Renting long term on the Costa del Sol and living and working here means that the Spanish you need to get to know someone often starts with discussing what you do for a job. This means you need a good grasp of the vocabulary for professions and know how to ask and answer questions. Here’s a short run down of helpful vocabulary to talk about what you do: Continue reading “Learning Spanish – Talking about your work”
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Some incredibly useful phrases to know in Spanish!
Without a doubt, life in Spain is certainly easier and can be more enjoyable if you learn to speak the language. Everything from socialising and work to shopping and finding your way around may require you to know some Spanish. Many people on the Costa del Sol speak English, however not everyone does and Spanish are polite people so it’s good to make an effort when talking to them. Here are some key phrases that will really help you to settle in and impress your friends and family when they visit your new home this summer!
¿Dónde está ………………….? Where is, just add desired place or object, e.g.:
¿Dónde está el ayuntamiento? – Where is the town hall?
¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost? (One item)
¿Cuánto es? – How much is it? (End total of a few items)
Se puede …… ( + verb) – Can you ?. e.g.:-
¿Se puede aparcar aquí? – Can you park here?
No se puede – you can´t.
¿Se puede? – could also be use don it’s own to request permission.
Quiero …….(+ object or verb) – I want- (not as rude as it sounds in English!)
Quiero dos kilos de patatas – I want two kilos of potatoes- (object)
or:
Quiero apuntarme – I want to sign up (verb)
No quiero – I don’t want to/it.
No sé – I don’t know
Tengo – I have
No tengo – I don’t have
Tienes – Do you have? You have.
Me duele………. ( + body part) – My ……….. hurts
Me duele el tobillo – My ankle hurts
No funciona – It doesn’t work.
Está roto – It’s broken.
Hay – is/are there? , there is/are – (pronounced “eye”)
No hay – there aren´t/isn´t any
Voy a …………..( + place or verb) – I’m going to ………….
Voy a la playa – I’m going to the beach.- (place)
Voy a comprar pan – I’m going to buy bread.- (verb)
¿Dónde vas? – Where are you going?
No importa – It doesn’t matter.
¿Cuándo es? – When is it?
Es muy importante – It’s very important.
To learn more Spanish you can see our previous blogs with useful phrases to use at the pharmacy and the beauty salon, plus tips for understanding Spanish utility bills.
If you are looking to rent long term on the Costa del Sol this year, visit our website for list of available properties or call us on 952 839 595 with your requirements.
Learning Spanish – Christmas shopping
The Costa del Sol is an enchanting place to be at Christmas time and a great chance for you and the family to learn about Spanish traditions. Pretty Christmas lights are sparkling in the towns, the restaurants and bars are once again bustling and the supermarkets are stocked with juicy turkeys and all kinds’ of festive goodies ready for week-long celebrations of the Three Kings.
Now that you are renting long term on the Costa del Sol, a great way to really feel settled in is to learn the lingo and Christmas is a great excuse to get started! Here are some Spanish tips so now you can do your Christmas shopping in Spanish too.
Christmas Tree
¿Aquí se vende árboles de navidad? – Do you sell Christmas trees here?
¿Cuánto cuesta por metro? – How much do they cost per metre?
¿Se entrega a domicilio? – Are they delivered to the house?
¿Cuándo se puede entregarlo? – When can it be delivered?
¿Viene con raíces o está cortado? – Does it come with roots or is it cut?
Presents
Busco una camisa para hombre. – I´m looking for a man’s shirt.
¿Hay de seda / algodón? – Is there anything in silk / cotton?
Busco algo clasico / de moda. – I´m looking for something classic / fashionable.
¿Puedo devolverlo si no le gusta? – Can I return it if he doesn’t like it?
Tiene que devolverlo dentro de catorce días con el recibo. – You have to return it within 14 days with the receipt.
Me podría dar un reembolso o tengo que cambiarlo para otra prenda? – Can I have a refund or do I have to change it for another garment?
