About This Lesson
Use Checking a washing machine to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Esta lavadora no arranca.
EH-stah lah-vah-DOH-rah noh ah-RRAHN-kah. This washing machine won't start.
B
¿Revisaste el enchufe y el botón de encendido?
reh-bee-SAH-steh en-CHOO-feh ee el boh-TOHN deh en-sehn-DEE-doh? Did you check the plug and the power button?
A
El enchufe está conectado, pero no pasa nada.
el en-CHOO-feh ehs-TAH koh-nek-TAH-doh, PEH-roh noh PAH-sah NAH-dah. The plug is in, but nothing happens.
B
Quizá la puerta no está bien cerrada.
kee-SAH lah PWEHR-tah noh ehs-TAH byen seh-RRAH-dah. Maybe the door isn't closed properly.
A
Las instrucciones dicen que debería hacer clic antes de arrancar.
lahs een-strook-SYOH-nehs DEE-sehn keh deh-beh-REE-ah ah-SEHR kleek AHN-tehs deh ah-RRAHN-kahr. The instructions say it should click before it starts.
B
Empuja la puerta una vez más y luego pulsa el botón de inicio.
em-POO-hah lah PWEHR-tah OO-nah behs MAHS ee LWEH-goh POOL-sah el boh-TOHN deh ee-NEE-syoh. Push the door once more, then press start.
A
La puerta hizo clic y ahora funciona.
lah PWEHR-tah EE-soh kleek ee ah-OH-rah foon-SYOH-nah. The door clicked, and now it works.
B
A veces, unas comprobaciones sencillas resuelven el problema.
ah BEH-sehs, OO-nahs kohm-proh-bah-SYOH-nehs sen-SEE-yahs reh-SWEHL-behn el proh-BLEH-mah. Sometimes simple checks solve the problem.Word by Word
Esta
In "Esta lavadora", this points to the particular washing machine being discussed. It is used before a singular noun, as in "Esta lavadora". Use it when identifying one specific nearby thing.
lavadora
In "Esta lavadora", "lavadora" means washing machine. It names the appliance that will not start. It can be used after a word identifying or describing the appliance.
no
In "no arranca", "no" makes the statement negative: the machine does not start. It normally comes before the word or expression being negated. Here it negates "arranca".
arranca
In "Esta lavadora no arranca", "arranca" means starts or begins operating. It is a form of "arrancar" used for the washing machine in this dialogue. Use "arrancar" when talking about a machine starting.
Revisaste
In "¿Revisaste el enchufe y el botón de encendido?", "Revisaste" asks whether the other person checked something. It is a form of "revisar" and is followed here by the things checked: "el enchufe y el botón de encendido". Use this question pattern when checking whether someone has inspected something.
el
In "el enchufe" and "el botón de encendido", "el" means the and introduces a specific noun. It is used before each of these singular nouns. A common reuse pattern is "el" followed by a specific masculine noun.
enchufe
In "el enchufe", "enchufe" means plug. It is the plug whose connection is being checked. It can be used after "el" when referring to a specific plug.
y
In "el enchufe y el botón de encendido", "y" joins two things being checked: the plug and the power button. It connects items or clauses in the same way as and in English. Here it joins two noun phrases.
botón
In "el botón de encendido", "botón" means button. It identifies the control being checked on the machine. It is followed here by "de encendido" to specify the button's function.
de
In "botón de encendido", "de" links the button with its function, giving the meaning power or on button. A useful reuse pattern is a noun followed by "de" and a word describing its purpose. Here it connects "botón" with "encendido".
encendido
In "botón de encendido", "encendido" refers to powering or turning something on. Together, the phrase identifies the power button. Use it after "botón de" when naming this kind of control.
está
In "está conectado", "está" means is and describes the plug's current state. It is a form of "estar" used with "conectado". A common reuse pattern is "estar" plus a word describing a current condition.
conectado
In "El enchufe está conectado", "conectado" means connected or plugged in. It describes the state of the plug in relation to the machine or power supply. It is related to "conectar" and is used here after "está".
pero
In "está conectado, pero no pasa nada", "pero" means but and introduces an unexpected result. It contrasts the plug being connected with nothing happening. Use it to join two statements with this kind of contrast.
pasa
In "no pasa nada", "pasa" contributes the meaning happens. The whole expression means that nothing happens, so its meaning should be understood together with "no" and "nada". It is a form of "pasar" and can be used when describing an event or result.
nada
In "no pasa nada", "nada" means nothing. Together with "no pasa", it says that no event or result occurs. Use it in this construction when reporting that nothing is happening.
