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Ask a Native Speaker: to finish the popular children’s song that begins “Un Elefante se columpiaba sobre la tela de una araña…” (An elephant swang from a spider’s web)
Elephant: Elefante
Spider’s Web: Tela de Araña
Swing (verb): Columpiar
Swing (noun): Columpio
Song: Canción
Lyrics: Letra
Lullaby: Canción de Cuna
Note: Several versions exist of the song, but most native speakers should recognize the first line.
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Ask a Colombian: What’s your favorite meal?
¿Cuál es tu comida favorita?
Meal: Comida
Breakfast: Desayuno
Lunch: Almuerzo
Snack: Merienda
Dinner: Cena
Favorite Dish: Plato Favorito
What time do you eat?: ¿A qué hora comes?
I like…: A mi me gusta… -
Make a Spaniard Laugh: tell a story, a joke, make a funny face, whatever you need to do, but this lesson isn’t over until you get a chuckle or at least a written LOL (usually written “jajajaja” in Spanish)
Funny: Gracioso, Chistoso
Joke: Chiste
Story: Cuento
Sense of Humor: Sentido del Humor
Laughter: Risa
Smile: Sonrisa
It made me Laugh: Me dio Risa
You made me Laugh: Me hiciste Reir
I made you Laugh: Te hice Reir -
Find a Mexican who has been to a Guns and Roses Concert.
Have you been to a Guns and Roses Concert?: ¿Has ido a un concierto de Guns and Roses?
Do you go to a lot of Concerts?: ¿Vas a muchos conciertos?
What kind of music do you like?: ¿Qué música te gusta?
Favorite Concert: Concierto Favorito
Concert: Concierto/Recital
Music: Música
Note: This may seem like a strange question, but Guns and Roses actually plays in Mexico surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly) often. -
Ask a Native Speaker: Do you prefer Ketchup or Mayonnaise on Fries?
¿Prefieres Ketchup o Mayonesa con Papas Fritas?
Ketchup: Ketchup/Salsa Dulce
Mayonnaise: Mayonesa
Mustard: Mostaza
Fries: Papas Fritas
Fried: Frito/Frita
to Eat: Comer
Condiments: Condimentos
Sauces: Salsas
Snack: Merienda/Refacción -
Translate the song “Ironic” by Alanis Morisette and casually work in at least half the lines in the song during a conversation with a native speaker. Optionally, you can also sing it.
Song: Canción
Verse: Verso
Chorus: Coro
Can I sing you a Song?: ¿Te puedo cantar una Canción?
My favorite Song: Mi Canción Favorita
Did you Like It?: ¿Te Gustó?
Ironic: Irónico
Isn’t it Irónic…don’t you think?: ¿No es irónico?…¿no crees?
Note: You don’t have to like the song to complete the lesson.
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Ask a Native Speaker: What shoe size do you wear?
¿Cuánto Calzas?
Footwear: Calzado
Shoe: Zapato
Tennis Shoe: Zapatilla
High Heels: Tacones/Tacos
Socks: Medias or Calcetines
Foot: Pie
Size (scale): Tamaño
Size (clothes): Talla or Talle
Be aware that the response will probably be in Latin American or European measurements. A size 12 in the US, for instance would be a 45 in most Spanish-speaking countries.
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Ask a Native Speaker: What was the last time you did something completely spontaneous?
“¿Cuándo fue la última vez que hiciste algo completamente espontáneo?”
Spontaneous: Espontáneo
Surprising: Sorprendente
Unexpected: Inesperado
I Don’t Believe You: No te Creo
Really?: De veras?
Tell me the Story: Cuéntame la Historia
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Ask a Native Speaker: Do you prefer cats or dogs?
“Prefieres los gatos o los perros?”
Cats: Gatos
Dogs: Perros
Preference: Preferencia
I Prefer: Yo Prefiero
To Prefer: Preferir
Neither of the Two: Ninguno de los Dos
Why?: ¿Por Qué?
Playful: Juguetón
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Ask a Spaniard: What’s on the Front Page Today?
¿Qué aparece en la tapa del diario hoy?
Newspaper: Diario/Periódico
Headlines: Titulares
Front Page: Tapa de Diario
News: Noticias
Journalism: Periodismo
Scandal: Escándalo
Good/Bad News: Buenas/Malas Noticias
What’s Going on Over There?: ¿Qué está pasando por ahí?
