How formal to be
Usted or tú at work
usted · formalKOH-moh es-TAH oos-TED · “How are you?”Why: usted takes the él/ella form: está, not estás.
¿Cómohowestáare-youusted?you
tú · informalKOH-moh es-TAHS · “How are you?”Why: The -s ending marks tú.
¿Cómohowestás?are-you
ustedes · you allGRAH-thyahs ah oos-TEH-des · “Thank you all.”Why: In Latin America ustedes is the only plural you. In Spain, vosotros is the informal plural.
Graciasthanksa ustedes.to you-all
the switchnohs too-teh-AH-mohs · “Shall we use tú?”Why: tutearse = to call each other tú. A good sign the relationship is warming.
¿Nosourselvestuteamos?call-tú
Phrases for a meeting
Abrir, proponer, cerrar
OpenEmpezamossee les pah-REH-theh, em-peh-THAH-mohs · “If you’re all happy, let’s start.”Why: Si les parece (if it seems good to you all) makes any suggestion polite.
Siiflesto-youparece,seemsempezamos.we-start
AgendaEl orden del díael pree-MEHR POON-toh es el preh-soo-PWES-toh · “The first item is the budget.”Why: el orden del día = the agenda. primer drops -o before a masculine noun.
El primer puntothe first pointesisel presupuesto.the budget
ProposePropongo que…proh-PON-goh keh loh ah-BLEH-mohs mah-NYAH-nah · “I suggest we discuss it tomorrow.”Why: Proponer que is followed by the subjunctive (hablemos): a wish, not a fact.
PropongoI-proposequethatloithablemoswe-discussmañana.tomorrow
AgreeEstoy de acuerdoes-TOY deh ah-KWEHR-doh kon-TEE-goh · “I agree with you.”Why: estar de acuerdo con = to agree with. con + ti joins as contigo.
EstoyI-amde acuerdoof agreementcontigo.with-you
DisagreeNo lo veo claronoh loh BEH-oh KLAH-roh · “I’m not sure about that.”Why: A soft way to disagree: “I don’t see it clearly”.
NonotloitveoI-seeclaro.clear
CloseQuedamos asíen-TON-thes keh-DAH-mohs ah-SEE · “So that’s agreed.”Why: quedar = to agree on, to arrange. Closes a meeting with a decision.
Entoncessoquedamoswe-agreeasí.like-this
Core business words
La factura, el plazo, el presupuesto
| Spanish | Say it | English | Typical phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| la reunión | rreh-oo-NYON | meeting | convocar una reunión (call a meeting) |
| el plazo | PLAH-thoh | deadline, period | dentro del plazo (on time) |
| el presupuesto | preh-soo-PWES-toh | quote, budget | pedir un presupuesto |
| la factura | fak-TOO-rah | invoice | emitir una factura |
| el cliente / la clienta | KLYEN-teh | client | atender a un cliente |
| el proveedor | proh-beh-eh-DOR | supplier | cambiar de proveedor |
| el informe | een-FOR-meh | report | redactar un informe |
| el pedido | peh-DEE-doh | order | hacer un pedido |
| la empresa | em-PREH-sah | company | una empresa pequeña |
| el / la jefe/a | HEH-feh | boss | hablar con la jefa |
On the phone
¿De parte de quién?
RecepciónBWEH-nohs DEE-ahs, GROO-poh SOL, DEE-gah-meh · “Good morning, Sol Group, how can I help?”Why: ¿Dígame? (tell me) is how Spaniards answer the phone.
Buenos días,good daysGrupo Sol,Sol Group¿dígame?tell-me
Ustedpoh-DREE-ah ah-BLAR kon el seh-NYOR RROO-eeth · “Could I speak to Mr Ruiz?”Why: Sr. = señor.
¿Podríacould-Ihablarspeakconwithel Sr. Ruiz?Mr Ruiz
Recepcióndeh PAR-teh deh KYEN · “Who’s calling?”Why: Literally “on behalf of whom?”.
¿De parteon behalfde quién?of whom
Usteddeh PAR-teh deh AH-nah LOH-peth · “It’s Ana López.”Why: Answer with the same phrase.
De parte deon behalf ofAna López.Ana López
Recepciónoon moh-MEN-toh, leh PAH-soh · “One moment, I’ll put you through.”Why: pasar a alguien = to put someone through.
Un momento,one momentleyoupaso.I-pass
Recepciónes-TAH rreh-oo-NEE-doh. KYEH-reh deh-HAR oon rreh-KAH-doh · “He’s in a meeting. Would you like to leave a message?”Why: estar reunido = to be in a meeting. un recado = a message.
Estáhe-isreunido.in-a-meeting¿Quieredo-you-wantdejarleaveun recado?a message
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