Some basic phrase translations :)

Question

Hi there,

I am moving to spain in just one week to teach english. I have been learning from duolingo, but am missing some key basic phrases. If someone could be so kind as to translate, I would be very grateful (I don't want to trust a computer translator!)

• how much is it?

• Where is the toilet? (and can this be used to substitute in other locations?)

• how are you?

• I have a peanut allergy

Thanks in advance!

Sam

Welcome to SpanishDict, Sam. A couple of corrections to your English: "English" should always be capitalized. "Duolingo" should be capitalized as it is a proper noun. - rac1, Aug 31, 2015

"Spain" should also be capitalized. Again, proper noun. - rac1, Aug 31, 2015

Forgive me for being a pain but do I take it that you have not done the course "Teaching English as a second language" or any course for that matter ? - ray76, Sep 1, 2015

Answer 1

How much is it?

¿Cuánto es? - How much is it? How much does it cost -¿Cuánto cuesta ? How much do they cost? - ¿Cuánto cuestan?

Where is the toilet? (and can this be used to substitute in other locations?)

¿Dónde está el baño ?
With Dónde está……… you can ask where any singular thing is. Where is the train station/ bus station/the supermarket etc ? ¿Dónde esta la estación de trenes /la estación de autobuses / el supermercado etc?
Use Dónde están for plural items. ¿Donde están mis llaves / los libros / mis zapatos etc. Where are my keys / the books /my shoes etc

How are you?

• ¿Cómo estás? - informal The letter S stuck on the end of está is not plural but what I call the friendly S used when speaking to someone that you would refer to as tú.
• ¿Como está? - formal version used when speaking to someone you would refer to as usted.
• ¿como estáis? – informal plural used when talking to people that you’re on first name terms with.
• ¿Como están? –formal version used when speaking to two or more people you’d refer to as ustedes. And then there’s the very casual ¿Qué tal? Which I think of as equal to the widely used but grammatically incorrect English greeting How’s things?

I have a peanut allergy - Tengo una alergia del cacahuete.

                                                                         **I hope this is useful. ¡Buena suerte!**

Answer 2

For very simple sentences such as these, try the Spanish dict automatic translator, it really is very good! For complicated sentences, I agree with you, one cannot trust machines. For your safety I suggest : Soy alérgico a los cacahuetes . ( that's for the peanut problem)

Answer 3

They seem to me to be basic tourist phrases except for the allergy one which if you are the sufferer you need to know perfectly and perhaps have written down. Are you from the UK or from further a field?

My preferred resources are Mi Vida Loca an interactive video on the BBC and Notes in Spanish. I am sure the phrases you need and much more will be there. Both sites have been mentioned here a number of times. Both start from beginner are free and use Spanish from Spain.

How long are you going for? Where are you going? I am sure you will have a lovely time. I could translate the phrases but am unclear how far your Spanish learning has gone is Where is ... is a phrase you should learn at an early stage (though understanding the answer can be tricky!)

¿Dónde están los aseos? Is one way of asking.

Answer 4

Thanks to all of you - very quick and all the information I need.

I am moving to Huesca, in the Aragon province for a 9 month initial contract

Have a great day,

Sam

Answer 5

•how much is it? cuanto vale, cuanto cuesta, cuanto es,

•Where is the toilet? (and can this be used to substitute in other locations?) donde esta el bano?

•how are you? como estas, como esta, como estamos, como estan,

•I have a peanut allergy soy alergico a los cacahuates