How to Order Multiple Items From a Menu

Learn how to order multiple items from a menu

Dialogue

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Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Spanish by SpanishPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to order two or more of something at a restaurant in Spanish.

For example, "Two orders of this, please." is

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

Valeria Varela is at the restaurant with her husband.

The server is ready to take their order, and approaches them.

Before you hear their conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

órdenes

"order"

órdenes

dos

"two"

dos

Adelante.

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

Once more with the English translation.

Adelante.

"Go ahead."

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

"Two orders of this, please."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how the waiter says,

"Go ahead."

Adelante.

The word adelante literally means "ahead," but translates as "Go ahead," in this context. Adelante. Adelante.

Note: Adelante has multiple meanings depending on the situation.

For example, it’s used when offering someone a seat or to go first through a door. It can also mean "Come in" when inviting someone into a room.

In this case, Adelante is used as an invitation to state an order. "Go ahead."

Adelante.

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how Valeria says,

"Two orders of this, please?"

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

First is dos, "two." Dos. Dos.

Next is órdenes, "orders." Órdenes. Órdenes.

Órdenes is from orden, meaning “order.” Orden.

After this is de, meaning "of." De. De.

Last, is the word esto, "this." Esto. Esto.

The word esto can be used when the name of the thing is not known and is close to the speaker. Valeria uses it because she’s pointing at something on the menu close to her, and she doesn’t know the Spanish word for it.

Last is, por favor, "please." Por favor. Por favor.

The pattern is

ORDER de esto, por favor.

ORDER of this, please.

ORDER de esto, por favor.

To use this pattern, simply replace the {ORDER} placeholder with the number of items you're requesting. For example, “three orders” is tres órdenes.

Note: This pattern changes if it’s singular. If you’re ordering one of something, use una orden, “an order" or "one order,” as in una orden de esto, “one of this.”

Imagine you'd like three orders of something you don’t know the Spanish word for.

Three. tres. Tres. Tres.

Because there will be more than one order, “three orders” is tres órdenes.

Say,

"Three orders of this, please."

Ready?

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

"Three orders of this, please."

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

Again, the key pattern is

ORDER de esto, por favor.

ORDER of this, please.

ORDER de esto, por favor.

Let's look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

"Two orders of this, please."

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

"Three orders of this, please."

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

Cuatro órdenes de esto, por favor.

"Four orders of this, please."

Cuatro órdenes de esto, por favor.

Una orden de esto, por favor.

"One order of this, please."

Una orden de esto, por favor.

Dos órdenes de esto y una orden de esto, por favor.

"Two orders of this and one order of this, please."

Dos órdenes de esto y una orden de esto, por favor.

Did you notice how the last speaker used a different pattern?

Dos órdenes de esto y una orden de esto, por favor.

"Two orders of this, and one order of this, please."

First is Dos órdenes de esto, “Two orders of this.” Dos órdenes de esto.

Next is y, “and. Y. Y.

Next is una orden de esto, literally, “an order of this,” or “one order of this.” Una orden de esto.

Let’s start with orden, “order.” Orden. Orden.

In Spanish, all nouns have grammatical gender and are either singular or plural. Orden is feminine and singular — a fact which will determine the form of other words in the sentence.

Before this is una, “an,” as in “an order.” Una. Una.

Una is feminine and singular to agree with orden.

Note: una orden can translate as “an order” or “one order.” For this lesson, we’ll use the latter.

After this is de, meaning "of." De.

Next, is the word esto, "this." Esto.

Last is, por favor, "please." Por favor.

Dos órdenes de esto y una orden de esto, por favor.

"Two orders of this, and one order of this, please."

You should be aware of this pattern, but you won’t need it for this lesson.

Let's review the key vocabulary.

Cuatro, "four," cuatro , cuatro.

Tres, "three," tres , tres.

Let’s review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speakers, focusing on pronunciation. Ready?

Do you remember how to say "two?"

Dos.

And how to say "orders?"

Órdenes.

Do you remember how to say "this?" when you don’t know the Spanish word for it?

Esto.

And how to say "two orders of this?"

Dos órdenes de esto.

And do you remember how Valeria Varela says,

"Two orders of this, please."

Dos órdenes de esto, por favor.

Do you remember how the waiter says,

"Go ahead?"

Adelante.

Adelante

Do you remember how to say "three?"

Tres.

And how to say "four?"

Cuatro.

Do you remember the word for "order?"

Orden.

And how to say "one order?"

Una orden.

Let's practice.

Imagine you’re Lucas Hurtado , and you’re at the coffee shop with two friends. Ask for “three orders of this.” "Three" is tres in Spanish.

Ready?

Adelante.

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

Listen again and repeat.

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

Let’s try another.

Imagine you're Catalina Hurtado , and you’re with three friends. Order for all four people. "Four" is cuatro in Spanish.

Adelante.

Cuatro órdenes de esto, por favor.

Listen again and repeat.

Cuatro órdenes de esto, por favor.

Let's try one more.

Imagine you're Hugo Hurtado Arias , and you’re by yourself.

Order for one. Here "one" is una.

Ready?

Adelante.

Una orden de esto, por favor.

Listen again and repeat.

Una orden de esto, por favor.

In this lesson, you learned how to order two or more of something at a restaurant. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of dining at the restaurant. Let’s review.

Do you remember the polite expression meaning "Excuse me?"

Disculpe.

And how to say, "water?"

Agua.

Do you remember how to say, "bottle?"

Botella.

And how to say "a bottle?"

Una botella.

Do you remember how to say, "a bottle of water?"

Una botella de agua.

And do you remember how to say,

"Excuse me, a bottle of water, please."

Disculpe, una botella de agua, por favor.

Do you remember how to say,

"Yes, immediately."

Sí, en seguida.

Imagine you're Jack Jones and you're at a restaurant with your friends, and you'd like to ask for the menu.

Do you remember how to say "a menu" in Spanish?

el menú

Now ask for the menu.

Ready?

El menú, por favor.

Sí, en seguida.

Listen again and repeat.

El menú, por favor.

You're ready to make your order. You'd like to order three of one item.

Do you remember how to say "three" in Spanish?

tres

Respond to the server's approach.

Adelante.

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

Listen again and repeat.

Tres órdenes de esto, por favor.

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can order at a restaurant unit of this course.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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