Repairing trust after a sharp message | Learn Spanish in English

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Dialogue

Creo que mi mensaje anterior sonó más brusco de lo que pretendía.

KREH-oh keh mee men-SAH-heh an-teh-ree-OR soh-NOH mahs BROOS-koh deh loh keh preh-ten-DEE-ah. I think my earlier message came across sharper than I meant it to.

Sí, aunque me pregunté si me faltaba parte del contexto.

see, OWN-keh meh preh-goon-TEH see meh fal-TAH-bah PAR-teh del kohn-TEKS-toh. It did, though I wondered if I was missing some context.

Estaba frustrado por otra cosa y respondí demasiado rápido.

es-TAH-bah froos-TRAH-doh por OH-trah KOH-sah ee reh-spohn-DEE deh-mah-SYAH-doh RAH-pee-doh. I was frustrated about something else and replied too quickly.

Eso explica el tono, pero esas palabras aún me afectaron.

EH-soh eks-PLEE-kah el TOH-noh, PEH-roh EH-sahs pah-LAH-brahs ah-OON meh ah-fek-TAH-rohn. That explains the tone, but the words still affected me.

Asumo la responsabilidad por eso y quiero repararlo.

ah-SOO-moh lah rehs-pohn-sah-bee-lee-DAHD por EH-soh ee KYEH-roh reh-pah-RAHR-loh. I take responsibility for that, and I want to repair it.

Aprecio que lo reconozcas. Eso facilita reconstruir la confianza.

ah-PREH-syoh keh loh reh-koh-NOHS-kahs. EH-soh fah-see-LEE-tah reh-kohn-stroo-EER lah kohn-FYAHN-sah. I appreciate the acknowledgment. It makes trust easier to rebuild.

La próxima vez, haré una pausa antes de responder cuando esté estresado.

lah PROK-see-mah behs, ah-REH OO-nah POW-sah AHN-tehs deh reh-spohn-DEHR KWAHN-doh es-TEH es-treh-SAH-doh. Next time, I'll pause before replying when I'm stressed.

Eso ayudaría, y preguntaré antes de suponer lo que quisiste decir.

EH-soh ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah ee preh-goon-tah-REH AHN-tehs deh soo-poh-NEHR loh keh kee-SEE-steh deh-SEER. That would help, and I'll ask before assuming intent.

Word by Word

Creo In this dialogue, "Creo" expresses the speaker’s opinion: "I think." It is the first-person form of creer and is commonly reused in "Creo que..." when introducing an opinion.

que Here, "que" links the opinion to its content, meaning "that" in "Creo que...". This conjunction commonly follows expressions such as "Creo" when introducing a statement.

mi "Mi" identifies something as belonging to the speaker: "my." It comes before the noun in "mi mensaje" and can be reused before another singular noun to show possession.

mensaje "Mensaje" means "message," referring here to the earlier written communication. It is used after the possessive "mi" in "mi mensaje" and can refer to a spoken or written message.

anterior "Anterior" means "earlier" or "previous," identifying which message the speaker means. In "mi mensaje anterior," it follows the noun and can describe something that came before another relevant event.

sonó Here, "sonó" means "sounded" or "came across," describing how the message was perceived. It is a completed past form of sonar, and "sonó más brusco" describes the impression created by something.

más "Más" means "more" and forms the comparison in "más brusco," meaning "sharper" or "more brusque." It is commonly placed before the adjective or adverb being compared.

brusco In "sonó más brusco," "brusco" describes the message’s sharp or abrupt tone. It is used after a form of sonar to describe how something comes across, as in "sonó más brusco."

de Here, "de" introduces the comparison with what the speaker intended in "de lo que pretendía." It commonly appears in comparisons followed by "lo que" when comparing an actual result with an intended one.

lo In "lo que pretendía," "lo" helps refer to an unspecified thing or degree, roughly "what" or "that which." The reusable pattern "de lo que..." compares something with what happened or was intended.

pretendía "Pretendía" means "I intended" in this context, referring to the intended tone of the message. It is a past form of pretender used in "de lo que pretendía" to contrast intention with result.

