Easy Learning Spanish Conversation
SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE, DISLIKE, PREFER
When talking about what kind of accommodation you like, remember that the Spanish for I like works rather differently from English. You use me gusta with singular words and me gustan with plural ones.
I like…
Me gusta quedarme en hoteles pequeños.I like staying in small hotels.Me gustan las casas antiguas de estilo español.I like old Spanish houses.Me encanta esta pensión.I love this guest house.Nos encantan los campings de montaña.We love campsites in the mountains.And to say what you don’t like, you simply put the word no in front of me gusta or me gustan.
I don’t like…
No me gusta esta habitación, es muy oscura.I don’t like this room, it’s too dark.No me gusta cenar en el hotel.I don’t like having dinner at the hotel.No me gustan los hoteles modernos de la costa.I don’t like the modern hotels on the coast.No nos gusta alojarnos en apartamentos.We don’t like staying in apartments.To say what you prefer, you can use prefiero (I’d prefer).
I’d prefer…
Prefiero una habitación en la planta baja.I’d prefer a room on the ground floor.Prefiero quedarme sólo una noche.I’d rather stay for just one night.Prefiero la media pensión a la pensión completa.I’d rather have half board than full board.Preferimos un hotel céntrico.We’d prefer a hotel in the centre.MAKING SUGGESTIONS
If you’re with Spanish-speaking friends or colleagues when looking for somewhere to stay, you’ll need to be able to suggest things. One way of doing this is to use ¿Qué te parece si…? ¿ or ¿Y si…? (How about…?) followed by a verb in the present tense. For more on the present tense, see here.
How about…?
¿Qué te parece si nos quedamos un día más?How about staying one more day?¿Qué te parece si buscamos alojamiento en el centro?How about looking for accommodation in the centre of town?¿Y si alquilamos un apartamento.How about renting an apartment?¿Y si pasamos la noche aquí?How about spending the night here?Why don’t…?
¿Por qué no preguntamos en la oficina de turismo?Why don’t we ask at the tourist office?¿Por qué no te quedas en un hotel más barato?Why don’t you stay at a cheaper hotel?¿Por qué no buscamos un camping más cercano a la costa?Why don’t we look for a campsite nearer the coast?To make a suggestion about what you could do, use podríamos (we could).
We could…
Podríamos preguntar en la oficina de turismo.We could ask at the tourist office.Podríamos intentar en el Hotel Europa.We could try the Hotel Europa.Podríamos llamar al propietario.We could try phoning the landlord.TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS
Deciding on where you’re going to stay is a major part of planning a trip or holiday, so you may well want to talk about those plans in Spanish. Use voy a (I’m going to) or vamos a (we’re going to) and the infinitive to talk about what you’re planning to do. They’re from the verb ir (to go). For more on ir, see here.
I’m going to…
Voy a alquilar una casa en las montañas.I’m going to rent a villa in the mountains.Voy a quedarme en un hotel en Barcelona.I’m going to stay in a hotel in Barcelona.Vamos a quedarnos con unos amigos españoles en Madrid.We’re going to stay with some Spanish friends in Madrid.Another way of talking about your plans is to use tengo pensado (I’m planning to) followed by the infinitive. tengo comes from the verb tener. For more information on tener, see here.
I’m planning to…
Tengo pensado pasar un par de días en cada sitio.I’m planning to spend a couple of days in each place.Tenemos pensado buscar una casa en la costa para pasar las vacaciones.We’re planning to look for a holiday home by the coast.Tenemos pensado buscarnos un camping.We’re planning on going to a campsite.COMPLAINING
Unfortunately the service you get in your accommodation may not always be perfect. A very simple way of complaining is to say what the problem is using hay, meaning there is or there are, and no hay (there isn’t or there aren’t).
