MICHEL THOMAS SPANISH (BUILDER) COURSE, 2 CDs

TRANSCRIPT

This is an approximate transcript of the course, since Michel often changed his mind in
the middle of a sentence to be translated, or adapted his sentences for the students. The
booklet that accompanied Michel's courses was wholly inadequate, so I have written this
transcript. I have found it useful, so maybe other people will, too.

Naturally, it would be foolish to try to learn the language using this transcript, without
buying the recordings.

Note that English is my native language, so I don't guarantee that there are no mistakes.
An asterisk denotes a phrase that is highlighted in the booklet which accompanies the
recordings. Tracks and track times in the recording are shown in brackets. Page
numbers in the booklet are also shown in brackets.

Version 2, Aug 11th 2006

Transcribed by JK

CD 1 (74.28)
(1) 11.15
(p7)
*We are going to start Vamos a comenzar / vamos a empezar
we're going to start comenzamos / empezamos
let's start empecemos
I like... Me gusta...
I like to be here Me gusta estar aquí
*I want to do it but... Quiero hacerlo pero...
(lo haré, lo hará I will do it, he/she/you will do it)
*I won't do it, I won't do it today because... no lo haré, no voy a hacerlo hoy porque...
...I'm very busy ...estoy muy ocupado
...I'm too busy... ...estoy demasiado ocupado...
...to do it ...para hacerlo
*I feel like... Tengo ganas de...
I feel like doing it Tengo ganas de hacerlo
I don't feel like going there No tengo ganas de ir allí
I don't feel like staying here No tengo ganas de quedarme aquí
I feel like going out Tengo ganas de salir
*It seems to me that, I think that... Me parece que...
I believe that..., I think that... creo que..., pienso que...
It seems to me that she doesn't feel like going here Me parece que ella no tiene ganas
de ir allí
*I agree with you Estoy de acuerdo con usted
OK, agreed De acuerdo
I don't agree with him No estoy de acuerdo con él
(p8)
What is your opinion? ¿Cuál es su opinión?
What is your opinion? ¿Cuál es tu opinión?
What do you think? ¿Qué piensa?, ¿Qué piensas, Roberto?, ¿Qué piensan ustedes?
*It interests me Me interesa
It interests me a lot, very much Me interesa mucho, muchísimo
Unfortunately it's doesn't interest me Desafortunadamente no me interesa
(2) 9.23
*I think that... Creo que...
I think that he will be there... Creo que él va a estar allí...
...this afternoon ...esta tarde
It's too late to do it Es demasiado tarde para hacerlo
(tarde means "late" as well as "afternoon"; es tarde use "it is late")
I think that he is going to be here tonight Creo que él va a estar aquí esta noche
We will see Veremos, vamos a ver
*It won't be possible... No será posible...
...to do it like this, in this way ...hacerlo así
I don't think so, I don't believe it No lo creo
*sure, surely seguro, seguramente
Of course Claro
Naturally Naturalmente
Of course I'm sure Claro que estoy seguro
*Look... Mira / Mire...
...it's on the table ...está sobre la mesa
Will / Can you put it, could you put it... ¿Puede ponerlo, podría ponerlo...
...under the table? ...debajo de la mesa?
(p9)
*It is necessary... Es necesario...
*We have to... Tenemos que...
*One must... Hay que...
...to go there ...ir allí
It is not necessary to buy it... No es necesario / No hay que comprarlo...
...because it is very expensive ...porque es muy caro
*I need, I need it Necesito, lo necesito
I don't need it now No lo necesito ahora
It is all I need Es todo lo que necesito
(Note the use of lo que in the middle of the sentence, literally, "all what I need")
This / That is all I need Esto / Eso es todo lo que necesito
It is all I want Es todo lo que quiero
Is this all you want? ¿Esto es todo lo que quiere?
I want something else Quiero algo más
Do you need anything else? ¿Necesita algo más?
No thank you, that's all No gracias, esto es todo
*Will you / Can you show me? ¿Puede mostrarme...?
