Spanish 1/Shopping

Getting ready

 * buscar - to look for
 * comprar - to buy
 * vendedor(ora) - salesperson
 * ¿En qué puedo servirle? - How can I help you?
 * Necesito comprar... - I need to buy...
 * entrar - to enter
 * tienda - store
 * tienda de ropa - clothing store

Clothing

 * un abrigo - coat
 * una blusa - blouse
 * unas botas - boots
 * unos calcetines - socks
 * una camisa - shirt
 * una camiseta - T-shirt
 * una chaqueta - jacket
 * una falda - skirt
 * una gorra - cap
 * unos jeans - jeans
 * unos pantalones - pants
 * unos pantalones cortos - shorts
 * una sudadera - sweatshirt
 * un suéter - sweater
 * un traje - suit
 * un traje de baño - swimsuit
 * un vestido - dress
 * unos zapatos - shoes

Questions

 * ¿Cómo me queda(n)? - How does it (they) fit me?
 * ¿Cómo te queda(n)? - How does it (they) fit you?
 * Me queda(n) bien/mal. - It (they) fits me well/poorly.
 * Te queda(n) bien/mal. - It (they) fits you well/poorly.

Useful words

 * llevar - to wear
 * nuevo(a) - new
 * quizás - maybe
 * Perdón. - Excuse me.
 * ¡Vamos! - Let's go!

To talk about the price

 * ¿Cuánto cuesta...? - How much does...cost?
 * ¿Cuánto cuestan...? - How much do...cost?
 * ¿Cuál es el precio? - How much do...cost?
 * costar - to cost
 * precio - price
 * tanto - so much
 * Es muy caro(a) - it's too expensive
 * Son muy caros(as) - they are too expensive
 * Es muy barato(a) / económico(a) - it's very cheap
 * Son muy baratos(as) / económico(a)(s) - they are very cheap

Note: Costar conjugates with a stem change, like jugar, so the o becomes ue when conjugated.

Numbers: 200 to 1,000

 * doscientos(as) - two hundred
 * trescientos(as) - three hundred
 * cuatrocientos(as) - four hundred
 * quinientos(as) - five hundred
 * seiscientos(as) - six hundred
 * setecientos(as) - seven hundred
 * ochocientos(as) - eight hundred
 * novecientos(as) - nine hundred
 * mil - a thousand

To be correct

 * tener razón - to be correct

To be specific

 * los/las dos (ambos, ambas) - both
 * este, esta - this
 * estos, estas - these
 * ese, esa - that
 * esos, esas - those
 * aquel, aquella - that (over there)
 * aquellos, aquellas - those (over there)
 * ¿Qué es esto? - What is this?
 * ¿Qué es eso? - What is that?
 * ¿Qué es aquello? - What is that (over there)?

Note: This and these are used to describe something specific, while that and those can refer to either something by the person being spoken to (eso) or refer to something far away (aquello). The singular forms ending in -o are used to describe things where you don't even know the gender of the object.

Pensar (to think)
Pensar is another stem-changing verb like jugar. In pensar, the e changes to ie except in the nosotros(as) and vosotros(as) forms as always. Below is the conjugation for pensar:


 * pienso - I think
 * piensas - you think (singular)
 * piensa - he/she thinks
 * pensamos - we think
 * pensáis - you think (plural)
 * piensan - they think

Note: You should remember by now that usted & ustedes conjugate in the 3rd person form.

Preferir (to prefer)
Preferir is also another stem-changing verb like jugar and pensar. In preferir, the second e changes to ie, except in the nosotros(as) and vosotros(as) forms of course. Below is the conjugation for preferir:


 * prefiero - I prefer
 * prefieres - you prefer (singular)
 * prefiere - he/she prefers
 * preferimos - we prefer
 * preferís - you prefer (plural)
 * prefieren - they prefer

Note: Remember? Usted & ustedes conjugate in the 3rd person form.

Querer (to want)
Querer is yet another stem-changing verb like pensar. In querer, the first e changes to ie, except in the nosotros(as) and vosotros(as) forms of course. Below is the conjugation for querer:


 * quiero - I want
 * quieres - you want (singular)
 * quiere - he/she wants
 * queremos - we want
 * queréis - you want (plural)
 * quieren - they want

Note: It may be getting annoying, but you need to get this rule crammed into your brain: usted & ustedes conjugate in the 3rd person form.

Vocabulario adicional

 * bata - bathrobe
 * chaleco - vest
 * pantimedias - pantyhose
 * paraguas - umbrella
 * pijama - pajamas
 * ropa interior - underwear
 * saco - loose-fitting jacket
 * tenis - tennis shoes
 * zapatillas - slippers
 * zapatos deportivos - athletic shoes
 * chancletas - flip-flops
 * zapatos de tacón alto - high-heeled shoes

Cultural Insight (Shopping at the mall)
In Spanish-speaking countries, people tend to go to the mall to buy a specific thing instead of looking for new merchandise and enjoying the atmosphere. However, shoppers in Spanish-speaking countries also hang out with friends and family at the mall.

Country Focus (Ecuador)
Ecuador (Spanish: Ecuador) is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America (with Chile) that does not have a border with Brazil. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of the mainland. Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name, and has an area of 256,371 square kilometers (98,985 mi²). Its capital city is Quito; its largest city is Guayaquil.



Ecuador's mainstream culture is defined by its mestizo majority and, like their ancestry, is a mixture of European and Amerindian influences infused with African elements inherited from enslaved ancestors. Ecuador's indigenous communities are integrated into that mainstream culture to varying degrees, but some may also practice their own autochthonous cultures, particularly the more remote indigenous communities of the Amazon basin.

Factbox:

-Official Languages: Spanish

-Other Languages: Quechua, Native American languages

-Capital: Quito

-Government: Democracy

-Area: 283,561 sq km (98,985 sq mi) (73rd)

-Population: 14,790,608 (65th)



-Religion: Christianity (Catholic 69%, Mormon 1.4%, other Christian 24.6%) 95%, Buddhism 0.2%, other (Traditional beliefs, Judaism, Islam, Bahá'i) 4.8%

-Human Development: 0.806 (80th, HIGH)

-Independence: May 24, 1822

-Currency: U.S. Dollar