Reporting a Lost Wallet | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Reporting a Lost Wallet to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Creo que dejé mi cartera.

KRAY-oh kay deh-HAY mee kah-TEH-rah. I think I left my wallet behind.

Volvamos al mostrador y reportémoslo.

bohl-VAH-mohs ahl moh-strah-DOR ee reh-por-TEH-mohs-loh. Let's go back to the front desk and report it.

Es marrón y tiene un pequeño botón plateado.

ehs mah-RROHN ee tee-EH-neh oon peh-KEH-nyoh boh-TOHN plah-teh-AH-doh. It's brown with a small silver button.

Ese detalle les ayudará a revisar los objetos perdidos.

EH-seh deh-TAH-yeh lehs ah-yoo-dah-RAH ah reh-bee-SAR lohs ohb-HEH-tohs pehr-DEE-dohs. That detail will help them check lost property.

¿Qué debo decir si me piden detalles?

kay DEH-boh deh-SEER see meh PEE-den deh-TAH-yehs? What should I say if they ask for details?

Describe la cartera, pero mantén la información personal en privado.

deh-SKREE-beh lah kah-TEH-rah, PEH-roh mahn-TEHN lah een-for-mah-SYOHN pehr-soh-NAHL ehn pree-VAH-doh. Describe the wallet, but keep personal information private.

Puedo escribirles una nota breve.

PWEH-doh ehs-kree-BEER-lehs oo-nah NOH-tah BREH-beh. I can write a short note for them.

Eso hará que el informe sea claro.

EH-soh ah-RAH keh ehl een-FOR-meh seh-AH KLAH-roh. That will make the report clear.

Word by Word

Creo “Creo” means “I think” here and introduces A’s uncertainty about leaving the wallet. It is used before a statement, as in “Creo que”. Use it when giving a personal belief or cautious opinion, such as when you are not completely sure what happened.

que “que” connects “Creo” with the statement that follows, meaning “that” in this context. It commonly introduces the content of what someone thinks, says, or believes. Use it when adding the information connected to a thought or statement.

dejé “dejé” means “I left” here, referring to the wallet being left behind. This exact form presents the action as completed in the past and comes before the object, “mi cartera”. Use it to say that you left something in a place, especially when reporting a missing item.

mi “mi” means “my” and shows that the wallet belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It comes directly before the noun “cartera”. Use it before a singular noun when identifying something as yours.

cartera “cartera” means “wallet” here, the item that has been lost. It is used after the possessive “mi” in “mi cartera”. Use it when identifying a wallet while asking about a missing personal belonging.

Volvamos “Volvamos” means “let’s go back” and invites the other person to return to the front desk. It expresses a suggestion or instruction addressed to the group including the speaker. Use it to propose returning to a place together, such as a desk, office, or shop.

al “al” means “to the” here and introduces the destination “mostrador”. It is the combined form used in “al mostrador”. Use it before a masculine singular destination when expressing movement toward it.

mostrador “mostrador” means “front desk” here, the place where they will report the lost wallet. It follows “al” to form the destination phrase “al mostrador”. Use it when referring to a service or reception counter in a shop, hotel, or public place.

y “y” means “and” and joins the two actions in the instruction: going back and reporting the wallet. It connects words, phrases, or actions in the same sentence. Use it to link two related actions or pieces of information.

reportémoslo “reportémoslo” means “let’s report it” here, referring to the wallet. The form combines the suggestion to report with “lo”, which points back to the item already mentioned. Use it when proposing that you and another person report a specific problem, object, or incident.

