Hello — ready to practice casual office Spanish? This short lesson focuses on everyday coworker phrases you can use between tasks or at break time. Keep it relaxed: listen, repeat, then try using the lines aloud.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice common workplace small talk in Spanish — asking how someone's day or weekend went, commenting on a busy day, offering coffee, and checking plans after work. CEFR-aligned phrases help you start short, natural conversations with coworkers.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Ask and answer simple questions about the day and the weekend in a workplace context (Level B1).
Use friendly offers and invites like grabbing coffee or taking a quick break.
Comment about a busy day and mention adjusting to new routines.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
¿Cómo va tu día hasta ahora?
How's your day going so far?
Meaning: How's your day going so far?
When to use: Ask a coworker how their day is going in a friendly, neutral way during the workday.
¿Cómo va tu día hasta ahora? ¿Mucho trabajo?
How's your day going so far? A lot of work?
Hola, ¿cómo va tu día hasta ahora? Yo he tenido varias llamadas.
Hi, how's your day going so far? I've had several calls.
¿Qué tal tu fin de semana?
How was your weekend?
Meaning: How was your weekend?
When to use: Use this friendly question on Monday or after a coworker returns from time off.
¿Qué tal tu fin de semana? ¿Fuiste a algún lugar?
How was your weekend? Did you go anywhere?
¡Buenos días! ¿Qué tal tu fin de semana?
Good morning! How was your weekend?
¿Hiciste algo divertido el fin de semana?
Did you do anything fun over the weekend?
Meaning: Did you do anything fun over the weekend?
When to use: Ask when you want more detail about a coworker's free-time activities.
¿Hiciste algo divertido el fin de semana? Vi fotos en tu Instagram.
Did you do anything fun over the weekend? I saw photos on your Instagram.
¿Hiciste algo divertido el fin de semana o descansaste en casa?
Did you do anything fun over the weekend or rest at home?
Ha sido un día pesado, pero ahí va.
It's been a busy day, but it's going okay.
Meaning: It's been a busy day, but it's going okay.
When to use: Give a brief, casual response when asked about your day and you're a bit tired.
Tip: Beginners may translate “pesado” as physically heavy; here it means demanding or tiring.
Ha sido un día pesado, pero ahí va; aún falta una reunión.
It's been a busy day, but it's going okay; there's still one meeting left.
¿Cómo estás? — Ha sido un día pesado, pero ahí va.
How are you? — It's been a busy day, but it's going okay.
Hoy está bastante pesado, ¿no?
It's pretty busy today, isn't it?
Meaning: It's pretty busy today, isn't it?
When to use: Comment on a shared busy schedule to create rapport with coworkers.
Hoy está bastante pesado, ¿no? Tengo tres entregas.
It's pretty busy today, isn't it? I have three deadlines.
Hoy está bastante pesado, ¿no? Todos estamos en la misma.
It's pretty busy today, isn't it? We're all in the same boat.
Voy por un café. ¿Quieres algo?
I'm going to grab coffee. Do you want anything?
Meaning: I'm going to grab coffee. Do you want anything?
When to use: Offer to bring a coworker a drink or snack when you take a break.
Voy por un café. ¿Quieres algo? Puedo traer té también.
I'm going to grab coffee. Do you want anything? I can bring tea too.
Voy por un café, ¿quieres algo? Vuelvo en cinco minutos.
I'm going to grab coffee, do you want anything? I'll be back in five.
¿Quieres tomar un descansito?
Do you want to take a quick break?
Meaning: Do you want to take a quick break?
When to use: Invite a coworker to step away briefly for rest or a short walk.
Tip: Some learners overuse “descansito”; it's informal and best with colleagues you know.
¿Quieres tomar un descansito? Podemos caminar hasta la plaza.
Do you want to take a quick break? We can walk to the plaza.
Si estás cansado, ¿quieres tomar un descansito antes de la reunión?
If you're tired, do you want to take a quick break before the meeting?
¿Tienes planes después del trabajo?
