Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): La cajera escaneó el código y grapó el recibo a la bolsa. - The cashier scanned the code and stapled the receipt to the bag.

It means “cashier” and refers to a woman, hence the feminine article la and the feminine noun cajera. The masculine form is el cajero. Note: cajero also means “ATM” in the phrase cajero automático.

Why is the simple past (preterite) used: “escaneó” and “grapó,” not the imperfect?

Spanish uses the preterite for completed, sequential actions in the past. Here, scanning and stapling are finished events that move the story along. The imperfect would suggest ongoing or habitual actions, which doesn’t fit. In much of Latin America, the preterite is also preferred over the present perfect for recent past events.

Why do “escaneó” and “grapó” have accent marks?

They’re third-person singular preterite forms of -ar verbs, which end in -ó and always carry an accent to mark stress: escaneó, grapó. Without the accent, escaneo could be “I scan” (present) or the noun “scan,” and grapo is “I staple” (present).

Is “escaneó el código” specific enough, or should it say “barcode” or “QR code”?

On its own, el código is understood in a checkout context, but you can be specific:

escaneó el código de barras = scanned the barcode
escaneó el código QR = scanned the QR code Other natural options: leyó el código or pasó el código por el lector.

Is “grapar” the right verb in Latin America? I’ve heard other forms.

Yes, grapar is correct and widely understood, but regional variants exist:

Mexico/Central America: engrapar (very common)
Argentina/Uruguay: engrampár (spelled engrampár/engrampó or more commonly engrampó with no accent on the stem), also abrochar in some contexts
Neutral description: prender/fijar con grapas For the tool: grapadora (general), engrapadora (MX/CA), engrampadora (AR/UY).

Why is it “a la bolsa” and not “en la bolsa” or “sobre la bolsa”?

With verbs of attaching/fixing, Spanish typically uses a to express fastening one thing to another: grapar/pegar/coser X a Y.

a la bolsa = stapled the receipt to the bag (attachment)
en la bolsa = inside the bag
sobre la bolsa = on top of the bag

Can I replace “el recibo” and “la bolsa” with pronouns?

Yes:

Keep both nouns: Le grapó el recibo a la bolsa. (le = indirect object for “la bolsa”)
Replace the direct object: Se lo grapó a la bolsa. (lo = el recibo; le + lo → se lo) Often, Spanish also omits the indirect object pronoun and just says grapó el recibo a la bolsa, which is perfectly fine.

Is “recibo” the usual word for a store receipt in Latin America?

It’s understood everywhere, but everyday terms vary:

Mexico: ticket, nota, recibo (for services), factura (tax invoice)
Chile/Peru/Bolivia: boleta
Argentina/Uruguay/Paraguay: ticket; factura for the formal invoice
Colombia: factura or recibo If you want neutral and safe: comprobante de compra.

Why use “y” and not “e” before “grapó”?

Spanish changes y to e only before words starting with the “i” sound (i-/hi-): e.g., vino e hizo. Since grapó starts with a “g” sound, y stays y: escaneó … y grapó ….

Could I drop the articles and say “escaneó código y grapó recibo a bolsa”?

No. Spanish normally requires articles with countable nouns in this context. You’d either say el recibo, la bolsa (specific) or, if you truly mean nonspecific items, un recibo, una bolsa. The version without articles sounds ungrammatical.

Does “a la” ever contract like “al”?

Only a + el contracts to al (and de + el to del). Since bolsa is feminine (la bolsa), it remains a la bolsa. If it were masculine, e.g., a el carro, it would become al carro.

What are the noun genders here, and how do they affect articles/pronouns?

el código (masculine) → pronoun lo
el recibo (masculine) → pronoun lo
la bolsa (feminine) → indirect object pronoun commonly le (realized as se before lo/la) Hence: Se lo grapó a la bolsa.

Could I switch the order of the two actions?

Yes, if the timeline still makes sense: La cajera grapó el recibo a la bolsa y escaneó el código. The preterite naturally sequences events in the order you mention them, unless you add time markers like primero, luego, después.

How would I ask a cashier politely to do this?

In most of Latin America, use usted:

¿Me puede engrapar/grapar el recibo a la bolsa, por favor?
More formal: ¿Podría engrapar/grapar el recibo a la bolsa, por favor? In Mexico, engrapar will sound especially natural.

Is there a difference between “bolsa” and “bolso”?

Yes. Bolsa is a bag (often a shopping or plastic/paper bag). Bolso is a handbag/purse. Here, a store bag is bolsa (or bolsita for a small one).

Any pronunciation tips for “escaneó” and “grapó”?

escaneó: four syllables, stress on the last (the accented -ó): es-ca-ne-Ó. The “e-ó” forms a clear two-vowel sequence.
grapó: gra-PÓ, with a hard “g” as in “great” and stress on -pó.

Is there a more technical way to mention the scanner?

Yes: escáner is the device (with an accent). You can say: La cajera pasó el código por el escáner or La cajera lo leyó con el escáner.