This document provides information about basic Spanish grammar and common phrases for greetings, introductions, asking questions, shopping, directions and more. Key points covered include: - Greetings such as "Hola" and farewells like "Adiós" - Question words used to ask for information - Verb conjugations for regular verbs like "hablar" and "vivir" - Asking for/giving personal details, locations, occupations - Names of shops, foods and asking prices in shops - Directions and ways to ask how to get somewhere

1. Spanish grammar
Where to put the stress:
1. With words that end in a vowel, or -n or -s: on the penultimate syllable.
2. With words that end with a consonant other than -n or -s: on the last syllable.
3. If it comes elsewhere it must be marked with a written accent.
When you're greeting a friend, say:
Hola, qué tal? / Hola, cómo estás?
(Hello, how are you?)
If it is someone you know less well you could say:
Buenas dias. Cómo estás?
(Good morning. How are you?)
Buenas tardes / Buenas noches
(Good afternoon / Good evening)
When someone asks you how you are, you often reply with a similar question, but you
might also want to say how you really are:
Muy bien y tu? / Muy bien y usted?
(I'm well, how are you?)
Estupendo / Bien / Regular / Mal / Fatal
(Fine / Well / O.K. / Not well / Terrible)
Saying goodbye:
Adiós = Goodbye
In more formal situations you can say:
Adiós, buenos días. / Adiós, buenas tardes. / Adiós, buenas noches.
(Good morning / Good afternoon / Good night)
In informal situations:
Hasta luego / Nos vemos
(Bye / See you later)
Por favor = Please
Gracias = Thank you
Muchas gracias = Thank you very much
Muy amable = How kind
Muy agradecido / agradecida = I'm very grateful
De nada / No hay de qué = Don't mention it / No problem
How to ask someone's name:
Cómo te llamas?
(What is your name?)
Me llamo ..........
(My name is .......... )
Cuál es tu nombre?
Mi nombre es ........
More formally you would say:

2. Cómo se llama?
Cuál es su nombre?
Cómo se escribe tu nombre?
(How is your name written?)
How to ask where someone is from:
De dónde eres (tú)? (Informal)
De dónde eres (usted)? (Formal)
(Where are you from?)
Soy de ........
(I come from ........ )
How to ask where someone lives:
Dónde vives (tú)?
Dónde vive (usted)?
(Where do you live?)
(Yo) vivo en .........
(I live in ......... )
How to find out about someone else (where he / she is from or where he / she lives):
De dónde es (él / ella)?
(Where is he / she from?)
(Él / Ella) es de .........
(He / She is from ........ )
Dónde vive (él / ella)?
(Where does he / she live?)
(Él / ella) vive en ........
(He / She lives in ........ )
Names of countries:
Italy = Italia
United States = Estados Unidos
Canada = Canadá
Great Britain = Gran Bretaña
How to find out what languages someone speaks:
Qué lenguas hablas (tú)?
Qué lenguas habla (usted)?
(What languages do you speak?)
Halo ........ y un poco de .........
(I speak ......... and a little ........ )
How to find out about someone else (what languages he / she speaks):
Qué lenguas habla?
(What languages doe he / she speak?)
Habla .........
(He / She speaks ......... )
How to find out if someone speaks a certain language:

3. (Tú) hablas inglés?
(Usted) habla francés?
(Do you speak English / French?)
Sí, hablo inglés.
(Yes, I speak English.)
No, no hablo francés.
(No, I don't speak French.)
Ending of verbs:
Personal pronoun Hablar = To speak English
translation
Yo Hablo I speak
Tú Hablas You speak (I)
Usted Habla You speak (F)
Él, Ella Habla He / She speaks
Nosotros, -as Hablamos We speak
Vosotros, -as Habláis You speak (I)
Ustedes Hablan You speak (F)
Ellos, Ellas Hablan They speak
Personal pronoun Vivir = To live English
translation
Yo Vivo I live
Tú Vives You live (I)
Usted Vive You live (F)
Él, Ella Vive He / She lives
Nosotros, -as Vivimos We live
Vosotros, -as Vivís You live (I)
Ustedes Viven You live (F)

