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Month: January 2009

How to ask and understand directions in Spanish

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When you’re starting to learn Spanish, one of the most practical and rewarding skills you can develop is asking for and understanding directions. Whether you’re travelling through a Spanish-speaking country or simply expanding your language skills, knowing how to ask for directions in Spanish can make your experience much smoother and more enjoyable.

In this guide, we’ll cover essential phrases and vocabulary related to directions in the language. We’ll explore how to ask for them, understand responses and navigate your way to popular destinations like museums, markets, and more. 

Before starting, remember to listen to the podcast while reading this article to practice with a conversation and expand your knowledge. ¡Ahora sí: vamos!

Basic vocabulary for directions in Spanish

Before we get into asking for directions, it’s important to familiarise yourself with some common destinations you might ask about:

  • el museo the museum
  • el banco the bank
  • el mercado the market
  • la oficina de turismo the tourist office
  • la plaza mayor the main square
  • la catedral the cathedral

These are places you’re likely to visit, whether you’re a tourist or a resident in a Spanish-speaking area. Knowing these words will help you understand and use directions more effectively.

How to ask for directions in Spanish

When you find yourself needing to ask for directions, here are some essential phrases to remember:

  • ¿Dónde está…? Where is…?
  • ¿Está lejos de aquí? Is it far from here?
  • ¿Está cerca de aquí? Is it close to here?

For example, if you’re looking for the main square, you might ask: ¿Dónde está la plaza mayor?, or if you’re unsure of the distance to the museum, you could say, ¿Está lejos de aquí el museo?.

These questions are simple yet powerful tools in your language arsenal. They allow you to get the information you need to find your way around.

Understanding directions in Spanish

Now that you know how to ask for directions, it’s equally important to understand the responses you might receive. Here are some common phrases you’ll hear:

  • Siga todo recto. Go straight ahead.
  • Doble a la izquierda. Turn left.
  • Doble a la derecha. Turn right.

Another way to say turn is gire. For instance, gire a la derecha for turn right.

Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you use these phrases, the more confident you’ll become in both asking for and understanding directions. You’ll find that navigating a Spanish-speaking city becomes second nature.

Mastering directions in Spanish is an essential skill for any beginner learner. By familiarising yourself with the key vocabulary and phrases for asking for directions, you’ll not only enhance your language skills but also feel more comfortable and confident in real-life situations. 

Whether you’re navigating to the market, finding the nearest bank, or exploring a city’s main square, these phrases will serve you well. So, the next time you’re in a Spanish-speaking area, don’t hesitate to ask, ¿Dónde está…? and embark on your journey with ease!

Continue improving and expanding your vocabulary and useful phrases for your next trip to a Spanish-speaking country in our next episode. We’ll see more locations and directions to navigate the city confidently.

Happy Coffee Breaking!

 

Season 2 – Lesson 03 – Coffee Break French

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In this week’s episode, we take a further look at daily routine, focusing particularly on reflexive verbs. We also look at time in more detail so we can say exactly when we carry out each part of our daily routine. Please note that lesson 03 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 43 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.

Episode 12 – Show Time Spanish

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In episode 12 of Show Time Spanish, Mark and Alba get all poetic as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of el poeta nacional de Escocia, Robert Burns. Alba learns some Scots and in return she teaches Mark a poem by Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. The intermedio includes a review of the film Secretos del Corazón, and José introduces some interesting ways to convey the concept of “to fancy doing something”. Language points covered include how to translate “to realise” and the construction estar a punto de + infinitive, meaning “to be about to do something”.

Members | Purchase | RSS | iTunes link

How to say dates in Spanish? A quick guide for beginners

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Learning how to say dates in Spanish is an essential skill for anyone beginning to learn the language. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to express dates, understand the days of the week, months of the year, and numbers in Spanish. By the end, you’ll be comfortable writing and speaking dates like a pro!

Don’t forget to listen to the podcast version to get the pronunciation and further practice on how to say dates in Spanish.

Days of the week in Spanish

What are the days of the week in Spanish? Knowing the days of the week is fundamental when learning a new language. Here are the days of the week in Spanish:

  • lunes Monday
  • martes Tuesday
  • miércoles Wednesday
  • jueves Thursday
  • viernes Friday
  • sábado Saturday
  • domingo Sunday

Pay attention and notice the days of the week in Spanish start with a lower case.

Months in Spanish

Next, let’s look at the months in Spanish. Understanding the months will help you when you’re trying to learn how to say dates in Spanish. Like the days of the week, the months aren’t capitalised.

