Easy Learning Spanish Conversation
I’d like…
Quiero alquilar una bicicleta.I’d like to hire a bike.Quiero denunciar la pérdida de mis maletas.I’d like to report my luggage missing.Quisiera un billete de ida a Alicante.I’d like a single to Alicante.Quisiera billetes de ida y vuelta a Zaragoza para dos adultos.I’d like two adult returns to Zaragoza.You can also use ¿Puede…? and ¿Podría…? (Can you…? and Could you…?) when asking whether someone can do something for you. They are both from the verb poder. For more information on poder, see here.
Can you…?
¿Puede avisarme cuando estemos cerca del museo?Can you tell me when we’re near the museum?¿Puede dejarme aquí?Can you drop me here?¿Puede decirme cómo se llega a la cathedral?Can you tell me how to get to the catedral?¿Podría comprobar la presión de los neumáticos?Could you check the tyre pressure?¿Podría comprobar el nivel de aceite?Could you check the oil?Can you take me…?
¿Me lleva al Barrio Gótico, por favor?Can you take me to the Barrio Gótico, please?¿Me lleva al Hostal Principal en la avenida de Vilanova, por favor?Can you take me to the Hostal Principal in avenida de Vilanova, please?Al Hotel Don Sancho, por favor.To the Hotel Don Sancho, please.ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Use ¿Puedo…? or ¿Se puede…? (Can I…?) to ask whether you can do something. These come from the verb poder (to be able). For more information on poder, see here.
Can I…?
¿Puedo pagar con visa?Can I pay by visa?¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?Can I pay by card?¿Se puede abrir la ventanilla?May I open the window?¿Se puede fumar en el tren?Is smoking allowed on the train?To ask someone if they mind if you do something, you can use ¿Le importa que…? (Do you mind if…?) followed by a verb in the present subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.
Do you mind if…?
¿Le importa que ponga mi maleta en el portaequipajes?Do you mind if I put my suitcase on the rack?¿Le importa que me siente aquí?Do you mind if I sit here?SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
To say what you have to do, you can use tengo que (I have to) followed by an infinitive. tengo comes from the verb tener (to have). For more information on tener, see here.
I have to…
Tengo que coger otro vuelo para ir a Bilbao.I have to get a connecting flight to get to Bilbao.Tengo que comprar un chaleco reflectante.I have to buy a high-visibility vest.Tengo que coger el tren de las 8.30.I have to catch the 8.30 train.Tenemos que hacer una reserva.We have to make a reservation.¿Tenemos que cambiar de tren?Do we have to change trains?Another way to say what has to be done is to use the expression hay que (you have to or we have to).
You have to…
Hay que enseñar el carnet de conducir.You have to show your driving licence.Hay que imprimir el billete electrónico.You have to print out your e-ticket.Hay que devolver el coche antes de las tres.We have to get the car back before three.If you want to say what you should do, you can use debería followed by an infinitive. debería comes from the verb deber. For more information on deber, see here.
I should…
Debería comprar mi billete por Internet.I should buy my ticket online.Deberíamos echar más gasolina.We should get some more petrol.Deberíamos ir a recoger el equipaje.We ought to go and pick up the luggage.LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some key phrases you are likely to be given when you are travelling around.
El tren de Cáceres sale de la vía tres.The train for Cáceres is leaving from platform three.¿Puedo ver su billete?Can I see your ticket?¿Le importa que me siente aquí?Do you mind if I sit here?Es mejor que coja un taxi.You’d be better getting a taxi.Cuando llegue a la plaza pregunte allí.Ask again when you get to the square.Siga recto hasta el semáforo.Go straight on till you get to the traffic lights.Coja la primera calle a la derecha.Take the first turning on the right.Gire a la izquierda.Turn left.Está muy cerca.It’s very near.Está enfrente del museo.It’s opposite the museum.Se puede ir andando.It’s within walking distance.Está a tres paradas de aquí.It’s three stops from here.Lifestyle Tips
• Spaniards are expected to carry identity cards at all times, so they take it for granted that anyone might need to prove their identity. Be prepared to present your passport when checking into a campsite or going to a hotel. You may be asked: ¿Su carnet? (Your ID card, please) or ¿Su pasaporte? (Your passport, please). As you’ll need to carry your passport with you, don’t forget to keep it in a safe place.
• If you’re in charge of a car, be ready to produce your driving licence if asked for it by the police. If you’ve left it behind, you may well be fined. The police officer might ask you: ¿Me deja ver su carnet de conducir? (Can I see your driving licence?).
• When planning your journey, remember that in Spain autopistas (motorways) are often toll motorways. Every so often you will come to a peaje (toll barrier) where you will be required either to take a ticket or to hand over some money. When paying, you’ll need to choose a lane marked manual if you haven’t got the exact change or you aren’t paying by card. Otherwise, you can go into an automático lane. Nowadays, there are also Telepeaje (teletoll) lanes identified by a sign showing a white T on a blue background. These are for cars fitted with a chip allowing journeys to be tracked and paid for automatically.
