All About Me
Please note: There is a short delay when playing the audio clips.
When Spanish people meet, they kiss each other on both cheeks (if they haven’t seen each other for a while) and say ...
¡Hola! - Hello!
¡Buenos días! - Good morning / good day!
¡Buenas tardes! - Good afternoon!
Questions start with an upside-down question-mark. This helps people know that there’s a question coming up, and allows them to start asking the question with their voice at the start.
¿Qué tal? - How are you?
Bien, gracias. - I’m fine, thanks.
Mal. - I’m not well.
¿Y tú? - And you?
You might also hear:
¿Cómo estás? - How are you?
For someone you don’t know, you say:
¿Cómo está usted? - How are you?
¿Y usted? - And you?
Upside-down exclamation marks are used too!
¡Adiós! - Goodbye!
¡Chao! - Goodbye!
¡Hasta pronto! - See you soon!
¡Hasta luego! - See you later!
It’s polite to say Señor or Señora to all grown-ups and teachers. Listen to how the ñ sounds - like n and then y.
Señor, Señora - Sir / Mr, Madam / Mrs
DID YOU KNOW... if a waiter asks if you’d like more of something, you don’t reply por favor (please) as you would in English but gracias (thank you).
por favor - please
gracias - thanks