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Lesson 88 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 88 of 238

It's too loud in Spanish

It's nighttime, and noise from a neighbor's place is keeping Justin awake.

In this lesson, you'll explain that the noise is a problem, ask someone to turn it down, and apologize naturally.

You'll also hear a short, kind reply when the noise was your mistake.

By the end of this lesson

Tell a neighbor the noise is a problem and apologize if you caused it.

  • Hay mucho ruidoIt's really loud
  • No me deja dormirI can't sleep
  • ¿Puedes bajarle?Can you turn it down?
  • Perdón, no me di cuentaSorry, I didn't realize
  • Ya le bajoI'll turn it down

Scene — noise through the door

It's nighttime in colonia El Laurel. Justin stands behind his apartment door while loud music comes from the neighbor's place.

The hallway is quiet except for the music, so Justin knocks and speaks kindly through the door.

A quiet colonia El Laurel apartment hallway under a clear blue sky, with Justin behind his closed apartment door and loud music visibly vibrating from a neighboring doorway.

Learn — reporting a noise problem

These five chunks help you describe loud noise, explain why it matters, make a polite request, and accept responsibility.

Learn each one as a complete piece.

  1. Justin kindly speaks through his apartment door toward the neighboring apartment while strong sound waves and rattling objects show that the music is very loud.

    Hay mucho ruido

    It's really loud

    When to use it: Say this to point out that there is a lot of noise.

    Hay means there is or there are; ruido means noise.

    Say it: AH-ee MOO-choh RROO-ee-doh

  2. Justin looks tired and worried beside his apartment door, gesturing toward a sleeping pillow while loud music continues from the neighboring apartment.

    No me deja dormir

    I can't sleep

    When to use it: Say this when noise or another problem keeps you from sleeping.

    Me deja means it lets me; with no, it means it doesn't let me.

    Say it: noh meh DEH-hah dor-MEER

  3. Justin politely knocks on the neighboring apartment door and raises one hand in a gentle request to reduce the music.

    ¿Puedes bajarle?

    Can you turn it down?

    When to use it: Ask someone familiar to lower the volume or intensity of something.

    Bajarle is a common Mexican way to say lower it or turn it down.

    Say it: PWEH-dess bah-HAR-leh

  4. Ya le bajo, and the sound drops.

    Perdón, no me di cuenta

    Sorry, I didn't realize

    When to use it: Apologize when you did something without noticing its effect.

    Di cuenta is part of the fixed phrase no me di cuenta, meaning I didn't realize.

    Say it: pehr-DON noh meh dee KWEHN-tah

  5. The conversation is short.

    Ya le bajo

    I'll turn it down

    When to use it: Promise to lower the volume right away after someone complains.

    Ya makes the promise immediate: I'll turn it down now.

    Say it: yah leh BAH-hoh

Story — a quick apology

Watch Justin handle a noisy night through the apartment door. The highlighted chunks are this lesson's new lines.

The neighbor responds kindly, and the conversation ends quickly. Turn on Show English if needed.

  1. It is late at night, and loud music comes through the wall.
  2. JustinHola. Buenas noches.Hi. Good evening.
  3. NeighborBuenas noches. ¿Qué pasa?Good evening. What's happening?
  4. JustinHay mucho ruido.It's really loud.
  5. JustinNo me deja dormir.I can't sleep.
  6. Justin¿Puedes bajarle?Can you turn it down?
  7. NeighborPerdón, no me di cuenta.Sorry, I didn't realize.
  8. NeighborYa le bajo.I'll turn it down.
  9. JustinNo te preocupes.Don't worry.
  10. The music stops. Justin finally closes the door and gets ready for bed.

Practice — quiet answers

You'll listen, match meanings, choose replies, fill gaps, and build a short request.

Pay attention to who caused the noise and what happens next.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    No me deja dormirDrop the English here
    ¿Puedes bajarle?Drop the English here
    Perdón, no me di cuentaDrop the English here
    Hola.Drop the English here
    Buenas noches.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    The music is loud, and you want your neighbor to lower the volume.

  4. Fill the gap

    I can't sleep

    No me deja ____

  5. What does it mean?

    Perdón, no me di cuenta

  6. True or false?

    This line promises to lower the volume now.

  7. Sort them

    Problem or effect

    Response or request

    Drag each line into its group, or tap a line and then a group.

  8. Find the mistake

  9. What do you say?

    Your neighbor apologizes for the noise and says he will turn it down now.

  10. Build the line

    Can you turn it down?

    ¿ ?

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — talk through the door

Now you're Justin, speaking through the door with your neighbor. Follow the exchange and say three useful complaint lines.

Tap ▶ to hear the model, then tap the microphone. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. NeighborBuenas noches. ¿Qué pasa?Good evening. What's happening?
  2. Justin (you)Tell him there is a lot of noise.

    Hay mucho ruido

    It's really loud

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Hay mucho ruidoIt's really loud
No me deja dormirI can't sleep
¿Puedes bajarle?Can you turn it down?
Perdón, no me di cuentaSorry, I didn't realize
Ya le bajoI'll turn it down
Next: lesson 89Brothers and sisters

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Review the cards later and practice making the request sound kind, not angry.

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