Collins Gem

Copyright

HarperCollins Publishers

Westerhill Road

Bishopbriggs

Glasgow G64 2QT

Fourth Edition 2016

© HarperCollins Publishers 1993, 2007, 2010, 2016

Source ISBN: 9780008135942

Ebook Edition © March 2016 ISBN: 9780008163501

Version: 2016-03-01

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank those authors and publishers who kindly gave permission for copyright material to be used in the Collins Corpus. We would also like to thank Times Newspapers Ltd for providing valuable data.

If you would like to comment on any aspect of this book, please contact us at the given address or online.

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Editor

Holly Tarbet

Contributors

José A. Gálvez

Sinda López Fuentes

David White

For the Publisher

Gerry Breslin

Janice McNeillie

Helen Newstead

Using your phrasebook

Whether you’re on holiday or on business, your Collins Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary is designed to help you locate the exact phrase you need, when you need it. You’ll also gain the confidence to go beyond what is in the book, as you can adapt the phrases by using the dictionary section to substitute your own words.

The Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary includes:

• Over 60 topics arranged thematically, so that you can easily find an expression to suit the situation

• Simple pronunciation which accompanies each word and phrase, to make sure you are understood when speaking aloud

• Tips to safeguard against any cultural faux pas, providing the essential dos and don’ts of local customs or etiquette

• A basic grammar section which will help you to build on your phrases

• FACE TO FACE dialogue sections to give you a flavour of what to expect from a real conversation

• A handy map of the country which shows the major cities and how to pronounce them

• YOU MAY HEAR sections for common announcements and messages, so that you don’t miss important information when out and about

• A user-friendly 3000 word dictionary to ensure you’ll never be stuck for something to say

• A short chapter of LIFELINE phrases for quick reference. These basic words and phrases will be essential to your time abroad

Before you jet off, it’s worth spending time looking through the topics to see what is covered and becoming familiar with pronunciation.

Contents

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Using your phrasebook

Pronouncing Spanish

Top ten tips

Talking to people

Hello/goodbye, yes/no

Key phrases

Signs and notices

Polite expressions

Celebrations

Making friends

Work

Weather

Getting around

Asking the way

Bus and coach

Metro

Train

Taxi

Boat and ferry

Air travel

Customs control

Car hire

Driving

Petrol

Breakdown

Car parts

Road signs

Staying somewhere

Hotel (booking)

Hotel desk

Camping

Self-catering

Shopping

Shopping phrases

Shops

Food (general)

Food (fruit and veg)

Clothes

Clothes (articles)

Maps and guides

Post office

Technology

Leisure

Sightseeing and tourist office

Entertainment

Nightlife

Out and about

Music

Sport

Communications

Telephone and mobile

Text messaging

E-mail

Internet

Practicalities

Money

Paying

Luggage

Repairs

Complaints

Problems

Emergencies

Health

Pharmacy

Body

Doctor

Dentist

Eating out

Eating places

In a bar/café

Reading the menu

In a restaurant

Dietary requirements

Wines and spirits

Menu reader

Reference

Alphabet

Measurements and quantities

Numbers

Days and months

Time

Time phrases

Public holidays

Phonetic map

Grammar

Dictionary

LIFELINE words and phrases

About the Publisher

Pronouncing Spanish

Spelling and pronouncing Spanish are easy once you know the few basic rules. This book has been designed so that as you read the pronunciation of the phrases, you can follow the Spanish. This will help you to recognize the different sounds and give you a feeling for the rhythm of the language.

In Spanish, vowels have only one sound. When you find two together, pronounce both of them in quick succession, as in aceite a-they-te (see note below about pronouncing ce).

You can use this as a guide to pronouncing vowels:

a sounds like a (as in apple)

e sounds like e (as in ever)

i sounds like ee (as in even)

o sounds like o (as in shop)

u sounds like oo (as in zoo)

The syllable to be stressed is marked in bold in the pronunciation. Here are a few rules you should know:

h is silent: hora o-ra, hola o-la.

r is rolled and rr even more so.

Note that the th sound in ce and ci is pronounced like in the English word thing. Similarly, the sounds for ge and gi can be tricky to grasp. You can think of kh as in the English words her and he, with strong emphasis on the h.

Top ten tips

1 Greet people with a ‘Buenos días’ or ‘Buenas tardes’ on entering a lift, as it’s rude not to acknowledge them.

2 Spain is not a queuing country: people tend not to queue at bus stops. In places such as shops, banks, markets, etc., people ask ‘¿quién es el último?’ which means ‘who is the last one in the queue?’

3 When addressing elders or people you have been just introduced to, use the polite ‘Usted’ mode of address.

4 Having a ‘siesta’ in the middle of the day is no longer a common tradition. Although some shops, businesses and schools do still close for a couple of hours in the middle of the day, people are generally too busy to have a nap.

5 Taking up spare seats at a table that’s already occupied is not common.

6 Spanish people do not make a habit of saying ‘sorry’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ – it is implied in the tone of voice. It is a cultural thing, so don’t think they are being rude!

7 When you enter a restaurant or a home where people are eating, it’s polite to say ‘que aproveche’, meaning ‘enjoy your meal’.

8 Spaniards may speak very loudly, and are often unaware of the fact! It is a cultural trait and does not imply anger or any other emotion.

9 Expect to be interrupted when speaking!

10 Going for ‘tapas’ is a popular Spanish tradition which involves going from bar to bar and enjoying a small dish of something to accompany your drink. These little tasters are often brought as a free complement to a drink.

Talking to people

Hello/goodbye, yes/no

The word for Mr is Señor (se-nyor) and for Mrs/Ms Señora (se-nyo-ra).

Key phrases

When asking for something in a shop or bar, you would ask for what you want, then add por favor.

Signs and notices

Polite expressions

There are two forms of address in Spanish: polite (usted) and familiar (tú). You should always stick to the polite form until you are invited to tutear (use the familiar tú).

Celebrations

Traditional Christmas celebrations mainly take place on the night of Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). Presents are traditionally given on el Día de Reyes (6th January) but due to ever-increasing foreign influence some people also give presents on Christmas Day. On Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) people take to the streets to welcome in the New Year. After midnight they attend parties known as cotillones.

Making friends

In this section we have used the familiar tú for the questions.

FACE TO FACE

¿Cómo te llamas?

¿ko-mo te lya-mas?

What’s your name?

Me llamo…

me lya-mo…

My name is…

¿De dónde eres?

¿de donde e-res?

Where are you from?

Soy escocés (escocesa), de Glasgow

soy es-ko-thes (es-ko-the-sa), de glasgow

I’m Scottish, from Glasgow

Encantado(a) de conocerte

en-kan-ta-do(a) de ko-no-thair-te

Pleased to meet you

Work

Weather

Getting around

Asking the way

FACE TO FACE

Oiga, señor/señora, ¿cómo se va a la estación?

oyga, se-nyor/se-nyo-ra, ¿ko-mo se ba a la es-ta-thyon?

Excuse me, how do I get to the station?

Siga recto, después de la iglesia gire a la derecha/izquierda

seega rekto, despwes de la ee-gle-sya kheere a la de-re-cha/eeth-kyair-da

Keep straight on, after the church turn right/left

¿Está lejos? ¿esta le-khos?

Is it far?

No, a doscientos metros/cinco minutos

no, a dos-thyen-tos me-tros/theenko mee-noo-tos

No, 200 metres/five minutes

Gracias! gra-thyas! Thank you!

De nada

de na-da

You’re welcome