• Queues tend to be informal in Spanish-speaking countries. So if you’re at the bus stop or trying to get to an information desk and don’t know who’s last in line, just ask ¿Quién es el último? (Who’s last in the queue?).
• If there’s no timetable at the bus stop, you can ask people waiting if they’ve seen your bus go past. Just ask ¿Ha pasado el número 33? (Has the number 33 been yet?).
Home from home
¡Que descanses! – Sleep well!
If you’re going to stay in a Spanish-speaking country, the phrases in this unit will help you find the sort of accommodation you want (hotel, hostel, self-catering, or a flat to rent) and ensure everything remains to your satisfaction when you’re there. We’ll also give you a few tips on what the receptionist or your landlord or landlady may say to you.
SAYING WHAT YOU WANT
When looking for somewhere to stay, for instance in the local tourist office, you’ll want to specify the type of accommodation you’re looking for. The way to say this is busco (I’m looking for), from the verb buscar.
I’m looking for…
Busco un hotel que no sea demasiado caro.I’m looking for a hotel which isn’t too expensive.Busco un hotel de tres estrellas.I’m looking for a three-star hotel.Estamos buscando un camping.We’re looking for a campsite.Estamos buscando una casa que sirva para una familia de seis miembros.We’re looking for a villa suitable for a family of six.I need…
Necesito un hotel que esté cerca del palacio de congresos.I need a hotel that’s near the conference centre.Necesito algún sitio desde el que se pueda ir andando a las tiendas.I need somewhere that’s within walking distance of the shops.Necesito un piso para un mes.I need a flat for a month.Necesita un hotel donde hablen inglés.She needs a hotel where they speak English.To say what kind of room you’d like, how long you want to stay and so forth, you can use quiero or quisiera (I’d like). They are both from the verb querer. For more information on querer, see here.
I’d like…
Quiero reservar una habitación doble para dos noches.I’d like to book a double room for two nights.Quiero cambiar de habitación.I’d like to change rooms.Quiero que me devuelvan el dinero.I want a refund.Queremos quedarnos una noche más.We’d like to stay another night.Queremos alquilar un piso en el centro de la ciudad.We’d like to rent a flat in the centre of town.Quisiera una habitación con balcón.I’d like a room with a balcony.¿LO SABÍAS?
As in the first example above, when saying how long you’ll need your room for, you use para.
ASKING FOR INFORMATION
Before choosing your accommodation, you’ll want to find out some basic information by asking Is it near?, Is it expensive? and so forth. Don’t forget that Spanish has two verbs for to be: ser and estar. You use ser to talk about how things are permanently and estar to talk about temporary states and where things are located. For more information on these two verbs, see here.
Is it…?
¿Es muy caro?Is it very expensive?¿Es un hotel moderno?Is it a modern hotel?¿Está lejos el camping?Is the campsite far?¿Está incluido el desayuno en el precio?Is breakfast included in the price?¿Está lista ya nuestra habitación?Is our room ready yet?The way to ask what something is like in Spanish is to use ¿Cómo…? (How…?) and the verb ser.
What’s it like…?
¿Cómo es el hotel?What’s the hotel like?¿Cómo es la zona?What is the area like?¿Cómo son las habitaciones?What are the rooms like?You can use ¿Cuánto cuesta…? (How much is…?) to ask the price of something.
How much is…?
¿Cuánto cuesta una habitación doble por noche?How much is a double room per night?¿Cuánto cuesta con pensión completa?How much is full board?¿Cuánto cuesta alquilar una casa de dos habitaciones durante dos semanas?How much would it cost to rent a two-bedroom house for two weeks?¿Cuánto costaría quedarse una noche más?How much would it be to stay an extra night?When deciding where to stay, you’ll need to find out what facilities are on offer. Remember that asking Is there…? and Are there…? in Spanish couldn’t be easier. The word ¿Hay…? covers them both.
Is there…?
¿Hay acceso a Internet en las habitaciones?Is there internet access in the rooms?¿Hay calefacción central en el apartamento?Is there central heating in the apartment?¿Hay algún sitio para comer por aquí cerca?Is there anywhere near here where we can get something to eat?¿Hay aseos para minusválidos?Are there any disabled toilets?Once you’re in your accommodation one of the first things you’ll need to do is find out where things are. Remember that when you use ¿Dónde…? (Where…?), estar is the verb you generally use with it.
Where’s…?
¿Dónde está el bar?Where’s the bar?¿Dónde está la piscina?Where’s the swimming pool?¿Dónde están los ascensores?Where are the lifts?¿Puede decirme dónde está el restaurante?Can you tell me where the dining room is?What’s…?
¿Cuál es la dirección del hotel?What’s the address of the hotel?¿Cuál es el número de la agencia que la alquila?What’s the number for the letting agency?¿Puede decirme cuál es la página web?Can you tell me what the web address is?How…?
¿Cómo funciona?How does it work?¿Cómo se llega al hotel?How do I get to the hotel?¿Cómo se llama al exterior?How do I get an outside line?¿Cómo se baja la calefacción?How do I turn the heating down?To find out what time services are available where you’re staying, the phrase you need is ¿A qué hora…? meaning At what time…?.
What time…?