Yes, I'll show you Sí, voy a mostrarle, le muestro
(Present tense used for future: mostrar means "to show", muestro means "I show, I'll
show"; le muestro, "I'll show you". The future is often expressed by the present tense in
Spanish)
(3) 7.47
*Will you / Can you / Could you tell me... ¿Puede / podría decirme...
...what time it is going to be ready? ...a qué hora va a estar listo?
...what time it will be ready? ...a qué hora estará listo?
(p10)
*I will find out (lit. inform myself) Voy a informarme
I need certain information Necesito cierta información
I have to find out Tenge que informarme
I will tell you tomorrow Voy a decirle mañana, le diré mañana
(poder means "to be able"; podré I will be able)
*I will not be able... No voy a poder, no podré...
...to do it ...hacerlo
He will not be able to come with us No podrá venir con nosotros
He isn't going to be able to come with us No va a poder venir con nosotros
(buscar means "to look for")
*I am looking for it... Lo busco, lo estoy buscando...
*...but I can't find it ...pero no puedo encontrarlo
*Do you have something for me? ¿Tiene algo para mí?
*No, I don't have anything, I have nothing No, no tengo nada
I don't have it any longer, any more Ya no tengo más
There is a message for you Hay un mensaje para usted
There are some messages for you Hay unos mensajes para usted
Are there messages for me? ¿Hay mensajes para mí?
Is there any message for me? ¿Hay algún mensaje para mí?
Yes, there are some Sí, hay algunos
*How much is it? ¿Cuánto es?
How much is this / that? ¿Cuánto es esto / eso?
How much does it cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta?
What is the price? ¿Cuál es el precio?
How much is it worth? ¿Cuánto vale?
(p11)
It's not worth much No vale mucho
How much do I owe you? ¿Cuánto le debo?
(debo means "I must, I'm supposed to, I should". ¿Qué debo hacer? is "What should I
do?". Debo salir is "I must go out")
*It's fine, all right Está muy bien
It's OK like this Está bien así
(4) 10.10
I think that... Me parece que / creo que...
...he will decide to do it ...va a decidir / decidirá hacerlo
*I'm going to do it... Voy a hacerlo...
...immediately / right now ... inmediatamente / ahora mismo
...right away ...en seguida
*I want to do it Quiero hacerlo
*I would like to do it Me gustaría hacerlo
(me gusta means "I like", me gustaría "I would like")
I would like to know... Me gustaría saber...
...at what time... ...a qué hora...
...he can / will be able to / could... ...él puede / podrá / podría...
...be here ...estar aquí
(olvidar means "to forget")
*I will not forget... No olvidaré / no voy a olvidar...
...to tell / to give you / him / her / them ...decirle / darle
*...to give it to you / him / her / them ...dárselo
I'm going to give it to you Voy a dárselo a usted
I feel like doing it... Tengo ganas de hacerlo...
...but I don't know if I can do it now ...pero no sé si puedo hacerlo ahora
(p12)
*It's not worth the trouble... No vale la pena...
...to go there / going there ...ir allí
We can go there if you want Podemos ir allí si quiere / si quieres
Do you want to come with me? ¿Quiere / quieres conmigo?
I'd like to go with you Me gustaría ir con usted / contigo
Would you like to come with me? ¿Le gustaría / Te gustaría venir conmigo?
Yes, of course Sí, claro que sí / ¿cómo no?
I'd like to very much Me gustaría mucho
With much pleasure Con mucho gusto
That's nice of you Gracias por su gentileza
Agreed, OK De acuerdo / Vale
This / That pleases me, I like it Esto / Eso me gusta
It's a good idea Es una buena idea
You are right Tiene razón
You are quite right Tiene toda la razón
You are right and I agree with you Tiene razón y estoy de acuerdo con usted
(5) 6.21
*I like to stay / staying here... Me gusta quedarme aquí...
...because I'm tired ...porque estoy cansado
I like to rest Me gusta descansar
*I'm going to rest... Voy a descansar...
...for a little / for a while ...un poco / un rato
...because I'm very tired ...porque estoy muy cansado
(p13)
Is it worth going to see it tonight? ¿Vale la pena ir a verlo esta noche?
No, it's not worth it No, no vale la pena
*It's incredible! ¡Es increíble!