  • enero January
  • febrero February
  • marzo March
  • abril April
  • mayo May
  • junio June
  • julio July
  • agosto August
  • septiembre September
  • octubre October
  • noviembre November
  • diciembre December

How to say numbers in Spanish

Numbers are crucial when learning how to say dates in Spanish. In a previous episode, we learnt numbers up to 10 in Spanish, so don’t forget to check it out in case you have missed it or you need to revise them! Here are the basics, from 11 to 1000:

  • 11 – once
  • 12 – doce
  • 13 – trece
  • 14 – catorce
  • 15 – quince
  • 16 – dieciséis
  • 17 – diecisiete
  • 18 – dieciocho
  • 19 – diecinueve
  • 20 – veinte
  • 21 – veintiuno
  • 22 – veintidós
  • 23 – veintitrés
  • 24 – veinticuatro
  • 25 – veinticinco
  • 26 – veintiséis
  • 27 – veintisiete
  • 28 – veintiocho
  • 29 – veintinueve
  • 30 – treinta
  • 31 – treinta y uno
  • 40 – cuarenta
  • 50 – cincuenta
  • 60 – sesenta
  • 70 – setenta
  • 80 – ochenta
  • 90 – noventa

From 30, the numbers are formed by combining them with the single-digit number. Por ejemplo:

  • 45 – cuarenta y cinco
  • 82 – ochenta y dos

In the podcast episode, we cover all the numbers, so don’t forget to listen to it. You’ll need to know how to say two thousand to say the year of the date!

Writing the Date in Spanish

When writing the date in Spanish, the format is slightly different from English. Typically, the order is: day of the week, day of the month, month, and year. Here’s an example:

  • Lunes, 2 de mayo de 2024. Monday, 2nd May, 2024.

In this format, you can clearly see how to integrate what you’ve learned about the days, months, and numbers.

By familiarising yourself with the days of the week, months of the year, seasons, and numbers, you’ll quickly learn how to say dates in Spanish. Remember to practise regularly and use these terms in your daily conversations to become more comfortable.

If you ever find yourself wondering, “what are the days of the week in Spanish?” or “how to say numbers in Spanish,” refer back to this guide. The more you practise, the easier it will become to naturally incorporate these elements into your Spanish vocabulary.

In the next episode we’ll learn how to name the buildings we can find in a city in Spanish, so don’t miss it!

Happy Coffee Breaking!

 

Episode 02 – Walk, Talk and Learn French

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In episode 02 of Walk, Talk and Learn French, Pierre-Benoît and Mark introduce the expressions dès que and ne … plus. This episode is based around an information poster in the métro.
 
Other downloads: wmv (65mb) | divx (21mb) | ipod 320 (22mb)

Season 2 – Lesson 02 – Coffee Break French

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In this episode, we continue to look at ER verbs in the present tense by talking about our daily routines.
Please note that lesson 02 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 42 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.

Episode 11 – Show Time Spanish

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In episode 11, the first episode of 2009, Mark and Alba talk about the holidays and about their New Year’s Resolutions. Alba presents a review of the film La Lengua de las Mariposas in the intermedio, and José’s topic of the week is paying compliments to people. Grammar points covered include the use of sí que for emphasis, and talking about how long you did things for in the past using both durante and a more simple preterite tense.

Members | Purchase | RSS | iTunes link

Season 2 – Lesson 01 – Coffee Break French

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In this episode, we move on from looking at particular words and phrases to constructing the language so you can say exactly what you want to say. We start by taking a look at how to conjugate regular ER verbs in the present tense.
Please note that lesson 01 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 41 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.

Learn how to say ‘I speak a little Spanish’ in Spanish

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As a beginner, you might find yourself often needing to say ‘I speak a little  Spanish’ in Spanish. To express that, you would say: ‘Hablo un poco de español’. 

As you can imagine, this phrase can be very useful in many situations. But what about capitalisation? Are languages capitalised in Spanish? Let’s dive into these topics to help you on your language-learning adventure.

Basic phrases for beginners

When you start learning Spanish, it’s essential to know some basic phrases. These phrases will help you navigate basic conversations and express your language abilities or limitations. Here are a few to get you started:

‘I speak a little Spanish’ in Spanish

As we’ve seen, the way to say I speak a little Spanish in Spanish is Hablo un poco de español. We are going to see some other useful sentences around this topic.

  • Hablo español I speak Spanish
  • ¿Hablas español? Do you speak Spanish?
  • ¿Habla usted español? Do you (formal) speak Spanish?
  • Lo siento, no hablo español I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish

I don’t understand in Spanish

There are many occasions when we’ll need to say we don’t understand or we want to check if we have been understood. In those situations, the following phrases may become handy:

  • Estoy aprendiendo español. I am learning Spanish.
  • Lo siento, no entiendo. I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
  • ¿Entiende usted? Do you understand? (formal)
  • ¿Entiendes? Do you understand?

Are languages capitalised in Spanish?

A common question for new learners is Are languages capitalised in Spanish? The answer is no. Unlike English, where languages like Spanish, English, Chinese, French, Portuguese, German, and Italian are capitalised, in Spanish, they are not. So, you would write:

  • español Spanish
  • inglés English
  • chino Chinese
  • francés French
  • portugués Portuguese
  • alemán German
  • italiano Italian

It’s a small detail, but paying attention to these nuances can make a big difference in your writing and comprehension. This rule also applies to nationalities and days of the week.

