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🇪🇸 Spanish Level A1

At the restaurant in Spanish

You're in a Spanish restaurant. Listen to the waiter (Diego), then choose how to reply — tap an answer to hear its pronunciation and see its translation, then confirm. What you pick changes what he says. Open “Vocabulary” for the words (or “Explore the scene”) and tap “🗣️ On the street” for the real language.

Play the scene — free
▶Get it onGoogle Play
At the restaurant — Spanish

What you'll learn here

Key words

la carta la CÁR-ta
the menu
“La carta” = the à la carte menu; “el menú del día” = the daily set menu (lunch, 3 courses + drink, cheap). Don't confuse “menú” with the whole menu.
las tapas las TÁ-pas
tapas (small dishes)
“La tapa” = a small portion (free with a drink in some cities). “La ración” = a big sharing plate; “la media ración” = a half. “Los pinchos” = the Basque version.
la paella la pa-É-lla
paella
Paella is from Valencia (rice, often with seafood or chicken/rabbit). It's a lunch dish, not dinner, and usually “para dos” (for two minimum).
la caña la CÁ-nia
the small draft beer
“Una caña” = a small draft beer (the most ordered drink). “Una jarra” = a big mug; “un tinto de verano” = red wine with soda, in summer. “Un vino” = a glass of wine.
la cuenta la CUÉN-ta
the bill
The bill doesn't come on its own — you ask for it (“la cuenta, por favor”). Tipping isn't required; you leave some change if you like. “La sobremesa” = lingering at the table chatting after the meal.

How locals really say it

Not the textbook version — the real language you hear in Spanish.

“¡Hola, buenas! ¿Cuántos sois?” — Hi there! How many are you?
“¿Habéis reservado?” — Have you booked?
“Os dejo la carta. ¿Qué vais a tomar?” — I'll leave you the menu. What are you having?
“El menú del día lleva paella, ¿eh? Está de muerte.” — The set menu comes with paella, you know? It's to die for.

Dialogue (excerpt)

A taste of the conversation — play the rest in the app.

Diego
¡Buenas! Bienvenidos. ¿Mesa para cuántos?
Hello! Welcome. A table for how many?
Diego
¿Tienen una reserva?
Do you have a reservation?
You
Sí, una mesa para dos.
Yes, a table for two.
Diego
Aquí tienen la carta. ¿Qué desean para beber?
Here's the menu. What would you like to drink?
You
Una caña, por favor.
A small beer, please.
Diego
Hoy el menú del día tiene paella de segundo. Está buenísima.
Today's set menu has paella for the main. It's delicious.

…continues in the app →

🎵 This scene also has a song: La Cuenta, Por Favor

Step into the scene now

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