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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Fremdsprachen
- Sprache: Englisch
A comprehensive and actionable Spanish resource
Spanish All-In-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition walks you through a step-by-step roadmap of Spanish basics—including how to speak, write, and read Spanish in common, everyday situations.
This guide is packed with practice opportunities, online audio, and intuitively organized info you can use immediately as you improve your conversational Spanish. The book contains concrete and memorable lessons that stick—helping you apply what you’ve learned to real-world situations with ease.
Inside:
- Practice speaking, understanding, and writing Spanish with lots of examples
- Discover verb conjugation rules, sentence structures, and other grammar conventions
- Listen to Spanish conversations and work on your pronunciation
Perfect for Spanish students looking for an easy-to-follow reference to supplement their classroom learning, Spanish All-In-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition is also an essential resource for anyone who would like to brush up on their Spanish fundamentals.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Spanish All-in-One For Dummies®
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Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond This Book
Where to Go from Here
Book 1: Getting Started with Spanish
Chapter 1: Sounding Like a Native Speaker
Pronouncing Properly
Understanding Stress and Accent Marks
Tackling Upside Down Punctuation
Recognizing Cognates
Using Almost Exact Cognates
Being Aware of False Amigos
Chapter 2: Talking Numbers, Time, and the Weather
Counting to Your Heart’s Content
Telling Time
Making Dates
Chapter 3: Updating Your Personal Profile
Expressing Greetings and Salutations
Introducing Family Members
Expressing Your Nationality
Stating What You Do for a Living
Uncovering Your Social Media Presence
Making Suggestions
Forming the Let’s Command
Connecting on Social Media
Chapter 4: Satisfying Your Appetite
Getting Up to Speed on Table Talk
Ordering Your Meal
Going to Specialty Stores
Knowing Your Weights and Volumes
Chapter 5: Shopping Until You Drop
Identifying the Types of Stores
Getting Help
Shopping for Clothing and Footwear
Shopping at the Jewelry Store
Buying Gifts and Souvenirs
Sealing the Deal
Chapter 6: Going Places: Planes, Trains, Taxis, & More
Getting By at the Airport
Renting a Car
Using Public Transportation
Cruising on the Open Seas
Chapter 7: Finding a Place to Stay
Checking In
Considering Amenities, Facilities, and Services
Addressing Special Needs
Replacing Missing Items
Knowing How to Handle Problems
Eating Breakfast at Your Hotel
Getting Help from the Concierge
Checking Out ¡Hasta la Vista!
Book 2: Grasping Basic Grammar
Chapter 1: Flipping Through the Dictionary
Getting to Know the Parts of Speech
Using a Bilingual Dictionary
Chapter 2: Addressing Gender Issues
Being Specific with Definite Articles
Being General with Indefinite Articles
Being Demonstrative with Adjectives
Explaining Gender
Forming Plural Nouns
Showing Possession
Chapter 3: Navigating Pronouns
Getting the Lowdown on Subject Pronouns
Being Direct with Direct Object Pronouns
Using Indirect Object Pronouns
Picking the Right Object Pronoun for the Job
Putting Object Pronouns in Their Place
Doubling Up with Object Pronouns
Getting Particular with Demonstrative Pronouns
Showing Possession with Pronouns Possessive
Asking Questions with Interrogative Pronouns
Understanding Reflexive Pronouns
Focusing on Pronouns That Follow Prepositions
Coping with Relative Pronouns
Chapter 4: Dealing with the Here and Now: Present Tense Verbs
Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense
Dealing with Irregulars
Chapter 5: Reflecting on Reflexive Verbs
Grasping the Concept of Reflexive Verbs
Enlisting the Aid of Reflexive Pronouns
Doing More with Reflexive Verbs
Reflexivity Not Always Required
Putting Reflexive Pronouns in Their Places
Chapter 6: Using the Present Progressive
Focusing on Present Participles: It’s an “ing” Thing
Expressing Progress with the Present Progressive
Chapter 7: Spicing It Up with Adjectives and Adverbs
Describing Stuff with Adjectives
Describing Actions with Adverbs
Comparing Stuff
Chapter 8: Asking Questions: Being Positive and Negative
Facing the Spanish Inquisitions
Yes, Sir/No, Ma’am: Answering Questions in Spanish
Making Exclamations
Book 3: Mastering More Advanced Grammar
Chapter 1: Understanding Prepositions and Conjunctions
Meeting the Most Common Spanish Prepositions
Telling the Difference between Prepositions
Combining Prepositions with Infinitives
Brushing Up on Prepositional Pronouns
Connecting with Conjunctions
Chapter 2: Been There, Done That: Past (Preterit) Tense
Conjugating Regular Verbs in the Preterit
Facing Some Irregularities
Using the Preterit
Looking at Verbs That Change Meaning in the Preterit
Chapter 3: Continuing in the Past with the Imperfect Tense
Perfecting the Imperfect
Comparing the Preterit and the Imperfect
Finding Clues to the Preterit and the Imperfect
Chapter 4: Getting That Subjunctive Feeling
Forming the Present Subjunctive
Spanning the Uses of the Present Subjunctive
Focusing On the Imperfect Subjunctive
Chapter 5: Being Bossy with the Imperative Mood
Defining the Imperative Mood
Forming Formal Commands
Issuing Informal Commands
Using Object Pronouns in Commands
Chapter 6: Preparing for the Future and the Conditional
Forming and Expressing the Future
Using the Future Tense to Foretell, Predict, and Wonder
Forming The Conditional Tense
Creating Conditional Sentences
Chapter 7: Forming the Compound Tenses
Laying the Groundwork
Forming the Present Perfect
Tackling the Pluperfect
Creating the Future Perfect and Conditional Perfect
Encountering the Present Perfect Subjunctive
Doubting the Past with the Pluperfect Subjunctive
Chapter 8: Being Passive
Defining the Passive Voice
Avoiding the Passive Voice
Book 4: Spanish at Work
Chapter 1: Spanish for Domestic Workers
Interviewing Applicants
Issuing General Directions
Telling Your Employees What to Do
Focusing on Cleaning
Recognizing Phrases for Renters
Praising Your Employee
Chapter 2: Spanish for Caregivers
Interviewing a Nanny
Taking Care of Children
Caring for the Elderly
Chapter 3: Spanish for Healthcare Workers
Speaking at the Doctor’s Office
Offering Care at the Dentist’s Office
Chapter 4: Spanish for Gardeners and Landscapers
Using the Tools of the Trade
Directing the Crew
Mastering Lawn Care Lingo
An Abridged Version for Homeowners — Pointing Out Important Vocab
Chapter 5: Spanish for Law Enforcement Pros
Conducting an Investigation
Dealing with Traffic Violations
Chapter 6: Spanish for Educators and Administrators
Admitting New Students
Communicating with Students
Communicating with Parents
Chapter 7: Spanish for Office Managers
Interviewing Job Candidates
Explaining Compensation and Benefits
Describing Buildings, Furniture, Equipment, and Supplies
Training New Hires
Chapter 8: Spanish for Hotel and Restaurant Personnel
Using Spanish at Reception
Instructing the Housekeeping Staff
Training the Laundry Room Staff
Communicating with the Kitchen Staff
Book 5: Appendixes
Appendix A: Spanish Verbs
Regular Verbs
Stem-Changing Verbs
Spelling-Change Verbs
Irregular Verbs
Appendix B: Spanish-English Mini Dictionary
Appendix C: English-Spanish Mini Dictionary
Appendix D: Spanish Words That Change from Country to Country
Index
About the Authors
Dedication
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Book 1 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Pronouncing Vowels
TABLE 1-2 Pronouncing Diphthongs
TABLE 1-3 Pronouncing Consonants
TABLE 1-4 Perfect Matches
TABLE 1-5 Easily Recognizable Adjectives and Nouns
TABLE 1-6 Words That Drop the Initial -e
TABLE 1-7 False Friends
Book 1 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 Cardinal Numbers
TABLE 2-2 Ordinal Numbers
TABLE 2-3 Days of the Week
TABLE 2-4 Months
TABLE 2-5 Communicating Dates
TABLE 2-6 Responses to ¿Qué tiempo hace?