That’s all for now! 

Learning Spanish opens up a world of opportunities, and being able to say Hablo un poco de español (I speak a little Spanish in Spanish) is a great start. Remember that in Spanish, languages are not capitalised, which is a small but important detail to remember. 

As you continue your learning journey, these basic phrases and tips will help you communicate more effectively and understand the nuances of the Spanish language.

Keep practising, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. With time and effort, you’ll find yourself saying, Hablo español wit,h confidence. 

By incorporating these beginner-friendly phrases and understanding the rules of capitalization, you’re well on your way to mastering the basics of Spanish. 

In our next episode, we teach you the days of the week, the months and also the numbers in Spanish. If you are interested, don’t forget to read the article and listen to the podcast.

Episode 01 – Walk, Talk and Learn French

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In episode 01 of Walk, Talk and Learn French, Pierre-Benoît and Mark introduce the phrase il y en a and discuss adjective agreements. This episode is based around a poster for the film Ratatouille.  
 
Other downloads: wmv (84mb) | divx (24mb) | ipod 320 (24mb)

One Minute Japanese Premium Edition now available

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We’re delighted to announce the availability of the Premium version of One Minute Japanese. This premium version includes the following elements: the lesson guide lists all the words and phrases taught in the series; the enhanced podcasts allow listeners to view the words and phrases on iPod screens and computers using synchronised flashcards; the quick quiz podcast allows listeners to test their understanding of the material covered in the course; and the One Minute Japanese: Take-Off Time show provides a full review of all the language in a handy audio file, ready to take on board your flight!

The Premium podcast can be purchased for £10.00 GBP from our membership page. As a special opening offer we’re offering a 25% discount. Use coupon code OML2009 at checkout and get these materials for £7.50 GBP. This coupon code is valid until 23 January 2009. If you’re already a Radio Lingua premium member, you can add One Minute Japanese to your membership from your Control Panel.

Pilot Episode: Walk, Talk and Learn French

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In this pilot episode for the brand new video podcast Walk, Talk and Learn French, presenters Pierre-Benoît and Mark introduce the programme. When you're learning a language, one of the best things you can do is look around you on the signs, posters and notices. However, this isn't always possible, especially if you can'ttravel to the country where the language is spoken. With Walk, Talk and Learn French we're bringing this experience to your classroom or your home, to your iPod or your phone. 

Welcome to Walk, Talk and Learn French

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Wtlfrench-300Welcome to Walk, Talk and Learn French from the Radio Lingua Network. This video show presents French grammar like you've never seen it before. Join teacher Pierre-Benoît as he wanders around the streets of Paris talking about the language he sees on posters, adverts and notices.

Walk, Talk and Learn French is published in weekly episodes, beginning on 9th January 2009. You can view the episodes on our website, or subscribe for free in iTunes and receive each episode automatically as soon as it's published. Bonus materials for each episode will soon be available, along with the option to download high quality videos.

One Minute French Premium edition now available

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We're delighted to announce the availability of the Premium version of One Minute French. This premium version includes the following elements: the lesson guide lists all the words and phrases taught in the series; the enhanced podcasts allow listeners to view the words and phrases on iPod screens and computers using synchronised flashcards; the quick quiz podcast allows listeners to test their understanding of the material covered in the course; and the One Minute French: Take-Off Time show provides a full review of all the language in a handy audio file, ready to take on board your flight!

The Premium podcast can be purchased for £10.00 GBP from our membership page. As a special opening offer we're offering a 25% discount. Use coupon code OML2009 at checkout and get these materials for £7.50 GBP. This coupon code is valid until 23 January 2009. If you're already a Radio Lingua premium member, you can add One Minute French to your membership from your Control Panel.

Other One Minute Languages courses will be added to our membership section in the coming weeks.

One Minute French Premium edition now available

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omlfrench-thumb

We’re delighted to announce the availability of the Premium version of One Minute French. This premium version includes the following elements: the lesson guide lists all the words and phrases taught in the series; the enhanced podcasts allow listeners to view the words and phrases on iPod screens and computers using synchronised flashcards; the quick quiz podcast allows listeners to test their understanding of the material covered in the course; and the One Minute French: Take-Off Time show provides a full review of all the language in a handy audio file, ready to take on board your flight!

The Premium podcast can be purchased for £10.00 GBP from our membership page. As a special opening offer we’re offering a 25% discount. Use coupon code OML2009 at checkout and get these materials for £7.50 GBP. This coupon code is valid until 23 January 2009. If you’re already a Radio Lingua premium member, you can add One Minute French to your membership from your Control Panel.

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Coffee Break Languages is a product of Radio Lingua Ltd.

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