Welcome to Can-Do Spanish by SpanishPod101.com. |
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use essential social expressions in Spanish. |
For example, "Excuse me" is |
Disculpe. |
Catalina Hurtado is on the train. A fellow passenger drops his wallet as he exits the train. Catalina picks up the wallet and chases after the man. |
Before you listen to the dialogue, let's preview some of its key components. |
disculpe |
"Excuse me" or "sorry" depending on the context |
disculpe |
disculpe |
No hay de qué. |
"you're welcome" |
No hay de qué. |
No hay de qué. |
Muchas gracias. |
"Thank you very much." |
Muchas gracias. |
Muchas gracias. |
Perdón. |
"Sorry." |
Perdón. |
Perdón. |
No hay problema. |
"No problem." |
No hay problema. |
No hay problema. |
Listen to the following three short dialogues between Catalina and the man. |
Catalina is chasing the man on the platform with the wallet in her hand. |
Disculpe. |
¿Sí? dígame. |
Catalina hands the man the wallet. |
Muchas gracias. |
No hay de qué. |
Catalina turns to board the train, but the doors shut. |
Perdón. |
No hay problema. |
Once more with the English translation. |
Catalina is chasing the man on the platform with the wallet in her hand. |
Disculpe. |
"Excuse me." |
¿Sí? dígame. |
"Yes? May I help you? " |
Catalina hands the man the wallet. |
Muchas gracias. |
"Thank you very much!" |
No hay de qué. |
"You're welcome." |
Catalina turns to board the train, but the doors shut. The man apologizes. |
Perdón. |
"Sorry." |
No hay problema. |
"No problem." |
Let's break down each of these expressions. |
First, do you remember how Catalina Hurtado says, |
"Excuse me." |
Disculpe. |
In this context, disculpe is used to get someone’s attention, and translates as "Excuse me." Disculpe. |
Disculpe. |
This is a formal expression. Catalina uses it because she’s speaking with someone she doesn’t know. |
Note: This expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Catalina uses it to get the attention of the person she's chasing after. |
Remember this expression. You’ll use it later in the lesson. |
Do you remember how the passenger acknowledges Catalina by saying, |
“Yes? Tell me.” |
¿Sí?, dígame. |
First is ¿Sí? “Yes.” ¿Sí?. ¿Sí? |
Next is Dígame which translates as “May I help you,” in this context, but literally means, "tell me." Dígame. Dígame. |
Díga is from the verb decir, meaning “to tell.” Decir. |
It is attached to the pronoun me, “me” in this context. Me. |
Together, it’s Dígame, literally "tell me." Dígame. |
This is also a formal expression, and the speaker prompts Catalina to speak by saying Dígame. |
All together, ¿Sí?, dígame. “Yes? May I help you?” ¿Sí?, dígame. |
¿Sí?, dígame. |
The second part of the conversation takes place after Catalina returns the passenger's wallet. |
Do you remember how the passenger says, |
"Thank you very much." |
Muchas gracias. |
Muchas gracias, literally “many thanks,” but it translates as "Thank you very much." Muchas gracias. |
Muchas gracias. |
Do you remember how Catalina says |
"You're welcome." |
No hay de qué. |
No hay de qué, literally “there is not of what,” but it translates as "You're welcome." No hay de qué. |
No hay de qué. |
After the train doors shut and Catalina misses hers train, do you remember how the passenger apologies to Catalina by saying, |
"Sorry." |
Perdón. |
Perdón, literally “sorry.” Perdón. |
Perdón. |
The passenger feels responsible for Catalina missing hers train and is apologizing. |
Do you remember how Catalina replies, |
"No problem?" |
No hay problema. |
This starts with No, which means "no" or "not." No. No. |
Next is hay, "there is" in this context. Hay. Hay. |
Hay is from the verb haber, literally meaning "to have." Haber. |
Note, it translates as something like “there is” in this context. |
Last is problema, "problem." Problema. Problema. |
All together, No hay problema literally means "Not there is problem," but translates as, "No problem." |
No hay problema. |
This is a common phrase used to express that things are alright. |
Disculpa is the informal form of disculpe. |
Disculpa. "Excuse me." Disculpa. Disculpa. |
Disculpa is used in informal situations, such as when speaking with people of similar age and social status. |
They are both imperative forms of the verb disculpar, which means “to excuse,” or “to forgive.” |
Let's look at the expressions once more. Listen and repeat, or speak along. |
Disculpe. |
"Excuse me." |
Disculpe. |
¿Sí?, dígame. |
"Yes? May I help you?" |
¿Sí?, dígame. |
Muchas gracias. |
"Thank you very much." |
Muchas gracias. |
No hay de qué. |
"You're welcome." |
No hay de qué. |
Perdón. |
"Sorry." |
Perdón. |
No hay problema. |
"No problem." |
No hay problema. |
Let’s review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation. |
Ready? |
Do you remember the formal way to say, |
"Excuse me." |
Disculpe. |
Disculpe. |
And how to say, "yes?" |
Sí. |
Sí. |
Do you remember how to say, |
“May I help you, literally "Tell me." |
Dígame. |
Dígame. |
And how the passenger says, |
"Yes, may I help you?" |
¿Sí? dígame. |
¿Sí? dígame. |
Do you remember how to say, |
"Thank you very much." |
Muchas gracias. |
Muchas gracias. |
And how to say, |
"You're welcome." |
No hay de qué. |
No hay de qué. |
Do you remember how to say, |
"Sorry." |
Perdón. |
Perdón |
And do you remember how to say, |
"It's no problem." |
No hay problema. |
No hay problema. |
Let’s practice. |
Imagine you’re Valeria Varela , and you receive a popular Mexican candy from your Spanish teacher. |
Say, “Thank you very much.” |
Ready? |
Muchas gracias. |
No hay de qué. |
Listen again and repeat. |
Muchas gracias. |
Muchas gracias. |
Let's try another. |
Imagine you are Hugo Hurtado Arias , and a passenger bumps into you. |
Respond by saying, “It’s no problem.” |
Ready? |
Perdón. |
No hay problema. |
Listen again and repeat. |
No hay problema. |
No hay problema. |
Let's try one more. |
Imagine you're Hugo Hurtado Arias and you see a man drop his wallet. |
Get his attention. |
Ready? |
Disculpe. |
¿Sí?, dígame. |
Listen again and repeat. |
Disculpe. |
Disculpe. |
Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can Use Essential Social Expressions unit of this course. |
Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills. |
What's next? |
Show us what you can do. |
When you're ready, take your assessment. |
You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like. |
Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results. |
Keep practicing — and move on to the next lesson! |
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