Taking a Short Break | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a workplace break room, two adults sit on a sofa, stretch, and plan to get coffee..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Taking a Short Break to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Necesito un descanso corto.

neh-seh-SEE-toh oon deh-SKAHN-soh KOR-toh. I need a short break.
B

Sentémonos en el sofá.

sen-TEH-moh-nohs ehn ehl soh-FAH. Let's sit on the sofa.
A

¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?

PWEH-doh toh-MAHR oon POH-koh deh kah-FEH? Can I get some coffee?
B

Hay café en la cocina.

eye kah-FEH ehn lah koh-SEE-nah. There is coffee in the kitchen.
A

Voy a buscar un poco de café después de estirarme un poco.

boy ah boos-KAHR oon POH-koh deh kah-FEH dehs-PWEHS deh ehs-tee-RAHR-meh oon POH-koh. I'll get some after I stretch a little.
B

Estirar ayuda cuando sientes cansancio.

ehs-tee-RAHR ah-YOO-dah KWAHN-doh SYEHN-tehs kahn-SAHN-see-oh. Stretching helps when you feel tired.
A

Esta sala está tranquila.

EH-stah SAH-lah ehs-TAH trahn-KEE-lah. This room is quiet.
B

Podemos descansar aquí un rato.

poh-DEH-mohs dehs-kahn-SAHR ah-KEE oon RAH-toh. We can rest here for a while.

Word by Word

Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in “Necesito un descanso corto.” It expresses the speaker’s present need. Use “Necesito” before the thing you need, such as “Necesito café” in a new example.
un “Un” means “a” in “un descanso”; it introduces one unspecified break. It agrees with the masculine noun “descanso” here. Use “un” before a masculine singular noun when referring to one non-specific thing.
descanso “Descanso” means “break” or “rest” in “un descanso corto.” Here it refers to a short pause from work or another activity. Use “descanso” for a period when you stop to rest, as in “Necesito un descanso” in a new example.
corto “Corto” means “short” in “un descanso corto,” describing the limited length of the break. It agrees with “descanso” here. Use “corto” after a masculine singular noun when describing something short.
Sentémonos “Sentémonos” means “let’s sit down” in “Sentémonos en el sofá.” It is an invitation for the speaker and another person to sit. Use “Sentémonos en” followed by a place when suggesting where to sit.
en “En” means “on” in “en el sofá,” showing where the sitting takes place. It is used before the place or surface connected with the action. A reusable pattern is “en” + place or surface.
el “El” means “the” in “el sofá,” referring to a specific sofa. It is used here before the masculine singular noun “sofá.” Use “el” before a known masculine singular noun.
sofá “Sofá” means “sofa” in “el sofá,” the place where the speakers plan to sit. The accent mark is part of the exact form used here. Use “sofá” when referring to this type of seat.
Puedo “Puedo” means “can I” in “¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?” It asks whether the speaker is allowed or able to do something. Use “¿Puedo” before an infinitive to ask permission or ask whether an action is possible.
tomar “Tomar” means “have” or “get” in “tomar un poco de café.” Here it describes having some coffee. Use “tomar” before a drink when saying that you will have or drink it.
poco “Poco” means “a little” in “un poco de café,” referring to a small amount. It appears before “de” and the thing being measured. Use “un poco de” before an uncounted substance or quantity, such as “un poco de agua” in a new example.
de “De” connects “poco” with the substance in “un poco de café.” Together, “un poco de café” means “a little coffee.” Use “un poco de” before the substance or thing of which there is a small amount.
café “Café” means “coffee” in “un poco de café” and “Hay café en la cocina.” It names the drink being requested and located. Use “café” after a quantity expression such as “un poco de café.”
Hay “Hay” means “there is” in “Hay café en la cocina,” introducing the presence of coffee. It presents something as existing or being available in a place. Use “Hay” before the thing that is present, followed by a location when useful.
la “La” means “the” in “la cocina,” referring to a specific kitchen. It is used here before the feminine singular noun “cocina.” Use “la” before a known feminine singular noun.
cocina “Cocina” means “kitchen” in “en la cocina,” the place where the coffee is. It names a room used for preparing food and drinks. Use “cocina” after a location phrase such as “en la cocina.”
Voy “Voy” means “I am going” in “Voy a buscar un poco de café.” With “a” and an infinitive, it introduces an intended or planned action. Use “Voy a” before an infinitive to say what you are going to do.
a “A” links “Voy” to the intended action in “Voy a buscar.” Here it is part of the pattern “ir a” + infinitive. Use “a” after a form of “ir” and before the action that is planned.
buscar “Buscar” means “get” or “look for” in “Voy a buscar un poco de café.” Here the speaker plans to go and obtain some coffee. Use “buscar” before the thing being looked for or obtained, as in “buscar las llaves” in a new example.
después “Después” means “after” in “después de estirarme,” placing one action later than another. It is followed here by “de” and an action. Use “después de” before a noun or an infinitive to say what happens later.
estirarme “Estirarme” means “to stretch myself” in “después de estirarme un poco.” It refers to the speaker stretching before getting coffee. Use “después de” + an infinitive with this form when the speaker is the one doing the action.
Estirar “Estirar” means “to stretch” in “Estirar ayuda,” where the action of stretching is presented as helpful. The infinitive functions as the activity being discussed. Use “Estirar ayuda” to say that stretching helps, or place it after another verb that takes an infinitive.
ayuda “Ayuda” means “helps” in “Estirar ayuda.” It says that stretching provides a benefit. Use “ayuda” after an activity or action when explaining that it is useful.
cuando “Cuando” means “when” in “cuando sientes cansancio,” introducing the situation in which stretching helps. It connects the helpful action with a condition or time. Use “cuando” before a clause describing when something happens.
sientes “Sientes” means “you feel” in “sientes cansancio.” It describes the other person’s experience of tiredness. Use “sientes” before a feeling or condition when speaking directly to one person.
cansancio “Cansancio” means “tiredness” or “fatigue” in “sientes cansancio.” It names the condition that makes stretching useful in the dialogue. Use “sentir cansancio” when saying that someone feels tiredness.
Esta “Esta” means “this” in “Esta sala,” pointing to the room where the speakers are. It appears before the feminine singular noun “sala.” Use “esta” before a nearby or currently relevant feminine singular noun.
sala “Sala” means “room” in “Esta sala está tranquila.” It refers to the room in which the speakers are taking a break. Use “sala” after a demonstrative such as “Esta sala” when identifying a room.
está “Está” means “is” in “está tranquila,” describing the room’s current quiet state. The accent mark distinguishes this exact verb form. Use “está” with a description of a person, place, or thing’s current state.
tranquila “Tranquila” means “quiet” or “calm” in “Esta sala está tranquila.” It describes the room as peaceful at this moment. It agrees with the feminine noun “sala” here. Use “está tranquila” to describe a place that is currently quiet or calm.
Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “Podemos descansar aquí.” It expresses that the speakers have the possibility or permission to rest. Use “Podemos” before an infinitive to say what we can do.
descansar “Descansar” means “to rest” in “Podemos descansar aquí.” It is the action that the speakers can do in the room. Use “descansar” after “Podemos” or another verb that is followed by an infinitive.
aquí “Aquí” means “here” in “descansar aquí,” pointing to the place where the speakers are. It identifies the current location. Use “aquí” after an action to say that it happens in the present place.
rato “Rato” means “a while” in “un rato,” referring to a relatively short, unspecified period. Together, “descansar aquí un rato” means to rest here for a while. Use “un rato” after an action to indicate that it continues for a short time.

