Basic Words

1. Sí

   Yes

   Usage

   The shortest affirmative reply; use it to confirm anything

   Grammar Note

   Yes is sí (with the accent); no is non, and nun before a verb

2. Non

   No

   Usage

   The stand-alone answer "no"; also works to decline an offer

   Grammar Note

   Before a verb use nun (Nun entiendo); non is for stand-alone answers

3. Por favor

   Please

   Usage

   Added before or after a request; it also stands alone

   Grammar Note

   favor is masculine (el favor). Works in both formal and everyday speech

4. Gracies

   Thank you

   Usage

   The basic word for thanks; fine with anyone

   Grammar Note

   Ends in -es, not Spanish -as. For emphasis: Munches gracies

5. Perdone

   Excuse me

   Usage

   A polite "excuse me" for getting someone's attention or asking to pass

   Grammar Note

   The formal form, addressed to someone you call usté; with friends use Perdona. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

6. Perdón

   Sorry

   Usage

   For apologising after a bump or a small mistake

   Grammar Note

   From the masculine noun el perdón. A more polite form is Perdonáime

7. Ta bien

   It's OK / I'm fine

   Usage

   Used to answer "that's fine" or "I'm OK"

   Grammar Note

   State is expressed with tar (ta), not ser. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

8. Nun entiendo

   I don't understand

   Usage

   To say you do not follow what was said

   Grammar Note

   The negation before a verb is nun (not non). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

9. Entiendo

   I understand

   Usage

   To tell someone you have understood

   Grammar Note

   The subject yo is dropped. entender has the stem change ie. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

10. Yá acabé

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    To say you have finished a meal, a form or a task

    Grammar Note

    yá means "already" (Spanish ya). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

11. Espere, por favor

    Please wait

    Usage

    A polite way to ask staff or a clerk to wait

    Grammar Note

    For usté the -ar imperative ends in -e. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

12. Un momentu

    Just a moment

    Usage

    A short request to wait a little

    Grammar Note

    Masculine nouns end in -u (momentu, not Spanish momento)

13. Un adultu, por favor

    One adult, please

    Usage

    Said at a ticket desk to ask for one adult ticket

    Grammar Note

    Masculine nouns end in -u (adultu). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

14. Nun tengo reserva

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    For when you arrive at a hotel or restaurant without a booking

    Grammar Note

    reserva is feminine. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

15. Tengo una reserva

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    To announce your booking at a hotel or restaurant

    Grammar Note

    tener means "to have", unlike the existential hai. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

16. Ayudáime, por favor

    Please help me

    Usage

    To ask for help; the plural or more courteous form

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative takes me and carries the accent: Ayudáime

17. Otra vegada, por favor

    Once more, please

    Usage

    To ask someone to repeat something

    Grammar Note

    "Once more" is otra vegada (not Spanish otra vez). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

18. Fale más lentu, por favor

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    To ask the other person to speak more slowly

    Grammar Note

    "Speak" is falar (not hablar), and lentu "slow" is written with a single l- (not ll-). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

19. Falo un pocu d'asturianu

    I speak a little Asturian

    Usage

    To say you speak a little Asturian

    Grammar Note

    pocu is the masculine form (-u); d' is the elided de. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

20. ¿Fala inglés?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask whether someone speaks English

    Grammar Note

    Language names are lowercase (inglés). With usté the verb is in the 3rd person. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

21. esto

    This

    Usage

    Used to point at something near you: "this"

    Grammar Note

    The neuter demonstrative ends in -o; before a masculine noun it is esti

22. eso

    That (near you)

    Usage

    Used to point at something near the listener: "that"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter demonstrative; before a masculine noun it is esi

23. aquello

    That (over there)

    Usage

    Used to point at something far from both of you: "that"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter demonstrative; before a masculine noun it is aquel

24. equí

    Here

    Usage

    Points to a place close to the speaker

    Grammar Note

    "Here" is equí; the Spanish-looking aquí is also listed, but equí is the base form

25. ehí

    There

    Usage

    Points to a place close to the listener

    Grammar Note

    ehí is near the listener; ellí is far from both

26. ellí

    Over there

    Usage

    Points to a place far from both speaker and listener

    Grammar Note

    ellí refers to a place far from both speaker and listener

27. yo

    I

    Usage

    The word for "I"

    Grammar Note

    The subject pronoun can be dropped (Falo = I speak)

28. usté

    You (formal)

    Usage

    A polite "you" for elders or people you do not know well

    Grammar Note

    Takes a 3rd-person verb; also spelled vusté. In everyday speech people mostly use tu

29. xuntos

    Together

    Usage

    Used when doing something together with someone

    Grammar Note

    The letter x stands for /ʃ/ (xuntos); it is not Spanish juntos

30. agora mesmu

    Right now

    Usage

    Used to stress "right now"

    Grammar Note

    agora means "now", and mesmu has the -u ending (not Spanish mismo). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

31. una persona

    One person

    Usage

    Used to give the number of people (one)

    Grammar Note

    persona is feminine; the plural is persones

32. dos persones

    Two people

    Usage

    Used to give the number of people (two)

    Grammar Note

    Feminine plurals end in -es (persones)

33. tres persones

    Three people

    Usage

    Used to give the number of people (three)

    Grammar Note

    Feminine plurals end in -es (persones)

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