All Questions
Tagged with politeness or cortesía
49 questions
5
votes
2
answers
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views
Why can the third person plural also mean ‘you’ like second person but never ‘we‘ like first person?
For this sentence:
Siento decirles que quedan sin trabajo.
Why can quedan sometimes mean “you are” but never “we are”?
Is it because quedan is a third-person plural for quedar?
- 187
3
votes
1
answer
296
views
"How was yours?" response
Suppose someone asked you a question like "How was your lesson?" and you replied and then wanted to ask the same question in return ("How was yours?"). I understand you could repeat their question ...
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
416
views
¿Cómo se dirige a una policía?
En inglés (en EEUU por lo menos) hay el término néutro, respecto al género, de "officer." Y uno puede decir, «Yes/no, officer.» Así no se necesita decir, «Yes/no, ma'am/sir.»
Creo que en los países ...
- 1,698
5
votes
2
answers
862
views
'por fa' in place of 'por favor'
En la televisión he escuchado "por fa" en lugar de "por favor". ¿Cuánto tiempo ha estado usando la gente esta contracción? Lo he escuchado en las telenovelas de Univision. ¿Tiene Univision el español ...
- 61
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What's the difference between "agradezco" and "gracias"?
What's the difference between "agradezco" (from the verb 'agradecer') and "gracias"? Both mean "Thank you" but when would you use one over the other? Please explain making reference to the below ...
- 1,649
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How can I say that I want to have my food here when I'm in a cafe, not "para llevar"?
Is it simply "para aquí"?
I often get asked something when I'm making a payment, but I can't make out what it is they're asking me. I assume that that's related to "for here or for taking away", but ...
- 696
2
votes
2
answers
155
views
How to make an order in a coffeshop or a request in a semi-casual way? [duplicate]
In an ordinary, local street eatery or coffeeshop, how can I order food if not using "por favor"? And how can I make a request? Polite, but in a semi-casual way.
"¿Puedes darme una cuchara?"
or ...
- 696
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What are the different ways to say 'excuse me'?
I know to say: con permiso for excuse me. I usually use this when I need to walk past someone but are there other types of excuse me? Like for example I want to ask a stranger for directions or the ...
- 123
11
votes
1
answer
1k
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¿Qué formas de cortesía han existido en el español? ¿Qué se usaba antes del "por favor" nacido en el siglo XIX?
Elena Álvarez Mellado nos descubrió hace un ratillo en Twitter:
Acabo de descubrir a través de esta entrada de @semevadlalengua que la forma "por favor" no apareció hasta el siglo XIX http:/...
- 34.1k
3
votes
2
answers
8k
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¿Por qué decimos «¿Te importa si...?» para pedir permiso?
Cuando se está con otra(s) persona(s) y se quiere pedir su aprobación para hacer algo que quizá podría importunarla(s), una fórmula habitual para ello es lanzar la siguiente pregunta:
¿Te importa / ...
user13628
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
¿Cómo se pide comida amablemente/cortésmente?
Por lo general, para incorporar un tono amable en el diálogo, se usa el imperfecto de subjuntivo:
Mi hija quisiera una torta.
¿Qué otras maneras de pedir comida cortésmente existen? ...
2
votes
2
answers
4k
views
¿Acento en "que" en la siguiente frase: "No hay nada que agradecer"?
Sé que lo siguiente tiene acento en "que":
"No hay de qué."
Pero ¿qué hay con estas variantes?
"No hay de que agradecer."
"No hay nada que agradecer."
- 10.7k
4
votes
2
answers
703
views
What preposition follows "gracias"?
My local classical music radio station has an occasional feature about music from countries other than the usual central European classical tradition. They recently chose two pieces from Chile one of ...
- 6,066
4
votes
1
answer
557
views
¿Se considera el uso de los diminutivos una forma de lenguaje humilde?
Hace poco, en ¿Por qué en varios países de Latinoamérica se usan mucho los diminutivos?, uno de los puntos que se comentaron fue el uso de los diminutivos en frases como:
¿Le ...
- 77.8k
7
votes
2
answers
34k
views
Origen de "No hay de qué", ¿a qué se refiere "qué"?
Tras leer esta pregunta: What is the difference between "De nada" and "No hay de qué"?
Me preguntaba, ¿de dónde viene la expresión "no hay de qué"? En concreto me interesa ...
