Saving leftovers for tomorrow | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home after dinner, two adults put leftovers in a container, label them, and keep them for lunch tomorrow..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Saving leftovers for tomorrow to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Hay muchas sobras de la cena.

eye MOO-chahs SOH-brahs deh lah SEH-nah. There are a lot of leftovers from dinner.
B

Vamos a ponerlas en un recipiente limpio.

BAH-mohs ah poh-NEHR-lahs ehn oon KLEEN koh-teh-NEH-dor LEEM-pyoh. Let's put them in a clean container.
A

¿Puedo recalentar las sobras para el almuerzo de mañana?

PWEH-doh reh-kah-lehn-TAHR lahs SOH-brahs pah-rah ehl ahl-MWEHR-soh deh mah-NYAH-nah? Can I reheat them for lunch tomorrow?
B

Puedes hacerlo si las guardamos en la nevera hasta entonces.

PWEH-dehs ah-SEHR-loh see lahs gwahr-DAH-mohs ehn lah neh-BEH-rah AH-stah ehn-TOHN-sehs. You can if we keep them in the fridge until then.
A

¿Debo poner una etiqueta en el recipiente?

DEH-boh poh-NEHR OO-nah eh-tee-KEH-tah ehn ehl reh-see-pyehn-TEH? Should I put a label on the container?
B

Así, mañana sabremos qué hay dentro.

ah-SEE mah-NYAH-nah sah-BREH-mohs keh eye dehn-troh. That way, tomorrow we will know what is inside.
A

Le pondré una etiqueta clara.

leh pohn-DREH OO-nah eh-tee-KEH-tah KLAH-rah. I'll put a clear label on it.
B

Eso hará que el almuerzo sea más fácil.

EH-soh ah-RAH keh ehl ahl-MWEHR-soh SEH-ah mahs FAH-seel. That will make lunch easier.

