Basic Spanish Conversation - Small Talk and Meeting the Family
54 flashcards · Beginner · Language Learning
Teaches the Spanish that starts a conversation and keeps it going: introductions, the questions people ask when they meet you, follow-ups, small talk and dinner with a partner's family. Spain forms come first, with the Latin American version noted where it differs.
Best forBeginners who know a few Spanish words and want to talk with new friends or a partner's family.
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Hola, ¿qué tal? Soy Alex.
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Introduce yourself
Hi, how's it going? I'm Alex. Soy plus your name is how most people introduce themselves. Me llamo Alex is fine too, and mi nombre es is more formal.
Hola, ¿qué tal? Soy Alex.
Pronunciation
OH-lah, keh TAL? soy AH-leks
What you'll learn
- How to introduce yourself the way people do in Spain and Latin America
- The questions people ask when they meet you, and short answers
- Conversation starters and follow-ups that keep the talk going
- Reactions like ¡Qué guay! and ¡Qué envidia!
- What to say at dinner with your partner's family, from usted to the toast
- Polite ways to leave a party or a family meal
What's inside: all 54 cards
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Introduce yourself · 5
- Hola, ¿qué tal? Soy Alex./ OH-lah, keh TAL? soy AH-leks /
- Hi, how's it going? I'm Alex. Soy plus your name is how most people introduce themselves. Me llamo Alex is fine too, and mi nombre es is more formal.
- Bien, ¿y tú?/ byen, ee TOO? /
- Good, and you? The usual reply to ¿Qué tal? or ¿Cómo estás? Estoy bien is correct too, but in a quick exchange most people just say bien. To someone you call usted, say Bien, ¿y usted?
- Encantado./ en-kahn-TAH-doh /
- Nice to meet you. A man says encantado and a woman says encantada. Mucho gusto means the same, works for anyone and is very common in Latin America.
- Soy de Estados Unidos./ soy deh es-TAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohs /
- I'm from the United States. Some people say de los Estados Unidos. Both are correct. Use soy de with any city or country.
- Soy el novio de Lucía./ soy el NOH-byoh deh loo-THEE-ah (loo-SEE-ah in Latin America) /
- I'm Lucía's boyfriend. Girlfriend is la novia. Mi pareja (my partner) is a neutral word used everywhere.
Questions people ask when they meet you · 8
- ¿Y qué te trae por aquí?/ ee keh teh TRAH-eh por ah-KEE? /
- So what brings you here? People ask this as soon as they hear an accent. A short answer is fine: Estoy de visita (I'm visiting) or Vivo aquí (I live here).
- ¿Dónde has aprendido español?/ DOHN-deh as ah-pren-DEE-doh es-pah-NYOL? /
- Where did you learn Spanish? Spain form. In Latin America people say ¿Dónde aprendiste español?, which you will also hear in Spain.
- ¡Qué bien hablas español!/ keh byen AH-blahs es-pah-NYOL! /
- You speak Spanish so well! Locals say this to encourage you, even when you make mistakes. Take the compliment and keep talking.
- Gracias, pero todavía me queda mucho./ GRAH-thyahs, PEH-roh toh-dah-BEE-ah meh KEH-dah MOO-choh (GRAH-syahs in Latin America) /
- Thanks, but I still have a long way to go. The modest reply to a compliment on your Spanish. In Mexico, people say Todavía me falta mucho.
- ¿Y tú a qué te dedicas?/ ee TOO ah keh teh deh-DEE-kahs? /
- And what do you do for work? Y tú (and you) turns the question around once they have asked you. ¿En qué trabajas? means the same. To an older person, say ¿Y usted a qué se dedica?
- ¿Y cómo os conocisteis?/ ee KOH-moh ohs koh-noh-THEES-teh-ees? (koh-noh-SYEH-rohn in Latin America) /
- And how did you two meet? Spain form, with vosotros (you, plural). In Latin America, people say ¿Y cómo se conocieron? Couples hear this at every family meal.
- Nos conocimos por unos amigos./ nohs koh-noh-THEE-mohs por OO-nohs ah-MEE-gohs (koh-noh-SEE-mohs in Latin America) /
- We met through some friends. Nos conocimos (we met) works everywhere. Change the end: en el trabajo (at work), en la universidad (at university), por una app (on an app).
- ¿Cuánto tiempo lleváis juntos?/ KWAHN-toh TYEM-poh yeh-BAH-ees HOON-tohs? /
- How long have you been together? Spain form, with vosotros. In Latin America: ¿Cuánto tiempo llevan juntos? Answer with Llevamos dos años (two years).
Start a conversation · 5
- Oye, ¿tú eres de aquí?/ OH-yeh, too EH-rehs deh ah-KEE? /
- Hey, are you from here? An easy opener at a party or a bar. Oye (hey, listen) is friendly, not rude.