- 820
17
votes
8
answers
11k
views
Are there any more informal ways of saying "thanks" than "gracias"?
In English I might say thanks instead of thank you. In Portuguese I'd say valeu as an informal obrigado or, for a big thank you to a friend, you can also informally say obrigadão (the augmentative).
...
- 371
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Non-literal "de nada"?
In Spanish "de nada" is "you're welcome"; but a literal meaning of it is "of nothing" or "think nothing of it."
Is there a way of saying the same thing in a way that informs the listener that it was ...
- 245
3
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Origen de la cortesía de poner "yo" al final
Hemos investigado ya en otra pregunta que poner "yo" al final de una enumeración es solo cuestión de cortesía y no de lingüística:
Por razones de cortesía, es costumbre colocarlo en último lugar ...
- 77.8k
4
votes
1
answer
585
views
Can someone explain why 2nd person plural is used when speaking to a single person?
In the following excerpt of the book El Quijote: para estudiantes de español, the protagonist, Don Quijote, is addressing a man, but speaks to him using 2nd person plural:
Entonces vio a un niño ...
- 1,881
6
votes
2
answers
23k
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¿Es correcta la fórmula "estimados todos"?
Últimamente veo mucho usar la fórmula
Estimados todos:
en los encabezados de algunas cartas. ¿Es correcta dicha fórmula? En principio, lo sería si "todos" se usara como sustantivo, pero los ...
- 77.8k
7
votes
4
answers
16k
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¿Es "buen día" una forma de decir "hola" sin importar el momento del día?
En general, estamos de acuerdo en que Buenos días se dice por la mañana. Sin embargo, acabo de leer en un chat:
A — Buenos días.
B — uy buenas tardes por aquí, @A.
C — @B el saludo internacional es &...
- 34.1k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Polite ways of request (asking for something) in Spanish
I am struggling with polite questions. I am going to meet with a conductor and would like to ask the following question in Spanish: ‘Would you happen to have any scores so that we be able to follow ...
- 133
6
votes
4
answers
22k
views
How to close an email
What is a good way to close an email in Spanish? I need something equal to closing with Best, in English to write back to a Spanish speaking colleague.
- 163
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to translate "I'm sorry for trying"?
Does
Lo siento por lo haber intentado.
work?
Or does it have to be haberlo intentado?
- 131
6
votes
1
answer
607
views
¿Cuál es la razón por la que se corrije "yo y tú" a "tú y yo"?
Desde niño he sabido que "el burro por delante", y siempre se debe poner uno mismo al final de una lista de pronombres ("Juan, Paco y yo", en lugar de "yo, Juan y Paco"), sin embargo, ¿cuál es la ...
- 73
4
votes
1
answer
675
views
¿Existe o ha existido algún tratamiento de cortesía para la tercera persona del singular?
En español existe una forma de tratamiento de cortesía para la primera persona del singular, denominada el plural mayestático, que consiste en usar nos en lugar de yo, usada especialmente por reyes y ...
- 77.8k
9
votes
4
answers
21k
views
¿Qué sentido tiene la expresión "mejorando lo presente"?
Imaginemos que vamos tres personas por la calle: dos chicos y una chica. De repente nos cruzamos con una chica la mar de guapa y ambos chicos decimos "uau, qué guapa". Ante la certidumbre de que el ...
- 34.1k
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the polite way to order food/drinks?
I often feel as though I may be coming across rude when ordering in Spanish.
In English I would say something like:
1) Could I have a coffee please?
2) Can I have a coffee please?
3) I'll have a ...
- 41
8
votes
2
answers
8k
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¿Cómo expresar "sympathy" o "condolence" en español?
Ya sé que esta pregunta es un poco general, así que voy a tratar de especificar:
Digamos que un pariente de un amigo murió. ¿Cuáles son algunas palabras/frases que yo podría usar? ¿O que escribiría en ...
- 1,855
1
vote
2
answers
717
views
How to correctly ask a bartender for a drink in Madrid?
I've seen various versions but not sure what would be an acceptable polite phrase. In Mexico a bartender told me it's "ME DAS un mojito, por favor", in Barcelona a waitress told me I can just say "...
- 113
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Translation of "We look forward to assisting you" in spanish [closed]
I'm working on translating a script for a service desk, but I'm stumped at finding an equivalent for the ending phrase "we look forward to assisting you" in spanish. What would you advise to be a good ...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
5k
views
How do you write an invitation to dinner in spanish?