Word by Word

Hay “Hay” means there are and introduces the existence of the leftovers in this sentence. Use “Hay” before a noun when saying that something exists or is present.
muchas “Muchas” means many and describes the large quantity of “sobras.” Its form matches the plural feminine noun it describes. Reuse “muchas” before a plural feminine noun.
sobras “Sobras” means leftovers, the food remaining from dinner. It is the plural form used here because there is more than one remaining portion or item. Reuse “sobras de” to name leftovers from a meal.
de “De” connects “sobras” with their source, so “de la cena” means from dinner or of dinner. Reuse “de” to show origin or association, as in “sobras de” a meal.
la “La” means the before the singular feminine noun “cena.” It identifies a specific dinner. Reuse “la” before a singular feminine noun when referring to a particular thing.
cena “Cena” means dinner, the evening meal mentioned as the source of the leftovers. Reuse it in expressions that identify a meal, such as “la cena.”
Vamos “Vamos” helps form the suggestion “Vamos a ponerlas,” meaning let’s put them. In this use, it invites another person to do something together. Reuse “Vamos a” before an infinitive to suggest a joint action.
a In “Vamos a ponerlas,” “a” links “Vamos” with the action “ponerlas.” The pattern “ir or vamos a” plus an infinitive presents an intended or upcoming action. Reuse “a” before an infinitive in this pattern.
ponerlas “Ponerlas” means put them, referring to the leftovers. It combines the action “poner” with “las,” which refers to the feminine plural leftovers. Reuse an infinitive with an attached object pronoun when the object is placed after the verb.
en “En” means in here and introduces the place where the leftovers are put: the container. Reuse “en” before a place or container to say where something is.
un “Un” means a before the masculine singular noun “recipiente.” It introduces one non-specific container. Reuse “un” before a masculine singular noun when introducing one item.
recipiente “Recipiente” means container, the item used to hold the leftovers. Reuse it with a place expression such as “en un recipiente” when describing where food or another item is kept.
limpio “Limpio” means clean and describes the container used for the leftovers. Its form matches the masculine singular noun “recipiente.” Reuse “limpio” after a masculine singular noun when describing that it is clean.
Puedo “Puedo” means can I here and asks whether the speaker is allowed or able to reheat the leftovers. It is followed by the infinitive “recalentar.” Reuse “Puedo” plus an infinitive when asking about permission or ability.
recalentar “Recalentar” means to reheat the leftovers for lunch. It stays in the infinitive after “Puedo.” Reuse “recalentar” with food when warming it again.
las “Las” means the before the feminine plural noun “sobras.” It identifies the specific leftovers being reheated. Reuse “las” before a feminine plural noun when referring to particular items.
para “Para” means for and introduces the intended meal in “para el almuerzo.” It shows the purpose or intended use of the leftovers. Reuse “para” before a meal or activity that something is intended for.
el “El” means the before the masculine singular noun “almuerzo.” It identifies a specific lunch, namely tomorrow’s lunch. Reuse “el” before a masculine singular noun when referring to a particular thing.
almuerzo “Almuerzo” means lunch, the meal for which the leftovers may be reheated. Reuse it in expressions such as “para el almuerzo” when naming the intended meal.
mañana “Mañana” means tomorrow and places the lunch in the next day. In “el almuerzo de mañana,” it identifies tomorrow’s lunch. Reuse “mañana” to refer to the following day.
Puedes “Puedes” means you can and gives permission for the other person to do the action, provided the condition follows. It is used with “hacerlo” in this dialogue. Reuse “Puedes” plus an infinitive to say that someone is able or allowed to do something.
hacerlo “Hacerlo” means do it, referring to reheating the leftovers. It combines “hacer,” to do, with “lo,” referring to the action as a whole. Reuse an infinitive with “lo” attached when saying to do or perform a previously mentioned action.
si “Si” means if and introduces the condition for being able to do it: keeping the leftovers in the fridge. Reuse “si” before a clause that states a condition.
guardamos “Guardamos” means we keep or store in this conditional statement about the leftovers. The form includes the speakers as the people who will store them. Reuse “guardar” with an object and a place when saying that something is stored somewhere.
nevera “Nevera” means fridge, the place where the leftovers are kept. It appears in “en la nevera” to identify the storage location. Reuse “en la nevera” when saying that food or another item is kept in the fridge.
hasta “Hasta” means until and sets the time limit for keeping the leftovers. In “hasta entonces,” it points to the time mentioned earlier. Reuse “hasta” before a time or a reference point to mark an endpoint.
entonces “Entonces” means then and refers to the future time when the leftovers will be needed for lunch. Together, “hasta entonces” means until then. Reuse “hasta entonces” when referring back to a previously understood future time.
Debo “Debo” asks whether the speaker should or must put a label on the container. It is followed by the infinitive “poner.” Reuse “Debo” plus an infinitive when asking whether an action is required or advisable.
poner “Poner” means put and names the action of placing a label on the container. It stays in the infinitive after “Debo.” Reuse “poner” with an object and a place or surface, as in putting a label on a container.
una “Una” means a before the feminine singular noun “etiqueta.” It introduces one label that has not yet been specified. Reuse “una” before a feminine singular noun when introducing one item.
etiqueta “Etiqueta” means label, the written marker placed on the container. Reuse it with “poner” when describing attaching or placing a label on something.
Así “Así” means that way and introduces the practical result of labeling the container. It connects the action with what the speakers will be able to know later. Reuse “Así” at the beginning of a sentence to show a way or resulting benefit.
sabremos “Sabremos” means we will know and refers to what the speakers will know tomorrow. It expresses their future knowledge about the contents. Reuse “sabremos” with information introduced by “qué” when saying what will become known.
qué “Qué” means what in “qué hay dentro,” asking which contents are inside the container. The accent marks it as the question word within this information-seeking expression. Reuse “qué” when identifying an unknown thing or information.
dentro “Dentro” means inside and identifies the location of the contents. In “qué hay dentro,” it asks what is inside the container. Reuse “dentro” to refer to the interior of a container or place.
Le “Le” means to it or for it in “Le pondré una etiqueta clara,” referring to the container affected by the action. The label is the thing being put, while “Le” indicates the item receiving it. Reuse “Le” with a verb when referring to a person or thing affected by an action.
pondré “Pondré” means I will put and states the speaker’s planned action of adding a label. It is the future form used with “una etiqueta clara.” Reuse “pondré” with an object when saying what you will place somewhere.
clara “Clara” means clear and describes the label that will be put on the container. Its form matches the feminine singular noun “etiqueta.” Reuse “clara” after a feminine singular noun when describing something as clear or easy to understand.
Eso “Eso” means that and refers to the labeling action just mentioned. It makes that previous action the cause of an easier lunch. Reuse “Eso” at the start of a sentence to refer to a previously mentioned action or situation.
hará “Hará” means will make or will cause and describes the result of using a clear label. It is followed by “que” and the result clause. Reuse “hará que” when saying that an action or situation will cause a result.
que In “hará que el almuerzo sea más fácil,” “que” links the cause with its result. It introduces the clause describing how lunch will become easier. Reuse “hacer que” or “hará que” before a clause expressing a result.
sea “Sea” means be in the result “que el almuerzo sea más fácil.” It describes the state that lunch will have as a result of the clear label. Reuse “que” plus a subject and an adjective after expressions such as “hacer que” when describing a resulting state.
más “Más” means more and forms the comparison in “más fácil,” meaning easier. It comes before the adjective it modifies. Reuse “más” before an adjective when comparing degrees of a quality.
fácil “Fácil” means easy and describes lunch as less difficult or more convenient because of the label. In “más fácil,” it forms the comparison easier. Reuse “fácil” to describe a task or situation that does not require much effort.

