Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary

That said, this is the BEST Spanish-English dictionary I've ever used. It contains over 85,000 entries, plus complete descriptions of both English and Spanish grammar, tables of all the irregular verbs, and a 45-page section that defines literally thousands of commonly used phrases and idioms in both languages. It also has synonyms for words that have multiple translations so that you know the difference, for example, between a person's hand ("mano") and the hand of a clock ("manecilla"). Nevertheless, it comes in a convenient size with easy-to-read font so that it's perfect for use by students. If you're a school student who's studying Spanish, this is the only Spanish-English dictionary you'll ever buy.

~El Fin~


Rapido y Conciso   December 25, 2002
 20 out of 20 found this review helpful

An excellent dictionary when you want a one-word definition, and still, words with multiple meanings are clearly laid out. Easy to read. Tending toward short entries. A joy for simple translation and a relief for vocabulary-building.

There are adequate sections on pronunciation, grammar, and conjugation. There are lists of common irregular verbs in Spanish and in English.

Encountering a foreign word for the first time, it is by definition unfamiliar. I was too often frustrated by otherwise-wonderful dictionaries which were simply hard to read (and my near-sight is excellent). This is by far my favorite of all the Spanish-English dictionaries I've seen.

Advanced students will want a more advanced dictionary (and possibly a magnifying glass, probably not needed here). For the other 99.9% of (us) Spanish learners, this is a great find.


Great for basic levels   February 1, 2004
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I've had this dictionary for about eight years. I would have to say that if you are in the basic levels of learning spanish or maybe reading a simple novel in spanish, this would be your best bet. It is easy to use and easy to read although a little bulky. The only complaint that I have about it is that as I began reading more difficult novels and encountering words that are less common, this dictionary did not come into as great a use as it has in years past. But, like I said if you are doing beginning or intermediate levels of spanish, this would probably be your best bet.


Does the job better than any others I've had!   December 27, 1998
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Excellent with a pretty complete range of words, expressions, etc. Wonderful size - don't need a magnifying glass but good for travel.


The best travel dictionary.   May 21, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is the paperback dictionary to travel with if you're a serious student. Not pocket-sized, but worth the weight. I've been in language schools in Spain and Mexico, and in both places the other students had dictionary envy. It's coverage is excellent, and it supplies synonyms for each definition, so you know you've got the right word at the right time.