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Lesson 209 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 209 of 238

In short in Spanish

This lesson is about explaining one problem in a single, tidy pass: first, also, in short, that's all.

You'll learn the plain sequence Mexicans use at a counter, on the phone, or in a meeting when they want to be brief but complete.

By the end, you can lay out a whole problem, signal you're wrapping up, and check that the other person followed you.

By the end of this lesson

Explain one problem in order: first, also, in short, that's all.

  • Primero, ___First, ___
  • Además, ___Also, ___
  • En resumen, ___In short, ___
  • Eso es todoThat's all
  • ¿Quedó claro?Is that clear?
  • Una cosa más y terminoOne more thing and I'm done

Scene — one problem, one pass

A small shop in colonia El Laurel, mid-afternoon. Justin is at the counter with a box of electronics that all went wrong at once.

The clerk is listening patiently, and Yako is settled on two chairs by the door, following everything.

Inside a small electronics shop, Justin stands at the counter with a box of faulty devices while a patient clerk listens and Yako watches from two chairs by the door.

Learn — first, also, in short

Six small connectors build one clear structure: open with the first point, add the second, sum it up, then close and check.

The first three are frames, so you'll fill the blank with your own problem.

  1. Justin holds up one finger as he states the first problem to the clerk.

    Primero, ___

    First, ___

    When to use it: Open your explanation with this, right before the first point.

    It's an adverb here, so it never changes for gender or number.

    Say it: PREE-meh-roh, with the stress on the first syllable.

  2. Justin lifts a tangled cable from the box to add a second problem.

    Además, ___

    Also, ___

    When to use it: Use it to add a second point to what you just said.

    It works like besides or on top of that, so it fits problems well.

    Say it: ah-DEH-mahs, with the stress on deh.

  3. Justin makes a wrapping-up gesture with both hands as he summarizes.

    En resumen, ___

    In short, ___

    When to use it: Say this when you compress everything you said into one sentence.

    En resumen is neutral; in short and to sum up both work.

    Say it: The s in resumen sounds like the s in sun.

  4. Justin spreads his hands flat in a that's-all gesture.

    Eso es todo

    That's all

    When to use it: Close your explanation with this when there's nothing left to add.

    You'll also hear it at a market when you finish an order.

  5. Justin tilts his head and points to his own ear, asking if everything was clear.

    ¿Quedó claro?

    Is that clear?

    When to use it: Ask this after explaining, to check the other person followed you.

    Quedó is preterite, because you're asking about what was just said.

    Say it: Quedó keeps its stress on the last syllable: keh-DOH.

  6. Justin holds up a small broken gadget for one final remark.

    Una cosa más y termino

    One more thing and I'm done

    When to use it: Say this to warn the listener there's one last point before you finish.

    Termino is present tense, meaning I finish or I'm finishing.

Story — the whole story at the counter

Watch Justin lay out the whole problem in one pass, using every connector in order.

The highlighted words are this lesson's lines. Turn on Show English if the shop talk gets fast.

  1. Justin sets a battered box on the counter while Yako settles onto two chairs by the door.
  2. YakoYo solo pasaba. Prometo no interrumpir.I was just passing by. I promise not to interrupt.
  3. JustinDisculpa, tengo un problema.Excuse me, I've got a problem.
  4. ClerkClaro que sí. Dígame, con calma.Of course. Tell me, take your time.
  5. JustinPrimero, el cargador no funciona.First, the charger doesn't work.
  6. ClerkAjá. ¿Y qué más?I see. What else?
  7. JustinAdemás, la caja venía abierta.Also, the box arrived open.
  8. ClerkUy. ¿Algo más?Oh. Anything else?
  9. JustinEn resumen, nada de la caja sirve.In short, nothing in the box works.
  10. Yako is so impressed by the tidy summary that he almost forgets his promise.
  11. JustinUna cosa más y termino: también perdí el recibo.One more thing and I'm done: I also lost the receipt.
  12. ClerkNo se preocupe, guardamos su ticket aquí.Don't worry, we kept your ticket here.
  13. JustinEso es todo. ¿Quedó claro?That's all. Is that clear?
  14. ClerkQuedó clarísimo. Le cambiamos todo hoy mismo.Crystal clear. We'll replace everything today.
  15. YakoEn resumen, Justin ganó.In short, Justin won.

Practice — put it in order

You'll listen, match, fill gaps, and put a whole counter exchange back in order.

Ten short exercises, and the last ones ask you to build and reply without any help.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Primero, ___Drop the English here
    Además, ___Drop the English here
    En resumen, ___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 at the counter. You're ready to start explaining, and the charger is the first problem.

  4. Fill the gap

    Also, ___

    ____, ___

  5. Swap the word

    You were adding another problem, but now you want to compress everything into one sentence instead.

    ____, ___

  6. What does it mean?

    Tengo un problema

  7. What do you say?

    The clerk asks if there's anything else. You've already said every problem you have.

  8. True or false?

    You say this to check whether the other person understood your explanation.

  9. Build the line

    One more thing and I'm done

    Tap the words in order.

  10. Put the chat in order

    1. JustinWhat comes first?
    2. Clerk…
    3. Justin…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — your turn at the counter

Now you're Justin at the counter, and the clerk is listening.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say the line. Tap ▶ first if you want to hear it. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClerkBuenas tardes. ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?Good afternoon. How can I help you?
  2. Justin (you)Open with your first problem: the charger doesn't work.

    Primero, ___

    First, ___

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Primero, ___First, ___
Además, ___Also, ___
En resumen, ___In short, ___
Eso es todoThat's all
¿Quedó claro?Is that clear?
Una cosa más y terminoOne more thing and I'm done
Next: lesson 210If I were in your place

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep this sequence handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and run through them anywhere.

A quick pass with the Yak Cards each day keeps your first-also-in-short routine sharp.

Open Yak Cards