Spanish Language Basics for the Camino
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Spanish Language Basics for the Camino Basic Pronunciation Rules One of the best things about the Spanish language is the consistency in the rules of pronunciation. For starters, the vowel sounds in Spanish are always pronounced the same, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out a long list of exceptions. There are still lots of rules and exceptions to those rules, but since we aren’t trying to learn the entire language, we will focus just on some basics – enough to allow you to acquire food and shelter on the Camino and to be able to communicate your basic needs. (In other words, this tutorial is not meant to be exhaustive.) And that’s a good point: the reason to learn some basic Spanish for your Camino is simply so you can communicate with the local people who serve the pilgrims. From experience, I can tell you that the Camino journey becomes far richer when you can express yourself and connect with Spaniards along the Way. The Vowels The vowel ‘a’ usually is pronounced with a soft ‘ah’ sounds, as in ‘taco’. One exception is when it precedes the letter ‘y’; then it is pronounced like the word ‘eye’. The best example is the word ‘hay’, pronounced ‘eye’, which is used very often when asking for food and accommodations. The vowel ‘e’ is usually pronounced like the ‘a’ in the word ‘rate’, but shorter and somewhat curt. The vowel ‘i’ is pronounced like the ‘ea’ in ‘eat’. The vowel ‘o’ is pronounced like the word ‘oh’, cut off at the end as if you are surprised. The vowel u is pronounced like the ‘oo’ sound in ‘poo’ or ‘you’. The Consonants Many of the consonants in Spanish are very similar to their counterparts in spoken English, so I will point out only the main differences. The letter ‘h’ is always silent. For example, the word hoy, which means ‘today’, rhymes with toy and is pronounced ‘oye’. The letter ‘j’ is pronounced like the letter ‘h’, as in ‘jalepeño’. The double ‘ll’ is pronounced like the ‘y’ in ‘yes’. The ‘ñ’ is pronounced like the ‘ny’ in the word ‘canyon’. Which Syllable to Emphasize Many Spanish words will have an accent mark which tells you which syllable to emphasize. In general, if there is no accent mark on a word, the emphasis is on the second to last syllable. Examples: amPOLLo, abiERto, cerrAdo, HAMbre. There is one notable exception to the second-to-last-syllable rule. With words that end in ‘al’, the accent is on the last syllable. Examples: norMAL, termiNAL, forMAL, superficial, nacionAL, credenciAL (and you can probably also guess what these words mean!). Ready to try out your pronunciation rules? Let’s start with the most important phrases you will use along the Camino, the basic courtesies. Greetings & Courtesies Hello Goodbye Please Thank you Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. How are you? Hola Adios, or hasta luego Por favor Gracias Buenos días. Buenas tardes. Buenas noches. ¿Cómo está usted? or ¿Qué tal? www.thecaminoexperience.com 1 Spanish Language Basics for the Camino Useful Spanish Phrases for the Camino Language Difficulties I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish. Do you speak English? I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Show me, please. Write it, please. Booking a Bed or Room Lo siento, no hablo Español. Habla Inglés? Lo siento, no entiendo. Muestreme, por favor. Escribelo, por favor. Are there / is there – – a bed? – an individual / double room? – a private room? – for one person? – for two people? – with private bath? – with shared bath? – for tonight? – for tomorrow night? My name is I will arrive before / after six in the evening. My cell phone number is: Finding Things Where is (are) – – the toilets? – the pilgrim’s hostel? Do you know where - ? Donde está(n) – – los servicios / aseos? – el albergue? Sabe donde está – ? Current State I am hungry. I am thirsty. I am tired. I am sick. I need – I want – I have a problem with – Hay – – una cama? – una habitación individual / doble? – una habitación privada? – para una persona? – para dos personas? – con baño privado? – con baño compartir? – para hoy? – para mañana? Yo soy – / me llamo – Llegaré antes de / despues de las seis en la tarde. Mi mobile es: Shopping Questions Tengo hambre. Tengo sed. Estoy cansada(o). Estoy enferma(o). Yo necesito – Yo quiero – Tengo una problemo con – How much does it cost? What time do you open in the evening / morning? Until what time are you open today? Cuanto cuesta? A que hora está abierto en la tarde / la mañana? Hasta que hora está abierto hoy? Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 uno dos tres cuatro cinco seis siete ocho nueve diez 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 once doce trece catorce quince dieciséis diecisiete dieciocho diecinueve veinte 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 treinta cuarenta cincuenta sesenta setenta ochenta noventa ciento Notes: www.thecaminoexperience.com 2 Spanish Language Basics for the Camino Spanish Vocabulary for the Camino Verbs, etc. to have to buy to sleep to shower to rest to walk to wash to from before after tener comprar dormir ducharse descansar caminar, marcharse lavar a de, desde antes después Basic Vocabulary morning today tomorrow yesterday ticket batteries doctor blisters left right open closed At the Albergue mañana hoy mañana ayer billete pilas médico ampollas izquierda derecho abierto cerrado pilgrim pilgrim’s passport hostel toilet, restroom shower bed hot water cold washing machine tumble dryer clothes top bunk lower bunk soap powder Notes: Around Town & On the Trail hotel food shop ATM pharmacy church cathedral town square yellow arrow straight ahead map water water source street motorway highway network river park bridge bus train bus station train station car hotel tienda, supermercado cájero automático farmacia iglesia catedral plaza mayor flecha amarilla todo derecho plano agua agua fuente calle autopista carretera red río parque puente autobús tren estación de autobús estación de tren coche Eating & Drinking breakfast lunch dinner meals pilgrim’s menu dessert knife spoon fork cup glass vegetarian restaurant bar desayuno la comida cena comidas menú del peregrino postre cuchillo cuchara tenedor tazo vaso vegetariano(a) restaurante bar Clothing boots backpack sleeping bag blanket shirt pants socks knickers underwear hat jacket botas mochila saco de dormir manta camisa pantalones calcetines bragas ropa interior sombrero chaqueta Parts of the Body peregrino credencial albergue aseos, or servicios ducha cama agua caliente frío lavadora secadora ropa litera arriba litera bajo jabón en polvo head back stomach arm hand finger leg knee foot toe pain cabeza espalda estómago brazo mano dedo pierna rodilla pie dedo del pie dolor Menu Items water coffee with milk tea red wine white wine juice sandwiches snacks fruit vegetables mixed salad cheese eggs ham chicken fish tuna trout beef steak lamb pork sausage seafood octopus squid prawns mussels agua café con leche té vino tinto vino blanco zumo bocadillos tapas / pinchos frutos verduras ensalada mista queso huevos jamón pollo pesca atún trucha bistec cordero cerdo salchicha mariscos pulpo calamares gambas mejillones www.thecaminoexperience.com 3