Es “Es” means “is” and introduces the wallet’s color in “Es marrón”. It is used to describe a characteristic or identify what something is like. Use it before a description of an item, person, or situation.

marrón “marrón” means “brown” and describes the wallet’s color. It follows “Es” in the description “Es marrón”. Use it when identifying a brown object or giving its color as a useful detail.

tiene “tiene” means “has” here and says that the wallet contains or includes a small button. It is followed by the object “un pequeño botón”. Use it to describe a feature, part, or possession of an object.

un “un” means “a” and introduces one non-specific button in “un pequeño botón”. It comes before a singular masculine noun and its adjectives. Use it when mentioning one item that has not been specified previously.

pequeño “pequeño” means “small” and describes the button’s size. It appears before “botón” in “un pequeño botón”. Use it before or with a noun when giving the size of a singular masculine object.

botón “botón” means “button”, the small feature used to identify the wallet. It is the noun described by “pequeño” and “plateado”. Use it when describing a button on clothing, a bag, or another object.

plateado “plateado” means “silver” here and describes the button’s appearance or color. It follows “botón” in “un pequeño botón plateado”. Use it after a noun when identifying something as silver-colored or silver-looking.

Ese “Ese” means “that” and points to the detail just mentioned. It comes before “detalle” in “Ese detalle”. Use it to refer to a specific masculine singular thing that is already known in the conversation.

detalle “detalle” means “detail” here, specifically the wallet’s identifying feature. It follows “Ese” and is the subject of the statement about helping the staff. Use it when referring to one piece of information that helps identify or explain something.

les “les” means “to them” here and refers to the people who will check the lost property. It appears before the verb in “les ayudará”. Use it to show who receives help or benefits from an action.

ayudará “ayudará” means “will help” and describes the future usefulness of the detail. It is followed by “a revisar”, which states the action the people will be helped to carry out. Use it when saying that a person, object, or piece of information will help someone do something.

a “a” links “ayudará” with the action “revisar” in “ayudará a revisar”. After “ayudar”, it commonly introduces the action that someone is helped to perform. Use it before an infinitive when describing what the help enables someone to do.

revisar “revisar” means “to check” or “to examine” here, referring to checking the lost-property items. It is an infinitive after “ayudará a”. Use it for examining information, objects, or records to find or verify something.

los “los” means “the” and introduces the specific objects being checked. It comes before the plural noun phrase “los objetos perdidos”. Use it before a known or defined group of masculine plural nouns.

objetos “objetos” means “objects” here, referring to the items in lost property. It is modified by “perdidos” in “los objetos perdidos”. Use it when referring to physical things, especially when identifying or sorting belongings.

perdidos “perdidos” means “lost” here and describes the objects that have been turned in as lost property. It follows “objetos” in “los objetos perdidos”. Use it after a plural masculine noun when describing items that are missing or have been lost.

Qué “Qué” means “what” and asks for the content of what the speaker should say. It begins the question “¿Qué debo decir?”. Use it to ask for specific information or words in a question.

debo “debo” means “should” or “ought to” here and asks what action is appropriate. It is followed by the infinitive “decir”. Use it before an infinitive when asking or stating what you are expected or advised to do.

decir “decir” means “to say” here, referring to the words the speaker should use when giving details. It follows “debo” as the action being considered. Use it when talking about expressing information aloud or putting something into words.

si “si” means “if” and introduces the possible situation in which the staff ask for details. It connects a condition with the question about what to say. Use it to describe what happens or should happen under a particular condition.

me “me” means “to me” here and shows that the person asking for details asks the speaker. It appears before the verb in “me piden”. Use it to identify yourself as the person who receives a request or action.

piden “piden” means “ask for” here, with the speaker as the person being asked and “detalles” as the requested information. It is used in the conditional clause introduced by “si”. Use it when people request information, objects, or help.

detalles “detalles” means “details” here, referring to specific information about the wallet. It is the object of “piden” in “me piden detalles”. Use it when someone needs precise information to identify, explain, or verify something.

