Phone manners

Question

Hello -

When one calls and asks to speak to someone, the casual inquiry is often simply: "is Erin there'" How do you say that in Spanish? Or is there a more common (although casual) way that natives of Mexico ask if someone's available to chat on the phone?

Thanks!

Answer 1

a couple of tricks my spanish teacher taught us once upon a time:

to the tune of london bridge:
destined person, place and time,
in order to, in order to become,
on the verge of, considering, purpose, use para.

to the tune of we three kings:
pray for, pay for, thank for, use por,
for the sake of, in exchange for,
motive, cause, in place of, duration,
by, per, through, for, use por.

Answer 2

Well my teacher taught me in this way-

para - for - action towards something/someone ,
for me - para mí
Song for him - canción para él.

Por - because of, on behalf of etc...- flow of actions from others. Song by him - canción por él.

I am just a beginner so wait for someone to answer it more correctly. Of course this is grammar so there might be many rules attached to this but I am going there step by step so this question still interests me.

Answer 3

In England, the translation would be "how do you say". About the only person using "one" today is our Queen.

Answer 4

Hi lazarus, will you explain por/reasons; para/targets a little more? It might help me as I'm still learning all their rules. Thanks!

Answer 5

Como se dice... = How do you say... (not necessarily "you", of course)

By the way, Gracias para consejo means "(Give) Thanks to consejo". "Por" gives reasons; "para" targets.

Answer 6

What did you say? means "¿Qué dijíste? (this is the verb decir in past tense)

Answer 7

Hola Bull!

Como esta usted?

"Como se dice'" Could that also mean "What did you say'"? I ask, because thats the way I was taught to use it, when I was little.

Gracias para consejo

Answer 8

Could you please explain it to me?
¿podrías explicármelo (la, las, los), por favor?

How can I say "explain it to me" in Spanish?
expliquémelo (la, las, los)

Also does "cómo se dice ..." mean "how can I say"?
How does one say ...

Answer 9

I got the English translation of "¿Puedo hablar con Erin'".
However didn't get the English Translation of another one. Could you please explain it to me?
How can I say "explain it to me" in Spanish?
Also does "cómo se dice ..." mean "how can I say"?

Gracias por tú ayuda.

Marco

Answer 10

Thanks!

Answer 11

¿Se encuentra Erin?
¿Puedo hablar con Erin'