How would sound an invitation to dinner in spanish? For example:
Would you like to have dinner with me next week?
or maybe there is a specific phrase?
Thanks
- 113
3
votes
4
answers
13k
views
What is the proper way to get someone's attention?
Say I'm walking and I want the attention of someone. What do I say/shout? I'm especially looking for situations where the person is a stranger, but I would like to be polite. In English, you would use ...
- 1,855
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to say Thanks for confirming? "Gracias por confirmar" or "Gracias por haber confirmado"?
What is the correct translation of "Thanks for confirming"?
Gracias por confirmar (futuro)
or
Gracias por haber confirmado (pasado)
- 73
1
vote
3
answers
217
views
How to make (impolite?) suggestions like "How about you don't ..."?
I understand that phrasing a statement like this in English is usually considered a bit impolite, I am just wondering how it is done in Spanish or if there is an equivalent?
"How about you ..."
e....
- 13
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
"Leísmo de cortesía" and consistency
I've read about the "leísmo de cortesía" i.e. the use of "le" and "les" as direct object pronouns when referring to a person or group you are addressing formally.
Most of my learning resources never ...
- 193
36
votes
7
answers
499k
views
Why is "De nada" used as a response to "Gracias"?
De means "of", and nada means "nothing", so why, when put together, are they used in response to Gracias?
- 479
5
votes
1
answer
203
views
Which language do I use to address Spanish speaker in America?
English
Many times, I have wanted to start a conversation or ask a question of a stranger who I have seen speaking Spanish. Considering that I am in the United States, is it better to begin speaking ...
- 1,840
20
votes
13
answers
110k
views
What is the difference between "De nada" and "No hay de qué"?
I am learning Spanish and ran across "De nada" and "No hay de qué". Both mean "You're welcome". What's the difference?
- 517
5
votes
3
answers
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Ways to say "you're welcome"
The "textbook" way to say "you're welcome" in Spanish is de nada. English has many ways to express this:
You're welcome.
No problem.
Don't worry about it.
My pleasure.
What other ways are there in ...
- 17.8k
6
votes
1
answer
314
views
Polite terms for excrement
There are many vulgar terms for excrement, but what are the non-vulgar, polite ones (used in medical settings, or with children, or among adults in polite conversation)?
- 17.8k
5
votes
3
answers
5k
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Proper response to "con permiso"
When someone says con permiso, for example when squeezing through a crowd, what is the appropriate response? For example, in English we might say something like "sorry" or "go ahead."
- 17.8k
17
votes
2
answers
152k
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When is it appropriate to say "buenos días"?
English
It looks like "buenos días" is most commonly translated as "good morning," although apparently it can mean "good day" as well (like a literal translation would ...
- 1,722
16
votes
4
answers
26k
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Is there a Spanish equivalent to Ms.?
As far as I can tell, the honorifics to address a woman are:
Señora (Sra.) which is equivalent to "Mrs." and is used to address a married woman;
Señorita (Srta.) which is equivalent to "Miss" and is ...
- 1,722
14
votes
5
answers
90k
views
Are there any differences between "de nada" and "por nada"?
Most of the time in all the Spanish speaking countries I've been in I've heard de nada as the reply to gracias or the equivalent of English you're welcome etc.
But after a while I became conscious ...
- 5,254
10
votes
1
answer
5k
views
¿Cuál es el uso correcto de "Perdón", "permiso", "disculpa", ...?
I always struggle with the correct usage of the various ways one could say the equivalent of I'm sorry or Excuse me. Of course there are many reasons I would say these things and I was often looking ...
- 583
4
votes
3
answers
34k
views
Responding to an apology (no problem, don't worry about it, etc.)
What are the common ways of responding to an apology? In English, if someone says "Sorry I didn't/couldn't do (whatever)" (or simply bumps into you accidentally and says "sorry") we'd say things like:
...
- 17.8k
14
votes
4
answers
14k
views
Is it bad to address a young male as "señor"?
I was recently in Mallorca, at a restaurant I address the waiter as "señor".
He was probably in his early 30's, he said that I should not use señor, but another word (which I unfortunately don't ...
- 249
52
votes
12
answers
33k
views
How should I ask someone to repeat something they've said?
How should I ask someone to repeat something they've said?
When I learned Spanish in school, I was taught to never say "¿Qué?" when I needed someone to repeat something they just said. Rather I was ...
- 2,607