Packing Light for a Business Trip | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: Before a business trip, two adults decide how to pack a carry-on with meeting clothes, documents, chargers, and quick-access items..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Packing Light for a Business Trip to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Quiero llevar solo una bolsa de mano para el viaje de negocios.

KYEH-roh yeh-VAHR SOH-loh OO-nah BOHL-sah deh MAH-noh pah-rah el VYAH-heh deh neh-GOH-syohs. I want to take only a carry-on bag for the business trip.
B

Entonces organiza todo alrededor de la ropa para la reunión y reduce los extras al mínimo.

en-TOHN-sehs or-gah-NEE-sah TOH-doh ahl-reh-deh-DOHR deh lah ROH-pah pah-rah lah reh-oo-NYOHN ee reh-DOO-seh lohs EHKS-trahs ahl MEE-nee-moh. Then plan around the meeting outfit and keep extras to a minimum.
A

Tengo una reunión y una cena informal en el itinerario.

TEHNG-goh OO-nah reh-oo-NYOHN ee OO-nah SEH-nah een-for-MAHL en el ee-tee-neh-RAH-ryoh. I have one meeting and one casual dinner on the itinerary.
B

Lleva prendas que sirvan para las dos cosas.

YEH-bah PREHN-dahs keh SEE-rbahn pah-rah lahs dohs KOH-sahs. Pack pieces that can work for both.
B

Si no, la bolsa se llenará rápido.

see noh BOHL-sah seh yeh-nah-RAH RRAH-pee-doh. Or the bag will fill up fast.
A

Me preocupa que mi camisa se arrugue antes de la reunión.

meh preh-oh-KOO-pah keh mee kah-MEE-sah seh ah-RROO-geh AHN-tehs deh lah reh-oo-NYOHN. I'm worried my shirt will wrinkle before the meeting.
B

Enróllala con cuidado y luego desempaquétala en cuanto llegues al hotel.

en-ROH-yah-lah kohn koo-ee-DAH-doh ee LWEH-goh deh-sehm-pah-KEH-tah-lah en KWAHN-toh YEH-gehs ahl oh-TEL. Roll it carefully, then unpack it as soon as you reach the hotel.
A

¿Deben ir los cargadores y los documentos en el bolsillo delantero?

DEH-behn eer lohs kahr-gah-DOH-rehs ee lohs doh-koo-MEHN-tohs en el bohl-SEE-yoh deh-lahn-TEH-roh? Should chargers and documents go in the front pocket?
B

Guarda allí las cosas que necesites tener a mano, junto con una copia de respaldo de la agenda.

GWAHR-dah ah-YEE lahs KOH-sahs keh neh-seh-SEE-tehs teh-NEHR ah MAH-noh, HOON-toh kohn OO-nah KOH-pyah deh rehs-PAHL-doh deh lah ah-HEHN-dah. Keep quick-access items there, along with a backup copy of the agenda.
A

Así no tendré que abrir toda la bolsa en el aeropuerto.

ah-SEE noh tehn-DREH keh ah-BREER TOH-dah lah BOHL-sah en el ah-eh-roh-PWEHR-toh. Then I won't have to open the whole bag at the airport.
B

Pasar por seguridad será más fácil cuando esas cosas estén a mano.

pah-SAHR pohr seh-goo-ree-DAHD seh-RAH mahs fah-SEEL KWAHN-doh EH-sahs KOH-sahs EH-sten ah MAH-noh. Security will be easier when those things are close at hand.

