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Lesson 149 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 149 of 238

I hear you, but in Spanish

Today the table at Café Laurel turns into a small debate about coffee, and nobody gets angry.

You'll learn to disagree in Spanish without shutting the other person down: I hear you, but; that's true, but; maybe, but I think.

You'll also learn to agree only partway, and to ask for a turn before adding your own idea.

By the end of this lesson

Disagree without shutting the other person down.

  • Entiendo lo que dices, pero ___I hear you, but ___
  • Es cierto, pero ___That's true, but ___
  • Puede ser, pero creo que ___Maybe, but I think ___
  • Estoy de acuerdo hasta cierto puntoI agree up to a point
  • No digo que estés mal, pero ___I'm not saying you're wrong, but ___
  • ¿Puedo agregar algo?Can I add something?

Scene — the new blend

Café Laurel, mid-afternoon. Michael has a new coffee blend from Oaxaca and wants opinions.

Yako already loves it. Justin finds it too bitter. A friendly argument is about to start, and both sides will try to stay kind.

Michael presents a new coffee blend at a café table while Justin, Amanda, and Yako react around him.

Learn — disagree, kindly

These six lines all do the same job: they keep the conversation friendly while you say something different.

Notice how each one concedes a little ground first, then makes room for your own point.

  1. Justin makes a kind but firm objection to Michael about the coffee's bitterness.

    Entiendo lo que dices, pero ___

    I hear you, but ___

    When to use it: Say this to show you heard the other side before you disagree.

    Pero always introduces the contrary part; put your reason right after it.

    Say it: ehn-tee-EHN-doh

  2. Michael concedes a point but politely pushes back on Justin.

    Es cierto, pero ___

    That's true, but ___

    When to use it: Use it when the other person is partly right, but you see more.

    Cierto agrees with the point you concede, not with the whole argument.

    Say it: SYEHR-toh

  3. Amanda offers a hesitant 'maybe, but' opinion with a thoughtful expression.

    Puede ser, pero creo que ___

    Maybe, but I think ___

    When to use it: Use it to accept a point halfway, then give your own view.

    Puede ser softens the maybe; creo que keeps your view as an opinion.

  4. Michael partly agrees, showing a balanced open-handed gesture.

    Estoy de acuerdo hasta cierto punto

    I agree up to a point

    When to use it: Say it when you agree, but not completely.

    Hasta cierto punto is a set phrase meaning up to a certain point.

  5. Amanda gently disagrees without dismissing anyone, a caring expression.

    No digo que estés mal, pero ___

    I'm not saying you're wrong, but ___

    When to use it: Use it to disagree gently without saying the other person is wrong.

    Estés is subjunctive because the sentence denies saying it.

    Say it: ehs-TEHS

  6. Yako raises a paw, asking to add something to the conversation.

    ¿Puedo agregar algo?

    Can I add something?

    When to use it: Ask this before adding your opinion to a conversation.

    Agregar means to add; algo makes it something.

    Say it: ah-greh-GAR

Story — bitter, but interesting

A coffee debate at the table. Watch how everyone disagrees without anyone getting shut down.

The highlighted lines are the softeners you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Michael arrives with two cups of a new Oaxacan blend and a big grin.
  2. MichaelPrueben el café nuevo. Es de Oaxaca.Try the new coffee. It's from Oaxaca.
  3. YakoDelicioso. Yo digo que es el mejor de la ciudad.Delicious. I say it's the best in the city.
  4. JustinEntiendo lo que dices, pero está muy amargo para mí.I hear you, but it's too bitter for me.
  5. YakoEs cierto, pero el amargo es lo interesante.That's true, but the bitter part is what's interesting.
  6. Michael¿Puedo agregar algo?Can I add something?
  7. JustinClaro, dime.Sure, tell me.
  8. MichaelEl blend anterior se vendía más.The old blend sold more.
  9. JustinPuede ser, pero creo que este necesita menos azúcar.Maybe, but I think this one needs less sugar.
  10. YakoNo digo que estés mal, pero el otro era más rico.I'm not saying you're wrong, but the other one was tastier.
  11. Michael¿Y tú, Yako? ¿Estás de acuerdo con Justin?And you, Yako? Do you agree with Justin?
  12. YakoEstoy de acuerdo hasta cierto punto.I agree up to a point.
  13. JustinTienes razón en eso.You're right about that.
  14. YakoYo también entiendo lo que quieres decir.I also see what you mean.
  15. MichaelEntonces traigo los dos y votamos.Then I'll bring both and we'll vote.
  16. JustinBuena idea.Good idea.
  17. Yako raises his cup like a judge and takes a very slow sip.

Practice — soften the blow

Ten exercises to make the softeners automatic. You'll listen, match, build, and swap words around.

Watch for the little words: pero, hasta, cierto.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Entiendo lo que dices, pero ___Drop the English here
    Es cierto, pero ___Drop the English here
    Puede ser, pero creo que ___Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Yako says the new blend is the best in the city. You listened to his whole point, and now you're about to give your reason for disagreeing.

  4. Fill the gap

    I agree up to a point

    Estoy de acuerdo hasta ____ punto

  5. What do you say?

    Yako insists the old blend was tastier and looks a little hurt. You disagree, but you don't want to say he's wrong.

  6. What do you say?

    Michael and Yako are going back and forth about coffee. You want to join in politely with your own idea.

  7. Swap the word

    Say it again, but as agreement instead of certainty.

    Estoy ____ hasta cierto punto

  8. Build the line

    Can I add something?

    ¿ ?

    Tap the words in order.

  9. Sort them

    Softens things before your own point

    Agrees, fully or partly

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

  10. What does it mean?

    Buena idea

Say it — your turn to push back

Now you're Justin in the middle of the coffee debate. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say your line.

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

  1. YakoPara mí, este café es el mejor de la ciudad.For me, this coffee is the best in the city.
  2. Justin (you)Disagree gently: you hear him, but this one is too bitter for you.

    Entiendo lo que dices, pero ___

    I hear you, but ___

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Entiendo lo que dices, pero ___I hear you, but ___
Es cierto, pero ___That's true, but ___
Puede ser, pero creo que ___Maybe, but I think ___
Estoy de acuerdo hasta cierto puntoI agree up to a point
No digo que estés mal, pero ___I'm not saying you're wrong, but ___
¿Puedo agregar algo?Can I add something?
Next: lesson 150I'm not convinced

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A daily round with the Yak Cards keeps your softeners ready before the but.

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