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Everyday Spanish dialogues, for Spain and Mexico

Six short scenes at A1–A2, with sound. Switch between Spain and Mexico and tap any word.

Scene 1 of 6 · A1

Ordering at a café En la cafeteríaEn la cafetería

Ana and Luis order breakfast at the counter.

Spanish from Spain

  1. Buenos días. ¿Qué os pongo?

    Good morning. What can I get you?

  2. Para mí, un café con leche, por favor.

    A coffee with milk for me, please.

  3. Y para mí, un cortado y una tostada con tomate.

    And for me, a cortado and toast with tomato.

  4. Vale. ¿Algo más?

    OK. Anything else?

  5. No, nada más, gracias. ¿Cuánto es?

    No, nothing else, thanks. How much is it?

  6. Son cuatro euros con cincuenta.

    That’s four euros fifty.

Check yourself

How does the waiter ask what you’d like?

¿Qué os pongo? Os is “you” for two or more people. In Spain, waiters use it with strangers too.

Mexican Spanish

  1. Buenos días. ¿Qué les sirvo?

    Good morning. What can I get you?

  2. Para mí, un café americano, por favor.

    An americano for me, please.

  3. Y para mí, un café de olla y unos chilaquiles.

    And for me, a café de olla and chilaquiles.

  4. Claro. ¿Algo más?

    Sure. Anything else?

  5. No, es todo, gracias. ¿Cuánto es?

    No, that’s all, thanks. How much is it?

  6. Son ciento noventa pesos.

    That’s 190 pesos.

Check yourself

How does the waiter ask what you’d like?

¿Qué les sirvo? Les is “you” for two or more people. In Mexico, ustedes is the plural “you” for everyone, so you won’t hear os.

Next: Buying fruit

Scene 2 of 6 · A1

Buying fruit En la fruteríaEn el mercado

Elena joins the line to buy fruit. Carmen is ahead of her.

Spanish from Spain

  1. Buenos días. ¿Quién es el último?

    Good morning. Who’s last in line?

  2. Soy yo.

    I am.

  3. Siguiente. ¿Qué le pongo?

    Next, please. What can I get you?

  4. Un kilo de tomates y medio kilo de naranjas, por favor.

    A kilo of tomatoes and half a kilo of oranges, please.

  5. Aquí tiene. ¿Algo más?

    Here you are. Anything else?

  6. No, nada más. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?

    No, that’s all. Can I pay by card?

  7. Claro. Son tres euros con veinte.

    Sure. That’s three euros twenty.

Check yourself

How do you ask who’s last in line?

¿Quién es el último? Then you stand behind that person. People ask it at markets, shops and the health center.

Mexican Spanish

  1. Buenos días. ¿Está formada?

    Good morning. Are you in line?

  2. Sí, aquí es la fila.

    Yes, this is the line.

  3. ¿Quién sigue? ¿Qué le doy?

    Who’s next? What can I get you?

  4. Un kilo de jitomates y medio kilo de naranjas, por favor.

    A kilo of tomatoes and half a kilo of oranges, please.

  5. Aquí tiene. ¿Qué más le doy?

    Here you go. What else can I get you?

  6. Es todo. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?

    That’s all. Can I pay by card?

  7. No, nada más efectivo. Son cuarenta y cinco pesos.

    No, cash only. That’s 45 pesos.

Check yourself

How do you ask if someone is in line?

¿Está formada? Formarse means “to line up” in Mexico. To a man, say ¿Está formado?

Next: Taking the bus

Scene 3 of 6 · A2

Taking the bus En el autobúsEn el camión

Sara needs to get to the hospital. She asks the driver.

Spanish from Spain

  1. Perdone, ¿este autobús va al hospital?

    Excuse me, does this bus go to the hospital?

  2. Sí, pero tarda unos veinte minutos.

    Yes, but it takes about twenty minutes.

  3. Vale. ¿Cuánto es el billete?

    OK. How much is a ticket?

  4. Un euro con cincuenta. También puede pagar con tarjeta.

    One euro fifty. You can also pay by card.

  5. ¿Me avisa cuando lleguemos?

    Will you let me know when we get there?

  6. Claro. Es la parada después de la plaza.

    Sure. It’s the stop after the square.

  7. Muchas gracias.

    Thanks a lot.

Check yourself

How do you ask the driver to tell you where to get off?

¿Me avisa cuando lleguemos? It’s the polite usted form. Handy when you don’t know the stop.

Mexican Spanish

  1. Disculpe, ¿este camión va al hospital?

    Excuse me, does this bus go to the hospital?

  2. Sí, pero se hacen como veinte minutos.

    Yes, but it takes about twenty minutes.

  3. Sale. ¿Cuánto es el pasaje?

    OK. How much is the fare?

  4. Son siete cincuenta. ¿Trae cambio?

    Seven fifty. Do you have change?

  5. ¿Me avisa cuando lleguemos?

    Will you let me know when we get there?

  6. Sí, cómo no. Es la parada después del mercado.

    Yes, of course. It’s the stop after the market.

  7. Muchas gracias.

    Thanks a lot.