- ¿Y tú de qué conoces a Lucía?/ ee TOO deh keh koh-NOH-thehs ah loo-THEE-ah? (koh-NOH-sehs, loo-SEE-ah in Latin America) /
- And how do you know Lucía? The classic opener at a party where you only know the host. Spain form. In Mexico, people say ¿Y tú de dónde conoces a Lucía?
- ¿Qué tal el finde?/ keh TAL el FEEN-deh? /
- How was your weekend? Finde is the everyday short form of fin de semana in Spain. In Mexico, say ¿Qué tal el fin de semana?
- ¿Qué es de tu vida?/ keh es deh too BEE-dah? /
- What have you been up to? For catching up with someone you have not seen in a while. Friendly, and works everywhere.
- ¿Qué me recomiendas hacer por aquí?/ keh meh reh-koh-MYEN-dahs ah-THER por ah-KEE? (ah-SER in Latin America) /
- What do you recommend I do around here? Locals like talking about their city, so this question gets long answers.
Keep the conversation going · 5
- ¿Y te gusta?/ ee teh GOOS-tah? /
- And do you like it? A follow-up after someone mentions their job, their city or what they study. It shows you listened.
- ¿Y qué tal te fue?/ ee keh TAL teh FWEH? /
- And how did it go? Use it after someone mentions an exam, a trip or an interview. In Mexico, people say ¿Y cómo te fue? For something that happened today, Spain also says ¿Y qué tal te ha ido?
- ¿Y qué pasó después?/ ee keh pah-SOH des-PWEHS? /
- And what happened next? Keeps a story going and tells the speaker you want the rest.
- A mí también./ ah MEE tahm-BYEN /
- Me too. Use it to agree with something someone likes: Me encanta el cine. A mí también. With other verbs, say yo también: Soy de Texas. Yo también.
- Por cierto, ¿tienes hijos?/ por THYER-toh, TYEH-nehs EE-hohs? (SYER-toh in Latin America) /
- By the way, do you have kids? Por cierto (by the way) is the natural way to change the subject. Works everywhere.
React and show interest · 5
- ¡Qué guay!/ keh GWAI! /
- How cool! Spain only, and very common there. In Mexico, people say ¡Qué padre! ¡Qué bien! works everywhere.
- ¡Qué envidia!/ keh en-BEE-dyah! /
- I'm so jealous! A friendly reaction to good news, a trip or a great meal. It is not a complaint. Works everywhere.
- ¿Ah, sí?/ ah SEE? /
- Oh yeah? A small sound of interest that invites the speaker to keep going. Say it with a rising tone. In Mexico you will also hear ¿A poco? (no way!).
- ¡Cuánto me alegro!/ KWAHN-toh meh ah-LEH-groh! /
- I'm so glad! For good news. Add por ti (for you) to make it personal: ¡Cuánto me alegro por ti!
- Vaya, lo siento mucho./ BAH-yah, loh SYEN-toh MOO-choh /
- Oh, I'm so sorry. For bad news, like an illness or a lost job. Vaya (oh, gosh) is common in Spain. Lo siento mucho works on its own everywhere.
Small talk: work, family, food and the city · 8
- ¿Qué tal el trabajo?/ keh TAL el trah-BAH-hoh? /
- How's work? Friendly small talk with someone you already know. It has no tú or usted verb, so it suits a friend and a partner's father alike. With friends, Spain says ¿Qué tal el curro? and Mexico says ¿Qué tal la chamba?
- Estoy muy liado con el trabajo./ es-TOY mooy lee-AH-doh kon el trah-BAH-hoh /
- I'm really busy with work. Liado is everyday Spain slang; a woman says liada. In Latin America, say Estoy muy ocupado (or ocupada).
- ¿Tienes hermanos?/ TYEH-nehs ehr-MAH-nohs? /
- Do you have any brothers or sisters? Hermanos covers siblings of any mix. One of the first questions people ask.
- Tengo una hermana mayor y un hermano pequeño./ TEN-goh OO-nah ehr-MAH-nah mah-YOR ee oon ehr-MAH-noh peh-KEH-nyoh /
- I have an older sister and a younger brother. Hermano pequeño (little brother) is the everyday way to say it. Hermano menor (younger brother) is the standard form, works everywhere and is more usual in Mexico.
- ¿Cuál es la comida típica de aquí?/ kwal es lah koh-MEE-dah TEE-pee-kah deh ah-KEE? /
- What's the local food here? Food is the safest small-talk topic. Expect a long, happy answer.
- Me encanta la comida de aquí./ meh en-KAHN-tah lah koh-MEE-dah deh ah-KEE /
- I love the food here. Me encanta is stronger than me gusta. People like hearing this about where they live.
- ¿Por dónde vives?/ por DOHN-deh BEE-behs? /
- What part of town do you live in? It asks for the area, not the street address. Works everywhere.
- ¿Y qué sueles hacer los fines de semana?/ ee keh SWEH-lehs ah-THER lohs FEE-nehs deh seh-MAH-nah? (ah-SER in Latin America) /
- So what do you usually do on weekends? Soler plus a verb means to usually do something. It sounds more natural than asking about hobbies.
