Context

In our latest Spanish learning video Ben and Marina begin by explaining how Marina’s sister and her boyfriend came back from a Kitesurfing holiday in Brazil keen to improve their eating habits, and started buying more fruit and vegetables from the local market.

This reminded us about how lots of children these days don’t know the names of many fruit and veg, and so we thought we’d test your knowledge of the names of fruit and vegetables in Spanish! Watch the video and see how many you get right!

Spanish vocab and phrases from the video

Hacer kitesurfing – To do kitesurfing
Le gusta mucho hacer kite – He really likes kitesurfing
Han vuelto con muchas ganas de cambiar su estilo de vida y llevar una alimentación mas sana – They’ve returned [from holiday] really keen to change their lifestyle and eat more healthily
[En el mercado] se supone que la verdura y la fruta es de mejor calidad – In the market the fruit and vegetables are supposedly better quality
[La fruta y verdura] no ha pasado tanto tiempo en cámaras – The fruit and vegetables haven’t spent so long in refrigerators
Un limón – A lemon
Un aguacate – An avocado
Una berenjena – An Eggplant/Aubergine
Un calabacín – A zucchini/courgette
Una manzana – An apple
Una calabaza – A squash/pumpkin
Lo tengo en la punta de la lengua – It’s on the tip of my toungue
Un plátano (de Canarias!) – A banana (from the Canary Islands!)
Están super ricos – They are really nice/tasty
Una mandarina – A mandarin/tangerine
Una Clementina – A Clementine
Una nuez – A walnut
Un cascanueces – A nut cracker
Un cazo – A ladle
Un mortero – Pestle and Mortar
Una cabeza de ajos – A bulb of garlic
Un diente de ajo – A clove of garlic
¡Tampoco te pases! – Don’t go over the top!

And finally, Marina rembered a typical Spanish phrase with apples:

¡Estoy mas sana que una manzana! – I’m really healthy!

More Great Spanish Learning Resources…

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Context

In our latest Spanish learning video (with real Spanish conversation followed by analysis in English!) Ben and Marina discuss the heat in Madrid, summer holiday plans, and what challenges they have lined up for the summer.

Vocab and phrases from the ‘Analysis’ section

¿Qué tal? – How are you?
…Muy bien – Fine
…Regular – So so/not great
…Estamos fatal - We are a complete mess
Todo el mundo tiene insomnio – Everyone has insomnia
El fin de semana que viene prometen 37 o 38 grados – This weekend we can expect 37 or 38 degrees
La fiesta de esta noche promete – I think it’s going to be a great party tonight
La fiesta promete – The party looks like it’s going to be really good
Vamos a viajar a la Selva Negra que me hace mucha ilusión – We are going to go down to the Black Forest which I’m really excited about
A mi me hace mucha ilusión pasar por Suiza – I’m really excited about going through Switzerland
Tienes algún reto para las vacaciones – Do you have any goals /challenges for the holidays?
Descansar y pasármelo bien – Relax and have a good time
Pásatelo bien – Have a good time
Bloc para esbozo – Sketch pad
Bloc – Notepad
Leeré a ratitos – I’m going to read in short bursts

More Great Spanish Learning Resources…

- Learn Spanish with our best materials: Our free Spanish Learning Audio / Podcasts and the Premium Materials in our Store
- Watch more of our Spanish learning videos here
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Context

Ben and Marina take a trip to one of their favourite spots in Madrid, the Museo de Sorolla, the green city home of one of Spain’s least known, but most loved painters. Like our video from Monday on Spanish table manners, the second half includes key analysis in English again!