Quizá
In "Quizá la puerta no está bien cerrada", "Quizá" means maybe and marks the cause as uncertain. It comes at the beginning of the suggestion here. Use it before a possible explanation or cause.
la
In "la puerta", "la" means the and introduces the specific door being checked. It appears directly before "puerta". A common reuse pattern is "la" followed by a specific singular noun.
puerta
In "la puerta", "puerta" means door. It refers to the washing-machine door that may not be closed correctly. It can be used after "la" when discussing a specific door.
bien
In "bien cerrada", "bien" means properly or well and describes how the door is closed. It modifies the description "cerrada" rather than naming a separate action. A useful pattern is "bien" followed by a description of a condition or result.
cerrada
In "la puerta no está bien cerrada", "cerrada" means closed and describes the door's condition. It is related to "cerrar" and appears after "está". Use it when describing a door or other thing that is in a closed state.
Las
In "Las instrucciones", "Las" means the and introduces the specific instructions being consulted. It comes before the plural noun "instrucciones". Use this form before a specific plural noun in the same pattern.
instrucciones
In "Las instrucciones", "instrucciones" means instructions. These are the directions that explain how the machine should operate. It can be used after "Las" when referring to a particular set of instructions.
dicen
In "Las instrucciones dicen que...", "dicen" means say or state. It is a form of "decir" used because the instructions are the source of the information. A useful reuse pattern is "dicen que" followed by the information reported.
que
In "dicen que debería hacer clic", "que" introduces the information given by the instructions. It links "dicen" with the following statement. Use it after a reporting expression when introducing what someone or something says.
debería
In "debería hacer clic", "debería" means should and expresses the expected behavior of the machine. It is a form of "deber" followed here by the infinitive "hacer". A common reuse pattern is "debería" plus an infinitive for an expected action.
hacer clic
In "debería hacer clic", "hacer clic" means to click or make a clicking sound. "Hacer" contributes the action of making or doing, while "clic" names the clicking sound; together they form the complete expression. Use it when a button, door, or mechanism is expected to produce a click.
antes
In "antes de arrancar", "antes" means before and places one action earlier than another. Here it introduces the starting of the machine. A common reuse pattern is "antes de" followed by an infinitive or noun.
arrancar
In "antes de arrancar", "arrancar" means to start or begin operating. It is the infinitive related to "arranca" earlier in the dialogue. Use it after "antes de" when referring to a machine starting.
Empuja
In "Empuja la puerta", "Empuja" tells the other person to push the door. It is a form of "empujar" used as a direct instruction. The reusable pattern here is this form followed by the object being pushed: "Empuja la puerta".
una
In "una vez más", "una" contributes the meaning one in the expression once more. It comes before the noun "vez". Use the complete pattern "una vez más" when asking for or describing one additional repetition.
vez
In "una vez más", "vez" means time or occasion. Together with "una" and "más", the phrase means once more. This expression is useful when an action should be repeated.
más
In "una vez más", "más" means more and adds another repetition to the action. It completes the expression once more with "una vez". Use it in this pattern when something should happen again.
luego
In "y luego pulsa", "luego" means then and marks the next step. It shows that pressing the start button comes after pushing the door. Use it to order actions in instructions or explanations.
pulsa
In "pulsa el botón de inicio", "pulsa" tells the other person to press the start button. It is a form of "pulsar" used as a direct instruction. The pattern is followed by the control being pressed: "pulsa el botón de inicio".