Describe “Describe” gives the direct instruction “describe” and asks the listener to explain what the wallet looks like. It is followed by the object “la cartera”. Use it when asking someone to give identifying information about a person, object, or situation.

la “la” means “the” and introduces the specific wallet in “la cartera”. It comes before the feminine singular noun it determines. Use it before a known or already mentioned feminine singular noun.

pero “pero” means “but” and contrasts describing the wallet with keeping personal information private. It joins two instructions or ideas with different purposes. Use it to introduce an important limitation or contrast.

mantén “mantén” means “keep” here and instructs the listener to preserve the privacy of the personal information. It is followed by “la información personal” and the phrase “en privado”. Use it when giving a direct instruction to maintain something in a particular condition.

información “información” means “information” here, specifically the personal information that should remain private. It is modified by “personal” in “la información personal”. Use it when referring to facts or details someone provides or needs.

personal “personal” means “personal” and specifies that the information concerns the individual rather than only the wallet’s appearance. It follows “información” in “la información personal”. Use it to describe information connected to a person’s private identity or life.

en “en” means “in” here and forms the expression “en privado”, meaning that something remains private. It introduces the state or manner in which the information is kept. Use it in expressions that describe being or keeping something in a particular condition or setting.

privado “privado” means “private” here and describes the desired status of the personal information. It appears in the expression “en privado”. Use it when discussing information that should not be shared openly.

Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” and offers the speaker’s ability or willingness to write a note. It is followed by the infinitive “escribirles”. Use it before an infinitive when offering to do something or saying that you are able to do it.

escribirles “escribirles” means “to write to them” or “to write for them” here, referring to the people handling the report. The form combines “escribir” with “les”, which identifies the recipients. Use it when offering to write something for or to a group of people.

una “una” means “a” and introduces one non-specific note in “una nota breve”. It comes before a singular feminine noun. Use it when mentioning one feminine singular item that has not been specified before.

nota “nota” means “note” here, referring to a short written message for the people handling the report. It is described by “breve” in “una nota breve”. Use it for a brief written reminder, message, or explanation.

breve “breve” means “short” or “brief” and describes the note’s limited length. It follows “nota” in “una nota breve”. Use it after a noun when describing a message, explanation, or text that is concise.

Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the proposed action of writing a short note. It is the subject of the statement about making the report clear. Use it to point back to an idea, action, or situation already mentioned.

hará “hará” means “will make” here and says that the note will produce a clear result for the report. It is used with “que” to introduce the resulting condition in “hará que el informe sea claro”. Use it when describing a future action that causes a result.

el “el” means “the” and introduces the specific report in “el informe”. It comes before a singular masculine noun. Use it before a known or previously discussed masculine singular noun.

informe “informe” means “report” here, the written account being made clear by the note. It follows “el” in “el informe”. Use it when referring to a formal written account of an incident or information.

sea “sea” means “be” here and expresses the result that the report should be clear after the note is written. It appears after “hará que” in “hará que el informe sea claro”. Use it in a clause describing the resulting condition caused by an action.

claro “claro” means “clear” here and describes the report as easy to understand. It follows “sea” in “el informe sea claro”. Use it after a form of “ser” when describing information, instructions, or a report that is understandable.

Grammar Points

Imperativo afirmativo de tú

Describe la cartera.

deh-SKREE-beh lah kah-TEH-rah.

Describe the wallet.

The affirmative tú command uses a special verb form: describir becomes describe.

Imperativo de nosotros con pronombre unido

Reportémoslo en privado.

reh-por-TEH-mohs-loh ehn pree-VAH-doh.

Let's report it privately.

In a nosotros command, the object pronoun lo attaches to the verb: reportemos + lo.

Spanish Vocabulary

botón noun

boh-TOHN button

cartera noun

kah-TEH-rah wallet

creer verb

kreh-EHR to think Creo

dejar verb

deh-HAR to leave dejé

detalle noun

deh-TAH-yeh detail

marrón adj

mah-RROHN brown

mostrador noun

moh-strah-DOR front desk

pequeño adj

peh-KEH-nyoh small

plateado adj

plah-teh-AH-doh silver-colored

reportar verb

reh-por-TAR to report reportémoslo

tener verb

teh-NEHR to have tiene

volver verb

bohl-BEHR to go back Volvamos

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I think I left my wallet behind.

Show Answer

Creo que dejé mi cartera.

Let's go back to the front desk and report it.

Show Answer

Volvamos al mostrador y reportémoslo.

I can write a short note for them.

Show Answer

Puedo escribirles una nota breve.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

brown

Show Answer

marrón

to have

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tiene

wallet

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cartera

front desk

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mostrador