Vocab and phrases from the ‘Analysis’ section

En pleno centro (de Madrid) – Right in the middle (of Madrid)
Se desnudó en plena calle – He took his clothes off right in the middle of the street
Qué gozada – How fantastic
Qué gozada bañarte en el mar – What a joy to swim in the sea
Están hechos en estilo arabesco – They are made in the Moorish style
Le gustaba retratar escenas cotidianas – He liked to paint everyday scenes
En mi vida cotidiana – In my everyday life
Retratos – Portraits
Voy a pintar un retrato – I’m going to paint a portrait
Su obra era caracteristica por la luz y lo llaman el luminismo – His body of work was characteristic for its use of light, they call it ‘luminismo’

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Context

More fun Spanish learning video from Ben and Marina! We look at the different customs at the Spanish dining table, and Spanish superstitions involving the salt! Do listen to the second half analysis in English to get the most from the video.

Vocab and phrases from the ‘Analysis’ section

No se usa la servilleta – Serviettes aren’t generally used (in the UK)
En España se come mucha ensalada – A lot of salad is eaten in Spain
Otra cosa que se suele ver en la mesa española es una aceitera – Another thing you tend to see on the Spanish table is an olive oil bottle
Me resulta un poco violento pedirles una servilleta – I feel a bit uncomfortable asking them for a serviette
Cuando yo pongo la mesa – When I set the table
Soy un chapuza(s) – I don’t do things properly/I do things in half measures
Hacer chapuzas – To do some DIY
Hacerlo de manera chapuza – To do it not very well

More Great Spanish Learning Resources…

Gold 2, mentioned in the video, is available here
Watch more of our Spanish learning videos here
Sign up for our Spanish-boosting newsletter here

Can’t see the video here? You can see it direct at youtube.com here

Context

Another great Spanish learning video! Ben and Marina tell a quick story about why the Spanish never send ‘thanks’ a few days after a lunch/party etc, and why Ben is a ‘paleto’! Plus we thank all of you that have signed up for Gold Season Two on the first day!

Vocab and phrases from the ‘Analysis’ section

Eres un poco paleto – You are a bit of a country bumpkin
Despiste – Absent-minded
Soy un poco despistado – I’m a bit absent-minded
Mi cuñada – My sister-in-law
Yerno – Son-in-law
Nuera – Daughter-in-law
Aqui hay tomate – There’s some juicy stuff to talk about here!

Muchas gracias once more to everyone that has joined us already in Gold Season Two!

Update: the above-mentioned Gold Season Two is now available as a complete season pack in our store:

Get the Gold Season Two Complete Pack Here.

Can’t see the video here? You can see it direct at youtube.com here

Context

Ben and Marina discover that although a lot of shops are going out of business in their neighbourhood, fruit and veg shops continue to open continuously and thrive!

Vocab and phrases from the ‘Analysis’ section

Los pequeños comercios – Local shops / small businesses
Están cerrando sus puertas – They are going out of business
Grandes almacenes – Superstores
¿Qué te contó la dueña? – What did the owner tell you?
Hola, ¿qué me cuentas? – Hi, what’s new?
No suele estar lo suficientemente madura – It (the fruit) doesn’t tend to be ripe enough
Está un poco entera /un poco verde – It’s a bit unripe
5 raciones de fruta al dia – 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day
Una ración – Like a big tapa, a big plateful of ham for example
Un racimo de uvas – A bunch of grapes
Las generaciones mas mayores – The older generations
Los mayores – Older people
“Mis viejos no me dejan ir a la discoteca” – My parents won’t let me go to the disco (very informal/teenager only!)

Update: Gold Season Two, as mentioned in the video, is now available as a complete season pack in our store:

Get the Gold Season Two Complete Pack Here.

Saludos desde Madrid,

Ben y Marina

Can’t see the video here? You can see it direct at youtube.com here

Context

Ben and Marina head off to the Puerta del Sol and find some things have changed!

