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🇲🇽 Spanish · Intermediate Level 3

PART 1 · LESSON 2 OF 30 · 40 MINUTES Free

Twenty Years Without Speaking

Valeria's flat is full of boxes, lists and her mother, the seating plan is a disaster, and the wedding photographer turns out to be someone they met that very morning. Say how long you've been doing something, say someone still hasn't done something, say two people haven't spoken for years, and help plan a wedding.

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Lesson 2 · Twenty Years Without Speaking

Spanish · 40 minutes

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THE STORY

It's still Friday, the eleventh of December. Valeria's flat is on the fourth floor of an old building near the Chapultepec avenue. There are boxes in the hall, flowers in the bath and lists stuck to every wall. Elena, who arrived on Tuesday, opens the door in an apron, with a pencil behind her ear. That afternoon, Sarah calls the photographer, who still hasn't confirmed, and his voice sounds very familiar. This is the conversation you'll be able to say by the end of the lesson.

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Words and phrases

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Pasen.PAH-sehnCome in. To a group.
¡Cuántas cajas!KWAHN-tahs KAH-hahsSo many boxes!
llevoYEH-bohI've been, before a length of time, literally I carry
Llevo semanas preparando.YEH-boh seh-MAH-nahs preh-pah-RAHN-dohI've been getting ready for weeks.
sigueSEE-gehshe's still, she keeps on
sinseenwithout
sigue sin decidirSEE-geh seen deh-see-DEERshe still hasn't decided
sentarsehn-TAHRto seat
dónde sentar a la genteDOHN-deh sehn-TAHR ah lah HEHN-tehwhere to seat people
Es queehs kehIt's just that
No se habla connoh seh AH-blah kohnShe doesn't speak to
¿Desde cuándo?DEHS-deh KWAHN-dohSince when?
llevanYEH-bahnthey've been, before a length of time
hablarseah-BLAHR-sehto speak to each other
Llevan veinte años sin hablarse.YEH-bahn BEHN-teh AH-nyohs seen ah-BLAHR-sehThey haven't spoken to each other for twenty years.
Nadie se acuerda.NAH-dee-eh seh ah-KWEHR-dahNobody remembers.
enojadaseh-noh-HAH-dahsangry, of women
Siguen enojadas.SEE-gehn eh-noh-HAH-dahsThey're still angry.
cada esquinaKAH-dah ehs-KEE-naheach corner
una en cada esquinaOO-nah ehn KAH-dah ehs-KEE-nahone in each corner
el fotógrafoehl foh-TOH-grah-fohthe photographer
confirmarkohn-feer-MAHRto confirm
A mí no me contesta.ah MEE noh meh kohn-TEHS-tahHe doesn't answer me.
llamo porYAH-moh pohrI'm calling about
Llamo por la boda de Valeria.YAH-moh pohr lah BOH-dah deh bah-LEH-ree-ahI'm calling about Valeria's wedding.
el diecinueveehl dee-eh-see-NWEH-behthe nineteenth
sin pararseen pah-RAHRwithout stopping
Llevo una semana trabajando sin parar.YEH-boh OO-nah seh-MAH-nah trah-bah-HAHN-doh seen pah-RAHRI've been working non-stop for a week.
el deehl dehthe one with, the man with
¿Usted no es el de las tortas?oos-TEHD noh ehs ehl deh lahs TOHR-tahsAren't you the sandwich man? To be polite.
entre semanaEHN-treh seh-MAH-nahon weekdays
Entre semana, tortas. Los sábados, bodas.EHN-treh seh-MAH-nah TOHR-tahs. lohs SAH-bah-dohs BOH-dahsOn weekdays, sandwiches. On Saturdays, weddings.
¿Sigue llorando?SEE-geh yoh-RAHN-dohIs he still crying?
la floreríalah floh-reh-REE-ahthe florist
el pastelehl pahs-TEHLthe cake
las mesaslahs MEH-sahsthe seating plan, literally the tables
un desastreoon deh-SAHS-treha disaster
lo más lejos posibleloh mahs LEH-hohs poh-SEE-blehas far as possible
La ropa sucia se lava en casa.lah RROH-pah SOO-see-ah seh LAH-bah ehn KAH-sahDon't air your dirty laundry in public.