Answering the phone
In Spain people often answer the phone with ¿Dígame? (literally tell me), or just ¿Sí?. To ask for someone, say ¿Está…?, and whoever answered may ask ¿De parte de quién?: who's calling?
| Hello? Hi, it's Ana. | ¿Dígame? Hola, soy Ana. |
| Is Pablo there? Who's calling? | ¿Está Pablo? ¿De parte de quién? |
| One moment, who's calling? | Un momento, ¿de parte de quién? |
Leaving a message: el recado
El mensaje is any message, such as a text on your phone. El recado is a message you leave for someone with another person: dejar un recado.
| Do you want to leave a message? | ¿Quiere dejar un recado? |
| He is not here. Shall I leave him a message? | No está. ¿Le dejo un recado? |
| This morning Ana has left you a message. | Esta mañana Ana te ha dejado un recado. |
Calls, emails and adverts in the present perfect
News from today comes in the present perfect, and an object pronoun goes in front of haber: ya se lo he dado. El email (also el correo electrónico) is the everyday word for an email; el anuncio is an advert or an announcement.
| Today I have received three calls. | Hoy he recibido tres llamadas. |
| Have you already read my email? | ¿Ya has leído mi email? |
| Have you given him the message? I have already given it to him. | ¿Le has dado el recado? Ya se lo he dado. |
| Today I have seen an advert in the newspaper. | Hoy he visto un anuncio en el periódico. |
Writing a letter or an email
Start with Querido or Querida + the name, or Queridos for several people. In Spanish the greeting is followed by a colon, not a comma.
| Dear Ana, how are you? | Querida Ana: ¿Cómo estás? |
| Dear parents, I am very well. | Queridos padres: Estoy muy bien. |
End according to how close you are:
| closing | for |
|---|---|
| Un saludo / Saludos | neutral: colleagues, people you don't know well |
| Un abrazo | friends (a hug) |
| Un beso / Besos | family and close friends |
| Best wishes, Carmen. | Un saludo, Carmen. |
| Regards to your family. | Saludos a tu familia. |
At the post office
La oficina de correos (often just Correos) is where you send letters and packages.
| Where is the post office? | ¿Dónde está la oficina de correos? |
| I am going to the post office to send a package. | Voy a la oficina de correos a enviar un paquete. |