There’s…
Hay demasiado ruido.There’s too much noise.Hay una gotera en el techo.There’s a leak in the ceiling.Hay cucarachas en el apartamento.There are cockroaches in the apartment.There isn’t…
No hay agua caliente.There isn’t any hot water.No hay toallas limpias en la habitación.There aren’t any clean towels in the room.La habitación no tiene balcón.The room doesn’t have a balcony.El apartamento no tiene aire acondicionado.The apartment doesn’t have air-conditioning.In the next examples notice how the verb ser is used to describe things which won’t change, such as the beds being uncomfortable, and estar is used for things which can change, such as the room being dirty. For more on ser and estar, see here.
is…
Este hotel es demasiado ruidoso.This hotel’s too noisy.Las camas son muy incómodas.The beds are very uncomfortable.El apartamento está sucio.The apartment’s dirty.El agua de la piscina no está limpia.The water in the swimming pool isn’t very clean.Hace mucho calor aquí.It’s very hot in here.Hace mucho frío aquí.It’s very cold in here.¿LO SABÍAS?
Remember that in Spanish to talk about the weather or the temperature inside, you use the verb hacer (to do, to make). For more on hacer, see here.
LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some key phrases you are likely to hear when you’re looking for somewhere to stay.
¿Qué tipo de alojamiento busca?What type of accommodation are you looking for?Estamos completos.We’re full.¿Para cuántas noches?For how many nights?¿Para cuántas personas?For how many people?¿Me deja su nombre, por favor?Can I have your name, please?¿Me puede deletrear su nombre, si es tan amable?Can you spell your name for me, please?¿A nombre de quién está la reserva?Whose name is the booking in?¿Me deja ver su pasaporte, por favor?Can I see your passport, please?¿Cuál es el número de su habitación?What’s your room number?Tiene que dejar una señal.You have to leave a deposit.¿En qué número podemos localizarlo?What number can we contact you on?¿Cómo quiere pagar?How would you like to pay?Por favor, rellene este formulario.Please fill in this form.Por favor, firme aquí.Please sign here.Tiene que dejar la habitación antes de las doce.You have to be out of the room by twelve o’clock.Lifestyle Tips
• The most economical hotels and guesthouses in Spain are pensiones and hostales, which offer no-frills accommodation. Unlike British B&Bs, they do not normally include breakfast so you may have to go elsewhere to get some.
• At the other end of the scale are the paradores nacionales de turismo, hotels which are located in places of interest and which are often historic buildings such as castles or monasteries.
• Accommodation in casas rurales has become very popular in Spain. These are country houses and cottages that have been converted for holiday lets or that have been turned into guesthouses.
• If you’re a man, you’re likely to hear receptionists and waiting staff call you caballero (literally gentleman). If you’re a woman, you’ll hear señora (literally lady) used in the same way. If the staff are young, you can call them tú rather than usted, even when they call you usted back.
• If you want to rent a flat to live in in Spain, you’ll probably have to sign a contrato de alquiler or de arrendamiento (lease) and leave a fianza (deposit) of one or two months’ rent with the dueño or propietario (landlord).
Wining and dining
¡Buen provecho! – Enjoy your meal!
If you’re going out for a meal in Spain, the phrases in this unit will give you the confidence to talk to the waiter and chat with your Spanish friends in easy, natural Spanish. We’ll also give you some tips on getting advice about what to order, and a few key phrases the waiters are likely to use.
MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
If you’re going out for a meal with Spanish-speaking friends or colleagues and you want to make arrangements such as where and when to meet, you can use the verb quedar (meaning to meet or to arrange to meet).
Shall we meet…?
¿Quedamos en el restaurante?Shall we meet at the restaurant?¿Quedamos a las nueve?Shall we meet at nine o’clock?¿Quedamos con ellos en el Café Zurich?Shall we meet them at the Café Zurich?¿Cómo quedamos?Where shall we meet and when?¿Dónde quedamos?Where shall we meet?What time…?
