Waiting in Line | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a counter line, two adults check where the line starts, take a ticket, and wait for the next turn..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Waiting in Line to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Esta es la fila del mostrador?

ES-tah es lah FEE-lah del moh-strah-DOR Is this line for the counter?
B

Aquí empieza.

ah-KEE em-PYEH-sah This is where it starts.
A

¿Necesito un ticket?

neh-seh-SEE-toh oon TEE-keht Do I need a ticket?
B

Toma uno de esta caja.

TOH-mah OO-noh deh ES-tah KAH-hah Take one from this box.
A

¿Cuándo es mi turno?

KWAHN-doh es mee TOOR-noh When is my turn?
B

Vas después de esa persona.

bahs des-PWEHS deh ES-ah pehr-SOH-nah You're after that person.
A

Esperaré aquí.

es-peh-rah-REH ah-KEE I will wait here.
B

La persona de adelante casi termina.

lah pehr-SOH-nah deh ah-deh-LAHN-teh KAH-see tehr-MEE-nah The person ahead is almost finished.

Word by Word

Esta “Esta” means “this” in “¿Esta es la fila del mostrador?”, referring to the line being identified. It is used before or with a feminine noun such as “fila”. A new example is “Esta puerta está abierta” for identifying a nearby door.
es “Es” means “is” here, linking “Esta” with “la fila del mostrador”. It is the form used in a question such as “¿Esta es...?” when identifying something. A new example is “¿Es tu libro?” when asking whether something belongs to someone.
la “La” means “the” before “fila” in “la fila del mostrador”. It introduces a specific line that the speakers are identifying. A new example is “la puerta” when referring to a particular door.
fila “Fila” means “line” or “queue” in “la fila del mostrador”. Here it refers to the people waiting for the counter. A new example is “Estoy en la fila” when saying that you are waiting in line.
del “Del” means “of the” in “del mostrador”, identifying the counter connected with the line. It is the combined form of “de” and “el” in this expression. A new example is “la puerta del banco” for “the bank’s door” or “the door of the bank”.
mostrador “Mostrador” means “counter” in “la fila del mostrador”. It identifies the service counter for which the line is intended. A new example is “Voy al mostrador” when going to a service counter.
Aquí “Aquí” means “here” in “Aquí empieza”, pointing to the place where the line begins. It commonly comes before a verb to identify where something happens. A new example is “Aquí está” when pointing out where something is.
empieza “Empieza” means “starts” in “Aquí empieza”, referring to the beginning of the line. It is used with a place expression such as “Aquí”. A new example is “La película empieza a las ocho” when saying when a film starts.
Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in “¿Necesito un ticket?”. It expresses the speaker’s need for one ticket in this situation. A new example is “Necesito ayuda” when asking for help.
un “Un” means “a” in “un ticket”, introducing one unspecified ticket that is needed. It appears directly before the noun “ticket”. A new example is “un libro” when referring to a book without identifying a particular one.
ticket “Ticket” means “ticket” in “¿Necesito un ticket?”. Here it is the numbered or identifying item taken before waiting in line. A new example is “Tengo un ticket” when saying that you have one.
Toma “Toma” means “take” in “Toma uno de esta caja”, telling one person to take an item. It is used directly before the object “uno”. A new example is “Toma este papel” when handing someone a paper to take.
uno “Uno” means “one” in “Toma uno de esta caja”, referring to one ticket from the box. It can stand in for the understood item instead of repeating “ticket”. A new example is “Quiero uno” when choosing one item from a group.
de “De” means “from” in “de esta caja”, showing where the ticket should be taken from. It commonly introduces the source or place something comes from. A new example is “Soy de España” when saying where someone is from.
Cuándo “Cuándo” means “when” in “¿Cuándo es mi turno?”, asking about the time or point at which the speaker’s turn comes. Its accent marks it as a question word here. A new example is “¿Cuándo empieza?” when asking when something starts.
mi “Mi” means “my” in “mi turno”, showing that the turn belongs to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun “turno”. A new example is “mi ticket” when referring to the speaker’s ticket.
turno “Turno” means “turn” in “¿Cuándo es mi turno?”, referring to the speaker’s place or opportunity to be served. It is commonly used with a possessive such as “mi”. A new example is “Es tu turno” when telling someone that it is their turn.
Vas “Vas” means “you go” or, in “Vas después de esa persona”, that you are positioned after that person in the order. It is used with “después de” to describe someone’s place in a sequence. A new example is “Vas primero” when telling someone that they go first.
después “Después” means “after” in “después de esa persona”, placing the speaker after another person in the line. The reusable pattern is “después de” followed by the person or thing that comes first. A new example is “después de la reunión” for something happening after the meeting.
esa “Esa” means “that” in “esa persona”, identifying the person the speaker is pointing or referring to. It is used directly before the feminine noun “persona”. A new example is “esa mesa” when identifying a particular table.
persona “Persona” means “person” in “esa persona”. Here it refers to the individual who is ahead of the speaker in the line. A new example is “una persona” when referring to one person without identifying them.
Esperaré “Esperaré” means “I will wait” in “Esperaré aquí”, expressing the speaker’s decision to remain in this place while waiting. The form refers to a future action by the speaker. A new example is “Esperaré afuera” when saying that you will wait outside.
adelante “Adelante” means “ahead” or “in front” in “de adelante”, describing the person farther forward in the line. It is used here with “de” as part of a position expression. A new example is “Pasa adelante” when telling someone to move forward.
casi “Casi” means “almost” in “casi termina”, showing that the person is very near finishing but has not finished yet. It usually comes directly before the verb or expression it modifies. A new example is “casi listo” when saying that something is almost ready.
termina “Termina” means “finishes” in “La persona de adelante casi termina”, referring to the person ahead nearly completing their turn. It is used after “casi” to describe an action that is nearly complete. A new example is “La clase termina pronto” when saying that a class finishes soon.

Grammar Points

esperaré

Esperaré aquí.

es-peh-rah-REH ah-KEE

I will wait here.

The ending -ré marks the first-person singular future: “I will wait.” The subject pronoun is usually omitted.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

Aquí empieza.

caja noun
KAH-hah box

Toma uno de esta caja.

cuándo adv
KWAHN-doh when

¿Cuándo es mi turno?

empieza verb
em-PYEH-sah starts

Aquí empieza.

fila noun
FEE-lah line

¿Esta es la fila del mostrador?

mostrador noun
moh-strah-DOR counter

¿Esta es la fila del mostrador?

necesito verb
neh-seh-SEE-toh need

¿Necesito un ticket?

ticket noun
TEE-keht ticket

¿Necesito un ticket?

toma verb
TOH-mah take

Toma uno de esta caja.

turno noun
TOOR-noh turn

¿Cuándo es mi turno?

uno pron
OO-noh one

Toma uno de esta caja.

vas verb
bahs go; are

Vas después de esa persona.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is this line for the counter?

Show Answer¿Esta es la fila del mostrador?

This is where it starts.

Show AnswerAquí empieza.

Do I need a ticket?

Show Answer¿Necesito un ticket?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

starts

Show Answerempieza

box

Show Answercaja

counter

Show Answermostrador

ticket

Show Answerticket