Waiting time and deciding whether to stay | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a public waiting area, one adult asks about the wait and decides whether to stay or return later..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Waiting time and deciding whether to stay to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Disculpe, ¿cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado?

dees-KOOL-peh, kwahl es el TYEHM-poh deh es-PEH-rah es-tee-MAH-doh? Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?
B

Unos diez minutos, quizá un poco más.

OO-nohs DYEHS mee-NOO-tohs, kee-SAH oon POH-koh mahs. About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.
A

Tengo otra cita después de esto.

TEHN-goh OH-trah SEE-tah dehs-PWEHS deh EHS-toh. I have another appointment after this.
B

Si eso es demasiado tarde, puedes volver después de comer.

see EH-soh es deh-mah-SYAH-doh TAR-deh, PWEH-dehs bol-BEHR dehs-PWEHS deh koh-MEHR. If that is too late, you can come back after lunch.
A

¿Mantendría mi lugar si volviera más tarde?

mahn-tehn-DREE-ah mee loo-GAHR see bol-BYEH-rah mahs TAR-deh? Would I keep my place if I came back later?
B

Tendrías que sacar un número nuevo después de comer.

tehn-DREE-ahs keh sah-KAHR oon NOO-meh-roh NWEH-boh dehs-PWEHS deh koh-MEHR. You would need to take a new ticket after lunch.
A

Entonces esperaré por ahora porque ya estoy aquí.

ehn-TOHN-sehs es-peh-rah-REH por ah-OH-rah por-KEH yah es-TOY ah-KEE. Then I'll wait for now since I'm already here.
B

Por favor, mira la pantalla.

por fah-BOR, MEE-rah lah pahn-TAH-yah. Please keep an eye on the screen.

Word by Word

Disculpe “Disculpe” means “excuse me” here and politely gets the other person’s attention before a question. It is useful when asking a staff member or another person for information.
cuál “cuál” asks which specific value or answer is wanted in “¿cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado?”. It is useful in questions about a specific choice, amount, or piece of information.
es “es” identifies what something is in “¿cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado?”. The pattern “cuál es ...” is useful when asking for a specific fact or value.
el “el” means “the” before “tiempo de espera estimado”, referring to the particular waiting time being asked about. It is used before a masculine singular noun phrase.
tiempo “tiempo” means “time” in “tiempo de espera”, specifically the amount of time someone must wait. The pattern “tiempo de ...” is useful for naming a type or purpose of time.
de “de” links “tiempo” with “espera” in “tiempo de espera”, giving the meaning “waiting time”. The pattern “de” plus a noun is useful for connecting one thing with its type or purpose.
espera “espera” means “waiting” in “tiempo de espera”, the period before someone is served. This expression is useful in public places such as offices, clinics, or service counters.
estimado “estimado” means “estimated” in “tiempo de espera estimado”, so the waiting time is an approximate expectation rather than a guaranteed time. It is useful when giving or asking about an expected amount.
Unos “Unos” means “about” or “approximately” before “diez minutos”. The pattern “Unos” plus a number is useful when an amount is not exact.
diez “diez” means the number ten in “Unos diez minutos”. It is used before “minutos” to state the quantity of minutes.
minutos “minutos” means “minutes” in “Unos diez minutos”, measuring the estimated waiting period. It is useful after a number when talking about short periods of time.
quizá “quizá” means “maybe” and shows that the speaker is not certain whether the wait will be longer. It is useful before or around information that is only a possibility.
un “un” means “a” in “un poco más”, where it introduces the small amount described by “poco”. This pattern is useful for expressing an indefinite small quantity.
poco “poco” means “a little” in “un poco más”, referring to a small additional amount of time. The pattern “un poco más” is useful when something may increase slightly.
más “más” means “more” in “un poco más”, referring here to more waiting time. It is useful after an amount when indicating an additional quantity or duration.
Tengo “Tengo” means “I have” in “Tengo otra cita después de esto”, telling the listener that the speaker has another appointment. The pattern “Tengo” plus a noun is useful for stating that you have something scheduled or available.
otra “otra” means “another” in “otra cita”, indicating one more appointment in addition to the current situation. It is useful before a singular noun when referring to an additional item or event.
cita “cita” means “appointment” in “otra cita”. It is useful for talking about a scheduled meeting or visit, especially when explaining a time constraint.
después “después” means “after” in “después de esto”, locating the appointment later than the current situation. The pattern “después de” is useful for saying what something follows.
esto “esto” means “this” in “después de esto”, referring to the current waiting situation or event. It is useful when pointing to something happening now without naming it again.
Si “Si” means “if” at the beginning of “Si eso es demasiado tarde”, introducing a condition. The pattern “Si” plus a situation is useful for discussing what happens under a certain circumstance.
eso “eso” means “that” in “Si eso es demasiado tarde”, referring to the estimated wait just mentioned. It is useful for referring back to a situation or fact already known in the conversation.
demasiado “demasiado” means “too” in “demasiado tarde”, showing that the time would be later than acceptable for the speaker. The pattern “demasiado” plus an adjective is useful for saying that something exceeds a suitable limit.
tarde “tarde” means “late” in “demasiado tarde”, describing a time that would not work because of the next appointment. It is useful when discussing whether a time is acceptable.
puedes “puedes” means “you can” in “puedes volver”, offering the other person the possibility of returning. The pattern “puedes” plus an infinitive is useful for giving permission or describing an available option.
volver “volver” means “to come back” or “to return” in “puedes volver después de comer”. The pattern “volver” plus a time expression is useful when telling someone when to return.
comer “comer” means “to eat” in “después de comer”, referring to the meal taken before returning. The pattern “después de” plus an infinitive is useful for saying what happens after an activity.
Mantendría “Mantendría” means “would keep” in “¿Mantendría mi lugar...?”, asking whether the speaker’s place in line would remain reserved. The pattern “Mantendría” plus an object is useful for asking about a possible result or arrangement.
mi “mi” means “my” in “mi lugar”, showing that the place belongs to or is assigned to the speaker. It is placed before a noun when identifying something as belonging to the speaker.
lugar “lugar” means “place” in “mi lugar”, referring here to the speaker’s position in the waiting line. It is useful when discussing a position or spot that someone occupies.
volviera “volviera” means “came back” in “si volviera más tarde”, describing the possible return in the condition being considered. The pattern “si” plus this form is useful for discussing a hypothetical situation.
Tendrías “Tendrías que sacar un número nuevo” means “you would need to take a new number”, explaining what would be necessary after returning. The pattern “Tendrías que” plus an infinitive is useful for describing a requirement in a possible situation.
que “que” helps form the need expression “Tendrías que sacar”, which means “you would need to take or get”. It is useful between a form of “tener” expressing necessity and an infinitive.
sacar “sacar” means “to take” or “to get” in “sacar un número nuevo”, referring to obtaining a new queue number. The pattern “sacar” plus an object is useful when obtaining or taking something from a service system.
número “número” means “number” in “un número nuevo”, referring to the ticket or queue number used to wait for service. It is useful in places where a number determines the order of service.
nuevo “nuevo” means “new” in “un número nuevo”, showing that the returned visitor would need a different queue number. It is useful after a noun when describing a replacement or newly obtained item.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” and connects the speaker’s decision to the information just given. It is useful when stating a consequence or next action in a conversation.
esperaré “esperaré” means “I will wait” in “esperaré por ahora”, announcing the speaker’s decision to remain there for the moment. It is useful when deciding or promising what you will do next.
por “por” contributes to the time expression “por ahora”, meaning “for now” or “for the moment”. The pattern “por ahora” is useful when describing a temporary decision or situation.
ahora “ahora” means “now” in “por ahora”, limiting the decision to the present moment. The expression “por ahora” is useful when something may change later.
porque “porque” means “because” or “since” in “porque ya estoy aquí”, introducing the reason for waiting. It is useful before a clause that explains why someone acts.
ya “ya” means “already” in “ya estoy aquí”, emphasizing that the speaker has arrived and is currently there. It is useful when an action or situation has happened before the present moment.
estoy “estoy” means “I am” in “estoy aquí”, stating the speaker’s current location. The pattern “estoy” plus a place expression is useful for saying where you are now.
aquí “aquí” means “here” in “estoy aquí”, referring to the speaker’s current location in the waiting area. It is useful when identifying the place where the speaker is present.
por favor “Por favor” means “please” as a polite request marker in “Por favor, mira la pantalla”. The words “por” and “favor” work together here; the expression is useful before a request or instruction.
mira “mira” means “look at” or “watch” in “mira la pantalla”, asking the listener to pay attention to the screen. It is useful when directing someone’s attention to visible information.
la “la” means “the” before “pantalla”, referring to the particular screen in the waiting area. It is used before a feminine singular noun phrase.
pantalla “pantalla” means “screen” in “mira la pantalla”, referring to the display that may show the person’s number or turn. It is useful when directing someone to read information on a screen.