I don't believe it No lo creo
It's incredible what you're telling me Es increíble lo que me dice
It's great / magnificent / extraordinary Es magnifico / extraordinario
It's excellent Es excelente
This is very interesting Esto es muy interesante
It interests me a lot to see it Me interesa mucho verlo
I am very interested Estoy muy interesado
I'm very interested to go and see it Me interesa mucho ir a verlo
She is very charming, lovely, nice Ella es encantadora
I like very much to go there with you Me gusta mucho ir allí con usted
*I'm sorry Lo siento
*I'm sorry to tell you... Siento decirle...
...that I can't go to see it ...que no puedo ir a verlo
...with you tonight ...con usted / contigo esta noche
I'm sorry to tell you... Siento decirle...
...that I wouldn't be able to go and see it ...que no podría ir a verlo
...because I'm very busy ...porque estoy muy ocupado
...I shall be / I'm going to be very busy ...porque estaré / voy a estar muy ocupado
(6) 3.31
I have to do it Tengo que hacerlo
*I would have to do it Tendría que hacerlo
(p14)
He has to do it Tiene que hacerlo
He would have to do it Tendría que hacerlo
We would have to go there Tendríamos que ir allí
You should tell me Tendría que decirme
I should do it Debería hacerlo
You should wait for me Debería esperarme
(7) 7.52
I like very much to travel Me gusta mucho / Me encanta viajar
(de vacaciones means "on holiday")
I think I'm going on holiday... Creo que me voy de vacaciones...
...first to Spain ...primero a España
...and then, later to Italy ...y luego, más tarde a Italia
I would like... Me gustaría...
...to see him / to go and see him ...verle / ir a verle
*I think I'm going to leave soon... Creo que voy a salir pronto...
...because I can't wait ...porque no puedo esperar
When do you think you will leave? ¿Cuándo cree que va a salir?
*I think I'll leave soon Pienso salir pronto
When do you think you'll leave? ¿Cuándo piensa salir?
*I hope to leave soon Espero salir pronto
How long do you think... ¿Cuánto tiempo piensa...
...you'll stay in Madrid? ...quedarse en Madrid?
I think I'll stay a week in Spain Pienso quedarme una semana en España
I feel like... Tengo ganas de...
...going to the cinema night ...ir al cine esta noche
...(in order) to see a film, a picture ...para ver una película
(p15)
an interesting picture una película interesante
She doesn't feel like going there... Ella no tiene ganas de ir allí...
...tonight, perhaps tomorrow ...esta noche, quizás mañana
I think I'll leave / go away... Pienso salir / irme...
...next week ...la semana que viene
...next month ...el mes que viene
...or in two weeks ...o en dos semanas
(8) 9.50
I want to have it Quiero tenerlo
I'm going to buy it Voy a comprarlo
*I'm not going to buy it because... No voy a comprarlo porque...
...it's too expensive ...es demasiado caro
...it's very expensive ...es muy caro
*I don't plan to buy it No pienso comprarlo
(pensar "to think" is used for planning. esperar "to hope" also means "to expect")
*I don't intend to buy it No tengo la intención de comprarlo
(pronunciation of letter “c”: the letter “c” followed by “i” or “e” is pronounced “th” in
Castilian Spanish but “s" in other parts of the Spanish-speaking world. But before “a”,
“o”, “u” it is always "k". You'll hear intenthión in Castilian Spanish, but intensión in
many other parts of Spain and in Latin America. Another example: Barthelona and
Barselona)
(p16)
I don't intend to do it No tengo la intención de hacerlo
(English words ending in “-tion”: lots of words ending in -tion in English end in -ción in
Spanish. Other examples: condición, reservación, confirmación, etc)
I plan to go there with you Pienso ir allí con usted
I expect / I hope to go there with you Espero ir allí con usted
I'm going to take it Voy a tomarlo
It will be ready soon Va a estar listo pronto
*At what time... ¿A qué hora...
...are you going to be here? ...va a estar aquí?
*I don't have time to do it No tengo tiempo de hacerlo
He doesn't have time to do it No tiene tiempo de hacerlo
We don't have time to do it No tenemos tiempo de hacerlo
How much time do you have? ¿Cuánto tiempo tiene?
