Checking in at a hotel | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a hotel reception desk, a guest checks in by showing a passport, signing a form, and asking about breakfast..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Checking in at a hotel to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.

TEHNG-goh OO-nah reh-SEHR-bah deh ah-bee-tah-see-OHN ah-KEE. I have a room reservation here.
B

¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?

poh-DREE-ah behr soo pah-sah-POHR-teh, pohr fah-BOHR? Could I see your passport, please?
A

Aquí está. Lo tengo listo.

ah-KEE ehs-TAH. loh TEHNG-goh LEES-toh. Here it is. I have it ready.
B

¿Podría firmar aquí?

poh-DREE-ah feer-MAHR ah-KEE? Could you sign here?
A

¿Necesita también mi firma en este formulario?

neh-seh-SEE-tah tahm-bee-EHN mee FEER-mah ehn EHS-teh fohr-moo-LAH-ryoh? Do you need my signature on this form too?
B

En la parte de abajo de este formulario está bien.

ehn lah PAHR-teh deh ah-BAH-hoh deh EHS-teh fohr-moo-LAH-ryoh ehs-TAH byehn. At the bottom of this form is fine.
A

¿Dónde se sirve el desayuno mañana por la mañana?

DOHN-deh seh SEEHR-beh el deh-sah-YOO-noh mah-NYAH-nah pohr lah mah-NYAH-nah? Where is breakfast served tomorrow morning?
B

En el comedor cerca de recepción.

ehn el koh-meh-DOHR SEHR-kah deh reh-sehp-see-OHN. In the dining room near reception.

Word by Word

Tengo “Tengo” means “I have” in “Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.” It is used with something possessed or held, such as “Tengo una reserva” for stating that you have a reservation. A new example is “Tengo una pregunta” for “I have a question.”
una “Una” means “a” in “una reserva” and introduces one reservation. It comes before the noun it specifies, as in “una reserva de habitación.” A new example is “una mesa” for “a table.”
reserva “Reserva” means “reservation” here, referring to the hotel booking the speaker has. It is used in “una reserva de habitación,” with the type of reservation following “de.” A new example is “una reserva para mañana” for “a reservation for tomorrow.”
de In “reserva de habitación,” “de” connects “reserva” with the thing it concerns, giving the meaning “room reservation.” A reliable pattern is “noun + de + noun,” as in “reserva de habitación.”
habitación “Habitación” means “room” in “reserva de habitación,” identifying the kind of reservation. It can be used after “de” to specify what a reservation is for. A new example is “La habitación está lista” for “The room is ready.”
aquí “aquí” means “here,” indicating the place where the reservation exists in “Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.” It can appear at the end of a sentence to identify the current location. A new example is “Trabajo aquí” for “I work here.”
Podría “Podría” makes a polite request in “¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?” and “¿Podría firmar aquí?” It softens the request for the person being addressed. A new example is “¿Podría esperar aquí?” for “Could you wait here?”
ver “Ver” means “to see” in the polite request “¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?” It follows “Podría” in this request pattern: “¿Podría ver + object?” A new example is “¿Podría ver la reserva?” for “Could I see the reservation?”
su “Su” means “your” here, referring to the passport of the person being addressed in “su pasaporte.” It comes directly before the noun it describes. A new example is “su habitación” for “your room.”
pasaporte “Pasaporte” means “passport” in “su pasaporte,” the document the receptionist asks to see. It is used after a possessive word such as “su.” A new example is “Aquí está mi pasaporte” for “Here is my passport.”
por favor “Por favor” means “please” and makes both “¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?” and the request more polite. “Por” and “favor” work together as this fixed polite expression rather than being translated separately here. A new example is “Espere aquí, por favor” for “Please wait here.”
está “Está” means “is” in “Aquí está,” which presents or points out the requested item as being here. It is used with a place or state in this expression. A new example is “El formulario está aquí” for “The form is here.”
Lo “Lo” means “it” as the object pronoun in “Lo tengo listo,” referring to the item the speaker has ready. It appears before “tengo” in this sentence. A reusable pattern is “Lo tengo + adjective,” with the object pronoun before the verb.
listo “Listo” means “ready” in “Lo tengo listo,” describing the item that the speaker has prepared. It follows the object pronoun and verb in this expression. A new example is “El documento está listo” for “The document is ready.”
firmar “Firmar” means “to sign” in “¿Podría firmar aquí?” and refers to signing the requested place on a document. It follows “Podría” in this polite request pattern. A new example is “¿Podría firmar el formulario?” for “Could you sign the form?”
Necesita “Necesita” means “need” in “¿Necesita también mi firma en este formulario?” The question asks whether the person addressed needs an additional item. A new example is “¿Necesita mi pasaporte?” for “Do you need my passport?”
también “También” means “also” or “too” in “¿Necesita también mi firma en este formulario?” It adds the signature to something that may already be needed. It can be placed before the item being added, as in “también mi firma.”
mi “Mi” means “my” in “mi firma,” showing that the signature belongs to the speaker. It comes before the noun it describes. A new example is “mi pasaporte” for “my passport.”
firma “Firma” means “signature” in “mi firma,” referring to the written name requested on the form. It is used with a possessive word such as “mi.” A new example is “Necesito su firma” for “I need your signature.”
en “En” means “on” in “en este formulario” and “in” in “En el comedor,” showing the location of something. It is commonly followed by a place or surface, such as “en el comedor” or “en este formulario.”
este “Este” means “this” in “este formulario,” pointing to the form being discussed or handled. It comes before the noun it identifies. A new example is “este pasaporte” for “this passport.”
formulario “Formulario” means “form” in “este formulario,” referring to the document that may need a signature. It can follow a demonstrative such as “este.” A new example is “Complete el formulario” for “Complete the form.”
la “La” means “the” in “la parte de abajo,” referring to a specific part of the form. It comes before the noun phrase it determines. A new example is “la recepción” for “the reception.”
parte “Parte” means “part” in “la parte de abajo de este formulario,” identifying a section of the form. It is followed by “de abajo” to specify which part. A new example is “la parte de arriba” for “the top part.”
abajo “Abajo” means “below” or “bottom” in “la parte de abajo,” identifying the lower part of the form. The reusable pattern is “la parte de abajo de + noun,” as in “la parte de abajo de este formulario.”
bien “Bien” means “fine” or “okay” in “está bien,” approving the suggested location for the signature. It is commonly used after “estar” to say that something is acceptable. A new example is “Aquí está bien” for “It is fine here.”
Dónde “Dónde” means “where” in “¿Dónde se sirve el desayuno mañana por la mañana?” and asks for the location of a service. It appears with an accent when used in a direct question. A new example is “¿Dónde está la recepción?” for “Where is reception?”
se “Se” helps form “se sirve el desayuno,” where the sentence describes where breakfast is served without naming the person serving it. It comes before “sirve” in this construction. A reusable pattern is “se + verb” when describing a service or action without identifying the actor.
sirve “Sirve” means “is served” in the construction “se sirve el desayuno,” referring to the serving of breakfast. Together with “se,” it describes the service rather than naming who serves it. A new example is “Aquí se sirve la cena” for “Dinner is served here.”
el “El” means “the” in “el desayuno,” referring to the specific breakfast service at the hotel. It comes before the noun it determines. A new example is “el comedor” for “the dining room.”
desayuno “Desayuno” means “breakfast” in “se sirve el desayuno,” the meal being served at the hotel. It can be used after “el” when referring to a specific breakfast. A new example is “El desayuno empieza a las ocho” for “Breakfast starts at eight.”
mañana The first “mañana” in “mañana por la mañana” means “tomorrow,” while the second means “morning.” The phrase therefore asks about breakfast served tomorrow morning. A new example is “hasta mañana” for “see you tomorrow.”
comedor “Comedor” means “dining room” in “En el comedor cerca de recepción,” identifying where breakfast is served. It can follow “en” to give the location of a meal. A new example is “El comedor está abierto” for “The dining room is open.”
cerca “Cerca” means “near” in “cerca de recepción,” describing a location close to reception. The common pattern is “cerca de + place,” as in “cerca de recepción.” A new example is “El baño está cerca” for “The bathroom is nearby.”
recepción “Recepción” means “reception” in “cerca de recepción,” referring to the hotel reception area or desk. It follows “de” in this location expression. A new example is “Estoy en recepción” for “I am at reception.”

