Ordering a Lunch Set | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home, two adults choose a lunch set, decide between main options and sides, and place an order..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Ordering a Lunch Set to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Quiero pedir un menú de almuerzo para los dos.

kee-EH-roh peh-DEER oon meh-NOO deh ahl-MWER-soh PAH-rah lohs DOHS. I want to order a lunch set for us.
B

¿Prefieres pollo o pescado?

preh-FYEH-rehs POH-yoh oh pehs-KAH-doh? Would you prefer chicken or fish?
A

Hoy me parece mejor el pescado.

oy meh pah-REH-seh meh-HOR ehl pehs-KAH-doh. Fish sounds better to me today.
B

Incluye arroz y una guarnición pequeña.

een-KLOO-yeh ah-RROHS ee OO-nah gwahr-nee-SYOHN peh-KEH-nyah. It comes with rice and one small side.
A

¿Qué guarnición se ve mejor?

keh gwahr-nee-SYOHN seh beh meh-HOR? Which side looks best?
B

Las verduras se ven frescas y sencillas.

lahs behr-DOO-rahs seh behn FREHS-kahs ee sehn-SEE-yahs. The vegetables look fresh and simple.
A

Vamos a elegir las verduras.

BAH-mohs ah eh-leh-HEER lahs behr-DOO-rahs. Let's choose the vegetables.
B

Puedo hacer el pedido ahora.

PWEH-doh ah-SEHR ehl peh-DEE-doh ah-OH-rah. I can place the order now.

