Words you know, a new meaning on a day off
You already know four of these words. On a day off they usually mean something else.
| word | the meaning you know | on a day off |
|---|---|---|
| la fiesta | the party | the public holiday, the day off |
| el baño | the bathroom | the bath, the swim |
| la vuelta | the change (money) | the return, the way back |
| solo | only | alone |
| recoger | — | to pick up, to collect |
| el recuerdo | — | the souvenir |
A day off and a swim
Es fiesta, with no article, usually means it is a public holiday: shops and offices are usually closed. Una fiesta with friends is still a party.
| The fifteenth of August is a holiday in all of Spain. | El quince de agosto es fiesta en toda España. |
Darse un baño is to have a swim in the sea or a pool, or a bath at home. The room is still el baño.
| Do you feel like having a swim? | ¿Te apetece darte un baño? |
Picking people up, and the way back
Recoger a person is to pick them up; recoger keys or tickets is to collect them. Note the spelling recojo: g becomes j before o.
| I'll pick you up at eight, OK? | Te recojo a las ocho, ¿vale? |
De vuelta after a noun means return: el vuelo de vuelta. A la vuelta usually means on the way back. At a till, la vuelta is usually your change.
| What time does the return flight leave? | ¿A qué hora sale el vuelo de vuelta? |
Alone, and a souvenir
As alone, solo agrees like any adjective: sola, solos, solas. As only it never changes: solo dos euros.
| Are you going to the beach alone? | ¿Vas sola a la playa? |
A recuerdo that you buy and take home is a souvenir.
| I want to buy a souvenir for my mother. | Quiero comprar un recuerdo para mi madre. |