Grammar Points

hay + sustantivo

Hay sobras.

eye SOH-brahs.

There are leftovers.

Hay significa “there is” o “there are” y no cambia según el número del sustantivo.

poder/deber + infinitivo

Puedo recalentar.

PWEH-doh reh-kah-lehn-TAHR.

I can reheat.

Poder y deber van seguidos de otro verbo en infinitivo para expresar capacidad, obligación o consejo.

Spanish Vocabulary

almuerzo noun
ahl-MWEHR-soh lunch

¿Puedo recalentar las sobras para el almuerzo de mañana?

cena noun
SEH-nah dinner

Hay muchas sobras de la cena.

guardar verb
gwahr-DAHR to keep; to store guardamos

Puedes hacerlo si las guardamos en la nevera hasta entonces.

haber verb
ah-BEHR there is; there are hay

Hay muchas sobras de la cena.

limpio adj
LEEM-pyoh clean

Vamos a ponerlas en un recipiente limpio.

mañana adv
mah-NYAH-nah tomorrow

¿Puedo recalentar las sobras para el almuerzo de mañana?

nevera noun
neh-BEH-rah fridge

Puedes hacerlo si las guardamos en la nevera hasta entonces.

poder verb
poh-DEHR can; to be able to puedo

¿Puedo recalentar las sobras para el almuerzo de mañana?

poner verb
poh-NEHR to put ponerlas

Vamos a ponerlas en un recipiente limpio.

recalentar verb
reh-kah-lehn-TAHR to reheat

¿Puedo recalentar las sobras para el almuerzo de mañana?

recipiente noun
reh-see-pyehn-TEH container

Vamos a ponerlas en un recipiente limpio.

sobras noun
SOH-brahs leftovers

Hay muchas sobras de la cena.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

There are a lot of leftovers from dinner.

Show AnswerHay muchas sobras de la cena.

That way, tomorrow we will know what is inside.

Show AnswerAsí, mañana sabremos qué hay dentro.

I'll put a clear label on it.

Show AnswerLe pondré una etiqueta clara.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

container

Show Answerrecipiente

leftovers

Show Answersobras

lunch

Show Answeralmuerzo

to reheat

Show Answerrecalentar