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Lesson 90 of 238

New here? This is lesson 90 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

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We get along in Spanish

Justin is getting to know the people around Café Laurel, and family questions can become personal quickly.

In this lesson, you'll say that you get along with someone, explain who you don't see often, and ask what someone's parents do.

You'll also describe where a relative lives, mention a close relationship, and say that your parents are divorced without pushing for details.

By the end of this lesson

Talk briefly about family relationships, relatives, and what your parents do.

  • Nos llevamos bienWe get along
  • No veo muy seguido a mi ___I don't see my ___ very often
  • Mi ___ vive en ___My ___ lives in ___
  • ¿A qué se dedican tus papás?What do your parents do?
  • Tengo una relación muy cercana con mi ___I'm close to my ___
  • Mis papás están divorciadosMy parents are divorced

Scene — an honest family question

Late morning at Café Laurel, after Amanda returns from work. Justin, Amanda, and Yako are sharing a table near the window.

Amanda asks about Justin's family. He answers honestly, but nobody presses him for private details; they simply move on to coffee.

Amanda has just returned from work and joins Justin and Yako at a window table while coffee is being shared.

Learn — family relationships

These six chunks help you talk about family relationships without giving a long explanation.

You'll learn useful frames for relatives, places, and parents' work, plus two honest statements.

  1. Justin is the speaker, smiling and making an open-handed gesture as Amanda listens comfortably beside the café table.

    Nos llevamos bien

    We get along

    When to use it: Say this when you and another person have a good relationship.

    Llevamos comes from llevarse, meaning to get along with each other.

    Say it: nohss yeh-VAH-mohss byen

  2. Justin is the speaker, glancing toward the window with one hand raised in a modest explanatory gesture while the others give him space.

    No veo muy seguido a mi ___

    I don't see my ___ very often

    When to use it: Use this frame to say that you rarely see a particular relative.

    Add a family word after mi, such as hermano or hermana.

    Say it: beh-oh moo-ee seh-GHEE-doh

  3. Justin is the speaker, indicating a distant place beyond the window as Amanda listens and Yako looks toward the view.

    Mi ___ vive en ___

    My ___ lives in ___

    When to use it: Use this frame to say where one relative lives.

    The two blanks need a relative and a place.

    Say it: mee ___ BEE-beh en ___

  4. Amanda is the speaker, leaning forward with a curious but respectful hand gesture as she asks Justin about his parents.

    ¿A qué se dedican tus papás?

    What do your parents do?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to know your friend's parents' work or occupation.

    Tus papás is an informal way to say your parents in Mexico.

    Say it: ah keh seh deh-DEE-kahn toos pah-PAHSS

  5. Justin is the speaker, touching his chest with a warm smile to express closeness to a family member while Amanda pours coffee.

    Tengo una relación muy cercana con mi ___

    I'm close to my ___

    When to use it: Say this when you want to describe a close relationship with a relative.

    Use con mi and then name the family member.

    Say it: tehn-goh oo-nah reh-lah-see-OWN

  6. Justin is the speaker, calmly explaining his parents' divorce while Amanda responds with empathy and then turns toward the coffee.

    Mis papás están divorciados

    My parents are divorced

    When to use it: Use this direct statement when explaining your parents' family situation.

    Divorciados is plural because it describes both parents together.

    Say it: mees pah-PAHSS ehs-TAHN dee-bor-see-AH-dohss

Story — a careful change of subject

Watch Justin answer a personal family question honestly, then let the conversation move on.

The highlighted chunks are today's lines; Show English can help if the family vocabulary is new.

  1. Amanda has just come back from work, and everyone is settling around the table.
  2. Amanda¿Tienes hermanos?Do you have brothers or sisters?
  3. JustinSí, tengo un hermano.Yes, I have one brother.
  4. Amanda¿A qué se dedican tus papás?What do your parents do?
  5. JustinSon maestros. Mis papás están divorciados.They're teachers. My parents are divorced.
  6. Amanda¿Ves seguido a tu hermano?Do you see your brother often?
  7. JustinNo veo muy seguido a mi hermano.I don't see my brother very often.
  8. Yako¿Dónde vive tu mamá?Where does your mom live?
  9. JustinMi mamá vive en Chicago.My mom lives in Chicago.
  10. Amanda¿Eres cercano a tu hermano?Are you close to your brother?
  11. JustinTengo una relación muy cercana con mi hermano.I'm very close to my brother.
  12. Yako¿Y tú y tu hermano?And you and your brother?
  13. JustinNos llevamos bien.We get along.
  14. JustinBueno, mi familia es pequeña. Hablamos después.Well, my family is small. We can talk later.
  15. Michael¿Café para todos?Coffee for everyone?

Practice — talking about family

You'll listen, match meanings, choose replies, swap family words, and build complete sentences.

Read the situation carefully: a personal question may need a brief answer or a gentle change of subject.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    ¿Tienes hermanos?Drop the English here
    Vivo con ___Drop the English here
    Mi familia es ___Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Explain your parents' family situation briefly, without adding private details.

  4. Swap the word

    Turn this example into the reusable frame by hiding the family word.

    No veo muy seguido a mi ____

  5. Fill the gap

    My ___ lives in ___

    Mi ___ vive ____ ___

  6. What do you say?

    Amanda asks if you are close to your brother, and you want to answer honestly.

  7. What does it mean?

    ¿A qué se dedican tus papás?

  8. True or false?

    This line says that Justin's parents are divorced.

  9. Which one doesn’t belong?

  10. Build the line

    We get along

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — keep it comfortable

Now answer as Justin in a short, respectful conversation with Amanda and Yako.

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

  1. Amanda¿Cómo es tu situación familiar?What's your family situation like?
  2. Justin (you)Say that your parents are divorced.

    Mis papás están divorciados

    My parents are divorced

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Nos llevamos bienWe get along
No veo muy seguido a mi ___I don't see my ___ very often
Mi ___ vive en ___My ___ lives in ___
¿A qué se dedican tus papás?What do your parents do?
Tengo una relación muy cercana con mi ___I'm close to my ___
Mis papás están divorciadosMy parents are divorced
Next: lesson 91They're good people

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to review these family chunks away from the lesson? Grab the Yak Cards and practice a little at a time.

Use the Yak Cards to practice honest answers without turning them into long conversations.

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