Book 1 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Formal Greetings
TABLE 3-2 Informal Greetings
TABLE 3-3 Family Members
TABLE 3-4 Stating Where You’re from
TABLE 3-5 Stating Your Profession
TABLE 3-6 Explaining Your Personality
TABLE 3-7 Expressing What You Like to Do
Book 1 Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 Making Your Drink Choice
TABLE 4-2 Choosing Meats
TABLE 4-3 Selecting Fish and Seafood
TABLE 4-4 Picking Side Dishes
TABLE 4-5 Picking Your Fruits
TABLE 4-6 Shopping in Specialty Stores
TABLE 4-7 Knowing Quantities of Food
Book 1 Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 Getting around a Store
TABLE 5-2 Identifying Clothing
TABLE 5-3 Focusing on Fabrics
TABLE 5-4 Gifts and Souvenirs
Book 1 Chapter 6
TABLE 6-1 Navigating Signs
Book 1 Chapter 7
TABLE 7-1 Everything You May Need
TABLE 7-2 Items You May Need in Your Hotel
Book 2 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Useful Abbreviations
Book 2 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 Demonstrative Adjectives
TABLE 2-2 Possessive Adjectives
Book 2 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Spanish Subject Pronouns
TABLE 3-2 Spanish Direct Object Pronouns
TABLE 3-3 Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns
TABLE 3-4 Demonstrative Pronouns
TABLE 3-5 Possessive Pronouns
TABLE 3-6 Spanish Reflexive Pronouns
TABLE 3-7 Prepositional Pronouns
Book 2 Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 Spelling Changes in the Present Tense
TABLE 4-2 Verbs with Spelling and Stem Changes in the Present
TABLE 4-3 Irregular Verbs in All Forms Except nosotros and vosotros
TABLE 4-4 Irregular Verbs in All or Most of Their Forms
Book 2 Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 Properly Used Reflexive Pronouns
TABLE 5-2 Spanish Verbs with Different Reflexive Meanings
Book 2 Chapter 7
TABLE 7-1 Common Spanish Adjectives
TABLE 7-2 Adjectives That End in -a or -e
TABLE 7-3 Adjectives That End in Consonants
TABLE 7-4 Forming Various Types of Adverbs
TABLE 7-5 Frequently Used Unique Phrases
TABLE 7-6 Irregular Adjectives in the Comparative and Superlative
Book 3 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Common Spanish Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
TABLE 1-2 Spanish Verbs Requiring a
TABLE 1-3 Spanish Verbs Requiring de
TABLE 1-4 Spanish Verbs Requiring en
TABLE 1-5 Spanish Verbs Requiring con
TABLE 1-6 Verbs That Require No Preposition
TABLE 1-7 Common Conjunctive Expressions
Book 3 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 The Preterit for Verbs That Change -i to -y
TABLE 2-2 The Preterit for -ir Stem Change Verbs
TABLE 2-3 Irregular Verbs with -i in the Preterit Stem
TABLE 2-4 Irregular Verbs with -u in the Preterit Stem
TABLE 2-5 Irregular Verbs with -uv in the Preterit Stem
TABLE 2-6 Irregular Verbs with -j in the Preterit Stem
TABLE 2-7 The Preterit of Dar and Ver
TABLE 2-8 Verbs That Shift Meaning in the Preterit
Book 3 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect Tense
TABLE 3-2 Comparing the Preterit versus the Imperfect
Book 3 Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 The Present Subjunctive Endings of Regular Verbs
TABLE 4-2 Verbs with Irregular Present-Tense yo Forms
TABLE 4-3 Present Subjunctive of Verbs with Spelling Changes
TABLE 4-4 Verbs with Stem Changes in the Present Subjunctive
TABLE 4-5 Certain -ir Verbs with Stem Changes
TABLE 4-6 Stem and Spelling Changes in the Present Subjunctive
TABLE 4-7 Irregular Verbs in the Present Subjunctive
TABLE 4-8 Forming the Imperfect Subjunctive
Book 3 Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 Forming Commands Using Regular Verbs
TABLE 5-2 Forming Commands with Irregular Yo Forms
TABLE 5-3 Forming Commands with Spelling and Stem Change Verbs
TABLE 5-4 Forming Commands with Irregular Verbs
TABLE 5-5 Forming Informal Commands
TABLE 5-6 Creating Informal Commands with Irregular Verbs
TABLE 5-7 Creating Informal Negative Commands
TABLE 5-8 Forming Negative Commands with Spelling and Stem Changes Verbs
TABLE 5-9 Forming Negative Vosotros Commands
Book 3 Chapter 6
TABLE 6-1 Conjugating Regular Verbs in the Future
TABLE 6-2 Irregular Conditional Stems
TABLE 6-3 Forming Conditional Sentences
Book 3 Chapter 7
TABLE 7-1 Regular Past Participles
TABLE 7-2 Irregular Past Participles
Book 3 Chapter 8
TABLE 8-1 Using Passive Voice in Simple Tenses and Moods
TABLE 8-2 Using Passive Voice in Compound Tenses and Moods
Book 4 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Naming the Rooms
TABLE 1-2 Identifying Things in Your Residence
TABLE 1-3 Giving Instructions
TABLE 1-4 Common Cleaning Items
TABLE 1-5 Cleaning Supplies
Book 4 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 Recognizing Kids’ Things
TABLE 2-2 Explaining the Rules
TABLE 2-3 Setting Limits
Book 4 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Conditions and Ailments
TABLE 3-2 Everyday Vaccines
TABLE 3-3 Body Parts
TABLE 3-4 Common Illnesses and Conditions
TABLE 3-5 Medical Specialities
Book 4 Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 Landscaping Needs
TABLE 4-2 Safety Gear for Gardening
TABLE 4-3 Naming Flowers
TABLE 4-4 Identifying Types of Trees
Book 4 Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 Identifying Crimes
TABLE 5-2 Common Locations
Book 4 Chapter 6
TABLE 6-1 School Supplies
TABLE 6-2 School Subjects
TABLE 6-3 Recognizing Problems
Book 4 Chapter 7
TABLE 7-1 Common Office-Related Tasks
TABLE 7-2 Common Office Positions
TABLE 7-3 Buildings and Other Key Areas
TABLE 7-4 Common Office Equipment
TABLE 7-5 Common Office Supplies
Book 4 Chapter 8
TABLE 8-1 Room and Cleaning Supplies
TABLE 8-2 Laundry Room Items and Equipment
TABLE 8-3 Kitchen Equipment and Utensils
TABLE 8-4 Kitchen Activities