4. Ellos, Ellas Viven They live
Ser = To be English translation
Soy I am
Eres You are
Es He / She is, You are (F)
Somos We are
Sois You are (I)
Son They are, You are (F)
Personal pronoun Tener = To have English
translation
Yo Tengo I have
Tú Tienes You have
El Tiene He / She has
Nosotros Tenemos We have
Vosotros Tenéis You have
Ellos Tienos They have
Question words:
Qué? = What?
Dónde? = Where?
Cuál? = Which?
Cómo? = How? / What?
How to ask someone's mationality:

5. De qué nacionalidad eres (tú)?
De qué nacionalidad es (usted)?
(What nationality are you?)
Soy boliviano / boliviana.
(I am Bolivian.)
How to describe what someone does:
A qué se dedica?
Qué hace?
(What does he / she do?)
Es estudiante.
(He / She is a student.)
Nationalities:
Country Male Female
1. Argentina Argentino Argentina
2. México Mexicano Mexicana
3. España Español Española
4. Francia Francés Francésa
5. Inglaterra Ingles Inglesa
6. Costa Rica Costarricense Costarricensa
7. Canadá Canadiense Canadiensa
How to ask where someone else is from and what nationali they are:
De dónde es Maria?
(Where is Maria from?)
De qué nacionalidad es Maria?
(What nationality is Maria?)
Es boliviana.
(She is Bolivian.)
How to identify someone:
Éste es ........ (Man) (This is .........)
Ésta es ........ (Woman) (This is .........)
How to ask what people do for a living:
A qué te dedicas (tú)?
A qué se dedica (usted)?
Qué haces (tú)?
Qué hace (usted)?
(What do you do (for a living)?)
Soy profesor / profesora.
(I am a teacher.)
How to respond when being asked about your work:
En qué trabajas?
(What work do you do?)
Trabajo de receptionista.

6. (I work as a receptionist.)
Trabajo en una óptica.
(I work in an optician's.)
Qué estudias?
(What are you studying?)
Estudio diseño.
(I'm studying design.)
How to introduce someone:
Éste es ....... / Ésta es ......... (Informal)
Te presento a ........ (Formal)
Le presento a ........ (Formal)
(Can I introduce you to ....... )
Mucho gusto
(Pleased to meet you.)
Encantando (man) / Encantanda (woman)
Numbers:
One 1 Uno
Two 2 Dos
Three 3 Tres
Four 4 Cuatro
Five 5 Cinco
Six 6 Seis
Seven 7 Siete
Eight 8 Ocho
Nine 9 Nueve
Ten 10 Diez
Eleven 11 Once
Twelve 12 Doce
Thirteen 13 Trece
Fourteen 14 Catorce
Fifteen 15 Quince

7. Sixteen 16 Dieciséis
Seventeen 17 Diecisiete
Eighteen 18 Dieciocho
Nineteen 19 Diecinueve
Twenty 20 Veinte
Descriptive words:
Pequeño = Small
Moderno = Modern
Antiguo = Old
Tranquillo = Quiet
Grande = Big
Bonito = Pretty
How to ask about someone's family:
Tiene / Tienes hermanos ............ ?
(Do you have any brothers and sisters?)
......... hijos / familia?
( .......... children / family)
Sí, tengo un hermano.
(Yes, I have a brother.)
No, soy hijo único / hija única.
(No, I'm an only child.)
Cuántos años tiene / tienes?
(How old are you?)
Tengo diecineuveaños.
(I'm nineteen (years old).)
Masculino Femenino
Words end in: Words end in:
-O -A
- OR - ORA
- ÓN - IÓN
- AJE / OJE - AD
- EMA -Z
Exept: Exept:
- El dia - La foto
- El mapa - La radio
- El pirata - La mano
How to find out what a district is like:
Cómo es tu / su barrio?