Sí "Sí" means "yes" and confirms the previous speaker’s assessment that the message sounded sharp. It can be used alone to give a direct affirmative response.

aunque "Aunque" introduces a qualification or contrast, meaning "although" or "though." In "Sí, aunque...," it confirms one point while adding another consideration.

me Here, "me" refers to the person experiencing the thought: "to me" or simply "I" in the English expression "I wondered." It appears before the verb in "me pregunté" and is used for the speaker’s personal involvement.

pregunté "Pregunté" means "I wondered" in "me pregunté," expressing an earlier question in the speaker’s mind. It is a completed first-person form used with "me" in the pattern "me pregunté si...".

si Here, "si" means "if" or "whether," introducing the possibility the speaker was missing context. The pattern "me pregunté si..." is used when reporting something one wondered about.

faltaba "Faltaba" means that something was missing or lacking for the speaker in "me faltaba parte del contexto." It is commonly used with a person introduced by "me" and the thing that is missing.

parte "Parte" means "part," referring to one portion of the context rather than all of it. The phrase "parte del contexto" shows that "parte" can be followed by "de" and the larger whole.

del "Del" means "of the" in "parte del contexto." It is the combined form of de and el and is used before a masculine singular noun such as "contexto."

contexto "Contexto" means "context," the surrounding information needed to understand the message. It appears after "del" in "parte del contexto" and can refer to background information for an event or statement.

Estaba "Estaba" means "I was" and describes the speaker’s state at that time: "Estaba frustrado." It is a past form of estar commonly used to describe a continuing condition or feeling.

frustrado "Frustrado" describes the speaker as frustrated in "Estaba frustrado." It follows "estaba" to describe an emotional state and can be reused after estar for a person’s condition.

por Here, "por" introduces the cause of the frustration in "frustrado por otra cosa," meaning "about" or "because of." This pattern places the cause after "por."

otra "Otra" means "another" or "something else" and describes a different thing in "otra cosa." It comes before the noun and can identify a different item or matter.

cosa "Cosa" means "thing," referring here to a different matter from the message. In "otra cosa," it forms a common way to refer generally to another issue.

y "Y" means "and" and connects the speaker’s frustration with the subsequent reply. It joins words, phrases, or clauses that belong together.

respondí "Respondí" means "I replied," referring to the speaker’s completed response. It is a first-person past form of responder and is useful when describing a reply to a message or question.

demasiado "Demasiado" means "too" or "overly," showing that the speed was excessive in "demasiado rápido." It commonly comes before the word it intensifies.

rápido In "respondí demasiado rápido," "rápido" describes the speed of replying: "quickly." Together with "demasiado," it expresses replying faster than was appropriate.

Eso "Eso" means "that" and refers back to the reason just mentioned, namely being frustrated about something else and replying quickly. It can stand alone as a pronoun referring to a previously mentioned matter.

explica "Explica" means "explains," connecting the earlier circumstance with the tone of the message. It is a present form of explicar and commonly takes the thing being explained after it.

el "El" means "the" and introduces the noun "tono." It is placed before a masculine singular noun in this phrase.

tono "Tono" means "tone," referring to the attitude or impression conveyed by the message. In "explica el tono," it is the thing being explained.

pero "Pero" means "but" and marks a contrast between the explanation for the tone and the continuing effect of the words. It commonly connects two statements with opposing or qualified points.

esas "Esas" means "those" and points to specific words already under discussion. It comes before the plural noun "palabras" and identifies which words are meant.

palabras "Palabras" means "words," referring here to the words in the message. It is the plural noun in "esas palabras" and can identify the wording used in a statement or message.

aún "Aún" means "still" or "yet," emphasizing that the effect on the speaker remains. In "aún me afectaron," it indicates that the words continued to have an impact.

afectaron "Afectaron" means "affected," referring to the effect those words had on the speaker. It is a completed past form of afectar, with "esas palabras" as the thing causing the effect.

Asumo In "Asumo la responsabilidad," "Asumo" expresses accepting or taking on responsibility. It is the first-person form of asumir and is commonly reused with "la responsabilidad" when acknowledging one’s own part.

la "La" means "the" and introduces the feminine noun "responsabilidad." It appears before the noun in the fixed phrase "la responsabilidad."

responsabilidad "Responsabilidad" means "responsibility," referring to the speaker’s acceptance of accountability for the effect of the message. The phrase "asumo la responsabilidad" is used when acknowledging one’s own role.

quiero "Quiero" means "I want," expressing the speaker’s intention to repair the situation. It is commonly followed by an infinitive, as in "quiero repararlo."

repararlo "Repararlo" means "to repair it" in this dialogue: reparar is "to repair" and the attached "lo" refers to the situation or damage being repaired. The form "quiero repararlo" is a reusable pattern for stating an intention to repair something.

