0.1.1 Common Greetings

Question 1

Translate to Spanish:

Hello!

Answer 1

¡Hola!

Question 2

Translate to Spanish:

Bye!

Answer 2

¡Adiós! / ¡Chao!

Adiós is a bit more formal & final-sounding to native Spanish speakers. Chao is more informal and is especially used in South America.

Question 3

Translate to Spanish:

Good morning!

Answer 3

¡Buenos días!

Technically, this means “Good days”, but it’s used in Spanish any time before noon, just like we’d use “Good morning” in English.

Question 4

Translate to Spanish:

Good afternoon!

Answer 4

¡Buenas tardes!

Note: This phrase can also be used to mean “good evening” … typically until it’s dark outside.

Question 5

[What is being said in the audio recording?]

Answer 5

¡Buenas!

Translation: “Hey!”

This generic greeting could be short for, say, buenas tardes (“good afternoon”), but it could really be used at any time – as if it means “good [anything]”!

Question 6

Translate to Spanish:

Do you speak English?

Answer 6

¿Hablas inglés?

This easy phrase may be a bit “familiar” & informal sounding, but you’re a rookie, so you’ll be forgiven.

Question 7

Translate to Spanish:

I speak English.

Answer 7

Hablo inglés.

Notice that conjugated verbs ending in o are used to express that “I” am doing something in first person present. (The full verb, hablar, means “to speak”.)

Question 8

Translate to Spanish:

I don’t speak Spanish.

Answer 8

No hablo español.

Note that in Spanish, you can just put no in front of a phrase to make it negative.

Question 9

[What is being said in the audio recording?]

Answer 9

Man: ¡Gracias!

Woman: ¡De nada!

Translation:
“Thank you!”
“You’re welcome!”

Question 10

Translate to Spanish:

Good night!

Answer 10

¡Buenas noches!

Note: Unlike in English, where “good night” is typically just a farewell, buenas noches can be used as both a greeting and a farewell (as long as it’s dark outside).

Question 11

[What is being said in the audio recording?]

Answer 11

Woman: ¿Habla inglés?

Man: Sí.

Translation:
“Do you speak English?”
“Yes.”

Use “¿Habla inglés?” when addressing someone formally or respectfully, and “¿Hablas inglés?” when speaking to someone informally or with familiarity.

Question 12

Translate to Spanish:

Hi, my name is Sam.

Answer 12

Hola, me llamo Sam.

Note: Me llamo … literally means “I call myself …”, but this is typically how you introduce yourself in Spanish. Fancy, huh.

Also note that the letters ll in Spanish are pronounced more like an English “y”.

Question 13

Translate to Spanish:

What’s your name?

Answer 13

¿Cómo te llamas?

Note: Literally, this translates to “How do you call yourself?”. I think I’m gonna start speaking English this way.

Question 14

[What is being said in the audio recording?]

Answer 14

Man: ¿Habla español?

Woman: Un poco.

Translation:
“Do you speak Spanish?”
“A little bit.”

Question 15

Translate to Spanish:

Nice to meet you!

Answer 15

¡Mucho gusto!

Mucho gusto literally translates to “much pleasure”. It is the simplest way in Spanish to say it’s nice to meet someone.

Question 16

Translate to Spanish:

Same to you.

.(e.g. in response to “Nice to meet you”)

Answer 16

Igualmente. / Igual.

igualmente literally means “equally” and is often shortened to igual in conversation.

If you just met a Spanish speaker and told them mucho gusto (“nice to meet you”), it’s very likely that they would respond: Igual.

Question 17

[What is being said in the audio recording?]

Answer 17

Hombre: ¿Cómo te llamas?

Mujer: Me llamo Jenny. Mucho gusto.

Hombre: ¡Igual!

Translation:
Man: “What’s your name?”
Woman: “My name is Jenny. Nice to meet you.”
Man: “Same!”