As youll see in the first example above, in Spanish you say llamar a alguien for to call somebody. For more on this use of a, see here.
LISTEN OUT FOR
These are some of the questions you are likely to be asked by people you meet, and some of the comments they might make.
¿Es la primera vez que vienes a España?Is this the first time that youve been to Spain?¿Cuánto tiempo hace que estudias español?How long have you been learning Spanish?¿Te estás enterando de la conversación?Are you following the conversation?Habla usted muy bien español.Your Spanish is very good.¿Hablo demasiado rápido?Am I speaking too fast?¿Prefiere que hable en inglés?Would you prefer it if I spoke English?¿Quiere que repita lo que he dicho?Shall I repeat what I said?¿Quiere que hable más despacio?Do you want me to speak more slowly?Me puedes tutear.You can call me tú.¿Nos tuteamos?Shall we call each other tú?¿Cuánto tiempo vas a estar en Madrid?How long are you staying in Madrid?¿Te gusta Sevilla?How do you like Seville?¿Vienes por aquí a menudo?Do you come here often?¿Estás aquí con amigos?Are you here with friends?¿Estás casado?Are you married?Lifestyle Tips
When you want to talk to people that you either dont know at all, or dont know very well, the way to say you is usted. Nowadays, younger people in Spain tend not to use usted in this way, however it is always still used in Latin America.
People who work together every day usually say tú to each other, but its always safer to wait a little before taking that step, especially with older or more senior colleagues. Many people dont like to be called usted, because they think its too formal. They will usually suggest you call them tú by saying: puedes tutearme (you can call metú) or nos podemos tutear (we can call each othertú). If you think that the other person will be more comfortable using the tú form, you can make the first move and ask: ¿Nos tuteamos? (Shall we call each othertú?).
When meeting someone socially for the first time, you usually shake hands darse la mano if its a man, or kiss if its a woman. In business and formal situations, everybody would shake hands.
Men who are on friendly terms usually shake hands or pat each other on the back, while women kiss - darse un beso. Men also kiss female friends and in some cases other men, for instance when they belong to the same family. Spanish people usually kiss twice, once on each cheek.
If you hear someone talking about their pareja (partner), remember that, although its a feminine noun, it is used for both men and women.
Getting there
¡Buen viaje! Have a good trip!
Whether youre hitting the road, boarding a train, catching a plane or heading for the high seas, this unit will help you check out the timetables and find the best routes using natural, confident Spanish.
TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS
In English we use Im going to to talk about where were going and what were going to do. Its just the same in Spanish. You use voy a (Im going to) before the name of a place or before another verb.
Im going to
La semana que viene voy a Segovia.Im going to Segovia next week.Voy a pasar un día en Pamplona.Im going to spend a day in Pamplona.Primero vamos a Madrid.First, were going to Madrid.Luego vamos a Vigo.Then were going to Vigo.Vamos a coger el tren de las siete.Were going to get the seven oclock train.If you want to say what youre planning to do on your travels, you can use tengo la intención de (Im planning to) followed by the infinitive. tengo comes from the verb tener (to have). For more information on tener, see here.
Im planning to
Tengo la intención de ir a Málaga.Im planning to go to Málaga.Tengo la intención de alquilar un coche.Im planning to hire a car.Tenemos la intención de ir por la costa.Were planning to travel along the coast.SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
To talk about things that you want to do, use quiero (I want) followed by the infinitive. quiero comes from the verb querer (to want). For more information on querer, see here.
I want to
Quiero hacer varias excursiones.I want to go on several trips.Quiero ver el Museo Guggenheim.Id like to see the Guggenheim Museum.Queremos conducir los dos.Both of us want to be able to drive.If you want to say what you feel like doing, you can use tengo ganas de (I feel like) followed by an infinitive.
I feel like
I feel like
Tengo ganas de parar en Cuenca para dar una vuelta.I feel like stopping in Cuenca to have a look around.Tengo ganas de hacer una parada.I feel like stopping for a bit.When you want to explain what youre hoping to do, use espero (Im hoping) followed by an infinitive.
Im hoping to
Espero llegar allí en unas tres horas.Im hoping to be there in about three hours.Espero llegar allí antes de que se haga de noche.Im hoping to get there before nightfall.Espero visitar el monasterio.Im hoping to visit the monastery.Esperamos ir a ver Montserrat.Were hoping to go and see Montserrat.When discussing your travel plans, you may want to say what youd like to do. To do this you can use me gustaría (Id like) followed by a verb in the infinitive.
Id like to
Me gustaría ver Madrid.Id like to see Madrid.Me gustaría alquilar un quad.Id like to hire a quad bike.Nos gustaría asistir a la feria del vino.Wed like to go to the wine fair.When planning your trip, of course you wont just want to say what you like and what youd like to do, youll want to say what youd rather do. Use prefiero (I prefer or Id rather) or preferiría (Id prefer or Id rather) to talk about your preferences.
Id rather
Prefiero ir a pie.Id rather walk.Prefiero viajar en tren.I prefer travelling by train.Yo preferiría ir en autobús.Id prefer to go by bus.Nosotros preferiríamos quedarnos en casa.Wed rather stay at home.MAKING SUGGESTIONS
To make suggestions about what you could do, use podríamos (we could) and podemos (we can). They are both from the verb poder (to be able). For more information on poder, see here.
We could
Podríamos ir mañana.We could go tomorrow.Podríamos ir en el AVE.We could take the high-speed train.Si lo prefieres, podríamos ir andando.We could walk there, if you prefer.Si quieres, podemos coger un taxi.We can take a taxi if you like.You can also make a suggestion in the same way as English, simply by asking ¿Por qué no? (Why dont?).
Why dont?
¿Por qué no preguntamos por coches de alquiler?Why dont we ask about hiring a car?¿Por qué no cogemos el metro?Why dont we take the metro?¿Por qué no coges un taxi?Why dont you get a taxi?How about?
¿Qué te parece si nos vamos a Toledo?How about going to Toledo?¿Qué te parece si alquilamos una furgoneta?How about hiring a van?¿Qué te parece si vamos por la autopista?How about taking the motorway?To find out what someone wants to do, you can ask ¿Te gustaría? (Would you like?) or ¿Te apetece? (Do you fancy?) followed by an infinitive.
Would you like?
¿Te gustaría ir a Cuenca?Would you like to go to Cuenca?¿Te gustaría coger un taxi?Would you like to get a taxi?¿Te apetece ir a la playa?Do you fancy going to the beach?¿Te apetece dar un paseo?Do you fancy going for a walk?To say Lets!, you can use ¡Vamos a! and the infinitive form of the verb.
Lets!
¡Vamos a aparcar allí!Lets park there!¡Vamos a coger el ascensor!Lets take the lift!¡Vamos a subir hasta arriba en el teleférico!Lets go up to the top by cable car!To offer to do something, you can just use the present tense of the verb. You can also use voy a (Im going to) and vamos a (were going to) and the infinitive.
Ill
Yo compro los billetes.Ill buy the tickets.Llamo a un taxi.Ill call a taxi.Yo te llevo a la estación.Ill take you to the station.Yo voy a buscarte al aeropuerto.Ill come and pick you up at the airport.Nosotros te vamos a buscar a la estación.Well pick you up at the railway station.ASKING FOR INFORMATION
When travelling around in an unfamiliar place, youre quite likely to have to ask for directions or advice. Use perdone (excuse me) or perdone, por favor (excuse me, please) to attract someones attention before asking them a question.