FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Mini Spanish Language School
Communicating With Our Mexican Hermanos

It would be considerate to learn a few Spanish words and phrases to help build relationships and minister more effectively or to communicate better in emergencies. The Mexican people always appreciate it when you try to fit in and adjust to their culture or entertain them with fractured accents. Study this Mini Spanish Language School section then dust off some the Spanish you struggled with in high school. You probably remember more than you think.
Do not "make up" Spanish words in an effort to communicate. You might unwittingly say something that is offensive, vulgar or nonsensical around the wrong people and not know it. (The editor has been there!) You should also be careful of your gestures. Hand and arm movements when speaking but you should keep them to minimum. Gestures you are familiar with may have different meanings in Mexico.

 POLITE PHRASES 

You will make a good impression and minister more effectively if you show you are trying. Try to learn a few phrases. ¡Por favor!

Please por favor Good Morning Buenos Dias
Good Afternoon Buenos tardes Thank you gracias
Good Evening  Buenos noches  Good-bye adios
Excuse me Pardoneme I am sorry lo siento


TIME: La Tempo

today  hoy morning la mañana
noon el mediodia yesterday ayer
afternoon la tarde night esta noche
midnight  la medianoche  last night anoche
What time is it? ¿Que hora es?  night noche
Tomorrow mañana Next week mañana
in the future mañana Oh, sometime! mañana



DAYS OF THE WEEK: Dias de la Semana

Sunday Domingo Monday Lunes
Tuesday Martes Wednesday Miercoles
Thursday Jueves Friday Vienes
Saturday  Sabado

FOOD: Comidas and At the Restaurant

breakfast desayuno chicken pollo
lunch amuerzo egg huevos
supper cena milk leche
spoon cuchara water agua
fork tenedor fish pescado
knife cuchillo lobster langosta
napkin servilleta meat carne
bill cuenta beef carne de res
receipt recibo fried frito
tip porpina bacon tocino
pork carne de puerco glass vaso
sausage chorizo shrimp camaron
corn maiz tomatoes tomates
corn on the cob elote beans frijoles
onion cebolla potatoes papas
rice arroz bread pan
toast pan tostada crackers galletas
coffee cafe tea te
candy or sweets dulces cake pastel
ice cream nieves ice helio
avocado aguacate banana plantano
fruit fruta lemon limon
nuts neuces orange naranja
peach durazno pineapple pino
strawberries fresas sugar azucar
butter mantequilla salt sal
black pepper pimienta soup sopa or caldo
chili pepper chile sauce salsa
salad ensalada cheese queso


COLORS Colores

white blanco pink rosado
black negro blue azul
gray gres green verde
brown cafe purple morado
red rojo yellow amarillo


NUMBERS: Numeros

1. uno 14. catorce 70. setenta
2. dos 15. quince 80. ochenta
3. tres 16. diez y seis 90. noventa
4. quatro 17. diez y siete 100. ciento
5. cinco 18. diez y ocho 200. dos cientos
6. seis 19. diez y nueve  500. cinco cientos
7. siete 20. viente 1,000 un mil 
8. ocho 21. viente y uno 3,000 tres mil
9. nueve 22. vente y dos 8,000 ocho mil
10. diez 30. trienta 10,000 diez mil
11. once 40 cuarenta 25,000. vente y cinco mil
12. doce 50. cinquenta 100,000. Cien mil
13. trece 60. sesenta 1,000,000. Un milion


ON THE ROAD en el camino

highway carretera corner esquina
road camino block cuadra
right side lado derecho avenue avenida
left side lado izquierdo street calle


AT THE BORDER a la Frontera 

Passport pasaporte age edad
tourist card tarjeta de turista profession profeción
marital status casado (a) Single soltero (a)
married casado (a) widowed viudo (a)
drivers license licencia de manajar car registration registración


OTHER IMPORTANT WORDS

Words ending in "O" like "bueno" are masculine or neutral. The same word in feminine form ends in "A" and is "buena".

good bueno cold frio
bad malo hot caliente
beautiful hermoso (a) large grande
clean limpio small pequeño
dirty sucio short corto
fast rapido slow despacio
high alto ugly feo 
long largo early temprano
and y ( "e" ) stand up ¡Llevantense! 
you usted (abbr. "ud") boss jefe
Mister (Mr.) Señor (abbr. "Sr") brother hermano
Lord (God) Señor sister hermana
Misses (Mrs.) Señora (Sra) Sit down Sientense
Miss Señorita (Srta.) Silence please Silenco por favor
Raise your hand Levanten su mano market mercado
Make a circle Hagan un circulo flea pulga
God bless you Señor la bendiga rest room sanitario
Let us pray Vamos a orar bath baño
teens jovenes
hold hands Agarrense de last manos
What is your name? (formal) ¿Como te llama?
What is your name? (informal) ¿Como se llamas?
How old are you? ¿Cuantos años tienes?
My name is (John) Me llamo es (Juan)
Pay attention! Ponga(n) atencion! (to a group)
Come here! Venga! Very good! Muy bien!
Run! Correle Jesus Christ Jesucristo
The United States (USA) Los Estados Unidos (EUA)
boys niños or muchachos   girls niñas or muchachas 
children also niños  Bible la Biblia
I'm glad to meet you Mucho gusto conocerle


SPANISH EXPRESSIONS

Do you understand English. ¿Entiende ud en ingles?
I don't speak Spanish. ¡No hablo español!
Where is the bathroom ¿Donde esta el baño?
Yes sir. No ma'am. Si señor. No señora.
Very little. Muy poco.
I don't understand. No entiendo.
Please speak slowly.  Por favor, habla despacio.
I want $5 ($10) worth of … Quiero cinco (diez) dolares de ….
Of unleaded gas. de magna sin.
I want to buy a Pepsi. Quiero a comprar un Pepsi.
No littering (Don't throw trash) No tire basura.
Don't use your air break. No freno con motor*


*You will see this sign on the road frequently. The admonition is rarely observed in the neighborhood of Rancho Santa Marta, particularly at night.

Go on to Songs Section of Handbook

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