the present describes what happens whenever this situation occurs.
It is useful for repeated or general situations.
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