Culture & Etiquette

1. ¿Ónde puedo ver un espectáculu de baille tradicional?

   Where can I watch a traditional dance show?

   Usage

   To find a performance of local traditional dancing; ask at a tourist office or your lodging

   Grammar Note

   "Dance" is baille (Spanish baile) and "show" is espectáculu (ending -u). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

2. ¿Cuála ye la costume al saludar?

   What is the custom when greeting?

   Usage

   To ask how people greet each other, for instance a handshake or a kiss on the cheek; reassuring to check before a first meeting

   Grammar Note

   Costume can be masculine or feminine; here it is feminine with la. A + el contracts to al. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

3. ¿Cuándo ye'l Día d'Asturies?

   When is Asturias Day?

   Usage

   To ask the date of the regional holiday, which falls on 8 September each year, the feast of the Virgin of Covadonga

   Grammar Note

   Ye + el contracts to ye'l; Asturies has the feminine plural -es (Spanish Asturias). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

4. ¿Hai dalgún tabú cultural qu'hai que conocer?

   Are there any cultural taboos I should know about?

   Usage

   To ask in advance what to avoid so you do not offend anyone; ask a local or your host

   Grammar Note

   "There is" is hai (Spanish hay); qu'hai que means "that has to be done". Composed sentence; native review recommended.

5. Préstame muncho l'arquiteutura asturiana

   I love Asturian architecture

   Usage

   To compliment local buildings such as the pre-Romanesque churches; a good conversation opener with guides and locals

   Grammar Note

   "Architecture" is arquiteutura (Spanish arquitectura, with ut for ct); the adjective takes the feminine asturiana. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

6. ¿Qué quier dicir esta tradición?

   What does this tradition mean?

   Usage

   To have a local explain the meaning of a custom or event in front of you

   Grammar Note

   Quier dicir means "means"; tradición is feminine and spelled as in Spanish. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

7. ¿Puedo mercar artesanía d'equí?

   Can I buy local crafts here?

   Usage

   To ask whether locally made crafts are sold; useful in markets and gift shops

   Grammar Note

   "To buy" is mercar (not Spanish comprar); de + equí contracts to d'equí. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

8. ¿Qué ye una espicha?

   What is an espicha?

   Usage

   An espicha is a festive gathering in Asturias and León where a new barrel of cider is tapped and shared. It is worth asking whether you can join one

   Grammar Note

   Espicha is a feminine noun related to the verb espichar, to tap a barrel. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

9. Prestaríame deprender unos pasos de danza prima

   I would like to learn a few danza prima steps

   Usage

   The danza prima is a traditional Asturian dance in which people hold hands and move in a circle in time with the music. Use this to say you want to learn it

   Grammar Note

   "To learn" is deprender; danza prima is used as the dance's name. Composed sentence; native review recommended.

10. ¿Qué fai especial a esta rexón?

    What makes this region special?

    Usage

    To ask a local what they find special or proud about the area; a good way to widen a conversation

    Grammar Note

    "To do/make" is facer (Spanish hacer), third person singular fai; "region" is rexón (Spanish región, with x for g). Composed sentence; native review recommended.

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