inicio
In "el botón de inicio", "inicio" identifies the start function of the button. The whole phrase means start button. Use it after "botón de" to name a button's starting function.
hizo
In "hizo clic", "hizo" contributes the meaning made or produced. Together with "clic", it says that the door made a clicking sound. It is a form of "hacer" used here in the expression "hizo clic".
clic
In "La puerta hizo clic", "clic" names the clicking sound produced by the door. The complete expression "hizo clic" means made a click. Use it when describing a button, door, or mechanism producing this sound.
ahora
In "ahora funciona", "ahora" means now and marks the current result after the door clicked. It contrasts the machine's earlier problem with its present condition. Use it when a situation has changed and you are describing the new state.
funciona
In "ahora funciona", "funciona" means works or operates. It is a form of "funcionar" describing the washing machine's current condition. Use it with a machine or device when it operates as expected.
A
In "A veces", "A" helps form the expression meaning sometimes; it does not mean at by itself in this context. The whole expression introduces something that happens occasionally. Use "A veces" at the beginning of a statement about an occasional situation.
veces
In "A veces", "veces" contributes the idea of times or occasions. Together with "A", it forms the expression sometimes. Use this complete expression when describing something that happens occasionally.
unas
In "unas comprobaciones sencillas", "unas" means some and introduces a non-specific set of checks. It comes before the plural noun "comprobaciones". A common reuse pattern is "unas" followed by a plural noun.
comprobaciones
In "unas comprobaciones sencillas", "comprobaciones" means checks or inspections. It refers to the simple things people inspect to find the cause of a problem. It is related to "comprobación" and appears here as the object of the description.
sencillas
In "unas comprobaciones sencillas", "sencillas" means simple. It describes the checks as easy or uncomplicated. It is related to "sencillo" and comes after the noun it describes here.
resuelven
In "resuelven el problema", "resuelven" means solve or resolve. It is a form of "resolver" and describes what the simple checks accomplish. The thing being solved follows it here as "el problema".
problema
In "el problema", "problema" means problem. It refers to the washing machine's failure to start. It can be used after "el" when referring to a specific problem.
Grammar Points
Pulsa + sustantivo
Pulsa inicio.
POOL-sah ee-NEE-syoh.Press start.
The informal singular command for many -ar verbs ends in -a: pulsar → pulsa.
sustantivo + adjetivo
La puerta está cerrada.
lah PWEHR-tah ehs-TAH seh-RRAH-dah.The door is closed.
Spanish adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number: puerta is feminine, so cerrado becomes cerrada.
Spanish Vocabulary
arrancar
verb
ah-RRAHN-kahr
to start
arranca
Esta lavadora no arranca.
botón de encendido
phrase
boh-TOHN deh en-sehn-DEE-doh
power button
¿Revisaste el enchufe y el botón de encendido?
cerrado
adj
seh-RRAH-doh
closed
cerrada
La puerta no está bien cerrada.
conectado
adj
koh-nek-TAH-doh
connected; plugged in
El enchufe está conectado.
decir
verb
deh-SEER
to say
dicen
Las instrucciones dicen que debería hacer clic.
enchufe
noun
en-CHOO-feh
plug
¿Revisaste el enchufe y el botón de encendido?
instrucción
noun
een-strook-SYOHN
instruction
instrucciones
Las instrucciones dicen que debería hacer clic.
lavadora
noun
lah-vah-DOH-rah
washing machine
Esta lavadora no arranca.
nada
pron
NAH-dah
nothing
No pasa nada.
pasar
verb
pah-SAHR
to happen
pasa
No pasa nada.
puerta
noun
PWEHR-tah
door
Quizá la puerta no está bien cerrada.
revisar
verb
reh-bee-SAHR
to check
revisaste
¿Revisaste el enchufe y el botón de encendido?
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
This washing machine won't start.
Show Answer
Esta lavadora no arranca.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
door
Show Answer
puertaconnected; plugged in
Show Answer
conectadoto check
Show Answer
revisastewashing machine