The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary, Fifth Edition, Spanish-English, Englis : Universidad de Chicago Diccionario Espanol-Ingles, Ingles-Espanol

Rating:
Summary: Excellent choice for a compact dictionary
Review: For an up-to-date, well conceived, easy to carry, and inexpensive bilingual dictionary, this one is a great choice, probably the best.

I have to disagree with some points made by a previous reviewer. To begin with, all bilingual dictionaries imply a process of lexical selection. They are limited in scope by definition, and the smaller they are, the more limited. This doesn't mean that a compact bilingual dictionary cannot be good, but it will always be that: compact. (If you want to buy a Mini Cooper because it is difficult to find a parking space where you live, would it be a valid criticism as to its quality to say that a Mini is too small a car?)

One only needs to read the preface to this 5th edition, and compare this dictionary to its predecessors, to understand what an improvement this one is. The argument given in the preface with respect to dialectal variants reads like this: "The frequent references to regional usage characteristic of the fourth edition have been de-emphasized here, partly for the reasons of space, partly because of the notorious unreliability of the available information on regional dialects. In the present edition, such information is provided only where a word of more general currency might not be understood (see the various equivalents of Eng. bean), where the use of a particular word might cause embarrassment (see Sp. coger), or where the word is universally recognized as being characteristic of a given dialect (see Sp. che, cuate)." This dictionary is simply not a treaty on dialectology, but for a compact dictionary of general use, this work is lexicography of the first order.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely THE Best Spanish Dictionary Out There
Review: I have looked hard and long at many different Spanish dictionaries to find the best one. I had never been fully satisfied with any previous dictionary -- until now. This new edition is by far the best, most useful, and easiest to use Spanish dictionary ever. There are several important reasons why I say this.

First, right after each Spanish word, it has an easy to read and simple abbreviation in upper case letters to describe the word either as an adjective (ADJ), adverb (ADV), masculine noun (M), femminine noun (F), transitive verb (VT), intransitive verb (VI), etc. This is also done with the English side, with the exception of using N (not M or F) to describe the noun.

Second, if a word has multiple meanings, which most do, it gives an example of each usage in parenthesis, and then the correct word to use. Here is an example for the word "check":
(stop) refrenar; (restrain) reprimir; (hand over luggage) facturar; (hand over coat) dejar; (verify) verificar; Am chequear; (in chess) dar jaque

Third, you may have noticed in the above example the "Am", which in the book is actually italicized. This refers to the (Latin) American usage of the word chequear. Contrary to the first reviewer, this dictionary does have regional usages, including those for (Latin) America, Spain, Mexico, and Rio de la Plata.

Fourth, and maybe the most helpful, and useful aspect, are the multiple idiomatic usages of each word which are included at the end of each word entry. (I should note that each listed word in the dictionary, and the idiomatic phrases are in bold face, which makes things even easier). Here are the ones for the word "cheap" (I added the / mark, which is not in the book):
life is -- there /la vida no vale nada alli; talk is -- /hablar no cuesta nada; to feel -- /sentirse despreciable; -- shot/ golpe bajo; --skate/ tacaño -ña

Fifth, are the many new words used today in both English and Spanish involving technology, pop culture, medicine, science, and other modern usages. Also, many common vulgar terms and idioms are included, which are marked by the abbreviations "pej" for pejorative and "vulg" for vulgar.

For all those who have never been fully satisfied with the Spanish dictionaries they own, or who are looking for the best one to buy, this is MUST HAVE!!!

Rating:
Summary: Dumbed down
Review: In this new edition the editors eliminated the greater part of the indications of regional usage. This had been one of the great selling points of the earlier editions of the University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary. In their introduction there is some explanation to the effect that tracing regional usage is "notoriously difficult". It is true that good lexicography is "notoriously difficult" and if the editors find it too difficult, they should go into another business.
In addition, the number of entries has been reduced. Anyone who has used a dictionary on the ground knows that smaller dictionaries are poorer dictionaries. Some of the space saved was used on parenthetical guide-words which distinguish separate meanings. This sounds like a fine idea but in practice the editors use it compulsively, in places where it really isn't necessary.
Those who need a Spanish dictionary may want to get the older editions of this dictionary or one of the larger editions of Larousse.

Rating:
Summary: Truly is the greatest dictionary ever!!!
Review: This dictionary has almost anything that you could ever ask for. As a Bilingual spanish major at a prestigious University this dictionary has helped me so much. My vocabulary has been enhanced further than i could imagine. It has not only the word, a simple abreviation to describe the part of speech and the different contex that the word can be used in. It has many more qualities that i look for in a dictionary and has come in handy many, many times. For any student or avid user of a spanish-english dictionary, this is the one!!