Appendix D
TABLE D-1 Foods
TABLE D-2 Fruits and Vegetables
TABLE D-3 Clothes
TABLE D-4 Accessories or Personal Items
TABLE D-5 Everyday Things
TABLE D-6 Household Items
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Begin Reading
Index
About the Authors
Dedication
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Spanish All-in-One For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
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Introduction
Gaining mastery over your first language is as easy as learning to walk. One day it’s all baby talk, and the next you’re stringing together words like a born orator. Picking up a second language, particularly when you’re not immersed in it, is quite a bit more challenging. You have to set aside the conventions of your own language and get up to speed on new rules, structures, and vocabulary all at the same time.
Sure, you can pick up a handful of phrases overnight and perhaps recite the alphabet and count to ten by the end of the week, but that’s not going to get you through a normal dinner conversation or enable you to understand foreign soap operas. You need some serious training to reach that point. Fortunately, Spanish All-in-One For Dummies, along with some practice, can get you there.
About This Book
Spanish All-in-One For Dummies is a comprehensive guide to acquiring Spanish as a second (or third or fourth or fifth) language that delivers the information and instruction in easily digestible, bite-sized chunks. It’s the closest thing to a Spanish language immersion program you can get off a bookshelf — addressing both spoken and written Spanish and presenting it in the context of real-life situations. Think of it as your own personal tutor, reference book, and workbook all rolled into one.
This book isn’t a class that you have to drag yourself to twice a week for a specified period of time. You can use this handy guide however you want to, whether your goal is to pick up a few common words and phrases, email a Spanish-speaking pen pal, or travel to a Spanish-speaking country. We set no timetable, so proceed at your own pace, reading as much or as little at a time as you like. You don’t have to trudge through the chapters in order, either; just read the sections that interest you.
And don’t forget to practice by using the accompanying audio material for help with pronunciation. The only way to really know and love a language is to speak it. Throughout the book, we give you lots of words and phrases, complete with pronunciations.
To make this book easy for you to navigate, we’ve set up a couple of conventions:
Spanish terms are set in
boldface
to make them stand out.
The English accompanies the Spanish terms and is
italicized
.
Whenever we include the phonetic pronunciation of a Spanish word, we also use italics to denote any stress you add to that word. (See Book 1,
Chapter 1
for more on pronunciation and stress.)
As you begin to use this book, you’ll no doubt notice that we chose a rather conventional method to introduce the different verb conjugations — a
verb table
, which looks like this:
pedir (e to i) (to ask for)
yo pido
nosotros pedimos
tú pides
vosotros pedís
él, ella, Ud. pide
ellos, ellas, Uds. piden
Pido ayuda cuando la necesito. (I ask for help when I need it.)
This table acts like a mental billboard. It displays the Spanish pronoun and conjugated verb, presenting the three singular conjugations in the left column and the three plural conjugations in the right column. A verb table includes an example sentence below the conjugations at no extra charge.
Vocabulary chart:
Vocabulary charts provide a quick rundown of common words or expressions, typically providing the Spanish word in a column, its Spanish pronunciation in a column, and its English equivalent in another column.
Language learning is a peculiar beast, so this book includes a few elements that other For Dummies books don’t, such as the Talkin’ the Talk dialogue. One of the best ways to learn a language is to see and hear how it’s used in conversation, so we include dialogues throughout Books 1 and 4. The dialogues come under the heading “Talkin’ the Talk” and show you the Spanish phrases, the pronunciation, and the English translation.
Also note that because each language has its own ways of expressing ideas, the English translations that we provide for the Spanish terms may not be exactly literal. We want you to know the gist of what’s being said, not just the words that are being said. For example, you can translate the Spanish phrase de nada (deh nah-dah) literally as of nothing, but the phrase really means you’re welcome. This book gives the you’re welcome translation.
Icons Used in This Book
You may be looking for particular information while reading this book. To make certain types of information easier for you to find, we’ve placed the following icons in the left-hand margins throughout the book:
This icon highlights tips that can make learning Spanish easier.
Languages are full of quirks that may trip you up if you’re not prepared for them. This icon points to discussions of these weird grammar rules.
If you’re looking for information and advice about culture and travel, look for these icons. They draw your attention to interesting tidbits about the countries in which Spanish is spoken.
Remember icons call your attention to important information about the language — something you shouldn’t neglect or something that’s out of the ordinary. Don’t ignore these paragraphs.
The online audio tracks that accompany this book give you the opportunity to listen to real Spanish speakers. This icon marks the Talkin’ the Talk dialogues that you can listen to online; just go to www.dummies.com/go/spanishaiofd2e.