Word by Word

Quiero 'Quiero' expresses 'I want' in this sentence. It is used before an infinitive, as in 'Quiero llevar' when stating a desire or intention.
llevar 'Llevar' means to take or carry here, referring to taking a bag on the business trip. It follows 'Quiero' in the reusable pattern 'Quiero llevar + object'.
solo 'Solo' means 'only' and limits what the speaker wants to take. It commonly appears before the restricted item, as in 'solo una bolsa'.
una 'Una' introduces 'una bolsa' as one bag or a bag. It is used before a feminine singular noun, and the pattern is 'una + noun'.
bolsa 'Bolsa' means 'bag' in 'una bolsa de mano'. It can be used with a description after it, such as the noun phrase 'bolsa de mano'.
de In 'bolsa de mano', 'de' links the bag with the type or use expressed by 'mano'. The reusable pattern is 'noun + de + noun' for a related description.
mano In the exact expression 'bolsa de mano', 'mano' contributes the idea of hand carry. Learn it as part of this expression when describing a carry-on bag.
para 'Para' marks the purpose or intended occasion of the bag here: 'para el viaje de negocios'. A common pattern is 'para + noun' for something intended for a purpose or event.
el 'El' means 'the' before 'viaje'. It is used with a masculine singular noun, as in 'el viaje'.
viaje 'Viaje' means 'trip' in 'el viaje de negocios'. It can be followed by 'de' plus a noun to specify the type of trip.
negocios In 'viaje de negocios', 'negocios' identifies the trip as business-related. The reusable expression is 'viaje de negocios'.
Entonces 'Entonces' means 'then' and introduces the next suggestion in the conversation. It can connect a situation with a resulting action, as in 'Entonces organiza todo'.
organiza 'Organiza' tells the listener to organize or plan everything. It is used directly before the object in 'organiza todo'.
todo 'Todo' means 'everything' in 'organiza todo'. It can function as the object after an instruction, as in 'organiza todo alrededor de...'.
alrededor In 'alrededor de la ropa', 'alrededor' expresses organizing something around a central item or focus. The reusable pattern is 'alrededor de + noun'.
la 'La' means 'the' before the feminine singular noun 'ropa'. The pattern is 'la + feminine singular noun', as in 'la ropa'.
ropa 'Ropa' means clothing or outfit in 'la ropa para la reunión'. It can be followed by 'para' to identify the event the clothing is for.
reunión 'Reunión' means 'meeting' in 'la reunión'. It appears after 'para' in 'ropa para la reunión' to identify the intended occasion.
y 'Y' joins two actions or items with the meaning 'and'. Here it connects 'organiza todo...' with 'reduce los extras...'.
reduce 'Reduce' tells the listener to reduce or keep the extras down. It is followed by the object 'los extras' and the limit expression 'al mínimo'.
los 'Los' means 'the' before the plural noun 'extras'. It introduces a specific plural group, as in 'los extras'.
extras 'Extras' refers to additional items beyond what is necessary for the trip. It is the object in 'reduce los extras al mínimo'.
al In 'al mínimo', 'al' introduces the limit reached by reducing something. The reusable pattern is 'reducir + object + al mínimo', meaning to reduce something to the minimum.
mínimo In 'al mínimo', 'mínimo' means the lowest practical amount. The full expression is useful when asking someone to keep something as low as possible.
Tengo 'Tengo' means 'I have' and states what is included in the speaker's itinerary. It is commonly followed by an object, as in 'Tengo una reunión'.
cena 'Cena' means 'dinner' in 'una cena informal'. It can be modified by an adjective after it, as in 'cena informal'.
informal 'Informal' describes the dinner as casual rather than formal. It follows the noun in 'cena informal' and can describe an event or setting.
en In 'en el itinerario', 'en' means 'in' and shows where the meeting and dinner are listed. The common pattern is 'en + place, document, or schedule'.
itinerario 'Itinerario' means 'itinerary' or travel schedule. In 'en el itinerario', it identifies the schedule where the plans appear.
Lleva 'Lleva' tells the listener to take or pack something. It is followed by the object 'prendas' in the instruction 'Lleva prendas...'.
prendas 'Prendas' means clothing pieces in this packing context. It is followed by a clause describing what those pieces should be suitable for: 'prendas que sirvan...'.
que Here 'que' introduces the clause describing the clothing pieces: 'prendas que sirvan para las dos cosas'. It commonly links a noun with information about that noun.
sirvan In 'prendas que sirvan para las dos cosas', 'sirvan' means are suitable or work for both uses. The reusable pattern is 'algo que sirva para + purpose or use'.
las 'Las' means 'the' before the feminine plural phrase 'dos cosas'. It introduces the two specific uses mentioned in the conversation.
dos 'Dos' means 'two' and counts the uses represented by 'las dos cosas'. It appears before the plural noun 'cosas'.
cosas 'Cosas' means 'things' and refers here to the meeting and casual dinner. In 'las dos cosas', it can refer back to two previously mentioned activities.
Si In 'Si no', 'Si' introduces the alternative condition 'if not'. This short expression is used to warn about what will happen when the previous suggestion is not followed.
no In 'Si no', 'no' means 'not' and completes the meaning 'if not' or 'otherwise'. It refers back to not packing pieces that work for both occasions.
se In 'la bolsa se llenará', 'se' forms the expression for the bag becoming full. The reusable pattern is 'something se llena' when something fills up.
llenará 'Llenará' means 'will fill up' in the warning 'la bolsa se llenará rápido'. It describes a future result and is used with 'se' when the bag becomes full.
rápido 'Rápido' means 'quickly' here and describes how fast the bag will fill up. It follows 'se llenará' in 'se llenará rápido'.
Me In 'Me preocupa que...', 'Me' identifies the person who feels concern: 'it worries me'. This pattern places the affected person before 'preocupa'.
preocupa In 'Me preocupa que mi camisa se arrugue', 'preocupa' introduces the concern about the shirt becoming wrinkled. The reusable construction is 'Me preocupa que + situation'.
mi 'Mi' means 'my' and identifies the shirt as belonging to or being associated with the speaker. It appears directly before the noun in 'mi camisa'.
