En el restaurante (1)


Translation

HOST: Hi friends. How are you? How are you today? JAVIER: Good. HOST: Two for lunch? JAVIER: Yes.  HOST: Okay. Excuse me. Follow me this way. ELENA: What a cute restaurant! HOST: Oh. Do you speak Spanish? JAVIER: Yes. HOST: Yeah? Wow. ELENA: Where are you from? HOST: I’m Mexican. And you? ELENA: I’m from Argentina and Javier is Spanish. HOST: Nice to meet you. ELENA: My pleasure. HOST: Your waiter is coming in a moment. Enjoy your meal. ELENA: Thanks.

WAITER: Hello friends. How are you today? JAVIER: Hello. ELENA: Well. WAITER: Oh, you speak Spanish. Where are you from? JAVIER: Well, I am Spanish, and Elena is from Argentina. WAITER: Great. Nice to meet you. JAVIER: And you? WAITER: I’m from Mexico. JAVIER: Are you Margarito? WAITER: Yes, that’s me. How do you know my name? JAVIER: Because Professor Flores recommended the restaurant, and asked me to say hi to you. WAITER: How nice. Give him greetings from me. Are you here at the university in Middletown? JAVIER: That’s right. WAITER: Nice. A pleasure. Can I offer you something to drink? ELENA: I’d like water, please. WAITER: Water. And for you, sir? JAVIER: I want Coca Cola. WAITER: Great. Could I bring you some guacamole? JAVIER/ELENA: Yes. WAITER: Excuse me. JAVIER/ELENA: Thanks.

 

activityComprensión de la escena

study_new Temas de estudio

world_icon Notas culturales

 

 

activity Comprensión de la escena

 

 

study_new Temas de estudio

 

world_icon Notas culturales

¿Ahora o ahorita?

Ahora means now, or a minute ago. To convey the sense of right now, to make an action very immediate, the expression ahora mismo is used.

Salgo ahora.
I’m leaving now.

Salgo ahora mismo.
I’m leaving right now.

Acabo de ver a tu hijo ahora.
I have just seen your son.

In many countries, the word ahorita is also used. However,  ahorita may mean contradictory things, depending on the country and context. One meaning could be ahora mismo, right now, while the other could mean más tarde, in a while.

Quiero que laves los platos ahorita.
I want you to do the dishes right now.

Voy a lavar los platos ahorita.
I’ll do the dishes in a little while.

In this scene, the restaurant receptionist tells Elena and Javier “Ahorita viene su mesero.”  What would you think he means by ahorita—very soon or in a while?

Caballero

Caballero is a formal way to address a man, like gentleman in English. The female equivalent is dama.

Damas y caballeros = Ladies and gentlemen

Giving regards

Sometimes we send greetings to people who are not present in a conversation, or relay greetings from someone else to our interlocutor. In Spanish the verb saludar and the noun saludos are typically used for this purpose.

In the scene we hear two examples.

JAVIER: El profesor Flores… me dio saludos para usted.
Prof. Flores sends his regards (lit.: he gave me greetings for you.)

WAITER: Salúdemelo de mi parte.
Say hi from me/Give him my regards (lit.: give him greetings from me.)

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