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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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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.
Welcome 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.
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.
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.
Lesson 10 marks the end of the first season of Show Time Spanish. We'd really like to hear what you think about the show. A huge amount of time and effort goes into each show – around 15 hours each week! – and we'd really like to hear from you to find out if you feel we're on the right tracks. You can either comment on this post – just click the "Comments" link below, or you can review Show Time Spanish on iTunes. Indeed, if you have specific feedback about any particular lesson, please post your comments on that lesson as listed here in the library. We're also 'recruiting' some listeners to provide testimonials for use in our marketing material, so if you're interested, let us know: email support [at] radiolingua.com and we'll be in touch.
It’s time for our second installment of the Show Time Spanish telenovela, Verano Español. Laura and her mother have just arrived in Spain to spend the summer in the house they’ve recently inherited from tía Julia. In this episode we’ll meet some of their new neighbours and Laura makes a new friend.
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The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and connecting with loved ones. If you’re a beginner learning Spanish, knowing how to greet people during this festive period can be both fun and useful. In this article, we’ll teach you how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish and also Happy New Year.
In addition to that, you’ll learn some handy phrases to use during the holidays. So, let’s dive in!
But first, remember to listen to the episode to better understand the pronunciation and learn a Christmas carol in Spanish!
The most common way to say Merry Christmas in Spanish is Feliz Navidad. This phrase is widely recognized, especially thanks to the popular song Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano.
It’s simple, cheerful, and perfect for spreading holiday cheer.
When the New Year approaches, you’ll want to know how to say Happy New Year in Spanish. The phrase you need is Feliz Año Nuevo.
It’s a warm way to wish your friends and family a prosperous new beginning.
Often, people like to combine their holiday greetings to cover both Christmas and New Year’s. In Spanish, you can say Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo, which translates to Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
This phrase captures the essence of the season and extends your good wishes through the New Year. Another way to say Merry Christmas in Spanish and Happy New Year in a more generic way is felices fiestas, which means Happy Holidays. This phrase is also used in all Spanish-speaking countries.
Here are some additional phrases that you might find useful during the holidays:
These phrases can help you express your feelings and appreciation when exchanging gifts.
In Spanish-speaking countries, Christmas carols are known as villancicos de Navidad. These songs are an integral part of the holiday celebrations, bringing a festive spirit to gatherings.
You might also hear the term navideño/a, which means ‘Christmas-like’ or ‘related to Christmas’. Por ejemplo:
Understanding the key dates during the holiday season is also important:
Nochebuena. This is Christmas Eve, celebrated on December 24th. It’s a night for family gatherings, feasts, and, for some people, midnight mass.
Nochevieja. This is New Year’s Eve, celebrated on December 31st. It’s marked by parties, fireworks, and the tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight for good luck in the coming year.
And that’s all for this blog article!
Now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish and Happy New Year. Whether you’re sending a card, sharing a festive meal, or just spreading holiday cheer, these phrases will help you connect with Spanish-speaking friends and family. Remember to enjoy the festivities, practice your new phrases, and have a wonderful holiday season!
In our next episode of Coffee Break Spanish, we’ll learn how to navigate tricky situations when we don’t understand what people are saying in Spanish. Learn how to say “I only speak a little Spanish” in the language. Don’t miss it!
In episode 08, you’ll hear Lisa’s latest email to Duncan. Has he been a bit too pushy about Christmas? Is there too much pressure on Lisa to come home? Has she been trying to let him down gently by explaining that money is a bit tight? Or has Lisa had another offer to stay in Canada for Christmas? In this episode verbs used include wake up, wear out, get along, work out and many more.
In this 10th episode of our intermediate-advanced Spanish course, Mark and Alba discuss Christmas traditions in Spain. José introduces a couple of phrases which you can tell someone not to take something the wrong way in this week’s intermedio. Grammar points covered include al + infinitive, por and para, volver a hacer algo, and expressions which are followed by the subjunctive including antes de que, sin que and para que.
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Learning a new language can be an exciting but challenging journey. If you’ve just started learning Spanish or are contemplating whether to begin, you might be wondering: “Is Spanish hard to learn”? This article addresses this question and provides some insights into how hard it is to learn Spanish, especially for beginners.
Here in Coffee Break Spanish, we believe learning a language is not and shouldn’t be difficult, so today’s episode is a bit special, and we thought it could be a nice idea to test your understanding of the language. That way you’ll see you are able to say and understand more than what you think! Then you could answer the question, “Is Spanish hard to learn?”.
Listen to the audio to test yourself and revise.
The question “Is Spanish hard to learn?” is common among new learners. The answer, however, is not straightforward. It depends on several factors, including your native language, learning methods, and personal commitment.
Is Spanish hard to learn? The short answer is no. There are at least three aspects of the Spanish language that prove this point.
Spanish is largely phonetic, meaning words are pronounced as they are written. This can be a significant advantage for beginners because once you know the rules, there are no exceptions. Practice now and read out loud the following sentence that contains some of the “trickiest” sounds.
If you would like to know how to say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year in Spanish and get to know some other useful phrases for these holidays, don’t miss our episode on it!
Spanish shares many cognates with English—words that look similar and have the same meaning. Can you guess what the following words in Spanish mean?
Of course, the answers are animal, family and music! So is Spanish hard to learn? As you can see, some vocabulary is actually very easy.
Now, how hard is it to learn Spanish? Actually, there are some aspects of the language that could make learning a bit more challenging. We’ll focus on two main ones.
Spanish verbs conjugate differently based on tense, mood, and subject. This can be tricky for beginners to master, but practice makes perfect!
So far, you’ll be learning two ways of saying or asking things in Spanish – the formal and the informal thing. The verb is different in these cases and basically whenever the subject changes. For example:
Every noun in Spanish has a gender (masculine or feminine), and this affects adjectives and articles. We could look into this in the article and episode about professions in Spanish, but here you have an example:
To help you practise and see how much you’ve learned so far, here are some interesting sentences from today’s episode. The dialogue is longer, so if you want to challenge yourself a bit more after testing your Spanish with this extract, go there to listen to the full conversation!
Now try understanding the dialogue. You can either write the translation or explain what’s going on – it’s up to you! After this, you will be able to answer yourself the question “is Spanish hard to learn”.
You can find the translation of the sentences along with the full conversation in the episode audio. This exercise will help you see how well you can understand and translate basic Spanish conversations.
So, is Spanish hard to learn? The difficulty of learning Spanish varies from person to person, but we hope you have seen that you can make progress just by practising a little bit consistently!
If wanting to continue learning the language and would like to learn how to say you speak a little Spanish, in episode 11 we’ll teach you the basics to navigate those situations where we have to say that we don’t fully understand.
Hasta entonces, happy Coffee Breaking!
In episode 07, you’ll hear Duncan’s latest reply to Lisa’s email. Lisa is becoming desperate to get a flat… will that mean another meeting with the estate agent? And, with Christmas fast approaching, what exactly does Lisa mean when she asks Duncan to ‘start thinking about what they’re going to do.’? Verbs included in this episode are lay off, look up, look like, make out and many more.
Coffee Break Languages is a product of Radio Lingua Ltd.