Grammar Points

se + verbo

Se sirve el desayuno mañana.

seh SEEHR-beh el deh-sah-YOO-noh mah-NYAH-nah.

Breakfast is served tomorrow.

Spanish uses se + verb for an impersonal or passive statement when the person doing the action is not specified.

necesitar + infinitivo

Necesita firmar el formulario.

neh-seh-SEE-tah feer-MAHR el fohr-moo-LAH-ryoh.

You need to sign the form.

After necesitar, use the infinitive to express needing to do something.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.

firma noun
FEER-mah signature

¿Necesita también mi firma en este formulario?

firmar verb
feer-MAHR to sign

¿Podría firmar aquí?

formulario noun
fohr-moo-LAH-ryoh form

¿Necesita también mi firma en este formulario?

habitación noun
ah-bee-tah-see-OHN room

Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.

listo adj
LEES-toh ready

Lo tengo listo.

pasaporte noun
pah-sah-POHR-teh passport

¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?

por favor phrase
pohr fah-BOHR please

¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?

reserva noun
reh-SEHR-bah reservation

Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.

también adv
tahm-bee-EHN also; too

¿Necesita también mi firma en este formulario?

tener verb
teh-NEHR to have Tengo

Tengo una reserva de habitación aquí.

ver verb
behr to see

¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have a room reservation here.

Show AnswerTengo una reserva de habitación aquí.

Could I see your passport, please?

Show Answer¿Podría ver su pasaporte, por favor?

Here it is. I have it ready.

Show AnswerAquí está. Lo tengo listo.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

reservation

Show Answerreserva

ready

Show Answerlisto

here

Show Answeraquí

to have

Show AnswerTengo