*I don't know when... No sé cuándo...
...it will be ready ...va a estar / estará listo
*I think... Creo que...
...it will be ready soon ...va a estar / estará listo pronto
(abrir means "to open"; abro is "I open", I'm opening". cerrar means "to close"; cierro is
"I close", "I'm closing")
Should I open the window? ¿Debo abrir la ventana?
*Shall I open the window? ¿Abro la ventana?
I'm closing the door Cierro la puerta
*Shall I close the door? ¿Cierro la puerta?
(p17)
(Asking questions: all you have to do to change a statement "I'm closing the door" into a
question "shall I close the door?" is to make it sound like a question, with the right
inflection in your voice. The order of the worst doesn't change. In written Spanish, you
put a question mark ¿ at the beginning and as well as ? at the end of the question)
I'm waiting for you Le espero
*Shall I wait for you? ¿Le espero?
*Shall I accompany you? ¿Le acompaño?
*Shall I go / come with you? ¿Voy / vengo con usted?
I'll call you later / tomorrow Le llamo más tarde / mañana
*Shall I call you later? ¿Le llamo más tarde?
We are leaving Salimos
*Shall we leave? ¿Salimos?
We are going to do it Vamos a hacerlo
*What shall we do? ¿Qué vamos a hacer?
(9) 8.19
I know he won't be able to do it Yo sé que no va a poder hacerlo
I have to go and see it Tengo que ir a verlo
I am going to see it Voy a ir a verlo
*He was going to see it Iba a verlo
I was going to do it Iba a hacerlo
He wasn't going to do it No iba a hacerlo
*I wasn't going to tell you... No iba a decirle...
...that I was going to do it for you ...que iba a hacerlo para usted
I was going to buy it Iba a comprarlo
I wasn't going to find it No iba a encontrarlo
(p18)
He was going to be here this afternoon Él iba a estar aquí esta mañana
I wasn't going to wait No iba a esperar
I wasn't going to wait for you No iba a esperarle
*I know, I know it, I don't know it Sé, lo sé, no lo sé
I don't know where it is No sé dónde está
I can't find it No puedo encontrarlo
Can you tell me where it is? ¿Puede decirme dónde está?
Could you / would you be able to tell me? ¿Podría decirme?
I have to know (it) Tengo que saberlo
(saber means "to know". sé means "I know"; sabe "he/she knows", "you know"; sabes
"you know" (informal); saben "you know", "they know")
*What do you know? ¿Qué sabe?
Why don't you know (it)? (to a friend) ¿Por qué no lo sabes?
*Nobody knows where it is Nadie sabe dónde está
Nobody can find it Nadie puede encontrarlo
(sabía means "I knew", "he/she knew", "you knew"; sabías is "you knew" (informal);
sabían "you knew", "they knew")
*I knew (it) Lo sabía
*I didn't know (it) No lo sabía
I didn't know you were going to be here No sabía que usted iba a estar aquí
I wasn't going to tell you... No iba a decirle...
...that I was going to buy it for you ...que iba a comprarlo para usted
(p19)
(llegar means "to arrive")
I didn't know... No sabía que...
...you were going to arrive today ...iba a llegar hoy
I knew everything was going to be ready Yo sabía que todo iba a estar listo
I know that I never... Sé que nunca...
...will be able to do it that way ...voy a poder / podré hacerlo así

(end of recording)
CD 2 (69.00)
(1) 5.51
*What is there? ¿Qué hay?
(¿Qué hay? can also mean "What's up?", "What's the matter?", "What's going on?"
What is there to eat? ¿Qué hay para comer?
What is there to drink? ¿Qué hay para beber?
(ofrecer means "to offer")
*Can I offer you something... ¿Puedo ofrecerle algo...
...to drink? ...para beber?
*Yes, but first I have to... Sí, pero primero tengo que...
