Checking in and finding the waiting room | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Checking in and finding the waiting room to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Disculpe, ¿dónde está la sala de espera?

dees-KOOL-peh, DON-deh es-TAH lah SAH-lah deh es-PEH-rah Excuse me, where is the waiting room?

Pase el mostrador de recepción.

PAH-seh el mos-trah-DOR deh reh-sep-SYON Go past the front desk.

Estará a su izquierda.

es-tah-RAH ah soo ees-kee-ER-dah It will be on your left.

¿Necesito registrarme antes de sentarme?

neh-seh-SEE-toh reh-hees-TRAR-meh AN-tes deh sen-TAR-meh Do I need to check in before I sit down?

Primero, complete este formulario.

pree-MEH-roh, kom-PLEH-teh ES-teh for-moo-LAR-yoh Fill out this form first.

Luego, entréguelo en recepción.

LWEH-goh, en-TREH-geh-loh en reh-sep-SYON Then hand it to the desk.

¿Alguien me llamará cuando sea mi turno?

al-GYEN meh yah-mah-RAH KWAN-doh SEH-ah mee TOOR-noh Will someone call me when it's my turn?

Una enfermera debería llamarle pronto por su nombre.

OO-nah en-fehr-MEH-rah deh-beh-REE-ah yah-MAR-leh PROHN-toh por soo NOM-breh A nurse should call your name shortly.

¿Debo tener lista mi tarjeta del seguro?

DEH-boh teh-NEHR LEES-tah mee tar-HEH-tah del seh-GOO-roh Should I keep my insurance card ready?

Téngala a mano por si la necesitan otra vez en recepción.

TEN-gah-lah ah MAH-noh por see lah neh-seh-SEE-tan OH-trah bes en reh-sep-SYON Keep it handy in case the desk needs it again.

Word by Word

Disculpe In this dialogue, “Disculpe” means “excuse me” and politely gets the receptionist’s attention. It is used when addressing someone formally. You can use it before a question or request when speaking politely to a stranger.

dónde “dónde” asks where something is located; here it asks where the waiting room is. It appears in the question “¿dónde está la sala de espera?”. Use “dónde” to ask about a place or location.

está “está” means “is located” in the question about the waiting room. It identifies the location of something. A common reuse pattern is “dónde está” followed by the place or thing you are looking for.

la “la” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “sala”. It identifies the specific waiting room being discussed. It is used directly before a feminine singular noun.

sala “sala” means “room” here, specifically the room named in “la sala de espera”. It refers to an indoor area with a particular purpose. You can combine “sala” with “de” and a purpose to name a type of room.

de In “sala de espera”, “de” connects the room with its purpose, so the expression means “waiting room”. It introduces the function or type associated with “sala”. A common pattern is “sala de” followed by a purpose or activity.

espera “espera” names the waiting activity in “sala de espera”. Together, the full expression refers to the room where people wait. It can be used after “sala de” to identify a room intended for waiting.

Pase “Pase” tells the visitor to go past the front desk. It is a polite instruction addressed formally to one person. Use this form when giving a formal direction to pass a place or move onward.

el “el” means “the” before the masculine singular noun “mostrador”. It identifies the specific front desk in the clinic. It is placed directly before a masculine singular noun.

mostrador “mostrador” means “counter” or “desk”; here it refers to the front desk the visitor should pass. It names a physical counter in the reception area. It can be used with a place or function, as in “mostrador de recepción”.

recepción “recepción” refers to the reception desk or reception area in this clinic. In “mostrador de recepción”, it identifies the function of the counter. You can use it to indicate where visitors check in or hand something over.

Estará “Estará” means “will be located” when describing where the waiting room will be found. It presents the location as information about what the visitor will encounter. It can be used before a location phrase such as “a su izquierda”.

a In “a su izquierda”, “a” introduces the location on the visitor’s left. It connects the location statement with the side being indicated. A common location pattern is “a” followed by a side or position.

su “su” means “your” in this polite direction to the visitor, referring to the visitor’s left side. It shows possession before “izquierda”. It is commonly placed before the possessed noun.

izquierda “izquierda” means “left side” here. In “a su izquierda”, it tells the visitor which direction or side to look toward. You can use it after a possessive expression to identify someone’s left.

Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in the visitor’s question about checking in. It expresses the speaker’s need before the action “registrarme”. A common pattern is “Necesito” followed by an infinitive for an action the speaker needs to do.

registrarme “registrarme” means “to check myself in” or “to register myself” in the clinic. The ending “me” refers to the speaker, who is the person registering. It follows “Necesito” to express an action the speaker needs to carry out.

antes “antes” means “before” and places one action earlier than another; here registration comes before sitting down. It marks the time relationship between the two actions. A common pattern is “antes de” followed by an infinitive or noun.

sentarme “sentarme” means “to sit down” in the visitor’s question. The ending “me” refers to the speaker, who will sit down. It is used after a time expression such as “antes de” to name the action that happens later.

Primero “Primero” means “first” and tells the visitor which action to do before the others. Here it puts completing the form before handing it in. Use it to mark the first step in a sequence of instructions.

complete “complete” tells the visitor to fill out or complete the form. It is a polite instruction addressed formally to one person. It can be used before the object being completed, such as “este formulario”.

este “este” means “this” and points to the particular form near the speaker or visitor. It appears before the masculine singular noun “formulario”. Use it before a specific masculine singular item you are indicating.

formulario “formulario” means “form” here, the document the visitor must complete. It is the object of the instruction “complete”. It can be used after a verb such as “complete” when naming the document to fill out.

Luego “Luego” means “then” and introduces the next step after completing the form. It organizes the instructions in time order. Use it to connect a later action with an action already mentioned.

entréguelo “entréguelo” tells the visitor to hand in or give the form at reception. The form “lo” refers to the document, and the complete form is a polite instruction to one person. Use it when directing someone to submit a previously mentioned object.

en In “entréguelo en recepción”, “en” indicates the place where the form should be handed in: reception. It connects the action with its destination or location. Use “en” before a place where an action takes place.

Alguien “Alguien” means “someone” when the visitor asks whether a person will call them. It refers to an unspecified person. Use it when the identity of the person is unknown or not important.

me “me” means “me” or “to me” in “me llamará”. It identifies the visitor as the person who will receive the call. It commonly appears before the verb when referring to the person affected by an action.

llamará “llamará” means “will call” in the question about being called when it is the visitor’s turn. It describes a future call by an unspecified person. It can be used with a person pronoun such as “me” to say whom someone will call.

cuando “cuando” means “when” and introduces the time at which the call is expected. Here it connects the call with the visitor’s turn. Use it to introduce a time or condition related to another action.

sea “sea” expresses the relevant state in “cuando sea mi turno”, meaning when it is the visitor’s turn. It identifies the event that determines when the call should happen. This form can be used after “cuando” to introduce a relevant time or condition.

mi “mi” means “my” and shows that the turn belongs to the speaker. It appears before “turno” in “mi turno”. Use it before a noun to identify something belonging to or associated with the speaker.

turno “turno” means “turn” in “mi turno”, referring to the time when the visitor will be attended. It identifies a person’s place in a sequence of service. A common pattern is a possessive such as “mi” or “su” followed by “turno”.

Una “Una” means “a” before the feminine singular noun “enfermera”. It introduces one nurse without identifying her more specifically. It is placed directly before a feminine singular noun.

enfermera “enfermera” means “nurse” in the clinic context. It identifies the healthcare worker expected to call the visitor’s name. It can be used as the person who performs an action in a clinic.

debería “debería” means “should” and expresses an expectation that the nurse will call the visitor soon. It presents the call as expected rather than as an absolute guarantee. Use it to give a polite expectation or indicate what is likely to happen.

llamarle “llamarle” means “to call you” in this formal interaction. The ending “le” refers to the visitor as the person receiving the call. It follows “debería” to name the action that is expected.

pronto “pronto” means “soon” or “shortly” and indicates that the nurse’s call is expected in the near future. It modifies the timing of “llamarle”. Use it to give a short expected time without specifying an exact moment.

por In “por su nombre”, “por” connects the calling action with the way the person will be identified: by name. It expresses the means or manner associated with the action. A common pattern is “por” followed by the means or identifying method used.

nombre “nombre” means “name” in the phrase about calling the visitor by name. It identifies the word the nurse will use to call the visitor. It can be used after a possessive such as “su” when referring to someone’s name.