8. (What is your district like?)
Es muy bonito y alegre.
(It's very pretty and cheerful.)
How to describe your own town:
El pueblo es antiguo y bonito.
(The town is old and pretty.)
La ciudad ex antigua y bonita.
(The city is old and pretty.)
Places in a city / town:
El museo = The museum
El supermercado = The supermarket
La iglesia = The curch
El parque = The park
El restaurante = The restaurant
La farmacia = The pharmacy
El bar = The bar
El teatro = The theatre
El cine = The movie theatre
La escuela = The school
La tienda = The shop
How to indicate what buildings there are:
Hay ......... = There is / There are ...........
Un supermercado, una escuela, un bar
(A supermarket, a school, a bar)
Dos supermercados, escuelas, bares
(Two supermarkets, schools, bars)
Algunos museos, algunas tiendas
(Some museums, some shops)
Muchos restaurantes, muchas farmacias
(Many restaurants, many pharmacies)
Tiene .......... = It has ...........
Varios parques, varias galerías
(Several parks, several art galleries)
No hay ........ = There is no / are no .........
No hay un teatro
(There isn't a theatre)
No hay parques
(There aren't any parks)
How to get someone's attention:
Perdone / Disculpe
How to ask if there is a particular place nearby:
Hay una farmacia por aquí?
(Is there a pharmacy around here?)

9. Hay un hotel cerca?
(Is there a hotel near here?)
Por aquí = Around here
Cerca = Near here
Me puede decir si hay un hotel por aquí?
(Can you tell me if there is a hotel around here?)
Sí, hay imp en la calle .........
(Yes, there is one in ......... street)
Y hay otro en la avenida ........
(And there is another kne in ....... avenue)
Sí, hay muchos / muchas.
(Yes, there are many)
No, no hay.
(No, there aren't any)
Lo siento pero nosoy de aqui.
(I'm sorry, but I am not from here)
How to make a word plural:
Los = masculine
Las = feminine
Add -s or -es to the singular form to make it plural.
How to ask where a place is:
Dónde está ..... ?
(Where is ..... ?)
Está delante de la tienda.
(It's in front of the shop)
Places:
Al lado de = Next to
Delante de = In front of
En la esquina = On the corner
Enfrente de = Opposite to
Detrás de = Behind
Entre = Inbetween
How to ask for something:
Me puede dar un mapa de Madrid, por favor?
(Can i have a street map of Madrid, please?)
Tiene un mapa de Madrid, por favor?
(Do you have a street map of Madrid, please?)
How to indicate where a place is:
Segovia está al noroeste de Madrid.
(Segovia is northwest of Madrid)
A qué distancia está Segovia de Madrid?
(How far is Segovia from Madrid?)
Está 81 kilometros.
(It's 81 kilometres (away))

10. Está dos horas en tren / autobús.
(It's two hours (away) by train / bus)
Ordinal numbers:
Masculine Feminine
First Primero Primera
Second Segundo Segunda
Third Tercero Tercera
Fourth Cuarto Cuarta
Fifth Quinto Quinta
Directions:
Take a right turn = A la derecha
Take a left turn = A la izquierda
Straight on = Todo recto
Ir = To go English translation
Voy I go
Vas You go
Va He / She / It goes, You go (F)
Vamos We go
Vais You go
Van They go, you go (F)
How to ask how to get to a place:
Dónde está el / la ........
(Where is ......... )
Por dónde se va al / a la ........ ?
Cómo se va al / a la .......... ?
(How does one get to ......... ?)
Todo recto, Sigues todo recto.
(You carry on straight on)
Sigues hasta el final de la calle.
(You carry on to the end of the road)
A la derecha, a la izquierda.
(To the right, to the left)
Giras / Tuerces a la derecha.
(You turn right)
Tomas / Coges la primera a la izquierda.
(You take the first on te left)
Y el puertp está ahí / allí.

11. (And the port is there)
Vale / De acuerdo / Bueno
(O.K. / All right)
How to ask for something in a shop:
Me da ........ ?
(Can I have ......... ?)
Quiero ........ Quería .......... Quisiera ........
(I'd like ....... )
Una barra de pan, por favor.
(A loaf of bread, please)
How to say where you do your shopping:
Compro pan en la panadería.
(I buy bread at the baker's)
Shops:
La charcutería
La confitería = Confectionery
El mercado = Market
La pastelería = The bakery (sweets, etc.)
La pescadería =
La panadería = The bakery (bread, etc.)
La carnicería =
Fruits and vegetables:
La pera = Pear
La coliflor = Cauliflower
El tomate = Tomato
El melón = Melon
El limón = Lemon
Pepinos = Cucumbers
Plátanos = Bananas
Manzana = Apple
Naranja = Orange
Weights and measures:
Cien grammos 100 grams
Un kilo 1 kilo
Medio kilo Half a kilo
Kilo y medio 1.5 kilos
Un litro A litre
Una barra A loaf

