Monthly Archives: June 2012

Spanish Greetings

Hola: Hello / Hi.
Buenos días: Good morning. [Use this until 2 p.m. (Spanish lunchtime)]
Buenas tardes: Good afternoon/evening. [Use this from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m.]
Buenas noches: Good night. [Use this after 9 p.m.] Continue reading

Chistes españoles – Spanish jokes

(1) – “Jefe, auménteme el sueldo, que hay cuatro empresas detrás de mí.” (“Boss, give me a pay rise, there are four companies after me.”)

- “¿Cuáles son?” - “La del cable, el gas, la luz y el teléfono!” (“Which ones?” ”The cable, the gas, the light and the telephone companies!”) Continue reading

Learn Spanish through songs – Listen to Beyoncé singing “Oye” (Listen)

Listen to Beyoncé singing “Oye” (Listen) in Spanish on You Tube here

Read the lyrics below:

Oye, lo que tengo que decir / Listen to what I have to say
No puedo ya seguir viviendo así / I can’t go on living like this
Oye (mmm) como llora mi canción / Listen to how my song cries Continue reading

How to translate written abbreviations and conventions into Spanish

ASAP (as soon as possible)lo antes posible
by return of post – a vuelta de correo
c (circa)alrededor de
certified true copy – copia certificada
c/o (care of)para entragar a
cont’d overleaf – sigue al dorso Continue reading

Feliz Día del Padre (Happy Father’s Day)

Hoy tengo que decirte Papá (Today I have to tell you Dad)

Listen to the Spanish Father’s Day song, “Hoy tengo que decirte Papá” on YouTube

Hoy tengo que decirte Papá / Today I have to tell you Dad,
El tiempo nada cambiará / Time won’t change anything
Estaremos siempre juntos / We will always be together
Todo el tiempo sin parar. / All the time, without stopping. Continue reading

Writing a business letter in Spanish

Greetings

When you do not know the person to whom you are writing:

Muy Señor Mío / Muy Señora Mía

A little less formal:

Estimado Señor [male] / Estimada Señora [female] – (Dear Sir / Madam)

If you do know their name, the following is appropriate:

Estimado Señor García [male] / Estimada Señora López [female] – (Dear Mr García / Dear Mrs López)

If you have met them and have established a good relationship with them, use their first name:

Estimado Juan [male] / Estimada María [female] Continue reading