Beyond This Book
In addition to all the information here, this book comes with a free, access-anywhere Cheat Sheet containing phrases and tips for learning Spanish faster. To get this Cheat Sheet, go to www.dummies.com and type “Spanish All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the search box.
You can listen to the book’s audio files at www.dummies.com/go/spanishaiofd2e if you want to hear Spanish conversations.
Where to Go from Here
Like all For Dummies books, this one is designed for a skip-and-dip approach. You can skip to any chapter or section that catches your eye and find a mini-lesson on the topic du jour. If you’ve never had any instruction in Spanish or much exposure to it, we encourage you to begin with the first four chapters of Book 1. These chapters form the foundation on which you can start building your knowledge.
Books 1 and 4 present a more conversational, situational approach, for when you need to know a few key words and phrases and you don’t have time for the rules, or you need some specialized vocabulary you can’t find anywhere else.
When you do have time for the rules, spend some time cozying up to Books 2 and 3, where true Spanish mastery is laid and hatched.
Book 1
Getting Started with Spanish
Contents at a Glance
Chapter 1: Sounding Like a Native Speaker
Pronouncing Properly
Understanding Stress and Accent Marks
Tackling Upside Down Punctuation
Recognizing Cognates
Using Almost Exact Cognates
Being Aware of False Amigos
Chapter 2: Talking Numbers, Time, and the Weather
Counting to Your Heart’s Content
Telling Time
Making Dates
Chapter 3: Updating Your Personal Profile
Expressing Greetings and Salutations
Introducing Family Members
Expressing Your Nationality
Stating What You Do for a Living
Uncovering Your Social Media Presence
Making Suggestions
Connecting on Social Media
Chapter 4: Satisfying Your Appetite
Getting Up to Speed on Table Talk
Ordering Your Meal
Going to Specialty Stores
Knowing Your Weights and Volumes
Chapter 5: Shopping Until You Drop
Identifying the Types of Stores
Getting Help
Shopping for Clothing and Footwear
Shopping at the Jewelry Store
Buying Gifts and Souvenirs
Sealing the Deal
Chapter 6: Going Places: Planes, Trains, Taxis, & More
Getting By at the Airport
Renting a Car
Using Public Transportation
Cruising on the Open Seas
Chapter 7: Finding a Place to Stay
Checking In
Considering Amenities, Facilities, and Services
Addressing Special Needs
Replacing Missing Items
Knowing How to Handle Problems
Eating Breakfast at Your Hotel
Getting Help from the Concierge
Checking Out ¡Hasta la Vista!
Chapter 1
Sounding Like a Native Speaker
IN THIS CHAPTER
Getting a handle on vowels, diphthongs, and consonants
Dealing with stress and accent marks
Identifying words that are the same in English and Spanish
Recognizing words that are very similar
Avoiding falling into traps
Some people can pick up a foreign language and sound like a native with minimal effort, whereas others struggle to lose their hometown accent. The fortunate ones can imitate the Spanish speakers they’ve heard in their neighborhood, on TV, in the movies, or on a You Tube broadcast. If you’re not among those lucky ones, and don’t have a good ear for language, this chapter gives you the practice you need to perfect your pronunciation.
This chapter also presents Spanish words that you already know: words that English has borrowed from the Spanish. Surprisingly, your everyday vocabulary is filled with words that are the same, or almost the same, in both languages. You may realize that you already know quite a bit of Spanish — you just have to pronounce the words a bit differently.
Pronouncing Properly
Naturally, when you speak Spanish, you want to sound as authentic as possible. The good news is that Spanish is quite easy to pronounce because it’s a very phonetic language. What does that mean? Simply say each word exactly as you see it and put on your best Spanish accent. Chances are you’ll sound more like a native than you could imagine.
The Spanish alphabet contains all the letters of the English alphabet plus ñ, which follows the letter n. In 2010, the Royal Spanish Academy (Real Academia de la Lengua Española) removed the letters ch and ll, that were previously considered part of the alphabet.
(Track 1) This track gives you the chance to practice Spanish sounds. You’ll hear each letter of the alphabet in English followed by its pronunciation in Spanish.
To lay a strong foundation for learning Spanish, read the following sections that discuss the correct ways to pronounce vowels, diphthongs, vowel combinations, and consonants.
Voicing vowels
Unlike in English, each Spanish vowel is pronounced consistently. Table 1-1 gives you a breakdown to help you start.
TABLE 1-1 Pronouncing Vowels
Vowel
English Sound
Spanish Example
a
ah as in spa
papa (pah-pah) (potato)
e
eh as in red
ella (eh-yah) (she)
i
ee as in key
idea (ee-deh-yah) (idea)
o
oh as in no
ojo (oh-hoh) (eye)
u
oo as in do
uno (oo-noh) (one)
Practicing diphthongs
It gets a little tricky when you confront diphthongs, or a combinations of two vowels. Table 1-2 can help put your concerns to rest.
TABLE 1-2 Pronouncing Diphthongs
Diphthongs
English Sound
Spanish Example
ae, ai, ay
ah-eh(ay) as in eye
aeropuerto (ah-eh-roh-poo-ehr-toh) (airport)
aire (ah-eh-reh) (air)
ayuda (ah-eh-oo-dah) (help)
au
ah-oh (ow) as in owl
autor (ah-oh-tohr) (author)
ea
eh-ah
fea (feh-ah) (ugly)
ei, ey
a as in day
seis (seh-ees) (six)
rey (rreh) (king)
eo
eh-oh
leo (leh-oh) (I read)
eu
eh-oo
Europa (eh-oo-roh-pah) (Europe)
ia
ee-ah
seria (seh-ree-ah) (serious)
ie
ee-eh
siete (see-eh-teh) (seven)
io
ee-oh
avión (ah-bee-ohn) (airplane)
iu
ee-oo
ciudad (see-oo-dahd) (city)
oa, ua
oo-ah (wah) as in watch
toalla (toh-ah-yah) (towel)
agua (ah-goo-ah) (water)
oe, ue
oh-eh (weh) as in wet
oeste (oh-ehs-teh) (west)
cuento (koo-ehn-toh) (short story)
oi, oy
oh-ee (oy) as in boy
oigo (oh-ee-goh) (I hear)
soy (soh-ee) (I am)
ui, uy
oo-ee (we) as in we
cuido (koo-ee-doh) (I take care of)
muy (moo-ee) (very)
uo
oo-oh as in woe
cuota (koo-oh-tah) (quota)
Verbalizing consonants
Consonants are a snap to master because most are pronounced exactly the same as they are in English. They are: b, d, f, k, l, m, n, p, s, t, w, y. Note the exceptions in Table 1-3:
TABLE 1-3 Pronouncing Consonants
Consonant
English Sound
Spanish Example
c
s before e and i (s in Latin America and th in Spain.