camisa 'Camisa' means 'shirt' and is the clothing item the speaker is worried about. It is modified by 'mi' in 'mi camisa'.
arrugue In 'que mi camisa se arrugue', 'arrugue' describes the shirt becoming wrinkled. The expression 'se arrugue' is used for concern that clothing may develop wrinkles.
antes In 'antes de la reunión', 'antes' means 'before'. The reusable time pattern is 'antes de + noun or event'.
Enróllala 'Enróllala' tells the listener to roll it up, with 'la' referring to the shirt. It combines the instruction with the object pronoun, as in 'Enróllala con cuidado'.
con In 'con cuidado', 'con' links the action with the manner in which it should be done. The reusable pattern is 'con + noun' for doing something with a particular quality or manner.
cuidado In 'con cuidado', 'cuidado' contributes the idea of care, so the whole expression means carefully. Use 'con cuidado' when giving an instruction that requires gentle or attentive handling.
luego 'Luego' means 'then' or 'afterward' and orders the unpacking after rolling the shirt. It commonly links two sequential actions.
desempaquétala 'Desempaquétala' tells the listener to unpack it, with 'la' referring to the shirt. It is used before the time expression 'en cuanto llegues al hotel'.
cuanto In the exact expression 'en cuanto llegues', 'cuanto' helps mean 'as soon as'. Learn the whole pattern 'en cuanto + situation' for an action that should happen immediately afterward.
llegues In 'en cuanto llegues al hotel', 'llegues' means 'you arrive or reach'. It is followed by the destination introduced by 'al', as in 'llegues al hotel'.
hotel 'Hotel' means 'hotel' and is the destination in 'llegues al hotel'. It commonly follows 'llegar' with a destination introduced by 'a' or 'al'.
Deben 'Deben' asks whether the chargers and documents should or must go in the front pocket. It is followed by the infinitive 'ir' in the pattern 'Deben ir + place'.
ir In 'Deben ir en el bolsillo delantero', 'ir' describes where the items should go or be placed. The reusable pattern is 'deber + ir + en + place'.
cargadores 'Cargadores' means 'chargers' and is one of the items being considered for the front pocket. It appears with the plural article 'los' in 'los cargadores'.
documentos 'Documentos' means 'documents' and is paired with the chargers in the question. It appears in the coordinated phrase 'los cargadores y los documentos'.
bolsillo 'Bolsillo' means 'pocket' in 'el bolsillo delantero'. It can be followed by an adjective that specifies which pocket is meant.
delantero 'Delantero' means 'front' and describes the pocket in 'el bolsillo delantero'. It follows the noun and agrees with the masculine singular noun 'bolsillo'.
Guarda 'Guarda' tells the listener to keep or store the items in a particular place. It is followed by the object and location in 'Guarda ... allí'.
allí 'Allí' means 'there' and refers back to the front pocket. It is useful for pointing to a place already identified in the conversation.
necesites In 'las cosas que necesites tener a mano', 'necesites' means 'you need'. It introduces the items that the traveler needs to keep readily accessible.
tener In 'tener a mano', 'tener' means to have or keep something available. The reusable expression is 'tener algo a mano', meaning to have something readily accessible.
a In 'a mano', 'a' is part of the fixed expression meaning 'at hand' or readily accessible. Keep it together with 'mano' rather than translating it separately.
junto In 'junto con una copia', 'junto' contributes the meaning 'together' and introduces something included alongside another item. The reusable pattern is 'junto con + noun'.
copia 'Copia' means 'copy' in 'una copia de respaldo de la agenda'. It can be followed by 'de' to specify what is copied or what kind of copy it is.
respaldo In 'copia de respaldo', 'respaldo' identifies the copy as a backup copy. The full expression is useful when keeping an additional copy for security or convenience.
agenda 'Agenda' means 'agenda' in 'una copia de respaldo de la agenda'. It is the document for which the traveler keeps an additional copy.
Así 'Así' means 'so' or 'that way' and introduces the result of keeping important items accessible. It can connect an action with its practical benefit, as in 'Así no tendré que...'.
tendré In 'no tendré que abrir', 'tendré' means 'I will have' as part of the expression 'tendré que', meaning 'I will have to'. The reusable pattern is 'tendré que + infinitive' for a future obligation or necessity.
abrir 'Abrir' means 'to open' in 'tendré que abrir toda la bolsa'. It follows 'tendré que' in the pattern 'tener que + infinitive'.
toda 'Toda' means 'the whole' or 'entire' and describes the complete bag in 'toda la bolsa'. It agrees with the feminine singular noun 'bolsa'.
aeropuerto 'Aeropuerto' means 'airport' in 'en el aeropuerto'. It follows 'en el' when identifying the place where the action takes place.
Pasar In 'Pasar por seguridad', 'Pasar' means to pass or go through security. The infinitive phrase is the subject of the sentence and describes the airport process.
por In 'Pasar por seguridad', 'por' means 'through' and identifies the checkpoint or process being passed through. The reusable pattern is 'pasar por + place or checkpoint'.
seguridad 'Seguridad' means 'security' in the airport context. In 'pasar por seguridad', it refers to going through the airport security process.
será 'Será' means 'will be' and describes the future result of keeping the items close at hand. It is followed by the adjective phrase 'más fácil'.
más 'Más' means 'more' and forms the comparison in 'más fácil', meaning easier. The reusable pattern is 'más + adjective' for a higher degree.
fácil 'Fácil' means 'easy' in 'será más fácil'. It describes the security process and combines with 'más' to mean 'easier'.
cuando 'Cuando' means 'when' and introduces the situation in which security will be easier. The reusable pattern is 'cuando + situation' for a time or condition.
esas 'Esas' means 'those' and points back to the chargers, documents, and other quick-access items. It appears before the feminine plural noun understood in the context.
estén In 'cuando esas cosas estén a mano', 'estén' means 'are or remain' readily accessible. The reusable pattern is 'estar a mano' for things that are close and easy to reach.