12. Una botella A bottle
Una bolsa A bag
Un paquete A packet
Una lata A tin
Una caja A box / case
Un bote A jar
If you are not sure whether something is available or not you can ask:
Tiene pepinos?
(Do you have any cucumbers?)
Hay plátanos?
(Are there any bananas?)
Cuántas (manzanas) quiere?
(How many (apples) do you want?)
How to ask for the price of things:
A cómo está el kilo de manzanas?
A cómo es el kilo de manzanas?
(How much is a kilo of apples?)
A cómo están las naranjas?
A cómo son las naranjas?
(How much are the oranges?)
How to ask for the total cost:
Cuánto es (todo / en total)?
(How much is it (altogether)?)
Son ......
(That's ........ )
Tenga / Tome / Aquí tiene
(Here you are)
This, that, these and those:
This That
Este melón Ese melón
Esta manzana Esa manzana

13. These Those
Estos plátanos Esos plátanos
Estas patatas Esas patatas
How much / How many:
Cuánto Queso quiere?
Cuánta Carne quiere?
Cuántos Pimientos quiere?
Cuántas Barras de pan quiere?
Querer = To want English translation
Quiero I want
Quieres You want (I)
Quiere He / She wants, You want (F)
Queremos We want
Queréis You want (I)
Quieren They want, You want (F)
Days of the week:
Monday = Lunes
Tuesday = Martes
Wednesday = Miércoles
Thursday = Jueves
Friday = Viernes
Saturday = Sábado
Sunday = Domingo
Todos los días Every day
Todas las mañanas Every morning

14. Todas las tardes Every afternoon
Todas las noches Every night
Todos los sábados Every saturday
Todos los domingos Every sunday
Una vez a la semana Once a week
Dos veces a la semana Twice a week
Nunca Never
How to indicate how often you do something:
Preparo la cena todas las noches.
(I make the dinner every night.)
Barro el patio todos los sábados.
(I sweep the patio every Saturday.)
Nunca plancho / No plancho nunca
(I never do the ironing.)
Prepara la cena.
(He / She makes the dinner.)
Barre el patio.
(He / She sweeps the patio.)
How to find out what someone is doing:
Bebes vino?
(Do you drink wine?)
Sí, bebo vino (a veces).
(Yes, I drink wine (sometimes))
Bebe vino (todas las noches)
(He / She drinks wine (every night))
How to ask the time:
Qué hora es?
Es la una.
(It's one o'clock.)
Son las dos en punto.
(It's exactly two o'clock.)
Son las diez de la mañana.
(It's ten o'clock in the morning.)
Es la una de la tarde.
(It's one o'clock in the afternoon.)
Son las nueve de la noche.
(It's nine o'clock in the evening.)

15. Other expressions of time:
Son las tres y cinco It's 3:05
Son las tres y cuarto It's 3:15
Son las tres y media It's 3:30
Son las cuatro menos veinte It's 3:40
Son las cuatro menos cuatro It's 3:45
How to ask at what time an event is happening:
A qué hora es la película / el concierto?
(What time ks the film / the concert?)
Es a las cuatro.
(It's at four o'clock.)
How to ask at what time someone gets up:
A qué hora te levantas / te acuestas?
(Informal)
A qué hora se levanta / se acuesta?
(Formal)
(What time do you get up / go to bed?)
(Yo) me levanto a las siete y media.
(I get up at 7:30.)
(Yo) me acuesto a las doce.
(I go to bed at 12:00.)
How to ask about at what time someone else goes to bed / gets up:
A qué hora se levanta / se acuesta?
(What time does he / she get up / go to bed?)
Se levanta / Se acuesta a las .......
(He / She gets up / goes to bed at ........ )
How to indicate at what time you start:
Empiezo a trabajar a las ocho.
Empiezo el trabajo a las ocho.
(I start to work / work at eight.)
Termino de estudiar a las seis.
Termino las clases a las seis.
(I finish studying / classes at six.)
Trabajo / Estudio de nueve a tres.
......... desde las nueve hasta las tres.
(I work / study from nine to three.)

16. Lavar = To get up English translation
Me levanto I get up
Te levantas You get up
Se levanta He / She gets up, You get up (F)
Nos levantamos We get up
Os levantáis You get up
Se levantan They get up, You get up (F)