Check yourself

How do you ask the driver to tell you where to get off?

¿Me avisa cuando lleguemos? The same in Mexico. In Mexico City, a city bus is often el camión; in Spain, a camión is a truck.

Next: At the pharmacy

Scene 4 of 6 · A2

At the pharmacy En la farmaciaEn la farmacia

Daniel buys sunscreen and Band-Aids.

Spanish from Spain

  1. Buenas tardes. ¿Qué necesita?

    Good afternoon. What do you need?

  2. Hola. ¿Tienen crema solar para niños?

    Hi. Do you have sunscreen for children?

  3. Sí, tenemos esta, de factor cincuenta. Cuesta doce euros.

    Yes, we have this one, SPF 50. It’s twelve euros.

  4. Vale, me la llevo. ¿Y tienen tiritas?

    OK, I’ll take it. And do you have Band-Aids?

  5. Sí. ¿Una caja pequeña o grande?

    Yes. A small box or a big one?

  6. Pequeña, por favor. ¿Puedo pagar con el móvil?

    A small one, please. Can I pay with my phone?

  7. Claro. Son catorce euros con cincuenta. ¿Necesita bolsa?

    Sure. That’s fourteen euros fifty. Do you need a bag?

  8. No hace falta, gracias.

    No need, thanks.

Check yourself

How do you politely say you don’t need a bag?

No hace falta, gracias. No hace falta means “there’s no need”. It works at any checkout.

Mexican Spanish

  1. Buenas tardes. ¿Qué se le ofrece?

    Good afternoon. How can I help you?

  2. Hola. ¿Tienen bloqueador solar para niños?

    Hi. Do you have sunscreen for children?

  3. Sí, tenemos este, de factor cincuenta. Cuesta doscientos pesos.

    Yes, we have this one, SPF 50. It’s 200 pesos.

  4. Okey, me lo llevo. ¿Y tienen curitas?

    OK, I’ll take it. And do you have Band-Aids?

  5. Sí. ¿Una caja chica o grande?

    Yes. A small box or a big one?

  6. Chica, por favor. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?

    A small one, please. Can I pay by card?

  7. Claro. Son doscientos cuarenta pesos. ¿Le doy una bolsa?

    Sure. That’s 240 pesos. Would you like a bag?

  8. No, así está bien, gracias.

    No, I’m fine, thanks.

Check yourself

How do you politely say you don’t need a bag?

No, así está bien, gracias. Así está bien means “it’s fine like this”. It’s a common polite answer in Mexico.

Next: Booking a doctor’s appointment

Scene 5 of 6 · A2

Booking a doctor’s appointment En el centro de saludEn la clínica

Pablo books an appointment at the front desk.

Spanish from Spain

  1. Buenos días. ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?

    Good morning. How can I help you?

  2. Hola. Quería pedir cita con mi médico de cabecera.

    Hi. I’d like to make an appointment with my family doctor.

  3. Claro. ¿Me deja su tarjeta sanitaria?

    Of course. Can I have your health card?

  4. Sí, aquí tiene.

    Yes, here you are.

  5. Hay hueco el jueves a las diez y cuarto. ¿Le va bien?

    There’s an opening on Thursday at a quarter past ten. Does that work for you?

  6. Es un poco tarde para mí. ¿No hay nada antes?

    That’s a bit late for me. Is there anything sooner?

  7. Mañana a las ocho y media, pero es una consulta por teléfono.

    Tomorrow at eight thirty, but it’s a phone appointment.

  8. Vale, mejor mañana. Muchas gracias.

    OK, tomorrow is better. Thanks a lot.

Check yourself

How do you politely ask for a doctor’s appointment?

Quería pedir cita. Quería (“I wanted”) sounds softer than quiero (“I want”).

Mexican Spanish

  1. Buenos días. ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?

    Good morning. How can I help you?

  2. Buenos días. Quisiera hacer una cita con el doctor Ramírez.

    Good morning. I’d like to make an appointment with Dr. Ramírez.

  3. Claro. ¿Me da su nombre completo, por favor?

    Of course. Can I have your full name, please?

  4. Sí, Pablo Díaz Romero.

    Yes, Pablo Díaz Romero.

  5. Hay espacio el jueves a las diez y cuarto. ¿Le queda bien?

    There’s an opening on Thursday at a quarter past ten. Does that work for you?

  6. Es un poco tarde para mí. ¿No hay nada antes?

    That’s a bit late for me. Is there anything sooner?

  7. Mañana a las ocho y media, pero es una consulta en línea.

    Tomorrow at eight thirty, but it’s an online appointment.

  8. Está bien, mejor mañana. Muchas gracias.

    All right, tomorrow is better. Thanks a lot.

Check yourself

How do you politely ask for a doctor’s appointment?

Quisiera hacer una cita. Quisiera is a polite “I’d like”. In Mexico people say hacer una cita or sacar una cita.

Next: Renting an apartment

Scene 6 of 6 · A2

Renting an apartment El alquilerLa renta

Marta calls about an apartment ad. Mr. Gómez answers.

