Basic requests and instructions | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic requests and instructions..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic requests and instructions to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Por favor, pasa.

por fah-VOR, PAH-sah. Please come inside.
B

Por favor, siéntate aquí.

por fah-VOR, SYEN-tah-teh ah-KEE. Please sit here.
A

Por favor, espera aquí.

por fah-VOR, ehs-PEH-rah ah-KEE. Please wait here.
B

Por favor, mira aquí.

por fah-VOR, MEE-rah ah-KEE. Please look here.
A

Por favor, escucha con atención.

por fah-VOR, ehs-KOO-chah kohn ah-ten-SYOHN. Please listen carefully.
B

Por favor, habla despacio.

por fah-VOR, AH-blah dehs-PAH-syoh. Please speak slowly.

Word by Word

Por favor “Por favor” is the polite way to say “please” in each request. In this expression, “Por” contributes “for” and “favor” contributes “favor,” while the complete expression functions together as a polite request marker. Use “Por favor” before a request, as in “Por favor, espera aquí.”
pasa “pasa” means “come in” here: it invites someone to enter. It is the informal singular command form used in “Por favor, pasa.” Use it when inviting one person inside; a new example is “Pasa, por favor.”
siéntate “siéntate” means “sit down” and gives one person an informal instruction. The accent is part of the exact dialogue form, which comes from the verb “sentarse.” Use it with a place or direction, as in “Siéntate aquí.”
aquí “aquí” means “here,” referring to the place where the action should happen. In “siéntate aquí” and “espera aquí,” it comes after the verb to specify the location. Use “aquí” after an instruction when directing someone to this place.
espera “espera” means “wait” in the instruction “Por favor, espera aquí.” It is the informal singular command form used to ask one person to remain for a while. Use it with a place or time expression; a new example is “Espera un momento.”
mira “mira” means “look” in the request “Por favor, mira aquí.” It is the informal singular command form used to direct one person’s attention. Use it before the place or thing someone should look at, as in “Mira aquí.”
escucha “escucha” means “listen” in “Por favor, escucha con atención.” It is the informal singular command form used to ask one person to pay attention to what is being heard. Use it when directing someone to listen to a speaker or message; a new example is “Escucha la explicación.”
con “con” means “with” in the phrase “con atención.” Here it introduces “atención,” and the complete phrase describes listening carefully. Use “con” before a noun when expressing what accompanies an action; “con atención” is a common way to describe careful attention.
atención “atención” means “attention” in “escucha con atención.” Together with “con,” it expresses the manner “carefully,” rather than giving that meaning by itself. Use it after “con” when asking someone to give focused attention, as in “con atención.”
habla “habla” means “speak” in “Por favor, habla despacio.” It is the informal singular command form used to ask one person to speak. Use it with an adverb that describes how to speak, such as “habla despacio.”
despacio “despacio” means “slowly” and describes the speed of speaking in “habla despacio.” It comes after the verb to show how the action should be done. Use it when asking someone to slow down their speech, especially when you need more time to understand.

Grammar Points

Imperativo afirmativo para tú

Habla despacio, por favor.

AH-blah dehs-PAH-syoh, por fah-VOR.

Speak slowly, please.

Forms like habla, espera and mira give a direct instruction to one person you address as tú.

Imperativo reflexivo: verbo + te

Siéntate aquí.

SYEN-tah-teh ah-KEE.

Sit down here.

In siéntate, the pronoun te attaches to the affirmative command. The accent mark preserves the original stress.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

Por favor, siéntate aquí.

con atención phrase
kohn ah-ten-SYOHN carefully

Por favor, escucha con atención.

despacio adv
dehs-PAH-syoh slowly

Por favor, habla despacio.

escucha verb
ehs-KOO-chah listen

Por favor, escucha con atención.

espera verb
ehs-PEH-rah wait

Por favor, espera aquí.

habla verb
AH-blah speak

Por favor, habla despacio.

mira verb
MEE-rah look

Por favor, mira aquí.

pasa verb
PAH-sah come inside

Por favor, pasa.

por favor phrase
por fah-VOR please

Por favor, pasa.

siéntate verb
SYEN-tah-teh sit down

Por favor, siéntate aquí.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Please come inside.

Show AnswerPor favor, pasa.

Please sit here.

Show AnswerPor favor, siéntate aquí.

Please wait here.

Show AnswerPor favor, espera aquí.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

come inside

Show Answerpasa

wait

Show Answerespera

here

Show Answeraquí

listen

Show Answerescucha