Everyday Spoken Spanish
The phrases you need when your Spanish runs out: asking people to slow down, repeat, explain and correct you.
Spaniards talk fast, swallow syllables and switch to English the moment they hear an accent. These expressions keep the conversation in Spanish: slowing people down, checking a word, admitting you're lost and asking to be corrected. The cards follow a learner at a language exchange in a Madrid bar and the next day at the market.
- 1
¿Puedes hablar un poco más despacio, por favor?
Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
- 2
Todavía estoy aprendiendo español, ten paciencia.
I'm still learning Spanish, so bear with me.
- 3
Perdona, no me he enterado.
Sorry, I didn't catch that.
- 4
¿Qué significa esa palabra?
What does that word mean?
- 5
¿Cómo se llama esto en español?
What's this called in Spanish?
- 6
No lo pillo, ¿me lo explicas de otra manera?
I don't get it, can you explain it another way?
- 7
¿Se dice así?
Is that how you say it?
- 8
Corrígeme si me equivoco, por favor.
Please correct me if I make a mistake.
- 9
Estoy un poco perdido.
I'm a bit lost.
- 10
Lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.
It's on the tip of my tongue.
- 11
¿Me lo puedes escribir?
Can you write it down for me?
- 12
Tranqui, nos pasa a todos.
No worries, it happens to everyone.
- 13
¡Hablas muy bien español!
Your Spanish is really good!
- 14
Gracias, pero aún me queda mucho.
Thanks, but I've still got a long way to go.
- 15
Mejor hablamos en español, que necesito practicar.
Let's speak Spanish, I need the practice.
- 16
¿Cómo?
Say that again?
- 17
¿Me entiendes?
You know what I mean?
- 18
Poco a poco voy mejorando.
Little by little, I'm getting there.
- 19
¿Cuál dices, este o ese?
Which one do you mean, this one or that one?
- 20
Perdone, es que no soy de aquí.
Sorry, I'm not from here.