...make a phone call ...hacer una llamada telefónica
...telephone ...llamar por teléfono
*And afterwards I'm going to leave Y después, voy a salir
(Pronunciation of the letter “z”: the letter “z” is always “th” in Castilian and “s”
elsewhere)
*the first time la primera vez
the second time la segunda vez
the third time la tercera vez
the next time la próxima vez
*two times, twice dos veces
many times muchas veces
I'm going to do it many times Voy a hacerlo muchas veces
I don't feel like doing it No tengo ganas de hacerlo
I don't feel like going there alone No tengo ganas de ir allí solo
I'm going to do it Voy a hacerlo
(p22)
I was going to do it Iba a hacerlo
I didn't know you were going to be here No sabía que iba a estar aquí
(If you need clarifiers, put them in! Add yo, tú, él/ella, usted where necessary)
*I didn't know you were going to be here Yo no sabía que usted iba a estar aquí
*He didn't know she was going to be here Él no sabía que ella iba a estar aquí
I didn't know you were going to leave... No sabía que iba a salir...
...this afternoon ...esta tarde
(2) 3.59
We are going to start... Vamos a empezar...
...soon / right away ...pronto / en seguida
...immediately ...inmediatamente
I'm going to wait Voy a esperar
He was going to wait Iba a esperar
He wasn't going to wait No iba a esperar
I didn't know... No sabía...
...that you were going to be here... ...que iba a estar aquí...
...today / this morning ...hoy / esta mañana
I didn't know... No sabía...
...that you were (all) going to be here ...que iban a estar aquí
*Generally / usually... Generalmente...
(English words ending in -ly: the ending -ly in English is usually -mente in Spanish.
"specially" is especialmente)
(p23)
...I don't do it that way ...no lo hago así
(special = especial: words beginning sp-, st- or sc- in English usually start esp-, est- or
esc- in Spanish: "Spain" is España; "student" estudiante; "school" escuela)
(English words ending -ty: words ending in -ty usually end in -tad or -dad in Spanish:
especialidad; libertad; oportunidad; cualidad)
Generally I don't like doing it Generalmente no me gusta hacerlo
Generally I don't go there Generalmente no voy allí
*Often A menudo
*Frequently Frecuentemente
*I almost never go there Casi nunca voy allí
(3) 8.11
(acabar means "to finish". acabo de + Infinitive (to have just...) is an easy way of
expressing the past tense!)
*I have just Acabo de...
I have just seen it Acabo de verlo
He has just left Acaba de salir
*I have just arrived... Acabo de llegar...
*...two days ago ...hace dos días
He has just called me... Acaba de llamarme...
...ten minutes ago ...hace diez minutos
She has just gone out / left Ella acaba de salir / de irse
I have just told you Acabo de decirle
I have just bought it Acabo de comprarlo
I have just spoken to him Acabo de hablar con él
He has just told me Acaba de decirme
(p24)
(volver means "to come back", "return")
*I'll come back... Voy a volver / Volveré...
...right away / soon ...en seguida / pronto
She will come back... Va a volver / Volverá...
...very soon / later ...muy pronto / más tarde
She has just left ten minutes ago... Acaba de salir hace diez minutos...
...and she'll come back later ...y va a volver / volverá más tarde
I don't feel like going out now... No tengo ganas de salir ahora...
...because I'm very tired ...porque estoy muy cansado / cansada
(preferir means "to prefer"; prefiero "I would rather...")
*I would rather / I would prefer to... Prefiero...
*...stay here quedarme aquí
I have just bought a book... Acabo de comprar un libro...
...that I find very interesting ...que encuentro muy interesante
I find it very interesting Lo encuentro muy interesante
I think it is very interesting Creo que es muy interesante
*I have been waiting ten minutes for you Hace diez minutos que le espero
(To say how long you have been waiting, doing something, working etc, use hace,
literally "it makes" + que + the present tense)
*How long... ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que…
*...have you been here in Madrid? ...está aquí en Madrid?
(4) 8.49
*I would like... Quisiera / Me gustaría / Quiero...
...to talk to him ...hablar con él
...to see it ...verlo
(p25)
He isn't in / isn't there No está allí
What time will he be here? ¿A qué hora va a estar / estará aquí?
*Do you know what time... ¿Sabe a qué hora...
*...he will arrive? ...va a llegar / llegará / llega?
... he will come back / return? ...va a volver / volverá / vuelve?