k elsewhere
centro (sehn-troh) (thehn-troh) (downtown)
cinco (seen-koh) (theen-koh) (five)
casa (kah-sah) (house)
g
h before e and i
hard g elsewhere
gente (hehn-teh) (people)
gira (hee-rah) (tour)
gordo (gohr-doh) (fat)
h
silent
hora (oh-rah) (hour)
j
h
junto (hoon-toh) (together)
ll
y
llama (yah-mah) (llama)
ñ
ni as in onion
niño (nee-nyoh) (boy)
r
slightly rolled r
oro (oh-roh) (gold)
rr
rolled 2 or 3 times
at beginning of word
after l, n, or s
carro (kah-rroh) (car)
rico (rree-koh) (rich)
alrededor (ahl-rreh-deh-dohr) (around)
Enrique (ehn-rree-keh) (Henry)
Israel (ees-rrah-ehl) (Israel)
v
similar to b
vaca (bah-kah) (cow)
x
s followed by a consonant
ks followed by a vowel
extra (ehs-trah) (extra)
exacto (ehk-sahk-toh) (exact)
z
th in Spain
s in Spanish America
zoo (thoh) (zoo)
zoo (soh)
In Spain the consonant z is like the English th as in them. The letter k is used only in words of foreign origin.
Understanding Stress and Accent Marks
In Spanish, words are pronounced just like they sound. Take note of the following rules for how words are stressed:
Words ending in a vowel, an
n
or an
s
is stressed on the next to the last syllable:
libro
(
lee
-broh) (
book
)
bajan
(
bah
-hahn) (
they go down
)
cuadernos
(koo-ah-
dehr
-nohs
)
(
notebooks
)
Words ending in a consonant (except
n
or
s
) are stressed on the last syllable:
felicidad
(feh-lee-see-
dahd
) (
happiness
)
hablar
(ah-
blahr
) (
to speak
)
When the preceding rules aren’t followed, an accent is used:
canción
(kahn-see-
ohn
) (
song
)
The following diacritical marks help with stress and pronunciation:
A tilde (´), the most common, indicates that you put more stress on the vowel of the syllable containing the accent:
interés
(een-teh-
rehs
) (
interest
)
A tilde de la ñ (~) is only placed above an
n
(which is considered a different letter):
mañana
(mah
-nyah-
nah) (
tomorrow
)
A diaeresis (¨) is only placed above a u (which is considered a different letter):
lingüista
(leen-goo-
ees
-tah) (
linguist
)
Tackling Upside Down Punctuation
You may notice unfamiliar punctuation in phrases like ¡Buenos días!, ¿Decía?, and ¡Adiós! Spanish indicates the mood (or tone) of what you’re saying both at the beginning and at the end of the phrase that is a question or an exclamation, as in ¿Decía? (deh-see-ah) (You were saying?) or ¡Decía! (deh-see-ah) (You were saying!).
As far as we know, Spanish is the only language that provides this sort of punctuation. However, this punctuation is very useful when you have to read something aloud because you know beforehand how to modulate your voice. This punctuation is the verbal equivalent of making gestures, which you can see in the following examples:
¿Dónde está?
(
dohn
-deh ehs-
tah
) (
Where is it?
)
¡Qué maravilla!
(keh mah-rah-
bee
-yah) (
How wonderful!
)
Recognizing Cognates
Cognates make it a bit easier to learn a foreign language. A cognate is a word that’s spelled exactly the same, or almost the same way in two different languages: in this case, Spanish and English. It may sound or be pronounced differently, and it may have an unfamiliar accent mark, but it has the same meaning in both.
This section presents you with lots of words that should be easily recognizable to you. After looking at the lists, you can see that you really know a lot more Spanish than you ever imagined!
Table 1-4 lists some a sample of nouns and adjectives that are the same in Spanish and English. As you study, you’ll come across even more. Use the pronunciation guide in the section, “Pronouncing Properly,” earlier in this chapter to hone your Spanish pronunciation skills.
TABLE 1-4 Perfect Matches
Adjectives
Masculine Nouns
Feminine Nouns
adorable (ah-doh-rah-bleh)
animal (ah-nee-mahl)
alpaca (ahl-pah-kah)
flexible (flehk-see-bleh)
cereal (seh-reh-ahl)
banana (bah-nah-nah)
general (heh-neh-rahl)
chocolate (choh-koh-lah-teh)
capital (kah-pee-tahl)
horrible (oh-rree-bleh)
color (koh-lohr)
fiesta (fee-ehs-tah)
ideal (ee-deh-ahl)
corral (koh-rrahl)
pasta (pahs-tah)
invisible (een-bee-see-bleh)
doctor (dohk-tohr)
plaza (plah-sah)
irresistible (ee-rreh-sees-tee-bleh)
festival (fehs-tee-bahl)
radio (rrah-dee-oh)
natural (nah-too-rahl)
hospital (ohs-pee-tahl)
original (oh-ree-hee-nahl)
hotel (oh-tehl)
popular (poh-poo-lahr)
mosquito (mohs-kee-toh)
regular (rreh-goo-lahr)
motor (moh-tohr)
sentimental (sehn-tee-mehn-tahl)
patio (pah-tee-oh)
sociable (soh-see-ah-bleh
perfume (pehr-foo-meh)
terrible (teh-rree-bleh)
soda (soh-dah)
tropical (troh-pee-kahl)
taxi (tahk-see)
We explain masculine and feminine nouns in Book 2, Chapter 2 and adjectives in Book 2, Chapter 7.
Using Almost Exact Cognates
Almost exact cognates are just that — they look so much alike in both languages that their meanings are unmistakable. They fall into three main categories (nouns, adjectives, and verbs), which should make them easy to remember. These sections take a closer look at these categories.
