La Cortesía (Courtesy)
Even if you can't speak the language in another country, being polite will always help. Here are the expressions you need:
- por favor (please)
- gracias (thank you)
- muchas gracias (thanks a lot)
- de nada (you're welcome)
- con permiso (excuse me): used for the following situations:
- to take leave (like "May I be excused from the table?")
- to get by someone (for example, in the crowded hall)
- perdón (excuse me): used for all the other reasons to say "excuse me"
- when you bump into someone
- burps and other "windy situations"
- to ask someone to repeat themselves
- to interrupt someone
- etc.
- lo siento (I'm sorry)
- con mucho gusto (I'd be happy to...)
- Don't confuse this with "Mucho gusto!" (Pleased to meet you.)
Which expressions would you use in the following situations?
- You drop your book in the hallway, and someone picks it up.
- You don't hear what your friend is saying.
- You want cheese on your hot dog, so you say, "Con queso _______________."
- You are finished with your dinner, and you want to go to your room to study for your Spanish test.
- You run into Sra. Koss in the hallway.
- Sra. Koss asks you to run to the oficina to pick up photocopies.
- Sra. Koss says "gracias".
- You burp in Spanish class.