Sometimes you know every word in a sentence and still do not understand what a Spanish speaker means. Everyday language contains expressions whose meanings are not always literal. Choose three and start noticing them.
1. Vale
“OK”, “all right” or “I understand.” «Nos vemos a las seis». «Vale, allí estaré».
2. No pasa nada
“No problem” or “Don't worry about it.”
3. ¡Qué va!
A colloquial, emphatic “Not at all!” or “No way!”
4. Me viene bien / me viene mal
“That works for me / That doesn't work for me.” Use it for times, places and plans.
5. Ya veremos
“We'll see.” No decision has been made yet.
6. Estar a tope
To be very busy or full of energy, or for a place to be completely full.
7. Dar una vuelta
To go for a walk or look around without a specific destination.
8. Quedar
In this context, to arrange to meet: «¿Quedamos el sábado?»
9. Tener ganas de
To feel like or look forward to something: «Tengo ganas de conocer Granada».
10. ¿Me pones…?
A common way to order in a bar or café in Spain: «¿Me pones un café con leche, por favor?»
A dialogue to practise
Laura: ¿Quedamos el sábado para dar una vuelta por el centro?
Sam: Vale. Por la mañana me viene bien.
Laura: Podemos tomar algo, aunque los bares estarán a tope.
Sam: No pasa nada. Tengo ganas de conocer sitios nuevos.
Your challenge
Choose three expressions, write a personal sentence with each and read them aloud.
Turn these expressions into conversation
At CreaELE Academy, we practise the Spanish you need to live, work or travel through stories, conversation and real-life situations.
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