Aprecio "Aprecio" means "I appreciate," expressing gratitude for the other person’s acknowledgment. It is the first-person form of apreciar and can introduce what is valued, as in "Aprecio que...".

reconozcas "Reconozcas" means "you acknowledge" or "you recognize" in "Aprecio que lo reconozcas." It is used after "Aprecio que" to express appreciation for the other person’s acknowledgment.

facilita "Facilita" means "makes easier" or "facilitates," describing the effect of the acknowledgment on rebuilding trust. It commonly comes before an infinitive, as in "facilita reconstruir."

reconstruir "Reconstruir" means "to rebuild," referring here to rebuilding trust after the misunderstanding. It is an infinitive after "facilita" and can describe restoring something that has been damaged.

confianza "Confianza" means "trust," referring to the relationship that the speakers want to restore. In "reconstruir la confianza," it is the object being rebuilt.

próxima "Próxima" means "next" in "la próxima vez," referring to the next relevant occasion. It comes before "vez" and forms a common expression for a future occasion.

vez "Vez" means "time" or "occasion" in "la próxima vez." The phrase "la próxima vez" is used to refer to what will happen on the next occasion.

haré "Haré" means "I will make" or "I will do" in "haré una pausa," expressing a future decision. It is a future form of hacer and is commonly used with an action or object that the speaker commits to.

una "Una" means "a" or "one" and introduces the singular noun "pausa." It is used before a singular feminine noun in "una pausa."

pausa "Pausa" means "pause" or "break," referring to a deliberate stop before replying. The expression "hacer una pausa" is used when someone stops briefly before continuing.

antes "Antes" means "before" and places the replying after the planned pause in "antes de responder." The common pattern "antes de" is followed here by an infinitive.

responder "Responder" means "to reply," referring to answering the message. It is the infinitive after "antes de" in "antes de responder" and can follow expressions about deciding or waiting before replying.

cuando "Cuando" means "when" and introduces the situation in which the speaker plans to pause: "cuando esté estresado." It commonly introduces a time or condition connected to another action.

esté "Esté" expresses "I am" or "I am feeling" in the anticipated situation "cuando esté estresado." It is a form of estar used after "cuando" for a future or not-yet-realized situation.

estresado "Estresado" describes the speaker’s state as stressed in "esté estresado." It follows "esté" to identify the condition that will trigger the planned pause.

ayudaría "Ayudaría" means "would help," presenting the proposed pause as something that could be helpful. It is a conditional form of ayudar and can be used to describe a possible benefit.

preguntaré "Preguntaré" means "I will ask," expressing a future decision to seek clarification. It is a future form of preguntar and can be followed by the information or question being requested.

suponer "Suponer" means "to assume," referring to forming an intention without first checking it. It is the infinitive after "antes de" in "antes de suponer lo que quisiste decir."

quisiste In "quisiste decir," "quisiste" contributes the meaning "you wanted," as in what the other person intended to communicate. It is a completed second-person form of querer and is commonly used with an infinitive to express what someone intended to do.

decir "Decir" means "to say" or, in "quisiste decir," "to mean." The expression "lo que quisiste decir" refers to the intended meaning of someone’s words and is useful when asking about intent.

Grammar Points

Aprecio que + subjuntivo

Aprecio que reconozcas la responsabilidad.

ah-PREH-syoh keh reh-koh-NOHS-kahs lah rehs-pohn-sah-bee-lee-DAHD.

I appreciate that you acknowledge the responsibility.

After expressions of appreciation, que introduces a dependent clause with the subjunctive: reconozcas.

Aunque + indicativo

Aunque sonó brusco, respondí.

OWN-keh soh-NOH BROOS-koh, reh-spohn-DEE.

Although it sounded harsh, I replied.

Aunque introduces a contrast. The indicative presents the situation as a real or known fact.

Spanish Vocabulary

anterior adj

an-teh-ree-OR earlier; previous

aunque conj

OWN-keh although; though

brusco adj

BROOS-koh harsh; blunt

contexto noun

kohn-TEKS-toh context

creo verb

KREH-oh I think

faltaba verb

fal-TAH-bah was missing; I lacked

frustrado adj

froos-TRAH-doh frustrated

me pregunté phrase

meh preh-goon-TEH I wondered

mensaje noun

men-SAH-heh message

parte noun

PAR-teh part

pretendía verb

preh-ten-DEE-ah I intended

sonó verb

soh-NOH sounded; came across

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

I intended

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pretendía

was missing; I lacked

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faltaba

sounded; came across

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sonó

earlier; previous

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