Can / Could you tell me... Puede / podría decirme...
...what time he will be here? ...a qué hora estará / va a estar aquí?
(irse means "to leave", "to go away". dejar means this "to leave (behind)" and also "to
let", ie "to let someone do something")
to leave the key dejar la llave
to leave a message dejar un mensaje
Can you let me work? ¿Puede dejarme trabajar?
*I'd like to leave a message Me gustaría dejar un mensaje
Can I leave a message? ¿Puedo dejar un mensaje?
Can I leave you a message? ¿Puedo dejarle un mensaje?
Can / Could you tell me...? ¿Puede / Podría decirme...?
*Can / Could you tell him... ¿Puede / Podría decirle...
*...that I'll call him later? ...que le llamaré más tarde?
...that I'll call him tomorrow? ...que le llamaré mañana?
...that I'll call him next week? ...que le llamaré la semana que viene?
*next time la próxima vez
(Three words for “time”: vez as the sense of one of a number of occasions; tiempo is the
general word for a period or passing of time; hora is the point of time marked on a
clock)
once, twice una vez, dos veces
three, four, five times tres, cuatro, cinco veces
(p26)
six, seven, eight times seis, siete, ocho veces
nine, ten times nueve, diez veces
eleven, twelve, thirteen times once, doce, trece veces
fourteen, fifteen times catorce, quince veces
the first time la primera vez
*It's the last time Es la última vez
(5) 6.37
(expresar means "to express", expresarse "to express oneself")
I don't know how to express it exactly... No sé cómo expresarlo exactamente…
(exacto "exact" becomes exactamente "exactly". The -o- changes to -a- before adding
-mente. Another example: seguro becomes seguramente)
I don't know how to say it exactly... No sé cómo decirlo exactamente...
...in Spanish ...en español
How do you say it in Spanish? ¿Cómo lo dice en español?
*How does one say it in Spanish? ¿Cómo se dice en español?
(Special use of se: se is frequently used to mean "one" or "you", or to say something "is
done")
*One speaks Spanish; Spanish is spoken here Se habla español aquí
(escribir means "to write")
I write to you le escribo
He writes to me often Me escribe a menudo
...frequently ...frecuentemente
*How do you write it / spell it? ¿Cómo se escribe?
Can you write it down? ¿Puede escribirlo?
(p27)
Write it down, please Escríbalo, por favor
*One can / It is possible / allowed... Se puede...
Can one come in? ¿Se puede entrar aquí?
Can one do it? ¿Se puede hacerlo?
Can one pass / come in? ¿Se puede pasar?
Where can one find it? ¿Dónde se puede encontrarlo?
*Are you sure about this? ¿Está seguro de esto?
absolutely, totally absolutamente / totalmente
*Yes, I'm absolutely sure Sí, estoy absolutamente seguro
(Note that you say seguro if you are a man, segura if you are a woman)
I know because... Lo sé porque...
...I've just read it... ...acabo de leerlo...
...in the newspaper ...en el periódico
...in today's newspaper ...en el periódico de hoy
(6) 7.51
Can / Could you tell me where... ¿Puede / Podría decirme dónde...
...I can find a good restaurant? ...puedo encontrar un buen restaurante?
not very far from here no muy lejos de aquí
It's very far, a long way Está muy lejos
*Is it far from here? ¿Está lejos de aqui?
*No, it's not far from here No, no está lejos de aquí
*It's near here Está cerca de aquí
You can walk Puede ir a pie
Can I walk? ¿Puedo ir a pie?
One can walk Se puede ir a pie
I need a car Necesito un coche
(In Spain a car is un coche, but in Mexico it's un carro)
...to go to the restaurant ...para ir al restaurante
(p28)
("to rent a car" in Spain is alquilar un coche but in Mexico it's rentar un carro)
I'd like to hire a car Quisiera alquilar un coche
Where can I hire a car? ¿Dónde puedo alquilar un coche?
*How much is it per day? ¿Cuánto es por día?
*How much does it cost... ¿Cuánto cuesta...
...per week? ...por semana?
...per month? ...por mes?
(¿dónde? asks where someone or something is, ¿a dónde? asks where someone is going.