Nouns that end in -tion and -ción
Nouns ending in -tion in English end in -ción in Spanish. Here’s a list to give you some of the most examples:
acción
(ahk-see-
ohn
) (
action
)
atención
(ah-tehn-see-
ohn
) (
attention
)
atracción
(ah-trahk-see-
ohn
) (
attraction
)
celebración
(seh-leh-brah-see-
ohn
) (
celebration
)
condición
(kohn-dee-see-
ohn
) (
condition
)
ficción
(feek-see-
ohn
) (
fiction
)
nación
(nah-see-
ohn
) (
nation
)
Nouns that end in -ary and -ario
Nouns ending in -ary in English end in -ario in Spanish. Check out this list to show how similar the Spanish words are to English:
aniversario
(ah-nee-behr-
sah
-ree-oh) (
anniversary
)
contrario
(kohn-
trah
-ree-oh) (
contrary
)
salario
(sah-
lah
-ree-oh) (
salary
)
solitario
(soh-lee-
tah
-ree-oh) (
solitary
)
secretario
(seh-kreh-
tah
-ree-oh) (
secretary)
vocabulario
(boh-kah-boo-
lah
-ree-oh) (
vocabulary
)
Adjectives that end -ic and -ico/a
English adjectives that end in -ic end in -ico (or -ica for the feminine form) in Spanish. Here are some:
auténtico
(ah-oh
tehn
-tee-koh) (
authentic
)
clásico
(
klah
-see-koh) (
classic
)
económico
(eh-koh-
noh
-mee-koh) (
economic
)
irónico
(ee-
roh
-nee-koh) (
ironic
)
mágico
(
mah
-hee-koh) (
magic
)
público
(
poo
-blee-koh) (
public
)
Adjectives that end in -ous and -oso/a
English adjectives that end in -ous end in -oso (or -osa for the feminine form) in Spanish like the following:
curioso
(koo-ree-
oh
-soh) (
curious
)
delicioso
(deh-lee-see-
oh
-soh) (
delicious
)
misterioso
(mees-teh-ree-
oh
-soh) (
mysterious
)
numeroso
(noo-meh-
roh
-soh) (
numerous
)
precioso
(preh-see-
oh
-soh) (
precious
)
Nouns that end in -ty and -dad
Some English nouns ending in -ty end in -dad in Spanish, such as the following:
actividad
(ahk-tee-bee-
dahd
) (
activity
)
autoridad
(ah-oh-toh-ree-
dahd
) (
authority
)
nacionalidad
(nah-see-oh-nah-lee-
dahd
) (
nationality
)
seguridad
(seh-goo-ree-
dahd
) (
security
)
universidad
(oo-nee-behr-see-
dahd
) (
university
)
Words that end in -ct and -cto
English words ending in -ct end in -cto in Spanish, including these words:
acto
(
ahk
-toh) (
act
)
conflicto
(koh-
fleek
-toh) (
conflict
)
correcto
(koh-
rrehk
-toh) (
correct
)
exacto
(ehk-
sahk
-toh) (
exact
)
excepto
(eh-
sehp
-toh) (
except
)
insecto
(een-
sehk
-toh) (
insect
)
perfecto
(pehr-
fehk
-toh) (
perfect
)
producto
(proh-
dook
-toh) (
product
)
Similar noun and adjectives
Other nouns and adjectives follow no rules between English and Spanish but are easily recognizable (see Table 1-5 for a few of them):
TABLE 1-5 Easily Recognizable Adjectives and Nouns
Adjectives
Masculine Nouns
Feminine Nouns
confortable (kohn-fohr-tah-bleh)
automóvil (ah-oh-toh-moh-beel)
aspirina (ahs-pee-ree-nah)
diferente (dee-feh-rehn-teh)
banco (blahn-koh)
blusa (bloo-sah)
difícil (dee-fee-seel)
grupo (groo-poh)
computadora (kohm-poo-tah-doh-rah)
elegante (eh-leh-gahn-teh)
jardín (hahr-deen)
dieta (dee-eh-tah)
excelente (eh-seh-lehn-teh)
limón (lee-mohn)
familia (fah-mee-lee-yah)
famoso (fah-moh-soh)
parque (pahr-keh)
hamburguesa (ahm-boor-goo-eh-sah)
grande (grahn-deh)
plato (plah-toh)
guitarra (gee-tah-rrah)
importante (eem-pohr-tahn-teh)
presidente (preh-see-dehn-teh)
música (moo-see-kah)
imposible (eem-poh-see-bleh)
programa (proh-grah-mah)
opinión (oh-pee-nee-ohn)
interesante (een-teh-reh-sahn-teh)
restaurante (rrehs-tah-oh-rahn-teh)
persona (pehr-soh-nah)
moderno (moh-dehr-noh)
teatro (teh-ah-troh)
turista (too-rees-tah)
Easily recognizable verbs
Lots of Spanish verbs are also recognizable despite the spelling differences. Although there are many different types of verbs, for now, look at those that are regular and whose present tense forms are discussed more thoroughly in Book 2, Chapter 4.
Here are -ar verb cognates:
acompañar
(ah-kohm-pah-
nyahr
) (
to accompany
)
adorar
(ah-doh-
rahr
) (
to adore
)
celebrar
(seh-leh-
brahr
) (
to celebrate
)
entrar
(ehn-
trahr
) (
to enter
)
invitar
(een-bee-
tahr
) (
to invite
)
preparar
(preh-pah-
rahr
) (
to prepare
)
reparar
(rreh-pah-
rahr
) (
to repair
)
Here are some-er verb cognates:
comprender
(kohm-prehn-
dehr
) (
to comprehend
)
responder
(rrehs-pohn-
dehr
) (
to respond
)
vender
(behn-
dehr
) (
to vend, to sell
)
Here are some -ir verb cognates:
decidir
(deh-see-
deer
) (
to decide
)
describir
(dehs-kree-
beer
) (
to describe
)
dividir
(dee-bee-
deer
) (
to divide
)
persuadir
(pehr-soo-ah-
deer
) (
to persuade
)
omitir
(oh-mee-
teer
) (
to omit
)
recibir
(rreh-see-
beer
) (
to receive
)
Dropping that -e!