Aquí tiene el recibo. – Here´s the receipt.
Me gustaría un reembolso. – I would like a refund.
Es para regalar, ¿se puede envolverlo? – It’s for a present, can you wrap it?
Shopping for Christmas dinner
Nata montado – whipped cream, nata para montar – whipping cream, jerez – sherry, chirivía – parsnip, castañas – chestnuts, pavo – turkey, pastelillo navideño relleno de frutas – mincepie, relleno de frutas – mincemeat, pastel de frutas secas que se come el día de Navidad – Christmas pudding, col de Bruselas – Brussels sprouts, tarjetas de Navidad – Christmas cards, papel de regalo – wrapping paper, lucitas de Navidad – Christmas lights, nueces – walnuts, frutas secas – nuts (general), adornos navideños – Christmas decorations, bolas de Navidad – Christmas baubles, turrón – typical Christmas sweet made of nougat and chocolate.
¡Feliz Navidad! – Happy Christmas!
Michelle Lewis is a Spanish Teacher, Translator and Interpreter. She can help with a wide range of issues in Spanish including; NIE, residency, registering at the medical centre, medical appointments, importation of cars, problems with the Town Hall, the gestor, the police, or Telefonica. Email michellejlewis@hotmail.com or call 680 155 254 for more information.
Learning Spanish – Bills (Facturas)
Once you have found the perfect long term rental property in Spain, a great way to really settle in is to learn some useful Spanish phrases.
As with any rental property you will also have household bills to deal with so here are some tips to help you understand them.
Nº cuenta cliente – client account number
datos deltitular – details of the account holder
referencia – reference number
fecha de emisión – date issued
periodo del consumo – period of use of service
periodo de facturación – billing perio
mensual / bimestral / trimestral – monthly / bi-monthly / tri-monthly
domiciliación bancaria – standing order details
forma de pago – payment method
fecha de vencimiento – due date
dirección postal – postal address
teléfono de atención al cliente – customer service telephone number.
histórico de la facturación – history of previous bills
importe – sum /cost
base imponible – details of net costs
cargos fijos – fixed charges
conceptos y cargos – concepts & charges.
servicios contratados – services contracted
detalles de consumo – details of consumption
total a pagar – total payable
información al cliente – information of interest to the client
descuentos y ajustes – discounts & adjustments
impuesto – tax IVA – VAT
cuota fija – fixed fee
Michelle Lewis is a Spanish Teacher, Translator and Interpreter. She can help with a wide range of issues in Spanish including; NIE, residency, registering at the medical centre, medical appointments, importation of cars, problems with the Town Hall, the gestor, the police, or Telefonica. Email michellejlewis@hotmail.com or call 680 155 254 for more information.
If you are looking for your perfect long term rental property on the Costa del Sol, give us a call on 952 83 95 95 or visit our website for our online catalogue.
Learning Spanish – The Beauty Salon
Summer in Spain is fast approaching and one great way to prepare your mind and body for the hot season is taking a trip to the salon for a good pampering! Here are some useful Spanish words and phrases to help you at the beauty parlor.
Learning Spanish – False Friends
False Friends – Amigos Falsos
If you rent long term on the Costa del Sol, learning Spanish can make your time here a lot more enjoyable. The Spanish people are very polite, and you find they are willing to help you much more if you make an effort to speak their language rather than just asking if they speak yours.
False friends are words in one language that are similar or identical to words in another, but whose meanings are different. Here are a few every day words that fall into this category. Hope this helps misunderstandings or indeed embarrassing moments!
How to Pull – In Spanish!
Learning the language is essential if you rent long term in Spain or plan to. Its a great feeling to be able to communicate in another language, you can get a better feel for the culture and will impress your friends and family who don’t speak Spanish.
Meeting a new partner is very exciting wherever you are, but when they speak another language it can become a little scary and frustrating. So here are a few simple sentences to get you started on the dating scene from our resident Spanish teacher Michelle, good luck!