Grammar Points

Tendrías que + infinitivo

Tendrías que sacar un número nuevo.

tehn-DREE-ahs keh sah-KAHR oon NOO-meh-roh NWEH-boh.

You would have to get a new number.

The conditional form tendrías makes advice or an obligation sound less direct and more polite.

Mantendría ... si volviera

Mantendría el lugar si volviera.

mahn-tehn-DREE-ah el loo-GAHR see bol-BYEH-rah.

I would keep the place if I came back.

The conditional expresses the result, while si + imperfect subjunctive describes a hypothetical condition.

Spanish Vocabulary

cita noun
SEE-tah appointment

Tengo otra cita después de esto.

cuál pron
KWAHL which; what

¿Cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado?

demasiado tarde phrase
deh-mah-SYAH-doh TAR-deh too late

Si eso es demasiado tarde

después de comer phrase
dehs-PWEHS deh koh-MEHR after lunch; after eating

Puedes volver después de comer.

diez num
DYEHS ten

Unos diez minutos

disculpar verb
dees-kool-PAHR to excuse; to apologize Disculpe

Disculpe, ¿cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado?

estimar verb
es-tee-MAHR to estimate estimado

el tiempo de espera estimado

más adv
MAHS more; longer

Quizá un poco más

minuto noun
mee-NOO-toh minute minutos

Unos diez minutos

quizá adv
kee-SAH maybe; perhaps

Quizá un poco más

tiempo de espera phrase
TYEHM-poh deh es-PEH-rah waiting time

¿Cuál es el tiempo de espera estimado?

unos det
OO-nohs about; approximately

Unos diez minutos

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have another appointment after this.

Show AnswerTengo otra cita después de esto.

Please keep an eye on the screen.

Show AnswerPor favor, mira la pantalla.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to excuse; to apologize

Show AnswerDisculpe

about; approximately

Show Answerunos

which; what

Show Answercuál

minute

Show Answerminutos