Spanish from Spain

  1. Hola, buenas. Llamo por el piso de la calle Embajadores. ¿Sigue libre?

    Hi there. I’m calling about the apartment on Calle Embajadores. Is it still available?

  2. Sí, todavía está libre. Tiene dos habitaciones y un balcón pequeño.

    Yes, it’s still available. It has two bedrooms and a small balcony.

  3. ¿Cuánto es el alquiler al mes?

    How much is the rent per month?

  4. Ochocientos euros, con la comunidad incluida. La luz y el agua van aparte.

    800 euros, building fees included. Electricity and water are extra.

  5. ¿Hay que pagar fianza?

    Do I have to pay a deposit?

  6. Sí, un mes de fianza. ¿Quiere verlo mañana por la tarde?

    Yes, one month’s deposit. Would you like to see it tomorrow afternoon?

  7. Perfecto. ¿A las seis le viene bien?

    Perfect. Does six work for you?

  8. Sí, a las seis. Hasta mañana.

    Yes, at six. See you tomorrow.

Check yourself

How do you say electricity and water are extra?

La luz y el agua van aparte. In an apartment ad in Spain, comunidad is the monthly fee for the building.

Mexican Spanish

  1. Buenas tardes. Le llamo por el departamento de la colonia Roma. ¿Todavía está disponible?

    Good afternoon. I’m calling about the apartment in Colonia Roma. Is it still available?

  2. Sí, todavía está disponible. Tiene dos recámaras y un balcón chico.

    Yes, it’s still available. It has two bedrooms and a small balcony.

  3. ¿Cuánto es la renta al mes?

    How much is the rent per month?

  4. Quince mil pesos, con el mantenimiento incluido. La luz y el agua se pagan aparte.

    15,000 pesos, maintenance fee included. Electricity and water are paid separately.

  5. ¿Hay que dejar depósito?

    Do I have to leave a deposit?

  6. Sí, un mes de depósito. ¿Quiere verlo mañana en la tarde?

    Yes, one month’s deposit. Would you like to see it tomorrow afternoon?

  7. Perfecto. ¿A las seis le queda bien?

    Perfect. Does six work for you?

  8. Sí, a las seis. Hasta mañana.

    Yes, at six. See you tomorrow.

Check yourself

How do you say electricity and water are extra?

La luz y el agua se pagan aparte. In Mexico, mantenimiento is the monthly fee for the building.

Back to the first scene: Ordering at a café

Spanish phrases, each with the sentence it came from

These are six short Spanish conversations for beginners: ordering at a café, buying fruit, taking the bus, the pharmacy, booking a doctor’s appointment and renting an apartment. Each scene comes in two versions, one from Spain and one from Mexico, with the English for every line and a meaning for every word. They were written for this page and checked by two AI models from other companies.

Last updated:

How to practice with a short dialogue

A dialogue is the easiest way to hear how short Spanish lines fit together. Use each scene a few times, not once.

  1. Read the whole scene once with the English, so you know what happens.
  2. Hide the English and read it again. Tap only the words you’ve forgotten.
  3. Read it out loud, first as one person, then as the other.
  4. Change one detail and say the line again: a different order, a different stop, a different day.

Spain or Mexico: what changes in these scenes

In these dialogues, usted is the polite “you” for one person; in Spain, tú with strangers is common too. The biggest grammar difference is plural “you”. In most of Spain, an informal group is vosotros (with os), and a waiter may use it with strangers; a formal group is ustedes. In Mexico, every group is ustedes. The other differences here are everyday words and a few set expressions.

SpainMexicoMeaning
¿Qué os pongo?¿Qué les sirvo?What can I get you? (to two or more people)
tomatejitomatetomato
¿Quién es el último?¿Está formado/a?Who’s last in line? / Are you in line?
el autobúsel camiónthe bus (in Mexico City; in Spain, a camión is a truck)
el billeteel pasajeticket / fare
tiritascuritasBand-Aids
pequeñochicosmall
el pisoel departamentoapartment
el alquilerla rentarent
la fianzael depósitodeposit
¿Le viene bien?¿Le queda bien?Does that work for you?

After the dialogues

When a scene feels easy, read a short Spanish text at your level: the same kind of lines, but about something you care about. Or listen to Ramón from Madrid and Diego from Guadalajara talk over one everyday question; you’ll hear many of these words in both accents. Phrases from our texts, each with its sentence, are on Spanish phrases.

Start speaking Spanish, even on your own

Questions

What level are these Spanish dialogues?

A1 to A2. The café and the fruit scenes are A1; the bus, pharmacy, doctor and apartment scenes are A2. If you’re not sure of your level, try the free level test: about three minutes, no sign-up.

Should I learn the Spain or the Mexico version?

Learn the one you’ll hear most, and read the other once. People from Spain and Mexico understand each other easily; in these scenes the difference is a few words and the plural “you”.

Is there audio for the dialogues?

Yes. Each scene has a recording in both versions, read by AI voices from Spain and from Mexico. Tap Listen, and the line you hear is highlighted; Repeat slower plays the scene again at three-quarter speed. For longer talks, listen to Ramón and Diego on the podcast.

Talewell

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