¿A qué hora es la cena?What time’s dinner?¿A qué hora cierran las puertas?What time do you lock the doors?¿A qué hora tenemos que dejar la habitación?What time do we have to be out by?¿Hasta qué hora sirven el desayuno?What time do you serve breakfast till?To find out whether you can do something, use ¿Puedo…? or ¿Se puede…? (Can I…?). They are both from the verb poder. For more information on poder, see here.
Can I…?
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?Can I pay by credit card?¿Puedo dejar la mochila en recepción?Can I leave my rucksack at reception?¿Se puede aparcar en la calle?Can I park in the street?TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF
Wherever you stay you’ll probably need to give some basic information about yourself, such as your name and nationality.
My name’s…
Soy la señora Smith. He reservado una habitación doble para esta noche.My name is Mrs Smith. I’ve booked a double room for tonight.Mi marido se llama Peter.My husband’s name is Peter.Me llamo Gary Morris.My name’s Gary Morris.Mi apellido es Morris y mi nombre de pila es Gary. Se escribe M-O-R-R-I-S, con dos erres.My surname’s Morris, and my first name is Gary. It’s spelt M-O-R-R-I-S, with two rs.I’m…
Soy británico.I’m British.Mi mujer y yo somos de Portsmouth.My wife and I are from Portsmouth.Mi novia y yo somos británicos.My girlfriend and I are British.Estoy aquí de vacaciones.I’m on holiday here.Estamos aquí en viaje de negocios.We’re here on a business trip.¿LO SABÍAS?
As you’ll see from the last two examples, when talking about your reasons for being in Spain, you use estoy rather than soy.
I’m…ing
Estoy en el Hotel Principal.I’m staying at the Hotel Principal.Estamos estudiando español.We’re studying Spanish.Estamos viajando por el país.We’re travelling round the country.ASKING FOR THINGS
¿Tienen…? (Have you got…?) is the right verb form to use whenever asking if something is available in hotels, guesthouses, hostels, tourist offices, and so on. It is from the verb tener. For more information on tener, see here.
Have you got…?
¿Tienen habitaciones libres?Have you got any rooms available?¿Tienen información sobre alojamiento?Have you got any information about accommodation?¿Tienen acceso a Internet?Do you have internet access?Use ¿Puede…? and ¿Podría…? (Can you…? and Could you…?) when asking someone to do something. They are both from poder. For more information on poder, see here.
Can you…?
¿Puede enviarme un e-mail para confirmar la reserva?Can you email me to confirm the booking?¿Puede despertarme a las siete, por favor?Can you give me an alarm call at seven o’clock, please?¿Puede cambiar las toallas, por favor?Can you change the towels, please?¿Me puede dar el número de la persona a quien hay que llamar si hay algún problema?Can you give me the number I should call if there are any problems?Could you…?
¿Podría enseñarme la habitación?Could you show me the room?¿Podría darnos una habitación de no fumadores?Could you give us a non-smoking room?¿Podría enseñarme cómo funciona la cocina?Could you show me how the cooker works?Would you mind…?
¿Le importaría pedirme un taxi?Would you mind calling a taxi for me?¿Le importaría subirme las maletas a mi habitación?Would you mind taking my suitcases up to my room?When asking for things in Spanish, very often all you need to do is use the present tense and make it a question: ¿Me da…? (Can I have…?).
Can I have…?
¿Me da la llave del apartamento, por favor?Can I have the key to my apartment, please?¿Me da un recibo, por favor?Can I have a receipt, please?¿Nos da dos toallas más?Can we have two more towels?¿Me puede dar una cuna para el niño?Can I have a cot for the baby, please?¿LO SABÍAS?
When you ask for something extra in Spanish, such as two more towels más (more) comes after what you’re asking for.
SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
You’ll often need to let the people where you’re staying know about things you have to do, so that they can help you. To say what you have or need to do, use tengo que (I have to) and the infinitive. tengo is from the verb tener. For more information on tener, see here.
I have to…
Tengo que irme temprano para coger el vuelo.I have to leave early to catch my flight.Tengo que enviar un e-mail.I’ve got to send an email.Tenemos que estar en Málaga para las ocho.We have to be in Málaga by eight o’clock.Tenemos que hacer una llamada al extranjero.We need to make an international call.ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Wherever you stay you’ll need to find out what’s allowed and what isn’t, such as where you can park, where you can camp and so on. Use ¿Puedo…? (Can I…?) and ¿Podemos…? (Can we…?) to ask if you can do something. They’re both from the verb poder. For more information on poder, see here.
Can I…?
¿Puedo ver la habitación primero?Can I see the room first?¿Puedo dejar aquí las maletas cinco minutos?Can I leave my suitcases here for five minutes?¿Puedo fumar aquí?Can I smoke in here?¿Podemos acampar aquí?Can we camp here?¿Podemos bañarnos en la piscina?Can we use the pool?Do you mind if…?
¿Le importa que aparque el coche fuera un momento?Do you mind if I park my car outside for a moment?¿Le importa que pague con tarjeta de crédito?Do you mind if I pay by credit card?¿Le importa que lleguemos tarde?Is it ok if we arrive slightly late?