Spanish - Reactions

Lesson 76 of 159

Goal: Short, natural responses to good and bad news

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome back — lesson 76! Quick and friendly: we’ll hear common Spanish reactions you can use the moment someone shares news. Say them out loud when you’re ready (Yak Yacker approved).

Level A2: In this lesson you’ll practice short Spanish reactions — surprise, sympathy, relief and excitement — that act as social glue in conversations. You’ll listen, repeat, and use phrases like "¿De verdad?", "Siento mucho oír eso." and "¡Qué buena noticia!" in a short dialogue and quick quizzes. This CEFR-aligned practice helps you respond naturally to friends and colleagues.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use common A2-level reaction phrases in Spanish.
  • Respond appropriately to good news, bad news, surprise, and relief.
  • Practice listening, repeating aloud, and choosing the right reaction in short dialogues.
Two friends chatting in Spanish with expressions for good news and concern, showing everyday social reactions.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

¿De verdad?

Really?

Meaning: Really? / Is that true?

When to use: Show surprise or interest when you hear new information.

Tip: Don’t overuse it for strong disbelief—combine with tone or another phrase like “No lo puedo creer.”

¿De verdad? No lo esperaba.
Really? I didn't expect that.
¿De verdad? ¡Felicidades!
Really? Congratulations!

¡Ay, no

Oh no!

Meaning: Oh no!

When to use: React with concern to sudden bad news or a problem.

¡Ay, no! ¿Te lastimaste?
Oh no! Did you get hurt?
¡Ay, no! ¿Qué vamos a hacer ahora?
Oh no! What are we going to do now?

¡Qué buena noticia!

That's great news.

Meaning: What great news!

When to use: React positively when you hear genuinely good news.

¡Qué buena noticia! Me alegra mucho por ti.
What great news! I'm very happy for you.
¡Qué buena noticia! ¿Cuándo empieza?
What great news! When does it start?

Siento mucho oír eso.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Meaning: I'm very sorry to hear that.

When to use: Express polite sympathy after someone shares bad or sad news.

Tip: Not all sad news needs formal sympathy; with close friends you can also say "Lo siento" or a more personal comment.

Siento mucho oír eso. Si necesitas algo, dime.
I'm very sorry to hear that. If you need anything, tell me.
Siento mucho oír eso. Debe ser difícil.
I'm very sorry to hear that. That must be hard.

Qué lástima.

That's too bad.

Meaning: What a pity.

When to use: Show mild sympathy or disappointment for a small setback.

Qué lástima que no pudiste venir.
What a pity you couldn't come.
Perdió el bus. Qué lástima.
He missed the bus. What a pity.

¿Qué pasó?

What happened?

Meaning: What happened?

When to use: Ask for more information after hearing news or a surprising event.

Dijiste que hubo un problema—¿qué pasó?
You said there was a problem—what happened?
¿Qué pasó con la reunión de ayer?
What happened with yesterday's meeting?

¿Estás bien?

Are you okay?

Meaning: Are you okay?

When to use: Check on someone's condition after troubling or worrying news.

Te ves pálido. ¿Estás bien?
You look pale. Are you okay?
¿Estás bien después de la caída?
Are you okay after the fall?

No lo puedo creer.

I can't believe it.

Meaning: I can't believe it.

When to use: Express strong surprise or disbelief about unexpected information.

No lo puedo creer. ¡Eso es increíble!
I can't believe it. That's incredible!
No lo puedo creer — ganaste la lotería?
I can't believe it — you won the lottery?

Eso suena ___.

That sounds ___.

Meaning: That sounds ___.

When to use: Give a quick opinion about how something sounds (use with an adjective).

Tip: Remember to add an adjective (e.g., "bien", "raro"). "Eso suena" by itself feels incomplete.

Eso suena bien. ¿Cuándo lo hacemos?
That sounds good. When do we do it?
Eso suena difícil, pero inténtalo.
That sounds hard, but try it.

Me da gusto escuchar eso.

I'm glad to hear that.

Meaning: I'm glad to hear that.

When to use: Show happiness or relief about good news someone shared.

Me da gusto escuchar eso. Sabía que lo lograrías.
I'm glad to hear that. I knew you would make it.
Me da gusto escuchar eso; cuídate.
I'm glad to hear that; take care.

¡Qué emoción!

How exciting!

Meaning: How exciting!

When to use: React with enthusiasm to exciting news or plans.

¡Qué emoción! Vamos a celebrarlo.
How exciting! Let's celebrate.
¡Qué emoción! ¿Cuándo te vas?
How exciting! When are you leaving?

¡Qué alivio!

That's a relief.

Meaning: What a relief!

When to use: React after worry is resolved — you feel relieved.

¡Qué alivio! No fue nada serio.
What a relief! It wasn't serious.
Encontraron las llaves. ¡Qué alivio!
They found the keys. What a relief!

Me da mucho gusto por ti.

I'm happy for you.

Meaning: I'm very happy for you.

When to use: Show warm support when someone shares personal good news.

Me da mucho gusto por ti. Te lo mereces.
I'm very happy for you. You deserve it.
Me da mucho gusto por ti. ¿Cómo te sientes?
I'm very happy for you. How do you feel?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna shares mixed news: a job offer and a friend’s accident.

Anna and David share a short Spanish conversation using surprise, sympathy, and relief phrases.

What kind of news does Anna share first — good or bad?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Tengo buenas noticias: me ofrecieron el trabajo.

I have good news: they offered me the job.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¿De verdad? ¡Qué emoción! Me da mucho gusto por ti.

Really? How exciting! I'm very happy for you.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Gracias. Pero ayer María se cayó y se torció el tobillo.

Thanks. But yesterday María fell and twisted her ankle.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¡Ay, no! ¿Qué pasó? ¿Está bien?

Oh no! What happened? Is she okay?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Al final está bien; solo un esguince.

In the end she's okay; just a sprain.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¡Qué alivio! Me da gusto escuchar eso.

What a relief! I'm glad to hear that.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase expresses polite sympathy for sad news?

Which phrase asks for more information after hearing something surprising?

Which phrase fits best when you feel relieved after worrying?

Which phrase shows strong disbelief?

My sister won the competition. — What great news!

Mi hermana ganó la competencia. — ___

I lost my wallet this morning. — What happened?

Perdí mi cartera esta mañana. — ___

At first we thought it was serious, but everything is fine now. — What a relief!

Al principio pensamos que era serio, pero todo está bien ahora. — ___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿De verdad?

Really?

Say this phrase out loud:

¡Ay, no

Oh no!

Say this phrase out loud:

¡Qué buena noticia!

What great news!

Say this phrase out loud:

Siento mucho oír eso.

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Say this phrase out loud:

Qué lástima.

What a pity.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué pasó?

What happened?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Estás bien?

Are you okay?

Say this phrase out loud:

No lo puedo creer.

I can't believe it.

Say this phrase out loud:

Eso suena ___.

That sounds ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Me da gusto escuchar eso.

I'm glad to hear that.

Say this phrase out loud:

¡Qué emoción!

How exciting!

Say this phrase out loud:

¡Qué alivio!

What a relief!

Say this phrase out loud:

Me da mucho gusto por ti.

I'm very happy for you.