First Phrases

Book club · Español

Book club in Spanish: 10 phrases for tonight

One book, one evening, a table of people who like talking about it. You do not need perfect language: an opinion, a question and a polite request for no spoilers will carry you.

Register: Informal (friendly). Tú is normal among adults in Spanish book clubs. If the group is much older or you're a guest in someone's home, switch to usted only if they do first.

How to read the sounds: Spanish is mostly read as written. In Spain, c before e/i and z sound like English th. h is silent. ñ = ny. rr is rolled. Stress is marked in CAPITALS.

10 phrases, door to goodbye

  1. 01 · Arriving
    Buenas tardes, ¿es aquí el club de lectura?
    Say it like: BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs, es ah-KEE el kloob deh lek-TOO-rah
    Good afternoon, is this the book club?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Soy nuevo/nueva en la ciudad y no conozco a nadie.
    Say it like: soy NWEH-boh/NWEH-bah en lah thyoo-DAD ee noh koh-NOTH-koh ah NAH-dyeh
    I'm new in the city and I don't know anyone.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    ¿Cómo elegís el libro de cada mes?
    Say it like: KOH-moh eh-leh-HEES el LEE-broh deh KAH-dah mes
    How do you choose the book each month?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    ¿Qué te ha parecido el libro?
    Say it like: keh teh ah pah-reh-THEE-doh el LEE-broh
    What did you think of the book?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    ¿Has leído algo más de este autor?
    Say it like: as leh-EE-doh AL-goh mas deh ES-teh ow-TOR
    Have you read anything else by this author?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    ¿Qué has leído últimamente?
    Say it like: keh as leh-EE-doh OOL-tee-mah-MEN-teh
    What have you been reading lately?
  7. 07 · No spoilers
    No he terminado el libro, ¡nada de spoilers!
    Say it like: noh eh ter-mee-NAH-doh el LEE-broh, NAH-dah deh es-POY-lers
    I haven't finished the book, no spoilers!
  8. 08 · The ending
    ¿Qué te pareció el final?
    Say it like: keh teh pah-reh-THYOH el fee-NAL
    What did you think of the ending?
  9. 09 · Next book
    ¿Qué libro leemos el mes que viene?
    Say it like: keh LEE-broh leh-EH-mohs el mes keh BYEH-neh
    Which book are we reading next month?
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Me ha encantado conoceros. ¿Hay un grupo de WhatsApp?
    Say it like: meh ah en-kan-TAH-doh koh-noh-THEH-rohs. eye oon GROO-poh deh WAT-sap
    It was lovely to meet you. Is there a WhatsApp group?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Hoy hablamos de los primeros capítulos.
    Say it like: oy ah-BLAH-mohs deh lohs pree-MEH-rohs kah-PEE-too-lohs
    Today we're talking about the first chapters.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    ¿Quién quiere empezar?
    Say it like: kyen KYEH-reh em-peh-THAR
    Who wants to start?
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Os paso el libro de este mes.
    Say it like: ohs PAH-soh el LEE-broh deh ES-teh mes
    I'll pass you this month's book.

Go and try it

Find book clubs on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a book club in Spanish?

Start with: "Buenas tardes, ¿es aquí el club de lectura?" (Good afternoon, is this the book club?). Then say you are new: "Soy nuevo/nueva en la ciudad y no conozco a nadie." (I'm new in the city and I don't know anyone.)

Should I use informal or formal Spanish at a book club?

Tú is normal among adults in Spanish book clubs. If the group is much older or you're a guest in someone's home, switch to usted only if they do first.

How do I ask to meet again after a book club in Spanish?

Try: "Me ha encantado conoceros. ¿Hay un grupo de WhatsApp?" (It was lovely to meet you. Is there a WhatsApp group?)

Same evening, another language

Español Français Deutsch Português Italiano Suomi

Spanish, another evening

Pub quiz Padel & pickleball Run club Sauna Book club Dinner with strangers Language café

All 7 × 6 cards · Phrases for a specific event near you

How it works

  1. Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
  2. Read the ten phrases in order: they follow the evening from the door to goodbye. Tap the speaker to hear each one in your device's voice.
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending; a "check" mark flags a phrase we are least sure of.
  4. Find the event on Come Alone, open it in Meet & Mint to see who else is going, and say the first phrase for real.

firstphrases.app/tonight/book/es/ · Meet & Mint