¿A qué hora quedamos?What time shall we meet up at?¿A qué hora podrá llegar aquí tu mujer?What time will your wife be able to get here?¿Para qué hora has reservado mesa?What time did you book the table for?¿Hasta qué hora sirven?Up to what time do they go on serving?When making arrangements to eat, you’ll want to check what suits other people. Use ¿No te importa que…? followed by the subjunctive or ¿No te importa si…? followed by the ordinary present to ask Is it ok with you if…? Of course you should only use te with someone you call tú. Change it to le if you call them usted. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.
Would it be ok if…?
¿No te importa que venga un amigo mío?Would it be ok if I brought a friend of mine?¿No te importa si lo dejamos para la semana que viene?Would it be ok if we left it till next week?¿No os importa si llegamos un poco más tarde?Would it be ok if we got there a bit later?To say what would suit you better, you can use me vendría mejor (it would suit me better). vendría comes from venir (to come).
It would suit me better…
Me vendría mejor quedar contigo allí.It would suit me better to meet you there.¿Te vendría mejor el sábado por la noche?Would Saturday evening suit you better?El viernes me vendría mejor.Friday would be better for me.Me viene mejor si quedamos un poco más tarde.It would be better for me if we made it a bit later.¿Te viene mejor si lo dejamos para mañana?Would it suit you better if we left it till tomorrow?ASKING FOR INFORMATION
One of the pieces of information you may need to find out is where things are. Remember that when you ask where something is, estar is the verb you generally use.
Where’s…?
Estoy buscando la calle Teruel, ¿sabe usted dónde está?I’m looking for the calle Teruel. Do you know where it is?¿Sabe usted dónde está el restaurante Don Alfonso?Do you know where the restaurant Don Alfonso is?Perdone, ¿dónde están los servicios?Excuse me, where are the toilets?Before you decide where to eat or what to eat, you may want to find out what the restaurant or the food is like. Don’t forget that Spanish has two verbs for to be: ser and estar. For more on these verbs, see here.
Is…?
¿Es un restaurante muy caro?Is it a very expensive restaurant?¿Es un plato típico de la zona?Is it a typical local dish?¿Es apto para vegetarianos?Is it suitable for vegetarians?¿La bebida está incluida en el menú de 10 euros?Are drinks included in the 10-euro set menu?To ask more specifically about the menu, you can use ¿Qué…? (What…?).
What…?
¿Con qué lo sirven?What does it come with?¿Qué lleva?What’s in it?Las gambas en gabardina, ¿qué son?What are gambas en gabardina?¿Qué hay de postre?What is there for dessert?If you want to ask the price of something, you can use ¿Cuánto vale…? (How much is…?).
How much is…?
¿Cuánto vale una botella de vino de la casa?How much is a bottle of house wine?¿Cuánto vale el menú del día?How much is the set menu?ASKING FOR THINGS
If you haven’t already got a reservation at the restaurant where you’re planning to eat, you’ll need to ask if there’s a table you can have. ¿Tienen…? is the right verb form to use whenever asking if something is available in hotels, restaurants and shops. It is from the verb tener. For more information on tener, see here.
Have you got…?
¿Tienen una mesa para tres?Have you got a table for three, please?¿Tienen alguna mesa libre para esta noche?Have you got a table available for tonight?¿Tienen menú del día?Do you have a set menu?¿Tienen la carta en inglés?Have you got the menu in English?¿Tienen vino de la casa?Do you have a house wine?¿Tienen menú infantil?Have you got a children’s menu?Una mesa para dos, por favor.A table for two, please.¿LO SABÍAS?
Of course if you have made a reservation, instead of asking if there’s a table free, you’ll be able to say he reservado una mesa para dos a nombre de… (I’ve booked a table for two in the name of…).
To say what you’d like or what you want, you can use either quisiera or quiero (I’d like). They are both from the verb querer. For more information on querer, see here. To attract the waiter’s attention, you just need to say ¿Puede venir, por favor? (Can you come over?) or ¡Oiga, por favor! (Excuse me, please!).