Debo “Debo” means “should I” or “must I” in the visitor’s question about the insurance card. It asks whether the speaker is expected to do something. It is commonly followed by an infinitive to name the action being considered.

tener “tener” means “to have” or “to keep” in “tener lista mi tarjeta”. It describes keeping the card available and ready. A useful pattern is “tener” plus an object and a word describing its condition, such as having something ready.

lista “lista” means “ready” and describes the insurance card as prepared for use. It agrees with the feminine noun “tarjeta”. It can be used after “tener” to say that an object should be kept ready.

tarjeta “tarjeta” means “card”; here it is the insurance card the visitor may need to show. It is the object being kept ready. It can be followed by “del” and a noun to identify the card’s purpose.

del “del” means “of the” in “tarjeta del seguro”. It is the contraction of “de” and “el” and connects the card with the insurance. It is used before a masculine singular noun when expressing this relationship.

seguro “seguro” means “insurance” in “tarjeta del seguro”. It identifies the type or purpose of the card. It follows “del” to specify what the card relates to.

Téngala “Téngala” tells the visitor to keep or have the card available. The ending “la” refers to the feminine noun “tarjeta”, and the whole form is a polite instruction to one person. Use it when telling someone formally to keep a previously mentioned object.

mano In “a mano”, “mano” contributes the idea of having something at hand, while the full expression means “handy” or easily available. Here it describes where the insurance card should be kept. This expression is useful when telling someone to keep an object within easy reach.

si “si” means “if” or “in case” and introduces the possible situation in which reception needs the card again. It connects keeping the card handy with a possible future need. Use it to introduce a condition or precaution.

necesitan “necesitan” means “need” in the clause about the people at reception possibly needing the card again. It describes a possible need by the unspecified people referred to in the dialogue. It can be used before an object to say what someone needs.

otra In “otra vez”, “otra” contributes the meaning of another occurrence, and the full expression means “again”. It shows that reception may need the card one more time. It is placed before “vez” in this reusable expression.

vez “vez” refers to an occurrence or occasion; in “otra vez”, the full expression means “again”. It helps describe a repeated event. A common pattern is “otra vez” when an action happens one more time.

Grammar Points

Imperativo formal (usted): disculpe, pase, complete, entregue

Disculpe, pase a recepción y complete el formulario.

dees-KOOL-peh, PAH-seh ah reh-sep-SYON ee kom-PLEH-teh el for-moo-LAR-yoh

Excuse me, go to reception and fill out the form.

Spanish uses special formal command forms for usted. They often end in -e for -ar verbs and -a for some other verbs.

antes de + infinitivo

Antes de registrarme, complete el formulario.

AN-tes deh reh-hees-TRAR-meh, kom-PLEH-teh el for-moo-LAR-yoh

Before checking in, fill out the form.

Use antes de followed by an infinitive to express that one action happens before another.

Spanish Vocabulary

antes de prep

AN-tes deh before

Before I sit down

completar verb

kom-pleh-TAR to fill out; to complete complete

Fill out this form

disculpar verb

dees-kool-PAR to excuse; to apologize Disculpe

Excuse me

estar verb

es-TAR to be está

Where is it?

formulario noun

for-moo-LAR-yoh form

Fill out this form

izquierda noun

ees-kee-ER-dah left

On your left

mostrador noun

mos-trah-DOR counter; desk

Front desk

pasar verb

pah-SAR to go past; to pass Pase

Go past the front desk

recepción noun

reh-sep-SYON reception; reception desk

Reception desk

registrarse verb

reh-hees-TRAR-seh to check in; to register registrarme

Do I need to check in?

sala de espera phrase

SAH-lah deh es-PEH-rah waiting room

Where is the waiting room?

sentarse verb

sen-TAR-seh to sit down sentarme

Before I sit down

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Go past the front desk.

Show Answer

Pase el mostrador de recepción.

It will be on your left.

Show Answer

Estará a su izquierda.

Do I need to check in before I sit down?

Show Answer

¿Necesito registrarme antes de sentarme?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to go past; to pass

Show Answer

Pase

to be

Show Answer

está

reception; reception desk

Show Answer

recepción

to excuse; to apologize

Show Answer

Disculpe