New here? This is lesson 221 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.
Free Spanish CourseLesson 221 of 238
The building meeting in Spanish
The late-night noise has turned into a short courtyard meeting. Amanda, Peter, Justin, and one neighbor need a practical decision, not a dramatic debate.
You'll propose an option, explain why you disagree, invite another view, and state what the group settled on.
You'll also learn two useful ways to close a discussion: postpone one point and thank everyone.
By the end of this lesson
Propose an idea, disagree with a reason, and leave a group discussion with a clear decision.
- Propongo que ___I propose that ___
- No estoy de acuerdo con ___ porque ___I don't agree with ___ because ___
- ¿Alguien más?Anyone else?
- Quedamos en ___We settled on ___
- Lo vemos la próximaWe'll look at it next time
- Gracias a todosThanks, everyone
Scene — a courtyard agenda
It is nighttime in the shared courtyard of Justin's building. The neighbors have gathered because music and conversation carried on too late.
Amanda has brought a folding chair, Peter has a notebook, and one neighbor is waiting to hear whether the group can agree on a simple limit.
Learn — proposals and decisions
These six chunks help you sound constructive in a group: make a proposal, disagree with a reason, check for other opinions, and record the decision.
The final two lines keep the tone cooperative when the meeting is ending.
Propongo que ___
I propose that ___
When to use it: Use this to introduce a concrete proposal for the group to consider.
Que introduces the action you are proposing; learn the whole chunk before adding the action.
Say it: Propongo sounds like proh-PON-goh, with stress on pon.
No estoy de acuerdo con ___ porque ___
I don't agree with ___ because ___
When to use it: Use this to disagree with a specific suggestion while giving a reason.
Con names the idea you reject, and porque introduces your reason; both blanks need real content.
Say it: Estoy has three beats: ehs-TOY; keep the final y sound clear.
¿Alguien más?
Anyone else?
When to use it: Ask whether another person wants to add an opinion or suggestion.
Más carries an accent because it means more here, not the conjunction meaning but.
Say it: Alguien is roughly AHL-gyen, with the vowels flowing together.
Quedamos en ___
We settled on ___
When to use it: Use this to state the agreement reached after discussing options.
In Mexico, quedamos en is a natural way to record a shared arrangement or plan.
Say it: Quedamos begins keh-DAH-mohs, with stress on the middle syllable.
Lo vemos la próxima
We'll look at it next time
When to use it: Use this to postpone a secondary issue until the next discussion.
La próxima usually means the next time or meeting when the context already makes the noun clear.
Say it: Próxima has stress on the first syllable: PROK-see-ma.
Gracias a todos
Thanks, everyone
When to use it: Say this when closing a group discussion and thanking everyone present.
Todos refers to the whole group; it works for a mixed group in standard Mexican Spanish.
Say it: Gracias is GRAH-syahs in Mexico, with a clear y-like middle sound.
Story — one quiet hour
The courtyard meeting stays brief, but everyone contributes before Amanda summarizes the decision. Listen for how a disagreement can still move the group forward.
The highlighted chunks are today's lines. Turn on Show English if you need help with the details.
- It is late, and four residents sit in a loose circle beneath the courtyard light.
AmandaGracias por venir. El ruido de anoche nos dejó preocupados.Thanks for coming. Last night's noise left us worried.- PeterPropongo que acordemos una hora límite entre semana.I propose that we agree on a weekday curfew.
JustinNo estoy de acuerdo con las diez porque algunas personas llegan tarde del trabajo.I don't agree with ten because some people get home late from work.- AmandaEntiendo tu punto, pero tampoco podemos dejar la hora abierta.I see your point, but we can't leave the time open-ended either.
- JustinMe temo que no estoy de acuerdo.I'm afraid I don't agree.
- Neighbor¿Alguien más? Yo podría aceptar las once.Anyone else? I could accept eleven.
- PeterLas once me parece razonable, si termina la música a esa hora.Eleven seems reasonable to me, if the music ends at that time.
- AmandaQuedamos en una hora de silencio, de diez a once, entre semana.We settled on one quiet hour, from ten to eleven, on weekdays.
- Justin¿Y los fines de semana? Lo vemos la próxima.And weekends? We'll look at that next time.
- NeighborDe acuerdo. Si vuelve a haber ruido, hablamos con quien corresponda.All right. If there is noise again, we'll talk to whoever is responsible.
- AmandaPerfecto. Lo anotamos y probamos esta solución durante una semana.Perfect. We'll write it down and try this solution for a week.
- PeterGracias a todos por mantener la conversación tranquila.Thanks, everyone, for keeping the conversation calm.
Practice — reach an agreement
You'll hear the chunks, connect them to their meanings, and choose responses that fit a real building meeting.
Watch the blanks carefully: the missing word changes the meaning of the whole proposal or decision.
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What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Spanish
Propongo que ___Drop the English hereNo estoy de acuerdo con ___ porque ___Drop the English hereQuedamos en ___Drop the English hereLo vemos la próximaDrop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
The building group is discussing a weekday quiet hour, and you want to suggest one option.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
We settled on ___
Quedamos ____ ___
Pick the reply
Amanda says:
Pick the reply
¿Estás de acuerdo con la propuesta?
Do you agree with the proposal?
And you reply with:
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Lo vemos la próxima
True or false?
True or false?
This line thanks every person in the group as the discussion closes.
Build the line
Build the line
Thanks, everyone
Tap the words in order.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
True or false?
True or false?
This is a line from this lesson.
Say it — join the meeting
Now you are Justin in the courtyard meeting. Amanda and Peter will bring up the issue, and you will help the group reach a decision.
Tap the microphone for your turn, or tap ▶ to hear the model line first. Your recording stays on your device.
- AmandaTenemos que decidir una hora de silencio entre semana.We need to decide on a weekday quiet hour.
- Justin (you)Propose trying one quiet hour from ten to eleven.
Propose trying one quiet hour from ten to eleven.
Propongo que ___
I propose that ___
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Spanish | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Propongo que ___ | I propose that ___ | |
| No estoy de acuerdo con ___ porque ___ | I don't agree with ___ because ___ | |
| ¿Alguien más? | Anyone else? | |
| Quedamos en ___ | We settled on ___ | |
| Lo vemos la próxima | We'll look at it next time | |
| Gracias a todos | Thanks, everyone |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these meeting chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
Use the Yak Cards to practice proposing, disagreeing politely, and stating the decision.
Open Yak Cards