Grammar Points

En cuanto + subjuntivo

En cuanto llegues, desempaquétala.

en KWAHN-toh YEH-gehs, deh-sehm-pah-KEH-tah-lah.

As soon as you arrive, unpack it.

After en cuanto, Spanish uses the subjunctive for a future action that has not happened yet.

Me preocupa que + subjuntivo

Me preocupa que la camisa se arrugue.

meh preh-oh-KOO-pah keh lah kah-MEE-sah seh ah-RROO-geh.

I’m worried that the shirt will wrinkle.

The subjunctive se arrugue expresses uncertainty or concern about a possible event.

Spanish Vocabulary

al mínimo phrase
ahl MEE-nee-moh to a minimum
alrededor de prep
ahl-reh-deh-DOHR deh around
bolsa de mano phrase
BOHL-sah deh MAH-noh carry-on bag
cena informal phrase
SEH-nah een-for-MAHL casual dinner
llevar verb
yeh-VAHR to take; to carry
organiza verb
or-gah-NEE-sah organize; plan
quiero verb
KYEH-roh I want
reduce verb
reh-DOO-seh reduce
reunión noun
reh-oo-NYOHN meeting
ropa noun
ROH-pah clothing; outfit
solo adv
SOH-loh only
viaje de negocios phrase
VYAH-heh deh neh-GOH-syohs business trip

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

clothing; outfit

Show Answerropa

meeting

Show Answerreunión

organize; plan

Show Answerorganiza

I want

Show Answerquiero