Learn how to use essential social expressions
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| Welcome to Can-Do Spanish by SpanishPod101.com. |
| In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use essential social expressions in Spanish. |
| For example, "Excuse me" is |
| Disculpe. |
| Catalina Hurtado is on the train. A fellow passenger drops his wallet as he exits the train. Catalina picks up the wallet and chases after the man. |
| Before you listen to the dialogue, let's preview some of its key components. |
| disculpe |
| "Excuse me" or "sorry" depending on the context |
| disculpe |
| disculpe |
| No hay de qué. |
| "you're welcome" |
| No hay de qué. |
| No hay de qué. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| "Thank you very much." |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Perdón. |
| "Sorry." |
| Perdón. |
| Perdón. |
| No hay problema. |
| "No problem." |
| No hay problema. |
| No hay problema. |
| Listen to the following three short dialogues between Catalina and the man. |
| Catalina is chasing the man on the platform with the wallet in her hand. |
| Disculpe. |
| ¿Sí? dígame. |
| Catalina hands the man the wallet. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| No hay de qué. |
| Catalina turns to board the train, but the doors shut. |
| Perdón. |
| No hay problema. |
| Once more with the English translation. |
| Catalina is chasing the man on the platform with the wallet in her hand. |
| Disculpe. |
| "Excuse me." |
| ¿Sí? dígame. |
| "Yes? May I help you? " |
| Catalina hands the man the wallet. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| "Thank you very much!" |
| No hay de qué. |
| "You're welcome." |
| Catalina turns to board the train, but the doors shut. The man apologizes. |
| Perdón. |
| "Sorry." |
| No hay problema. |
| "No problem." |
| Let's break down each of these expressions. |
| First, do you remember how Catalina Hurtado says, |
| "Excuse me." |
| Disculpe. |
| In this context, disculpe is used to get someone’s attention, and translates as "Excuse me." Disculpe. |
| Disculpe. |
| This is a formal expression. Catalina uses it because she’s speaking with someone she doesn’t know. |
| Note: This expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Catalina uses it to get the attention of the person she's chasing after. |
| Remember this expression. You’ll use it later in the lesson. |
| Do you remember how the passenger acknowledges Catalina by saying, |
| “Yes? Tell me.” |
| ¿Sí?, dígame. |
| First is ¿Sí? “Yes.” ¿Sí?. ¿Sí? |
| Next is Dígame which translates as “May I help you,” in this context, but literally means, "tell me." Dígame. Dígame. |
| Díga is from the verb decir, meaning “to tell.” Decir. |
| It is attached to the pronoun me, “me” in this context. Me. |
| Together, it’s Dígame, literally "tell me." Dígame. |
| This is also a formal expression, and the speaker prompts Catalina to speak by saying Dígame. |
| All together, ¿Sí?, dígame. “Yes? May I help you?” ¿Sí?, dígame. |
| ¿Sí?, dígame. |
| The second part of the conversation takes place after Catalina returns the passenger's wallet. |
| Do you remember how the passenger says, |
| "Thank you very much." |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Muchas gracias, literally “many thanks,” but it translates as "Thank you very much." Muchas gracias. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Do you remember how Catalina says |
| "You're welcome." |
| No hay de qué. |
| No hay de qué, literally “there is not of what,” but it translates as "You're welcome." No hay de qué. |
| No hay de qué. |
| After the train doors shut and Catalina misses hers train, do you remember how the passenger apologies to Catalina by saying, |
| "Sorry." |
| Perdón. |
| Perdón, literally “sorry.” Perdón. |
| Perdón. |
| The passenger feels responsible for Catalina missing hers train and is apologizing. |
| Do you remember how Catalina replies, |
| "No problem?" |
| No hay problema. |
| This starts with No, which means "no" or "not." No. No. |
| Next is hay, "there is" in this context. Hay. Hay. |
| Hay is from the verb haber, literally meaning "to have." Haber. |
| Note, it translates as something like “there is” in this context. |
| Last is problema, "problem." Problema. Problema. |
| All together, No hay problema literally means "Not there is problem," but translates as, "No problem." |
| No hay problema. |
| This is a common phrase used to express that things are alright. |
| Disculpa is the informal form of disculpe. |
| Disculpa. "Excuse me." Disculpa. Disculpa. |
| Disculpa is used in informal situations, such as when speaking with people of similar age and social status. |
| They are both imperative forms of the verb disculpar, which means “to excuse,” or “to forgive.” |
| Let's look at the expressions once more. Listen and repeat, or speak along. |
| Disculpe. |
| "Excuse me." |
| Disculpe. |
| ¿Sí?, dígame. |
| "Yes? May I help you?" |
| ¿Sí?, dígame. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| "Thank you very much." |
| Muchas gracias. |
| No hay de qué. |
| "You're welcome." |
| No hay de qué. |
| Perdón. |
| "Sorry." |
| Perdón. |
| No hay problema. |
| "No problem." |
| No hay problema. |
| Let’s review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember the formal way to say, |
| "Excuse me." |
| Disculpe. |
| Disculpe. |
| And how to say, "yes?" |
| Sí. |
| Sí. |
| Do you remember how to say, |
| “May I help you, literally "Tell me." |
| Dígame. |
| Dígame. |
| And how the passenger says, |
| "Yes, may I help you?" |
| ¿Sí? dígame. |
| ¿Sí? dígame. |
| Do you remember how to say, |
| "Thank you very much." |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| And how to say, |
| "You're welcome." |
| No hay de qué. |
| No hay de qué. |
| Do you remember how to say, |
| "Sorry." |
| Perdón. |
| Perdón |
| And do you remember how to say, |
| "It's no problem." |
| No hay problema. |
| No hay problema. |
| Let’s practice. |
| Imagine you’re Valeria Varela , and you receive a popular Mexican candy from your Spanish teacher. |
| Say, “Thank you very much.” |
| Ready? |
| Muchas gracias. |
| No hay de qué. |
| Listen again and repeat. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Muchas gracias. |
| Let's try another. |
| Imagine you are Hugo Hurtado Arias , and a passenger bumps into you. |
| Respond by saying, “It’s no problem.” |
| Ready? |
| Perdón. |
| No hay problema. |
| Listen again and repeat. |
| No hay problema. |
| No hay problema. |
| Let's try one more. |
| Imagine you're Hugo Hurtado Arias and you see a man drop his wallet. |
| Get his attention. |
| Ready? |
| Disculpe. |
| ¿Sí?, dígame. |
| Listen again and repeat. |
| Disculpe. |
| Disculpe. |
| Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can Use Essential Social Expressions unit of this course. |
| Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills. |
| What's next? |
| Show us what you can do. |
| When you're ready, take your assessment. |
| You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like. |
| Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results. |
| Keep practicing — and move on to the next lesson! |
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