Breaking of Beginner Spanish (Chapter 1: Minding Your Verbal Manners)

Question 1

phrase meaning so-and-so is a person who has good manners and is polite in dealing with others

Answer 1

Es una persona educada

Question 2

How’s it going?

Answer 2

¿Comó le va?

Question 3

Informal expressions for “How are you?” (7)

Answer 3

1. ¿Qué tál?
2. ¿Qué hay que nuevo?
3. ¿Qué pasa? ¿Qué pasó?
4. ¿Qué dices?
5. ¿Qué me cuentas?
6. ¿Qué onda? (Mexico)
7. ¿Quiúbole? (Mexico)

Question 4

Gracias is the obligatory comment, of course, but you can spice it up with (1) before it or (2) after it or both.

Answer 4

(1) muchas

(2) muy amable

Question 5

your welcome

Answer 5

1. de nada
2. por nada
3. no hay por que
4. no hay de que

Question 6

Expression for “Excuse me” (5)

Answer 6

1. Con permiso
2. ¿Me permite?
3. Perdón
4. ¿Se puede?
5. Comper’ (a slangy version of con permiso)

Question 7

(1) is sometimes used ironically, as when someone is clearly blocking the way; say it very innocently for greatest effect.

Answer 7

(1) ¿Me permite?

Question 8

(1) is also the common way to ask to see something in a store; it presumes you will wait for an affirmative response before, say, taking a painting down off the wall or an earring out of a glass case. Unless the object you wish to see is obvious (you’re pointing at it, for instance), you should use the full phrase: (2)

Answer 8

(1) ¿Se puede?

(2) ¿Se puede ver?

Question 9

The phrase for “Coming through!”— as when carrying a two-hundred-pound sofa down the hall— is (1) , incidentally, does exist as a Spanish expression, but it doesn’t mean “Excuse me.”

Answer 9

(1) ¡Golpe avisa! Excúsame!

Question 10

por favor (alternative)

Answer 10

si es tan amable (ex. “Un café, si es tan amable”)

Question 11

Expression you use when you are interrupting someone

Answer 11

¿Me permite un momento?

Question 12

When you pass by someone who is eating, and presuming you are at least vaguely acquainted with the person, wish him or her (1) or (2) (“ bon appetit,” as we’d say in English).

Answer 12

(1) provecho

(2) buen provecho

Question 13

hasta luego (alternative)

Answer 13

Nos vemos

Question 14

Take it easy

Answer 14

¡Cuídate!

Question 15

Rest up!

Answer 15

¡Qué descansas!