Spanish Lesson 1
Jim's lesson in street Spanish or "pigeon Spanish".
Here are a few words, verbs and phrases that help me get
by while touring in
a foreign country. I highly recommend you purchase an audio cassette so
you can
hear the language. Pronunciation is facilitated by listening to the
spoken
word.
Here are key Spanish: words, verbs and phrases:
Spanish vowel sounds: A=ah; E=long A; I=long E;
O=long O;
U=Ooo as in Ooo la, la.
|
Spanish |
English |
| Buenos dias. | Good day. |
| Buenas tardes. | Good afternoon. |
| Buenas noches. Como estas? Muy bien, gracias. Y tu? (Y is pronounced as a long E). |
Good evening. How are you? Very good, thank you. And you?
|
| Buenos dias Senor. Por favor... (senora, senorita) | Always begin a question with: "Good day sir. Please...(Mrs., Miss)". |
| Buenos dias Senorita. Por favor. Donde esta...? |
Good day Miss. Please. Where is....? |
| Por favor Senor. Donde esta...? |
A variation is:
Please sir. Where is...? |
| Donde esta los servicios? | Where is the bathroom? |
| Donde esta el bancos? | Where is the bank? |
| Yo quiero.... | I want... |
| Yo quiero otra mas cerveza. Por favor. | I want one more beer. Please. |
| Una coca. Por favor. | Or simply hold up the coke and say, "One more coke. Please." |
| Muchas gracias! | Many thanks! |
| Tiene usted....? | Do you have...? |
| Tiene usted un cuarto
por dos personas? No hay... |
Do you have a room for two
persons? I don't have... |
| ....con el bano. | ...with a bath. |
| Adios! | Good by! |
| Cuantos....? | How many...? |
| Cuantos anos? Cuantos kilometros? |
How many years? How many kilometers? |
| Aqui. | Here. |
| Alli | There. |
| Quien es? | Who is? |
| Mas. | More. |
| Un poco mas. | A little more. |
| Menos | less. |
| Agua frio (agua caliente) | Cold water (hot water) |
| How do I get to_____ from here? | |
| derecha, derecho, izquierda |
right, straight ahead left |
| a la derecha. a la izquierda |
to the right to the left. |
| Go three blocks then turn left and go two blocks. |
| A cuanta distancia? | How far |
| Cuantos as | How many |
| Cuanto cuesta....? | How much |
| Cuantos minutos de aqui? | How many minutes from here to there. |
| la carta, por favor. | The menu, please. |
| La cuenta, por favor. | The check (bill), please. |
| Una factura, por favor. | A receipt, please. |