Vocab and phrases from the ‘Analysis’ section

Han hecho obras en la plaza – They’ve done some work on the Plaza
No hay bancos – There are no benches
El gordo de navidad – The Spanish Christmas lottery
…donde supongo que habra caido algun premio importante – where I think a big prize must have been awarded
El estatua del oso y del madroño – The statue of the bear and the strawberry tree
Un punto de comienzo de las manifestaciones – A starting point for demonstrations
La puerta del sol también aloja el kilometro zero – The Puerta del Sol is home to ‘Kilometer Zero’
Tanto turismo a mi me agota – So much tourism exhausts me
Agotarse – To become worn out
Bacalao rebozado – Battered cod
Está que te mueres – It’s delicious

If you are interested in finding out when Gold Season Two (as mentioned in the video) is next open to the public, please make sure you are signed up for our newsletter, via the form at the top of the right hand column of this page.

Update: the above-mentioned Gold Season Two is now available as a complete season pack in our store:

Get the Gold Season Two Complete Pack Here.

Saludos desde Madrid,

Ben y Marina

Useful vocab and phrases from the analysis section of the video:

Hay una avería – There is a fault / problem (in this case no hot water in the building)
Afeitarse – To shave
Estoy hecho un guarro – I’m ‘a bit rough around the edges’, unpresentable
Vas hecho un guarro – You look a real mess
Tenemos esa inquietud de aprender cosas nuevas – We have the need to learn new things
Estar inquieto – To feel restless
Esperamos que vayáis a ir a por ello – We hope you are going to go for it!
Profe de yoga para embarazadas – Yoga teacher for pregnant women
Doula – Mother who helps pregnant women before, during and after birth
Nos gustaría que vosotros nos contaseis lo que tenéis en mente para mejorar vuestro español – We would like you to tell us what you have in mind to improve your Spanish
Aprovechando que está aquí – Making the most of being here

Remember, the worksheet packs that accompany our audio help you actually SEE the language (just like in the list from the video above), invaluable if you want to learn more Spanish, more quickly.

Head to our store now to check them out:

http://www.notesinspanish.com/store

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Context:

Ben and Marina talk about their wedding anniversary and holiday plans, and help you learn more Spanish with the new ‘Analysis’ section at the end.

Useful Vocab:

Estar listo – To be ready
Ser listo – To be clever
Preparados, listos, ya – Ready, steady, go.
Abanico (m.) – Fan
Abanicarse – To fan
El que me tocó a mi – The one that was handed out to me
Te toca a ti – It’s your turn
Raparse – Informal way to say I’ve had a hair cut – usually used when it’s really short.
Nos vamos dentro de muy poco de vacaciones – We are going on holiday very soon.
Dentro de un mes – In a months time
Dentro de nada – In a very short while
Dar a luz – To give birth
Esperamos estar en Francia cuando llegue el bebé - We hope to be in France when the baby arrives.

Useful Links:

Get The Super Simple Spanish Subjunctive Rule Book

Get Notes in Spanish Gold (New Audio With Similar Special Analysis)

Context: Ben and Marina confess to their biggest vice/addiction, and how it’s shrinking their house (but hopefully expanding their brains with lots of learning!)

New! Today’s video includes a special English analysis section at the end!

Vocab and phrases from the analysis section:

Tenemos un vicio - We have an addiction/vice
Tengo un vicio con el chocolate – I’m addicted to chocolate
La casa se nos está quedando pequeña – The house is getting small for us
Estos zapatos se le están quedando pequeños – These shoes are getting small for him
Tengo muchos de crianza – I’ve got lots [of books] about bringing up kids
Si tuviéramos una casa mas grande compraríamos más libros aún – If we had a bigger house we’d buy even more books
Seguiremos llevándolos al retiro según los vayamos leyendo – We’ll keep taking them to the Retiro as we finish reading them

Have You Got The Amazing Subjunctive Report Mentioned In The Video Yet?

We hope so, it’s our best ever! Make sure you get it here if you haven’t!

And watch out for the launch of Notes in Spanish Gold – It’s our best audio yet, and includes key English analysis like this with every real Spanish conversation!

UPDATE!: Notes in Spanish Gold is available now in our store!