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Lesson 216 of 238

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About the pay in Spanish

The interview has reached the practical part: salary, benefits, and when you'll hear back.

You'll learn how to ask for room, clarify what's included, and make a counteroffer without sounding combative.

The goal isn't to win a fight. It's to keep the conversation open while you decide whether the job works for you.

By the end of this lesson

Ask about pay and conditions while keeping the conversation professional.

  • ¿Hay margen?Is there any room?
  • Esperaba algo más cerca de ___I was hoping for something closer to ___
  • ¿Qué incluye?What does that include?
  • Lo pienso y te digoI'll think it over and tell you
  • ¿Cuándo tendría una respuesta?When would I hear back?
  • Gracias por la claridadThanks for being clear

Scene — the money minute

The interview continues at a quiet corner table in Café Laurel.

Michael has explained the role, schedule, and basic responsibilities, and now Justin needs to ask about compensation.

A notebook, a calculator, and Yako's two chairs occupy the small table. The money part will be brief, specific, and polite.

Justin and Michael continue a polite compensation discussion at a quiet corner table in Café Laurel beneath a bright blue sky visible through the window.

Learn — pay and conditions

These six chunks let you discuss compensation with precision and restraint. You'll ask about flexibility, clarify the package, and postpone your decision without closing the door.

  1. Justin politely asks whether the compensation has any flexibility while Michael listens across the table.

    ¿Hay margen?

    Is there any room?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to know whether an offer can be adjusted.

    In a negotiation, margen means flexibility or room to move, not physical space.

    Say it: MAR-hen; the g sounds like a strong English h.

  2. Justin leans forward with an open palm, expressing hope for a compensation amount closer to his expectation.

    Esperaba algo más cerca de ___

    I was hoping for something closer to ___

    When to use it: Use this to name a preferred figure without presenting it as an ultimatum.

    Fill the frame with a specific amount or condition, usually after hearing the initial offer.

    Say it: es-peh-RAH-bah; the stress falls on the middle syllable.

  3. Justin gestures toward the notebook and calculator, asking what the proposed compensation includes.

    ¿Qué incluye?

    What does that include?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to clarify which benefits or conditions are part of an offer.

    This is neutral and concise; the context supplies what that refers to.

    Say it: in-KLOO-yeh; the ll sounds like y in Mexican Spanish.

  4. Justin closes the blank notebook thoughtfully and indicates that he will consider the offer before responding.

    Lo pienso y te digo

    I'll think it over and tell you

    When to use it: Say this when you want time to consider an offer before giving your decision.

    It sounds more deliberate than an immediate yes or no, while keeping the relationship open.

  5. Justin asks when he can expect an answer, gesturing toward a simple wall clock with hands but no numerals.

    ¿Cuándo tendría una respuesta?

    When would I hear back?

    When to use it: Ask this to establish when you can expect a decision or follow-up.

    Tendría makes the question hypothetical and courteous rather than demanding an exact promise.

  6. Justin thanks Michael with a warm nod and an appreciative handshake after receiving a clear explanation.

    Gracias por la claridad

    Thanks for being clear

    When to use it: Use this to acknowledge a straightforward explanation, especially during a delicate discussion.

    This thanks the person for explaining the situation clearly, not necessarily for agreeing with you.

Story — a careful counteroffer

Michael gives the offer, and Justin handles the money minute carefully. Notice how each question advances the conversation without turning it into a confrontation.

Yako listens from his two chairs while the calculator does most of the dramatic work.

  1. Michael turns the notebook toward Justin and points to the offer.
  2. MichaelEl puesto sería de tiempo completo. Son cuarenta y dos mil pesos al mes. ¿Cuál es el horario?The position would be full-time. It's forty-two thousand pesos a month. What's the schedule?
  3. JustinEl horario sería de lunes a viernes, ¿verdad?The schedule would be Monday through Friday, right?
  4. MichaelSí, de nueve a seis, con seguro médico y vales de despensa.Yes, nine to six, with health insurance and meal vouchers.
  5. Justin¿Qué incluye?What does that include?
  6. MichaelEl seguro, los vales y quince días de vacaciones al año.The insurance, the vouchers, and fifteen vacation days a year.
  7. Yako¿Y el café?And the coffee?
  8. MichaelEl café no está incluido, Yako.The coffee isn't included, Yako.
  9. Justin¿Hay margen?Is there any room?
  10. MichaelTal vez un poco, pero tendría que revisarlo con la dirección.Maybe a little, but I'd have to review it with management.
  11. JustinEsperaba algo más cerca de cuarenta y cinco mil pesos.I was hoping for something closer to forty-five thousand pesos.
  12. MichaelEntiendo. No quiero prometerte algo que todavía no está autorizado.I understand. I don't want to promise you something that hasn't been authorized yet.
  13. JustinGracias por la claridad.Thanks for being clear.
  14. Justin¿Cuándo tendría una respuesta?When would I hear back?
  15. MichaelTe escribo el viernes.I'll write to you Friday.
  16. JustinLo pienso y te digo.I'll think it over and tell you.
  17. MichaelPerfecto. Quedo al pendiente.Perfect. I'll wait to hear.
  18. JustinGracias, Michael. Nos vemos el viernes.Thanks, Michael. See you Friday.
  19. YakoNos vemos.See you.

Practice — negotiate without a fight

Practice the sequence of a calm pay conversation: ask, clarify, respond, and set a next step. Listen for the difference between a question and a firm decision.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    ¿Hay margen?Drop the English here
    ¿Qué incluye?Drop the English here
    Lo pienso y te digoDrop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    The employer gives a salary and benefits package, but you need to ask what the package covers.

  4. Fill the gap

    I was hoping for something closer to ___

    Esperaba algo más ____ de ___

  5. What do you say?

    Michael says he needs to check whether the offer can be adjusted, and you want time before deciding.

  6. What does it mean?

    ¿Cuándo tendría una respuesta?

  7. Sort them

    Questions

    Responses or acknowledgments

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

  8. True or false?

    This line thanks someone for explaining the offer clearly.

  9. Which one doesn’t belong?

  10. Build the line

    I'll think it over and tell you

    Tap the words in order.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — keep it professional

Now you take Justin's side in a short interview follow-up. Keep your tone measured: ask for details, make one counteroffer, and leave space for a decision.

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

  1. MichaelEl puesto sería de tiempo completo y el sueldo inicial es de cuarenta y dos mil pesos.The position would be full-time and the starting salary is forty-two thousand pesos.
  2. Justin (you)Ask whether there is any room in the offer.

    ¿Hay margen?

    Is there any room?

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
¿Hay margen?Is there any room?
Esperaba algo más cerca de ___I was hoping for something closer to ___
¿Qué incluye?What does that include?
Lo pienso y te digoI'll think it over and tell you
¿Cuándo tendría una respuesta?When would I hear back?
Gracias por la claridadThanks for being clear
Next: lesson 217I don't buy that

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these negotiation chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

Review the cards before a real interview so you can ask about pay without sounding confrontational.

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