Grammar Points

Puedo + infinitivo

Puedo tomar un poco de café.

PWEH-doh toh-MAHR oon POH-koh deh kah-FEH.

I can have some coffee.

Use Puedo followed by an infinitive to express ability or ask permission politely.

Hay + sustantivo

Hay café en la cocina.

eye kah-FEH ehn lah koh-SEE-nah.

There is coffee in the kitchen.

Hay means “there is” or “there are” and does not change for singular or plural nouns.

Spanish Vocabulary

café noun
kah-FEH coffee

¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?

cocina noun
koh-SEE-nah kitchen

Hay café en la cocina.

corto adj
KOR-toh short

Necesito un descanso corto.

descanso noun
deh-SKAHN-soh break; rest

Necesito un descanso corto.

estirarme verb
ehs-tee-RAHR-meh to stretch

Voy a buscar un poco de café después de estirarme un poco.

Hay verb
eye there is; there are

Hay café en la cocina.

Necesito verb
neh-seh-SEE-toh I need

Necesito un descanso corto.

Puedo verb
PWEH-doh I can; may I

¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?

Sentémonos verb
sen-TEH-moh-nohs Let's sit down

Sentémonos en el sofá.

sofá noun
soh-FAH sofa; couch

Sentémonos en el sofá.

tomar verb
toh-MAHR to have; to get

¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?

un poco de phrase
oon POH-koh deh a little; some

¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need a short break.

Show AnswerNecesito un descanso corto.

Let's sit on the sofa.

Show AnswerSentémonos en el sofá.

Can I get some coffee?

Show Answer¿Puedo tomar un poco de café?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

break; rest

Show Answerdescanso

Let's sit down

Show AnswerSentémonos

coffee

Show Answercafé

I need

Show AnswerNecesito