¿Dónde está? but ¿A dónde va?)
*Can you / Could you tell me... ¿Puede / Podría decirme...
*...where to go... ...a dónde ir...
...to find what I want? ...para encontrar lo que quiero?
...to find what I'm looking for? ...para encontrar lo que busco?
*I would like to know... Me gustaría / Quisiera saber...
*...what I have to do... ...lo que tengo que hacer...
...to get what I want ...para obtener lo que quiero
...to get what I'm looking for ...para obtener lo que busco
(hay que means "one has to")
*I want to know... Quiero saber...
...what one has to do... ...lo que hay que hacer...
...in order to obtain it ...para obtenerlo
*I would like to know... Me gustaría saber...
...where one has to go... ...a dónde hay que ir...
...to have it / to find it ...para obtenerlo / encontrarlo
...to buy it ...para comprarlo
(p29)
(7) 6.05
Can you give me an explanation? ¿Puede darme una explicación?
(explicar means "to explain"; una explicación is "an explanation". This is an exception
to the rule that most English words ending in -ation are identical in Spanish, with the
ending -ación. However, remember that most do obey this rule: información,
preparación, reservación etc. It's also worth noting that the verbs associated with these
nouns are all -ar verbs: informar, preparar, reservar)
Can you tell me where it is? ¿Puede explicarme dónde está?
Thank you Gracias
*I thank you very much Le agradezco mucho
I really do thank you very much Realmente le agradezco mucho
*I am angry, annoyed Estoy enojado / enojada
I'm very angry, annoyed Estoy muy enojado / enojada
(In Spain you'll often hear: Estoy enfadado / enfadada, which also means "I'm annoyed,
angry")
I'm furious Estoy furioso / furiosa
*I'm worried (lit. it preoccupies me) Me preocupa
I'm very worried Me preocupa mucho
I'm worried about seeing this Me preocupa ver esto
I'm not worried No me preocupa
*I'm bored Estoy aburrido / aburrida
I'm very bored Estoy muy aburrido
Are you bored? ¿Está aburrido?
I don't like being bored No me gusta estar aburrido
I think... Creo que... / Me parece que...
(p30)
...everything is all right ...todo está bien
I'm going to see it once Voy a verlo una vez
I'm going to go and see it Voy a ir a verlo
I don't see it often No lo veo a menudo
*At least... Por lo menos...
(menos means "less"; más o menos means "more or less")
...I'll see it once ...lo veré / voy a verlo una vez
(8) 6.13
(temprano means "early")
Can you come... ¿Puede / puedes / pueden venir...
...a little earlier? ...un poco más temprano?
(lleno means "full"; llenar is "to fill up")
It's very full Está muy lleno
Can you fill it up? ¿Puede llenarlo?
(limpio is "clean"; sucio is "dirty")
It's not very clean No está muy limpio
It's dirty Está sucio
It's perfect Es perfecto
Perfectly Perfectamente
(calor is it "heat"; frío is "cold". For hot weather you say hace calor, literally "it makes
heat". But a hot person says tengo calor, literally "I have heat")
I don't like the heat No me gusta el calor
*It's hot / cold (weather) Hace calor / frío hoy
*I'm hot / cold Tengo calor / frío
Are you cold? ¿Tiene frío?
I can't stand the heat No puedo soportar el calor
(p31)
(hambre is "hunger", sed is "thirst")
*I'm hungry Tengo hambre
I have to eat something... Tengo que comer algo...
...because I'm hungry ...porque tengo hambre
*I'm thirsty Tengo sed
I have to drink something... Tengo que beber algo...
...because I'm thirsty ...porque tengo sed
I think I can do it... Pienso / Creo que puedo hacerlo
*...myself ...yo mismo
(mismo means "self" and also "same"; la misma cosa is "the same thing"; lo mismo is
"the same")
*I want the same Quiero lo mismo
I'm going to take / have the same Voy a tomar lo mismo
It's not the same No es lo mismo
I'm (very) surprised Estoy (muy) sorprendido
*It surprises me Me sorprende
It doesn't surprise me No me sorprende
This / That doesn't surprise me Esto / Eso no me sorprende
(9) 4.41
(traer means "to bring"; dar "to give"; mostrar "to show")
Can / Will you bring me something? ¿Puede traerme algo?