Dinner with your partner's family · 14
- Mucho gusto, señora. ¿Cómo está?/ MOO-choh GOOS-toh, seh-NYOH-rah. KOH-moh es-TAH? /
- Nice to meet you, ma'am. How are you? Uses usted (está, not estás), the polite you. Start this way with a partner's parents, especially in Latin America. In Spain, Encantado de conocerla is more usual, and many parents will tell you to use tú right away.
- Puedes tutearme./ PWEH-dehs too-teh-AR-meh /
- You can call me tú. What a parent says when they want you to drop usted. Switch to tú after that. You will also hear Tutéame, and in Mexico, Háblame de tú.
- He traído algo para el postre./ eh trah-EE-doh AHL-goh PAH-rah el POHS-treh /
- I brought something for dessert. Spain form. In Latin America, say Traje algo para el postre. Bringing dessert, pastries or wine to a family meal is normal in both.
- ¿Le ayudo con algo?/ leh ah-YOO-doh kon AHL-goh? /
- Can I help you with anything? Usted form, to your partner's mother or father. With tú, say ¿Te ayudo con algo? Offer before and after the meal.
- ¡Que aproveche!/ keh ah-proh-BEH-cheh! /
- Enjoy your meal! Said in Spain as people start eating. In Mexico, say ¡Buen provecho! People there say it even to strangers eating at the next table.
- Le ha quedado buenísimo./ leh ah keh-DAH-doh bweh-NEE-see-moh /
- This turned out delicious. The compliment the cook wants to hear, with usted. With tú: Te ha quedado buenísimo. In Latin America: Le quedó riquísimo.
- Me tiene que dar la receta./ meh TYEH-neh keh dar lah reh-THEH-tah (reh-SEH-tah in Latin America) /
- You have to give me the recipe. As much a compliment as a request. Usted form; with tú, say Me tienes que dar la receta. In Mexico, pasar la receta is just as common.
- ¿Te pongo un poco más?/ teh POHN-goh oon POH-koh mahs? /
- Can I give you a bit more? The host offering seconds, Spain form. In Latin America you will hear ¿Te sirvo más? Expect the offer more than once.
- Bueno, un poquito más./ BWEH-noh, oon poh-KEE-toh mahs /
- Okay, just a little more. A gracious way to accept seconds. The cook takes it as praise for the food.
- Ya no puedo más, de verdad./ yah noh PWEH-doh mahs, deh behr-DAHD /
- I really can't eat any more. A polite no. De verdad (really) tells the host you mean it.
- ¿Y para cuándo la boda?/ ee PAH-rah KWAHN-doh lah BOH-dah? /
- So when's the wedding? A joke relatives love to make to a couple. Laugh and say ¡Ya veremos! (We'll see!).
- ¡Por la familia! ¡Salud!/ por lah fah-MEE-lyah! sah-LOOD! /
- To the family! Cheers! A short toast that fits any family meal. Raise your glass as you say it.
- Muchísimas gracias por todo, de verdad./ moo-CHEE-see-mahs GRAH-thyahs por TOH-doh, deh behr-DAHD (GRAH-syahs in Latin America) /
- Thank you so much for everything, really. Muchísimas is the strong form of muchas. Say it to the parents at the door, and add estaba todo buenísimo (everything was delicious) if you like.
- Espero veros pronto./ es-PEH-roh BEH-rohs PROHN-toh /
- I hope to see you all soon. Spain form, with vosotros. In Latin America, or to parents you call usted, say Espero verlos pronto.
Leave politely · 4
- Bueno, me voy yendo, que se hace tarde./ BWEH-noh, meh boy YEN-doh, keh seh AH-theh TAR-deh (AH-seh in Latin America) /
- Well, I'd better get going, it's getting late. A soft exit: it says you are leaving soon, not this second. In Mexico, Bueno, ya me voy, que se está haciendo tarde is more usual.
- Voy a por algo de beber. ¿Quieres algo?/ boy ah por AHL-goh deh beh-BEHR. KYEH-rehs AHL-goh? /
- I'm going to get something to drink. Want anything? A friendly way out of a conversation at a party. Ir a por is Spain. In Latin America, say Voy por algo de tomar.
- Me ha encantado conocerte./ meh ah en-kahn-TAH-doh koh-noh-THEHR-teh (koh-noh-SEHR-teh in Latin America) /
- It was lovely to meet you. Spain form. In Mexico, say Me dio mucho gusto conocerte or Fue un gusto conocerte. To an older woman you call usted: Me ha encantado conocerla.
- Dales recuerdos a tus padres de mi parte./ DAH-lehs reh-KWEHR-dohs ah toos PAH-drehs deh mee PAR-teh /
- Say hi to your parents for me. Spain form. In speech you will often hear dale, but dales is the standard form for more than one person. In Mexico: Salúdame a tus papás.
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