Getting Your Point Across in Spanish
Everyday Spanish expressions for when talking is hard: slowing people down, losing the thread and putting your foot in it.
Spaniards talk fast, overlap and interrupt as a sign of interest, so learners need ready-made lines to slow things down or ask what someone meant. These cards follow a language exchange (intercambio) in a Valencia bar, a noisy phone call on the metro and a dinner where a one-letter mistake gets sorted out.
- 1
Todavía hablo despacio, pero cada vez me suelto más.
I still speak slowly, but I'm loosening up.
- 2
¿Me lo puedes decir un poco más despacio?
Could you say that a bit slower?
- 3
Perdona, no me he enterado de nada.
Sorry, I didn't get a word of that.
- 4
Espera, lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.
Hang on, it's on the tip of my tongue.
- 5
Venga, no te andes por las ramas.
Come on, stop beating around the bush.
- 6
Ve al grano, que se enfría la cena.
Get to the point, dinner's getting cold.
- 7
Tienes muy buen oído.
You've got a really good ear.
- 8
Poco a poco le estoy cogiendo el truco.
Bit by bit I'm getting the hang of it.
- 9
Esto parece un diálogo de besugos.
This is like a conversation between two brick walls.
- 10
¿Qué quieres decir con eso?
What do you mean by that?
- 11
Creo que he metido la pata.
I think I've put my foot in it.
- 12
Habla más alto, que no te oigo.
Speak up, I can't hear you.
- 13
Mi compañero de piso habla por los codos.
My flatmate never stops talking.
- 14
No me cortes, déjame terminar.
Don't interrupt me, let me finish.
- 15
O sea, que no le apetece venir.
In other words, he doesn't feel like coming.
- 16
Para serte sincero, me equivoqué de palabra.
To be honest with you, I used the wrong word.
- 17
Perdona, he perdido el hilo.
Sorry, I've lost the thread.
- 18
Corrígeme si digo algo mal.
Correct me if I say something wrong.
- 19
No pasa nada, se entiende perfectamente.
No worries, it's totally understandable.
- 20
Estoy un poco oxidado.
I'm a bit rusty.