Word by Word

Quiero “Quiero” means “I want” here and expresses the speaker’s desire to place an order. It is used before an infinitive, as in “Quiero pedir...”. You can use it when stating what you want to do or have.
pedir “Pedir” means “to order” in “Quiero pedir un menú de almuerzo”. It stays in this infinitive form after “Quiero”. Use “pedir” before the thing you want to order, such as “pedir un café” in a new example.
un “Un” means “a” in “un menú” and introduces one masculine noun. It agrees with “menú” in this expression. Use it before a singular masculine noun when ordering or describing one item.
menú “Menú” refers here to a lunch set or set meal. “Menú de almuerzo” names the type of set using “de” plus the meal. You can use “menú” when asking about or ordering a set meal.
de “De” links “menú” with “almuerzo” to specify what kind of menu it is: a lunch menu. In “menú de almuerzo”, it introduces the meal category. Use “de” in similar noun combinations when one noun describes the type of another.
almuerzo “Almuerzo” means “lunch” in “menú de almuerzo”. Here it identifies the meal for which the set is intended. Use it when talking about lunch plans, food, or menus.
para “Para” means “for” in “para los dos” and marks who the lunch set is intended for. It is followed here by the group expression “los dos”. Use “para” to identify the intended person or people, such as “para ti” in a new example.
los “Los” means “the” in the expression “los dos”, referring to the two people together. It is part of this fixed group expression rather than describing a food item. Use “los dos” when referring to two people or two things together.
dos “Dos” means “two” in “para los dos”, identifying the two people who will share or receive the order. With “los”, it forms “los dos”. Use it when stating a quantity of two, such as “dos cafés” in a new example.
Prefieres “Prefieres” asks whether the other person prefers one option over another: “¿Prefieres pollo o pescado?”. It is used to offer a choice between two items. Use “¿Prefieres...?” when asking someone which of several options they would like.
pollo “Pollo” means “chicken” and is one of the two food options in the question. It appears after “Prefieres” as one choice in the order. Use it when choosing or ordering chicken.
o “O” means “or” and connects the two alternatives “pollo” and “pescado”. It presents a choice between the items. Use “o” between alternatives when asking or stating which option is selected.
pescado “Pescado” means “fish” here as a food choice in “pollo o pescado”. It is the option the speaker chooses in the following line. Use it when ordering or discussing fish as food.
Hoy “Hoy” means “today” and limits the speaker’s preference to the current day in “Hoy me parece mejor el pescado”. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence to set the time. Use it when talking about what is true or preferred today.
me “Me” means “to me” in “me parece mejor” and marks whose opinion or impression is being expressed. Together with “parece”, it presents the speaker’s personal evaluation. Use “me parece...” when giving your opinion about an option or situation.
parece “Parece” contributes the idea “seems” in “me parece mejor”, which means that the speaker considers one option better. The expression presents an impression rather than a direct command. Use “me parece...” to say how something seems to you.
mejor “Mejor” means “better” in “me parece mejor el pescado”, comparing the fish option favorably with the other option. It follows “parece” in this opinion expression. Use “mejor” when saying that one choice is preferable to another.
el “El” means “the” in “el pescado” and introduces the specific masculine noun being chosen. It agrees with “pescado” in this phrase. Use it before a singular masculine noun when referring to a particular item.
Incluye “Incluye” means “includes” in “Incluye arroz y una guarnición pequeña”. It states what is provided as part of the lunch set. Use it before the items or services that a set, package, or menu contains.
arroz “Arroz” means “rice” and is one of the items included in the set. It follows “Incluye” as part of the list of included food. Use it when describing rice as a dish or accompaniment.
y “Y” means “and” and joins “arroz” with “una guarnición pequeña” in the list of included items. It connects two or more items without presenting a choice. Use “y” between items that are included or selected together.
una “Una” means “a” or “one” in “una guarnición pequeña” and introduces one feminine noun. It agrees with “guarnición”. Use it before a singular feminine noun when referring to one item.
guarnición “Guarnición” means “side dish” in “una guarnición pequeña”, referring to an additional food item served with the main option. It is the item being selected later in the dialogue. Use it when discussing or ordering a side dish with a meal.
pequeña “Pequeña” means “small” and describes the side dish in “una guarnición pequeña”. Its form agrees with the feminine noun “guarnición”. Use it before or after a noun when describing a small feminine item.
Qué “Qué” means “which” in “¿Qué guarnición se ve mejor?” and asks the listener to identify one side dish from the available options. It appears directly before “guarnición”. Use “¿Qué...?” when asking which item or kind of item someone means or prefers.
se “Se” is part of “se ve mejor”, the expression used to say that a side dish looks or appears better. It helps form the way something is perceived rather than naming an action done to another person. Use the pattern “se ve...” when describing how something looks.
ve “Ve” contributes “looks” in “se ve mejor”, describing the appearance or impression of the side dish. The full expression “se ve mejor” means that it appears better. Use “se ve...” to comment on how food, an object, or a place looks.
Las “Las” means “the” in “Las verduras” and introduces the specific feminine plural noun “verduras”. It agrees with that plural noun. Use it before a particular group of feminine plural items.
verduras “Verduras” means “vegetables” and names the side dish chosen in the dialogue. It is the subject of “se ven frescas y sencillas” and the object of “elegir”. Use it when discussing vegetables as food or as a menu choice.
frescas “Frescas” means “fresh” in “Las verduras se ven frescas”. It describes the vegetables and agrees with the feminine plural noun “verduras”. Use it when describing vegetables or other feminine plural items that seem fresh.
sencillas “Sencillas” means “simple” in “Las verduras se ven frescas y sencillas”. It gives a second description of the vegetables and agrees with “verduras”. Use it to describe a feminine plural group as uncomplicated or plain when that meaning fits the context.
Vamos “Vamos” introduces the suggestion “Let’s” in “Vamos a elegir las verduras”. With “a” and an infinitive, it proposes doing something together. Use “Vamos a...” when suggesting a shared action.
a “A” is part of the pattern “Vamos a elegir”, which means “let’s choose”. Here it links “Vamos” to the infinitive “elegir”. Use “vamos a” before an infinitive to suggest a joint action.
elegir “Elegir” means “to choose” in “Vamos a elegir las verduras”. It remains in the infinitive after “Vamos a”. Use it before the item being selected, such as “elegir una bebida” in a new example.
Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” in “Puedo hacer el pedido ahora” and states that the speaker is able or willing to take the next action. It is followed here by an infinitive. Use “Puedo...” when offering to do something or saying that you are able to do it.
hacer “Hacer” means “to make” or “to do” in the expression “hacer el pedido”, which means “to place the order”. It appears in the infinitive after “Puedo”. Use “hacer el pedido” when saying that someone will place an order.
pedido “Pedido” means “order” in “hacer el pedido”, referring to the food order that is being placed. The expression “hacer el pedido” is used as a whole for placing an order. Use it in a restaurant, delivery, or takeaway situation when the order is ready to be submitted.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” and indicates that the speaker can place the order immediately. It appears at the end of “Puedo hacer el pedido ahora”. Use it to specify that an action is happening at the present time.

Grammar Points

querer + infinitivo

Quiero pedir el almuerzo.

kee-EH-roh peh-DEER ehl ahl-MWER-soh.

I want to order lunch.

Use the conjugated form of querer followed by an infinitive to express what you want to do.

poder + infinitivo

¿Puedo hacer el pedido ahora?

PWEH-doh ah-SEHR ehl peh-DEE-doh ah-OH-rah?

Can I place the order now?

Use poder followed by an infinitive to ask for or express ability or permission.

Spanish Vocabulary

almuerzo noun
ahl-MWER-soh lunch
hoy adv
oy today
los dos phrase
lohs DOHS the two of us; both of us
me pron
meh to me
menú noun
meh-NOO menu; set meal
para prep
PAH-rah for
parecer verb
pah-reh-SEHR to seem; to appear parece
pedir verb
peh-DEER to order; to ask for
pescado noun
pehs-KAH-doh fish
pollo noun
POH-yoh chicken
preferir verb
preh-feh-REER to prefer prefieres
querer verb
keh-REHR to want quiero

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Would you prefer chicken or fish?

Show Answer¿Prefieres pollo o pescado?

Fish sounds better to me today.

Show AnswerHoy me parece mejor el pescado.

It comes with rice and one small side.

Show AnswerIncluye arroz y una guarnición pequeña.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

lunch

Show Answeralmuerzo

fish

Show Answerpescado

for

Show Answerpara

chicken

Show Answerpollo