Asking For Service
Hello there! This is my first time posting on the answers section. Normally I can find the answer to a question but this one seems to have been answered more generally in terms of "Can I have?" rather than being in a bar, which is where I spend quite a lot of my time here in Spain.
My question is this: When I have been talking with my Spanish friends, and asking their advice on what I should say when asking for things like beer, food and the barman's attention, I get mixed answers every time. For example:
At first, I was told that puedo tener una cerveza is totally acceptable, only to have it completely ruled out by other friends, who then suggested that me puedes poner una cerveza was the best route to take. Other friends said that to a barman, that's a bit wordy, and that I should just say me pones una cerveza. So now, needless to say, I'm supremely confused about that. I'd be really grateful if anyone could solve this for me.
Also, when I was asking about how to get the waiter or barman's attention, hombre, tio, perdona & perdone are all totally acceptable in different circumstances. They were quite vague about when to use which though.
I'm sorry for making this post unnecessarily longer than it needs to be, I just wanted to be specific. And if anyone helps me to understand this a bit better, thank you in advance for your help!
Leon
7 Answers
I think my answer to this question may have been misread. i.e Hombre. I was simply quoting what I had heard in Spanish bars being said by a Spanish person to Spanish waiters or barmen. Nobody gave any indication that it may have been seen as being ill-mannered.
Over familiar in a bar? I don't think so - you must remember that sometimes colloquialism wins over text book. Usually the staff are far too busy to listen to a lengthy request although I personally start with Hola, or Me gustaria...........I can't cope with oiga or dame, that I think is rude but you do hear it - probably why the Brits use señor.
And the thing about: hombre, tío.... ¿What manners are these?.
You mustn't forget that this could be something familiar to a friend, but perhaps too familiar for a waiter. I mean, you must know him well. Not everybody could like this.
Mesero, mesera, mozo, señor, señorita. Una cerveza por favor, dos, tres, cuatro..cervezas por favor. After that, you can just say, mesero, mesera, etc, otra por favor!
Perdona, por favor.
Cuando puedas....
Cuando puedas, ¿me puedes poner una servesita?. (This is in Andalusia). I mean, some people could consider this pronunciation to be incorrect.
For the rest of Spain: cuando puedas, ¿me puedes poner una cerveza?.
Hi Leon
Just imagine you are in an English bar and requesting service. There are numerous ways to attract attention and to ask for a beer. Well the same thing applies in Spain and in Spanish which is why you are getting so many answers.
Quite simply - dos cervezas por favor.
To attract the waiter's attention the Spanish say, chica/chico/ You hear Oye/oiga or even hombre. Wait till Heidita steps in - she spends a lot of her time in Spanish bars so I'm sure will come up with some good alternatives.
The Brits. say Señor - which I find a bit strange as I think I am the Señora and my husband is Señor
“Perdona. Cuando puedas…” (Excuse me. Whenever you get a chance…”)