Many words in Spanish begin with -es. Fortunately, for most of them, simply drop the initial -e to figure out their meaning (see Table 1-6):
TABLE 1-6 Words That Drop the Initial -e
Spanish
English
escándalo (ehs-kahn-doh-loh)
scandal
escultor (ehs-kool-tohr)
sculptor
espacio (ehs-pah-see-oh)
space
especial (ehs-peh-see-ahl)
special
esplendor (ehs-plehn-dohr)
splendor
estadio (ehs-tah-dee-oh)
stadium
estricto (ehs-treek-toh)
strict
estudiante (ehs-too-dee-ahn-teh)
student
estupendo (ehs-too-pehn-doh)
stupendous
estúpido (ehs-too-pee-doh)
stupid
Being Aware of False Amigos
False friends, also known as false amigos, are words in different languages that look very similar and even have the same root yet mean completely different things. Table 1-7 lists many words to watch out for:
TABLE 1-7 False Friends
Spanish
English
actual (ahk-too-ahl)
exact, real
arma (ahr-mah)
weapon
asignatura (ah-seeg-nah-too-rah)
subject
asistir (ah-sees-teer)
to attend
carpeta (kahr-peh-tah)
folder
codo (koh-doh)
elbow
constipado/a (kohn-stee-pah-doh/dah)
to have a cold
contestar (kohn-tehs-tahr)
to answer
embarazada (ehm-bah-rah-sah-dah)
pregnant
enviar (ehn-bee-ahr)
to send
envolver (ehn-bohl-behr)
to wrap
éxito (ehk-see-toh)
success
grapa (grah-pah)
staple
horno (ohr-noh)
oven
introducir (een-troh-doo-seer)
to insert
librería (lee-breh-ree-ah)
bookstore
mayor (mah-yohr)
older, bigger
once (ohn-seh)
eleven
pan (pahn)
bread
pie (pee-eh)
foot
recordar (rreh-kohr-dahr)
to remember
red (rrehd)
network
ropa (rroh-pah)
clothing
salado (sah-lah-doh)
salty
sensible (sehn-see-bleh)
sensitive
sin (seen)
without
sopa (soh-pah)
soup
vaso (bah-soh)
drinking glass
Chapter 2
Talking Numbers, Time, and the Weather
IN THIS CHAPTER
Counting with cardinal numbers
Using ordinal numbers
Expressing time
Setting a date
Discussing the weather
Functioning in any language requires a knowledge of numbers so that you perform many tasks, from telling time to asking for a price. This chapter deals with all the other basics, including counting, telling time, naming the days of the week and months of the year, naming seasons, and giving a weather report (well, sort of).
Counting to Your Heart’s Content
One of the first skills you acquire is to count in your native language. Likewise, one of the first skills you need to pick up in Spanish is the ability to count. The following sections show you how to count in Spanish — with cardinal numbers (one, two, three) and with ordinal numbers (first, second, third).
Using cardinal numbers
Cardinal numbers are what you use for counting. You can get by with asking for one thing, or more than one thing, or even some things in Spanish … for a while. But eventually, you’ll want to ask for two things, or ten things, or even more. When numbers are important, you need to know how to count from one million or more in Spanish. Table 2-1 gives you all the numbers that you need:
TABLE 2-1 Cardinal Numbers
Number
Spanish
Pronunciation
0
cero
seh-roh
1
uno
oo-noh
2
dos
dohs
3
tres
trehs
4
cuatro
koo-ah-troh
5
cinco
seen-koh
6
seis
seh-ees
7
siete
see-eh-teh
8
ocho
oh-choh
9
nueve
noo-eh-beh
10
diez
dee-ehs
11
once
ohn-seh
12
doce
doh-seh
13
trece
treh-seh
14
catorce
kah-tohr-seh
15
quince
keen-seh
16
dieciséis (diez y seis)
dee-ehs-ee-seh-ees
17
diecisiete (diez y siete)
dee-ehs-ee-see-eh-teh
18
dieciocho (diez y ocho)
dee-ehs-ee-oh-choh
19
diecinueve (diez y nueve)
dee-ehs-ee-noo-eh-beh
20
veinte
beh-een-teh
21
veintiuno
beh-een-tee-oo-noh
22
veintidós
beh-een-tee-dohs
23
veintitrés
beh-een-tee-trehs
24
veinticuatro
beh-een-tee-koo-ah-troh
25
veinticinco
beh-een-tee-seen-koh
26
veintiséis
beh-een-tee-seh-ees
27
veintisiete
beh-een-tee-see-eh-teh
28
veintiocho
beh-een-tee-oh-choh
29
veintinueve
beh-een-tee-noo-eh-beh
30
treinta
treh-een-tah
40
cuarenta
koo-ah-rehn-tah
50
cincuenta
seen-koo-ehn-tah
60
sesenta
seh-sehn-tah
70
setenta
seh-tehn-tah
80
ochenta
oh-chehn-tah
90
noventa
noh-behn-tah
100
cien(to)
see-ehn(toh)
101
ciento uno
see-ehn-toh oo-noh
200
doscientos
dohs-see-ehn-tohs
300
trescientos
trehs-see-ehn-tohs
400
cuatrocientos
koo-ah-troh-see-ehn-tohs
500
quinientos
kee-nee-ehn-tohs
600
seiscientos
seh-ees-see-ehn-tohs
700
setecientos
seh-teh-see-ehn-tohs
800
ochocientos
oh-choh-see-ehn-tohs
900
novecientos
noh-beh-see-ehn-tohs
1,000
mil
meel
2,000
dos mil
dohs meel
100,000
cien mil
see-ehn meel
1,000,000
un millón
oon mee-yohn
2,000,000
dos millones
dohs mee-yoh-nehs
English speakers generally write the number 1 in one short, downward stroke. In the Spanish-speaking world, however, the number 1 has a little hook on top, which makes it look like a 7. So, in order to distinguish a 1 from a 7, you put a line through the 7, which makes it look like this: 7.
Follow these guidelines when using cardinal numbers in Spanish:
Uno
(
1
), used only when counting, becomes
un
before a masculine noun and
una
before a feminine noun (for more about gender, check out
Chapter 3
):
uno, dos, tres
(
one, two, three
)
un niño y una niña
(
a boy and a girl
)
sesenta y un dólares
(
61 dollars
)
veintiuna
personas (
21 people
)
You generally write the numbers 16 through 19 and 21 through 29 as one word. The numbers 16, 22, 23, and 26 have accents on the last syllable:
16:
dieciséis
22:
veintidós
23:
veintitrés
26:
veintiséis
However, you can write those same numbers (16 through 19 and 21 through 29) and all numbers between 16 and 99 using the conjunction
y
(
and
):
diez y seis
(16)
veinte y dos
(22)
cuarenta y seis
(46)
ochenta y ocho
(88)
When used before a masculine noun,
veintiún
(
21
) has an accent on the last syllable:
veintiún días
(
21 days
)
veintiuna semanas
(
21 weeks
)
Ciento
(100) becomes
cien
before nouns of either gender and before the numbers
mil
and
millones
. Before all other numbers, you use
ciento
.