Do you have any plans after work?
Meaning: Do you have any plans after work?
When to use: Ask about after-work plans without getting too personal—good for casual conversation.
¿Tienes planes después del trabajo? Podríamos ir por una pizza.
Do you have any plans after work? We could go for pizza.
¿Tienes planes después del trabajo o te quedas a terminar eso?
Do you have plans after work or are you staying to finish that?
No puedo creer que ya sea viernes.
I can't believe it's already Friday.
Meaning: I can't believe it's already Friday.
When to use: Share a light comment about how fast the week flew by, common on Fridays.
No puedo creer que ya sea viernes. Esta semana voló.
I can't believe it's already Friday. This week flew by.
No puedo creer que ya sea viernes; necesito descansar.
I can't believe it's already Friday; I need to rest.
Todavía me estoy acostumbrando a ___.
I'm still getting used to ___.
Meaning: I'm still getting used to ___.
When to use: Mention adjusting to a new routine, tool, or workplace habit.
Tip: Learners sometimes forget to add the object (a lo que te estás acostumbrando). Include the thing you're adjusting to.
Todavía me estoy acostumbrando a los horarios de la oficina nueva.
I'm still getting used to the new office hours.
Todavía me estoy acostumbrando a usar ese sistema para reportes.
I'm still getting used to using that reporting system.
¿Llevas mucho trabajando aquí?
Have you worked here long?
Meaning: Have you worked here long?
When to use: Ask a coworker about their tenure in a casual, friendly way.
¿Llevas mucho trabajando aquí? Se nota que conoces bien al equipo.
Have you worked here long? It shows you know the team well.
¿Llevas mucho trabajando aquí o eres nuevo?
Have you worked here long or are you new?
¿Qué sueles hacer para comer?
What do you usually do for lunch?
Meaning: What do you usually do for lunch?
When to use: Ask about someone's midday routine or habits in a friendly way.
¿Qué sueles hacer para comer? A veces traigo comida de casa.
What do you usually do for lunch? I sometimes bring food from home.
¿Qué sueles hacer para comer cuando no quieres salir?
What do you usually do for lunch when you don't want to go out?
¿Sabes de un buen lugar para comer ___ por aquí?
Do you know a good place to get ___ around here?
Meaning: Do you know a good place to eat ___ around here?
When to use: Ask for a local recommendation for a specific food or drink near the office.
¿Sabes de un buen lugar para comer tacos por aquí?
Do you know a good place to eat tacos around here?
¿Sabes de un buen lugar para comer algo ligero por aquí?
Do you know a good place to eat something light around here?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna sees David near the coffee machine and starts a quick check-in.
What short topics do they talk about?
Anna
¿Cómo va tu día hasta ahora?
How's your day going so far?
David
Ha sido un día pesado, pero ahí va.
It's been a busy day, but it's going okay.
Anna
Voy por un café. ¿Quieres algo?
I'm going to grab coffee. Do you want anything?
David
No puedo creer que ya sea viernes. ¿Tienes planes después del trabajo?
I can't believe it's already Friday. Do you have plans after work?
Anna
Todavía me estoy acostumbrando a los horarios, así que tal vez no.
I'm still getting used to the hours, so maybe not.
David
Entonces mejor descansa. ¿Quieres tomar un descansito ahora?
Then better rest. Do you want to take a quick break now?
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase would you use to ask a coworker about their weekend?
If your coworker looks tired and you want to suggest a short rest, which phrase fits?
Choose the phrase you would say before heading to the coffee machine to offer to bring something back.
Which sentence best expresses surprise that the week passed quickly?
Before the meeting, I tell my colleague: Do you want to take a quick break?
Antes de la reunión, le digo a mi compañera: ___.
I see Marco looking tired and I ask: I'm going to grab coffee. Do you want anything?
Veo a Marco con cara cansada y le pregunto: ___.
When greeting the new person I ask: Have you worked here long?
Al saludar al nuevo le pregunto: ___.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
