Spanish phrases for housekeeping/communicating with maids

Question

¡Holá todos!

Aprendí español en la universidad, pero he olvidado mucho. Ahora, una señora viene a mi casa una vez cada dos semanas. Quiero hablar con ella, pero tengo miedo! Voy a practicar aquí, por favor corregir y añadir!

• Como está su familia? (How is your family)
• Necesita algo? (Do you need anything)
• ¡Buenos días!
• Por favor, barre el piso. (Please, sweep the floor)
• Tenemos una fiesta esta noche, entonces, por favor puede limpiar el piso bajo primero? (We're having a party tonight, so could you clean the ground floor first? Ideally, I would like to say "so that you have enough time" at the end there, but I've forgotten how. Also, is piso bajo the best way to say ground floor? I seem to remember my Spanish teacher saying I shouldn't refer to the ground floor as "primero piso" because that would actually refer to the second floor. Is that right?)
• Quiere el agua, señora? (Would you like some water? I'm betting there is a more polite way to say this.)

**Hello moderators, I did read your forum rules prior to posting and searched for a relevant post. However, all the previous threads did not seem highly relevant for actually practicing these phrases (they just suggested ways to say 'maid.'), so I created a new one.

Hello! Welcome to the forum! =D - NikkiLR, Feb 13, 2012

Why thank you, that was quick! - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

Aprendí - Eddy, Feb 13, 2012

Corrected - thanks. - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

Answer 1

Try this website

link text

Perfect- thanks! Anyone have any thoughts on how to refer to the ground floor in Spanish? - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

Answer 2

Completely tongue in cheek, I hope you won't be offended, but your post reminded me of this. I removed the link as Paco found it offensive. It was simply a spoof video on youtube of a 'lesson' on how to speak to your nanny. The learners are very snooty upper class British women and the teacher gives them all sorts of incorrect, sometimes slightly rude phrases. To me it is very funny but I have no wish to offend anyone.

Haha, no, that was hilarious. Given that my proposed phrases are a little nicer, I'm hoping any proposed translations are a little less, shall we say, creative? :D - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

Also, if I come off as a spoiled, rich brat, know that she only comes once every 2-4 weeks! My family still does a lot of our own daily cleaning, it's just nice to have someone do a thorough job every once in a while. - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

Mary I am going to flag this , is repulsive and inappropriate' sorry! - pacofinkler, Feb 13, 2012

paco you have my respect but it really wasn't intened to be offensive, maybe it is the Bristih humour, to me it is just really hilarious. - MaryMcc, Feb 13, 2012

Casual, I amsure you are nothing like them. I know many lovely people who have help at home, and good for you for wanting to learn to communicate with her correctly. - MaryMcc, Feb 13, 2012

As paco found it offensive I guess others may too so I will remove it myself. - MaryMcc, Feb 13, 2012

Bummer - was amusing. Your sense of humor isn't completely lost on the other side of the pond! (Though it's spelled 'humor' Mary ;D ;D) - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

I understand mary and i am not above some rough humor- but not here - pacofinkler, Feb 14, 2012

Answer 3

Hi Patti

Someone did 320 of my suggestions - gracias mucho

Ian

I don't understand this answer... - casual_learner, Feb 13, 2012

This was posted in the wrong thread. Just disregard it... - sanlee, Feb 13, 2012