Un
(
one
), which you don’t use before
cien(to)
or
mil
, comes before
millón
. When a noun follows
millón
, you put the preposition
de
between
millón
and the noun.
Millón
drops its accent in the plural (
millones
):
cien sombreros
(
100 hats
)
cien blusas
(
100 blouses
)
cien mil millas
(
100,000 miles
)
cien millones de dólares
(
100 million dollars
)
ciento noventa acres
(
190 acres
)
mil posibilidades
(
1,000 possibilities
)
un millón de razones
(
1,000,000 reasons
)
In compounds of
ciento
(
doscientos, trescientos
), there must be agreement with a feminine noun:
cuatrocientos pesos
(
400 pesos
)
seiscientas libras
(
600 pounds
)
With numerals and decimals, Spanish uses commas where English uses periods, and vice versa:
English
Spanish
6,000
6.000
0.75
0,75
$14.99
$14,99
Getting sequential with ordinal numbers
You may identify what you did during the day by reciting what you did first, second, third, and so on. Those very words first, second, and third are ordinal numbers. They tell you order and sequence.
When given directions, you hear a lot of phrases describing things like the third block to the left or the fourth floor. So ordinal numbers are extremely useful. Table 2-2 provides the first ten.
TABLE 2-2 Ordinal Numbers
English
Spanish
first
primero (pree-meh-roh)
second
segundo (seh-goon-doh)
third
tercero (tehr-seh-roh)
fourth
cuarto (koo-ahr-toh)
fifth
quinto (keen-toh)
sixth
sexto (sehs-toh)
seventh
séptimo (sehp-tee-moh)
eighth
octavo (ohk-tah-bboh)
ninth
noveno (noh-beh-noh)
tenth
décimo (deh-see-moh)
Here are some phrases to help you practice using ordinal numbers:
Vivo en el octavo piso.
(
bee
-boh ehn ehl ohk-
tah
-boh
pee
-soh.) (
I live on the eighth floor.
)
Hay un museo en la tercera calle.
(
ah
-ee oon moo-
seh
-oh ehn lah tehr-
seh
-rah
kah
-yeh) (
On the third street there is a museum.
)
Mi casa es la cuarta casa desde la esquina.
(mee
kah
-sah ehs lah koo-
ahr
-tah
kah
-sah
dehs
-deh lah ehs-
kee
-nah.) (
My house is the fourth house from the corner.
)
Hay una florería en el primer piso.
(
ah
-ee
oo
-nah floh-reh-
ree
-ah ehn ehl pree-
mehr pee
-soh.) (
On the first floor there is a flower shop.
)
The following list outlines what you must remember when using ordinal numbers in Spanish:
Spanish speakers rarely use ordinal numbers after tenth. After that, they usually use cardinal numbers in both the spoken and written language (they use Roman numerals to refer to centuries):
el séptimo mes
(
the seventh month
)
el siglo XV
(
the 15th century
)
Ordinal numbers must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) with the nouns they modify. You can make ordinal numbers feminine by changing the final -o of the masculine form to -a:
el cuarto día
(
the fourth day
)
la cuarta vez
(
the fourth time
)
Primero and tercero drop the final -o before a masculine singular noun:
el primer muchacho
(
the first boy
)
el tercer hombre
(
the third man
)
The Spanish ordinal numbers may be abbreviated. You use the superscript (
o
) for masculine nouns and the superscript (
a
) for feminine nouns. And you use (
er
) only for the abbreviations of
primer
and
tercer:
primero/a: 1
o(a)
segundo/a: 2
o(a)
primer: 1
er
tercer: 3
er
A cardinal number that replaces an ordinal number above 10th is always masculine, because the masculine word
número
(
number
) is understood:
la calle (número) ciento dos
(
102nd Street
)
For the first of every month, use the masculine form of the ordinal number
primero
with the masculine, singular form of the direct article
el
because it refers to the day (
el día
) which is a masculine, singular noun. All other dates call for the cardinal numbers:
el primero de mayo
(
May 1st
)
el doce de enero
(
January 12th
)
In Spanish, cardinal numbers precede ordinal numbers:
las dos primeras escenas
(
the first two scenes
)
Telling Time
Knowing how to understand, speak, and write time-related words and phrases is a must for anyone who’s studying a foreign language and planning to put these studies to use (to do some traveling one day, for instance). These sections introduce you to time-related questions and vocabulary.
Asking for and giving the time
If you hear ¿Qué hora es? (keh oh-rah ehs), someone wants to know the time. You should start by responding with the following:
Es la una (ehs lah oo-nah) (for the 1:00 hour) or Son las (sohn lahs) + any other time
To express the time after the hour (but before half past the hour), use y (ee) (and) and the number of minutes. Use menos (meh-nohs) (less) + the number of the following hour to express the time before the next hour (after half past the hour). You can also express time numerically (as shown in the third example here):
It’s 1:30.
Es la una y media.
(ehs lah
oo
-nah ee
meh
-dee-ah)
It’s 4:40.
Son las cinco menos veinte.
(sohn lahs
seen
-koh
meh
-nohs beh-
een
-teh)
It’s 4:40.
Son las cuatro y cuarenta.
(sohn lahs koo-
ah
-troh ee koo-ah-
rehn
-tah)
If you want to discuss at what time a particular event will occur, you can use a question — ¿A qué hora …? (ah keh oh-rah …) — or answer with A la una (ah lah oo-nah) or A las (ah lahs) + any time other than 1:
¿A qué hora vienen?
(ah keh
oh
-rah bee-
eh
-nehn) (
At what time are they coming?
)
A la una.
(ah lah
oo
-nah) (
At 1:00.
)
A las tres y cuarto.
(ah lahs trehs ee koo-
ahr
-toh) (
At 3:15.
)
The following chart shows how to express time after and before the hour:
Time
Spanish
1:00
la una (lah oo-nah)
2:05
las dos y cinco (lahs dohs ee seen-koh)
3:10
las tres y diez (lahs trehs ee dee-ehs)
4:15
las cuatro y cuarto (lahs koo-ah-troh ee koo-ahr-toh)
5:20
las cinco y veinte (lahs seen-koh ee beh-een-teh)
6:25
