23 Comments
I've never heard "wash the floor" said in English. It would be "clean the floor."
There is a difference between what is customary and what is correct. "Wash the floor" may not be customary, but it is not incorrect.
689
or "mop the floor." I just suggested that. We used to wash and scrub the floor as clean up at a burger joint. But even there floor cleaning was called "mopping."
I think this is unlikely because you "clean" (limpiar) or "tidy" (ordenar, poner en orden) a flat rather than "wash" it. These examples from real translated speech are all about the floor as well: https://www.linguee.com/spanish-english/translation/lavar+el+piso.html
Thanks for your thoughtful reply and link. Wales46 was asking that question as a kind of joke, because "piso" doesn't just mean "floor", it also means "flat" or "apartment". So the question could also be saying "I always remember to wash the apartment". Obviously, that wasn't the intention, so it's just a funny coincidence. Besides, "piso" meaning "flat" is right there at the top of the link you provided, under the definition.
- 344
If you want to talk about "remembering something", these words are synonymous, but they use different grammar:
- Me acuerdo de algo. = Recuerdo algo. - I remember something.
So, the reflexive acordarse means "to remember, and acordar means "to agree."
I learned stuff from this discussion thread, but I actually wanted to know why "Always I remember to wash the floor" is considered incorrect. It would not be the more common phrasing, but I would consider it correct.
- 344
It sounds a bit awkward. The adverb "always" (and other adverbs of frequency) usually influence the word that comes right after. So if you say "Always I do something", it tends to sound like "I am the only one who does this." It's always me.
- 689
While technically washing a floor might be different, it feels like "mop" should be an acceptable word here. "I always remember to mop the floor," is in effect what we'd say in English.
I did work at a Hardee's restaurant one time where they'd dump soapy water down and use a scrub brush. But rarely, if ever, would we do that in a domestic setting.
- 1164
To mop the floor (specific) = trapear el piso. To clean, wash (general) = limpiar or lavar. I imagine Duo is just sticking with the verbs that have broad meanings for our benefit. I donʻt think we students get to stretch the meanings at will.
In English we don't say 'wash' the floor, we say 'clean' or 'mop' or something, but not 'wash'
As a native English speaker, I know of many people who do say "wash the floor". It generally implies mopping, rather than sweeping or tidying.
Having lived in Illinois, Maryland, Arizona, California, New York, Washington, and Oregon, I agree with you. But maybe there is a place where it's more common.