Can you give me something? ¿Puede darme algo?
Can you show me something? ¿Puede mostrarme algo?
*Can you show it to me? ¿Puede mostrármelo?
(Note that the personal me "me" comes before the object lo "it" and that they are joined
together at the end of the infinitive)
(p32)
*Can you bring it to me? ¿Puede traérmelo?
When can you bring it to me...? ¿Cuándo puede traérmelo...?
...because I need it and... ...porque lo necesito y...
...I have to have it ...tengo que tenerlo
(vivir is "to live")
Where do you live? ¿Dónde vive / vives / viven?
Do you live here? ¿Usted vive aquí?
(saber is "to know" in the sense of knowing a fact or some general knowledge. conocer is
"to know" in the sense of being acquainted with somebody or something)
He knows where it is Sabe donde está
*I know... Conozco...
...the city / the country ...la ciudad / el país
(Personal a: conocer a... is used for "to know a person". Whenever the object of a verb is
a person, not a thing, you always insert a between the verb and the person)
I'm going to call / phone him Voy a llamarle
*I'm going to call / phone my friend Voy a llamar a mi amigo
(querer means "to want" and also "to love")
He wants it Lo quiere
*He loves his girlfriend Él quiere a su amiga
I know the city Conozco la ciudad
*I know this lady Conozco a esta señora
I don't know Madrid No conozco Madrid
(p33)
*I don't know anybody No conozco a nadie
Do you know this city? ¿Conoce esta ciudad?
*Do you know this lady? ¿Conoce a esta señora?
Do you know where it is? ¿Sabe dónde está?
(10) 7.20
My friend comes here... Mi amigo viene aquí...
...every day ...todos los días
*He usually comes here Suele venir aquí
He usually does it... Suele hacerlo...
...almost every day ...casi todos los días
(quizás, quizá means "perhaps", "maybe")
*Perhaps you don't like... Quizás no le gusta...
Perhaps you wouldn't like... Quizá no le gustaría...
...to stay here... ...quedarse aquí...
...because there are many people ...porque hay mucha gente
(la gente is "people", tanto / tanta means "so much", "so many")
*There are so many people here Hay tanta gente aquí
For my part... Por mi parte...
...I'm not going to stay here now ...no voy a quedarme aquí ahora
There's a lot of noise Hay mucho ruido
(hay is "there is", "there are"; habla "there was", "there were"; habrá "there will be")
*There were many people here yesterday Había mucha gente aquí ayer
*There will be many people Habrá mucha gente
There was too much noise Había demasiado ruido
There will be a lot of noise Habrá mucho ruido
(p34)
*There will be much more noise... Habrá mucho más ruido...
*There will be much less noise... Habrá mucho menos ruido...
...here tomorrow ...aquí mañana
I hope to have... Espero tener...
I hope I'll have... Espero que voy a tener...
...the opportunity... ...la oportunidad / la ocasión...
...of seeing it ...de verlo
*I hope to have the opportunity... Espero tener la ocasión...
*...to see my friends ...de ver a mis amigos
*...to visit my friends ...de visitar a mis amigos
(Note the use of the personal a again)
*I'm going to phone my friend... Voy a llamar a mi amigo...
...to find out if he can come... ...para saber si puede venir...
...with us ...con nosotros
(11) 3.23
(vemos means "we see"; nos vemos "we see each other", "we meet")
*What time shall we meet tomorrow? ¿A qué hora nos vemos mañana?
At the same time A la misma hora
At ten o'clock A las diez
We will meet... Vamos a vernos / nos veremos...
*We'll meet... Nos vemos...
*...tomorrow at the same time ...mañana a la misma hora
Now I can make myself understood... Ahora puedo hacerme entender…
...in Spanish ...en español
I think that's enough Me parece que es suficiente
Good luck! ¡Buena suerte!
(p35)
I wish you good luck Le deseo buena suerte
*Goodbye, until soon / until later Adiós, hasta luego
Have a good journey! ¡Buen viaje!
(end of recording)