I’d like…
Quisiera reservar mesa para las 9.00.I’d like to book a table for 9 o’clock.Quisiera pedir.I'd like to order.Quisiera dos cafés más, por favor.I’d like two more coffees, please.Yo quiero una tortilla.I'd like an omelette.Yo quiero gazpacho.I'd like gazpacho.Quiero el bistec muy hecho.I'd like my steak well done.¿LO SABÍAS?
To a Spanish ear, you may sound unnatural, overformal and foreign if you pepper your requests with por favor the way we use please in English. So don’t overuse it, and don’t keep repeating it.
To say what you’ve chosen, you can use voy a tomar (I’ll have).
I’ll have…
De primero voy a tomar sopa.As a starter I'll have soup.De segundo voy a tomar ternera.For the main course I'll have veal.De postre voy a tomar flan.For dessert I’ll have crème caramel.Para beber vamos a tomar vino blanco.We'll have white wine.¿LO SABÍAS?
If you haven’t made up your mind what you want to eat when the waiter appears with a notebook, you’ll want to send him or her away temporarily. To do this you can say todavía no he decidido (I’m not ready to order yet) or todavía no hemos decidido (we’re not ready to order yet).
When you’re at your table, a very natural way to ask the waiter for what you want is by using ¿Me trae…? (Can I have…? or Can you bring me…?). If you’re being served at the bar, use ¿Me pone…? for Can I have?.
Can I have…?
¿Me trae otra ración de ensaladilla rusa?Can I have another portion of Russian salad?¿Nos trae otra botella de vino?Can we have another bottle of wine, please?¿Nos trae más pan?Can we have some more bread?¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor?Can we have the bill, please?¿Me pone una cerveza?Can I have a beer?You can also use ¿Puede…? (Can you…?) or ¿Podría…? (Could you…?) when asking for things. They are both from the verb poder (to be able). For more information on poder, see here.
Could you…?
¿Puede traernos la carta de vinos, por favor?Can you bring us the wine list, please?¿Puede traerme otro tenedor?Can you bring me another fork?¿Puedes pasarme la sal?Can you pass me the salt?¿Podría bajar la música un poco?Could you turn the music down a bit?¿Podrías pasarme el vino?Could you pass me the wine?Would you mind…?
¿Le importaría cerrar la ventana?Would you mind closing the window?¿Le importaría encender el ventilador?Would you mind putting on the fan?¿Le importa pedirle que no fume?Would you mind asking him not to smoke?SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE, DISLIKE, PREFER
When you’re eating out, you may want to talk about what you like and dislike when it comes to food. Don’t forget that the Spanish for I like works rather differently from English. You use me gusta with singular words and me gustan with plural ones. And it’s the same story with me encanta and me encantan (I love). To say what you don’t like, use no me gusta or no me gustan (I don’t like).
I like…
Me gusta el gazpacho.I like gazpacho.Me gustan las uvas.I like grapes.Me encantan las cerezas.I love cherries.Nos encanta la paella.We love paella.I don’t like…
No me gusta el jamón.I don't like ham.No me gustan las judías verdes.I don't like green beans.No me gusta nada el pescado.I hate fish.Do you like…?
¿Te gusta la leche?Do you like milk?¿Te gustan las fresas?Do you like strawberries?¿No te gusta el té?Don't you like tea?¿LO SABÍAS?
Note that in Spanish when you talk about things that you like in general, you need to say the equivalent of I like the gazpacho, I don’t like the ham even though in English it’s I like gazpacho and I don’t like ham.
I’d rather…
Prefiero beber zumo de naranja.I'd rather have orange juice.Prefiero el vino tinto.I prefer red wine.Preferimos tomar paella.We'd rather have paella.If you have specific dietary requirements, you can sometimes describe them using soy (I’m).