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🇪🇸 Spanish · Fluency Level 1

PART 1 · LESSON 7 OF 30 · 40 MINUTES

Many Happy Returns

Encarna turns seventy-eight, and the whole street crowds into her patio with a cake, two candles shaped like a seven and an eight, and a lot of compliments she pretends not to want. Then Sarah and Julian give her a present that means another flight. Say many happy returns, who'd have thought it?, you don't look it, you say that to all the girls, don't flatter me, you're going to make me cry, and the sayings Spaniards use about age.

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THE STORY

It's Sunday, February 18th, 2029, nine at night, in Encarna's patio. It's her seventy-eighth birthday. The neighbours have strung lights between the orange trees, Manolo has brought a tray of tapas, and Lucia has carried in a chocolate cake with two candles, a seven and an eight. Encarna is in her red scarf, sitting at the head of the table like a queen. Everyone starts to sing. After the cake, Sarah and Julian give her their present. This is the conversation you'll be able to say by the end of the lesson.

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Words and phrases

The lesson is for your ears. Open this afterwards, to see what you learned.
¡Cumpleaños feliz!koom-pleh-AH-nyohs feh-LEESHappy birthday!
¡Que cumplas muchos más!keh KOOM-plahs MOO-chohs mahsMany happy returns!
Setenta y ocho.seh-TEHN-tah ee OH-chohSeventy-eight.
¿Quién me lo iba a decir?kee-EHN meh loh EE-bah ah deh-SEERWho'd have thought it?
No los aparentas.noh lohs ah-pah-REHN-tahsYou don't look it.
Estás hecha una rosa.ehs-TAHS EH-chah OO-nah RROH-sahYou're as fresh as a rose.
Eso se lo dices a todas.EH-soh seh loh DEE-sehs ah TOH-dahsYou say that to all the girls.
estás estupendaehs-TAHS ehs-too-PEHN-dahyou look great
No me hagas la pelota.noh meh AH-gahs lah peh-LOH-tahDon't flatter me.
Sopla las velas.SOH-plah lahs BEH-lahsBlow out the candles.

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