First Phrases

Language café · Español

Language café in Spanish: 10 phrases for tonight

You are there to practise, so mistakes are the point. Say what you are learning, ask people to slow down, and ask them to correct you.

Register: Informal (friendly). Tú is normal in language cafés. Say "estoy aprendiendo" for "I'm learning" and ask for "más despacio" without apologising too much.

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
    ¡Hola! Encantado/Encantada de conoceros.
    Say it like: OH-lah! en-kan-TAH-doh/en-kan-TAH-dah deh koh-noh-THEH-rohs
    Hi! Nice to meet you all.
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Es mi primera vez y estoy aprendiendo español.
    Say it like: es mee pree-MEH-rah beth ee es-TOY ah-pren-DYEN-doh es-pah-NYOL
    It's my first time and I'm learning Spanish.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    ¿Cómo funciona? ¿Hablamos en grupos por idiomas?
    Say it like: KOH-moh foon-THYOH-nah? ah-BLAH-mohs en GROO-pohs por ee-DYOH-mahs
    How does it work? Do we talk in groups by language?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas aprendiendo idiomas?
    Say it like: KWAN-toh TYEM-poh YEH-bahs ah-pren-DYEN-doh ee-DYOH-mahs
    How long have you been learning languages?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    ¿Cuál es tu lengua materna?
    Say it like: kwal es too LEN-gwah mah-TER-nah
    What's your mother tongue?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    ¿Qué idioma te cuesta más?
    Say it like: keh ee-DYOH-mah teh KWES-tah mas
    Which language do you find hardest?
  7. 07 · Slow down
    ¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor?
    Say it like: PWEH-dehs ah-BLAR mas des-PAH-thyoh, por fah-BOR
    Could you speak more slowly, please?
  8. 08 · Asking for a word
    ¿Cómo se dice "slow" en español?
    Say it like: KOH-moh seh DEE-theh "slow" en es-pah-NYOL
    How do you say "slow" in Spanish?
  9. 09 · Being corrected
    ¿Me corriges si me equivoco?
    Say it like: meh koh-RREE-hehs see meh eh-kee-BOH-koh
    Will you correct me if I make a mistake?
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Gracias por la práctica. ¿Quedamos otro día para un intercambio?
    Say it like: GRAH-thyahs por lah PRAK-tee-kah. keh-DAH-mohs OH-troh DEE-ah PAH-rah oon een-ter-KAM-byoh
    Thanks for the practice. Shall we meet another day for a language exchange?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    ¿Qué idioma quieres practicar?
    Say it like: keh ee-DYOH-mah KYEH-rehs prak-tee-KAR
    Which language do you want to practise?
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Dilo con calma, te entiendo.
    Say it like: DEE-loh kon KAL-mah, teh en-TYEN-doh
    Take your time, I understand you.
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Cada diez minutos cambiamos de idioma.
    Say it like: KAH-dah dyeth mee-NOO-tohs kam-BYAH-mohs deh ee-DYOH-mah
    Every ten minutes we switch language.

Go and try it

Find language cafés on speak.comealone.app

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a language café in Spanish?

Start with: "¡Hola! Encantado/Encantada de conoceros." (Hi! Nice to meet you all.). Then say you are new: "Es mi primera vez y estoy aprendiendo español." (It's my first time and I'm learning Spanish.)

Should I use informal or formal Spanish at a language café?

Tú is normal in language cafés. Say "estoy aprendiendo" for "I'm learning" and ask for "más despacio" without apologising too much.

How do I ask to meet again after a language café in Spanish?

Try: "Gracias por la práctica. ¿Quedamos otro día para un intercambio?" (Thanks for the practice. Shall we meet another day for a language exchange?)

Same evening, another language

Español Français Deutsch Português Italiano Suomi

Spanish, another evening

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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/cafe/es/ · Meet & Mint