Spanish course

Lesson 7 of 238

New here? This is lesson 7 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

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Yes, no, and not really in Spanish

Michael pulls up a chair at the table and asks a few quick questions: the extra chair, coffee, milk.

Justin answers with sí, no, and a soft not really. It's the gentlest no you'll ever hear.

Yako even answers the milk question for himself, which surprises no one at this point.

You'll learn eight short answers for yes, no and not really. They're small, but you'll use them every day.

By the end of this lesson

Answer yes, no, not really, and I think so.

  • SíYes
  • NoNo
  • Sí, por favorYes, please
  • No, graciasNo, thanks
  • ClaroSure
  • La verdad, noNot really
  • Creo que síI think so
  • De acuerdoAll right

Scene — coffee and milk

Still at the Café Laurel table, late morning. The coffee is coming, and nobody's going anywhere.

Michael asks three small things, Yako stays on his two chairs, and everyone stays seated inside.

Michael squeezes an extra chair in at the Café Laurel table and starts a round of small questions.

Learn — yes and no

Here are eight short answers to learn.

Some are warm, some are polite, and one is a shrug in words.

  1. Sí: Justin nods yes with a clear, happy smile.

    Sí

    Yes

    When to use it: Use sí for a plain yes, like when someone asks if something's okay.

    The accent tells sí (yes) apart from si (if). They sound the same.

    Say it: Sí rhymes with "see".

  2. No: Yako shakes his head no from his two chairs.

    No

    No

    When to use it: Use no to turn something down, like milk you don't want.

    Say it: Short and clean, with no glide at the end like English no.

  3. Sí, por favor: Justin nods and points at the coffee cup Michael is offering.

    Sí, por favor

    Yes, please

    When to use it: Add por favor when you accept something, like coffee.

    It makes your yes polite.

    Say it: por fah-VOR.

  4. No, gracias: Justin holds up an open palm and turns down the milk jug.

    No, gracias

    No, thanks

    When to use it: Add gracias when you decline something politely, like milk.

    You're thanking them even while saying no.

    Say it: GRAH-syahs in Mexico.

  5. Claro: Amanda agrees with an easy open hand and a smile.

    Claro

    Sure

    When to use it: Use claro to say sure or of course when you agree.

    Say it: KLAH-roh.

  6. La verdad, no: Justin gives a small sheepish shrug and a slight head shake, not really.

    La verdad, no

    Not really

    When to use it: Use la verdad, no for a soft not really.

    It's gentler than a flat no.

    Say it: lah vehr-DAHD, no.

  7. Creo que sí: Yako tilts his head, one hoof half raised, thinking yes but not sure.

    Creo que sí

    I think so

    When to use it: Use creo que sí when you think so but aren't sure.

    Creo means I believe.

    Say it: KREH-oh keh SEE.

  8. De acuerdo

    All right

    When to use it: Use de acuerdo to say all right when you agree.

    It works like okay, then.

    Say it: deh ah-KWEHR-doh.

Story — three small questions

Watch how Justin answers each of Michael's questions with a different small word. The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

Then Michael asks Yako something nobody expected. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Michael squeezes an extra chair in next to Yako's two.
  2. Michael¿Está bien?Is that okay?
  3. AmandaClaro.Sure.
  4. JustinSí. De acuerdo.Yes. All right.
  5. Michael¿Café?Coffee?
  6. JustinSí, por favor.Yes, please.
  7. Michael¿Leche?Milk?
  8. JustinNo, gracias.No, thanks.
  9. Nobody asked Yako, but he answers the milk question anyway.
  10. YakoNo.No.
  11. Michael¿Tienes hambre?Are you hungry?
  12. JustinLa verdad, no.Not really.
  13. Michael turns to Yako with one more question.
  14. Michael¿Hablas inglés?Do you speak English?
  15. YakoCreo que sí.I think so.

Practice — yes, no, not really

Eleven exercises to lock in your yeses and nos.

They're quick, so don't skip the tricky ones. Those are the ones that count.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    SíDrop the English here
    NoDrop the English here
    ClaroDrop the English here
    De acuerdoDrop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Michael offers you coffee, and you'd love some.

  4. What do you say?

    Michael offers milk and you don't want it.

  5. True or false?

    Creo que sí is a hard no.

  6. Put the chat in order

    1. MichaelWhat comes first?
    2. Justin…
    3. Michael…
    4. Justin…

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

  7. What do you say?

    Michael asked how you are, and you answered. Now ask him the same thing.

  8. What does it mean?

    ¿Hablas inglés?

  9. Which one doesn’t belong?

  10. Build the line

    Not really

    ,

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — answer Michael

Now you're Justin, answering Michael at the table. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say your line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear it. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Michael¿Está bien?Is that okay?
  2. Justin (you)Say yes, the extra chair is fine.

    Sí

    Yes

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
SíYes
NoNo
Sí, por favorYes, please
No, graciasNo, thanks
ClaroSure
La verdad, noNot really
Creo que síI think so
De acuerdoAll right
Next: lesson 8Yes, I can

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