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Lesson 50 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 50 of 238

I'll have this in Spanish

Justin is at Café Laurel, ready to order coffee and something to eat. Michael is taking orders, and Yako has his own lunch plans.

You'll order an item, say it's to go, and ask whether it's spicy before taking a bite.

These short lines also help you ask for the check. Yako needs two chairs, but apparently only one taco.

By the end of this lesson

Order something, choose for here or to go, ask if it's spicy, and request the check.

  • Quisiera pedir ___I'd like to order ___
  • Un ___, por favorOne ___, please
  • ¿Me das ___?Can I get ___?
  • Para llevar, por favorTo go, please
  • ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?Can I get the check?
  • ¿Pica?Is it spicy?

Scene — Coffee and a taco

It's lunchtime at Café Laurel. Justin is looking at the menu while Michael waits beside the table.

Yako, a brown yak sitting on two chairs, has already spotted the tacos. His lunch order is smaller than his seating arrangement.

Justin studies a picture menu while Michael waits beside the table and Yako eagerly eyes a small plate of tacos.

Learn — Make your order

There are six lines to learn. Tap ▶ and say each one aloud.

Fill the blanks with what you want, and keep the rest together.

  1. Justin begins his order by pointing to a food illustration on the menu while speaking to Michael.

    Quisiera pedir ___

    I'd like to order ___

    When to use it: Use this to begin a polite food or drink order.

    Fill the blank with your order, such as un café.

  2. Justin holds up one finger and points toward a taco illustration as he politely requests one taco.

    Un ___, por favor

    One ___, please

    When to use it: Ask for one item, such as a taco or coffee.

    This frame fits masculine words, like taco and café.

  3. Justin points to a coffee illustration and makes an open-handed request while Michael listens.

    ¿Me das ___?

    Can I get ___?

    When to use it: Ask someone you address casually for something.

    Fill the blank with the thing you want.

  4. Justin requests his food to go by gesturing toward a plain takeaway bag and wrapped taco.

    Para llevar, por favor

    To go, please

    When to use it: Tell the server you'll take your order away.

  5. With his coffee cup empty, Justin politely asks Michael for the check as Michael offers a blank bill slip.

    ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?

    Can I get the check?

    When to use it: Politely ask a server for the check when you're finished.

    This is a more formal way to ask your server.

  6. Justin points at a taco and nearby chili peppers while asking Michael whether the food is spicy.

    ¿Pica?

    Is it spicy?

    When to use it: Ask whether food or sauce is spicy before trying it.

    Say it: Say PEE-kah, with the first part stronger.

Story — One taco, two chairs

Watch Justin check the taco before ordering it for here. Yako chooses a different destination for his lunch.

Follow the highlighted lines, and use Show English when you need help.

  1. JustinQuisiera pedir un café.I'd like to order a coffee.
  2. MichaelClaro.Sure.
  3. Justin¿Me das un taco?Can I get a taco?
  4. Justin points at the taco on the menu before Michael writes it down.
  5. Justin¿Pica?Is it spicy?
  6. MichaelNo.No.
  7. JustinPara comer aquí.For here.
  8. YakoUn taco, por favor.One taco, please.
  9. YakoPara llevar, por favor.To go, please.
  10. Michael serves Justin's lunch and hands Yako a bag. Yako keeps both chairs.
  11. MichaelAquí tienes.Here you go.
  12. After lunch, Justin's coffee cup is empty. He asks Michael for some water.
  13. JustinQuisiera agua.I'd like some water.
  14. MichaelClaro.Sure.
  15. Michael brings the water. Justin is ready to pay.
  16. Justin¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?Can I get the check?

Practice — Choose what to say

Try ten exercises that mix listening, matching, and choosing what to say.

Keep trying or use the skip button. Each explanation helps you understand the answer.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Quisiera pedir ___Drop the English here
    Un ___, por favorDrop the English here
    ¿Me das ___?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You're taking your taco home. Tell Michael to pack it to go.

  4. What does it mean?

    Quisiera ___

  5. What do you say?

    You'll eat your lunch at the café. Tell Michael it's for here.

  6. True or false?

    This question asks whether the food is spicy.

  7. What does it mean?

    ¿Me das ___?

  8. What do you say?

    Your coffee is finished. Politely ask the server to bring the check.

  9. What does it mean?

    Un ___, por favor

  10. Build the line

    To go, please

    ,

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — Your turn to order

You play Justin, and Michael speaks first. Order coffee for here and a taco to take away.

Tap the microphone to answer or ▶ for the model. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Michael¿Qué quieres?What do you want?
  2. Justin (you)Say you'd like to order a coffee.

    Quisiera pedir ___

    I'd like to order ___

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Quisiera pedir ___I'd like to order ___
Un ___, por favorOne ___, please
¿Me das ___?Can I get ___?
Para llevar, por favorTo go, please
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?Can I get the check?
¿Pica?Is it spicy?
Next: lesson 51The same, please

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep your ordering lines handy with Yak Cards. A short review helps before your next café visit.

Practice ordering one item and asking if it's spicy before you take a bite.

Open Yak Cards