|
Get ready for a dozen phrases or words that Spanish speakers use all the time in the way they greet and deal with each other. Start sounding like a native speaker yourself by adding these to your Spanish vocabulary, and find out how to respond when someone else greets you with one of these expressions.
¿Qué tal?
You use the greeting "¿Qué tal?" (keh tahl) (How are things?) when meeting someone you already know. This phrase is easy to pronounce and immediately gives the impression of someone speaking the language fluently.
¿Quiubo?
"¿Quiubo?" (keeoo-boh?) (What's up?) is very similar in its effect to "¿Qué tal?", but it's even more colloquial. You only use this phrase, which is common in Chile and a few other countries, with someone you know well and with whom you have an informal relationship.
"¿Quiubo?" is a compression of the phrase "¿qué hubo?" (keh oo-bvoh), meaning "What happened?" To really sound like an insider, let "¿Quiubo?" just flow out of your mouth, as though you were saying queue-boh.
¿Qué pasó?
In Mexico you frequently hear "¿Qué pasó?" (keh pah-soh) (What's up? [Literally: What happened?])
This phrase may seem funny to you at first. Someone sees another person and cries out "¿Qué pasó?" as though they've been separated just before some big event and now want to know what happened. That's what the phrase means, but its use is much broader.
Even people who barely know each other and haven't seen one another for ages can use this greeting. In any case, when you use it in Mexico do so with someone you've seen at least once before. You'll sound like you've been there forever.
¿Cómo van las cosas?
"¿Cómo van las cosas?" (koh-moh bvahn lahs koh-sahs) (How are things going?) Well-educated people use this very gentle greeting to express concern. People also use this phrase in cases where they've met the other person before.
"¿Cómo van las cosas?" is more appropriate than "¿Quiubo?" or "¿Qué pasó?" when greeting someone who is older than you or someone to whom you want to show your respect.
¡Del uno!
"¡Del uno!" (dehl oo-noh) (First rate!). This phrase is common in Chile, but you may hear it in other places as well. Its meaning is clear, even if you haven't heard it before. A little ditty goes with this:
"¿Cómo estamos?," dijo Ramos. (koh-moh ehs-tah-mohs dee-Hoh rah-mohs) ("How are things? [Literally: How are we?]" said Ramos.)
"¡Del uno!," dijo Aceituno. (dehl oo-noh dee-Hoh ah-sehee-too-noh) ("First rate!" said Aceituno.)
Ramos and Aceituno are just family names used to call out the rhyme. You'll sound like one of the bunch with this one.
¿Cuánto cuesta?
"¿Cuánto cuesta?" (kooahn-toh kooehs-tah) (How much does it cost?) You ask this question when you're shopping and need to know the price.
¿A cuánto?
"¿A cuánto?" (ah-kooahn-toh) (How much?) is very similar to "¿Cuánto cuesta?" except that this phrase may imply that you're asking the price of several things grouped together, as in "¿A cuánto la docena?" (ah-kooahn-toh lah doh-seh-nah) (How much for the dozen?). You'll seem like an expert shopper when you use this one.
¡Un asalto!
You may think that exclaiming "¡Un asalto!" (oon ah-sahl-toh) (A holdup!) in the midst of bargaining for a lower price is hyping things up a bit. However, adding hype to your speech can be useful — at least the vendor knows that you're familiar with this phrase that shows your indignation.
This phrase is also useful when you really are indignant.
¡Una ganga!
Vendors often use the phrase "¡Una ganga!" (oo-nah gahn-gah) (A bargain!) when trying to sell you an item. You can show your familiarity with the language when you use this expression to boast about a really good buy.
¡Buen provecho!
¡Buen provecho! (bvooehn proh-bveh-choh!) ("Enjoy your meal!" or "Bon appetit!" [Literally: Good profit!])
Imagine that you're sitting at the table, soup spoon in hand, ready to begin your meal and about to dip it into a cup of steaming soup. In order to sound like a native, you want to say — at this exact moment — "¡Buen provecho!" before someone else does.
"¡Buen provecho!" is also the right thing to say when you set a tray of food in front of your guests.
¡Salud!
"¡Salud!" (sah-lood) (Health!) has two usages:
- You use this word when giving a toast as a way to say "Cheers!"
- You use this word after someone sneezes — it's the Spanish equivalent of "Bless you," to which you answer, "¡Gracias!"
¡Buen viaje!
You hear the phrase "¡Buen viaje!" (bvooehn bveeah-Heh) (Have a good trip!) all around you in train stations, airports, and bus terminals. Use this expression when you want to wish those you care for a safe trip.
| 
