| Ecuador HIGHLIGHTS |  |
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| Spanish
words and phrases: |  General
pronunciation | Vowels | Consonants | Pronouns | Tips | Greetings & Courtesies | Basic
questions | Basics | Useful Ecuadorian Expressions | Useful
verbs | | Learning Spanish is essential when you're traveling to Latin American countries or, at least the basics. In The best of Ecuador.com we have prepared a few useful phrases and general rules that may help you before your journey, as well as FREE Spanish Lessons available online for a fast, Interactive Spanish learning experience! |
 General
pronunciation | | | The following rules should be considered: 1) If a word
ends in a consonant such as N or S, the accent falls on the last syllable (e.g. caminar); 2) If a word ends in a vowel,
or in N or S, the accent falls on the penultimate syllable (camisa, camisas); 3) If a word is accentuated on a syllable
(different to the above mentioned rules), the accent on the relevant vowel shows you where the stress intonation has to be
placed (cinturón, metáfora). Usually adverbs such as donde (where), have an accent in the first syllable
when it is used interrogatively;
¿dónde? (where?). | | Vowels
pronunciation | | A as in English "as",
but without the "S"
E as in English "end"
I as in English "see"
O as
in English "shot"
U as in English "good". After the consonant "q" or in "gui",
or "gue", U is not pronounced, when "güi", or "güe", the U is pronounced. | | Consonants | | All
consonants are pronounced the same as in English, unless the ones listed below: CLike in English "k",
except when it is before an e or an i, then it is pronounced like the "S" in English. GWhen
it is before an e or an i, sounds the same as "J".When it is before an o, u and a, sounds
the same as "Go" HNever pronounced! JSounds like the "H"in
English, e.g. "Home" LlLike in English "G" Ñ As "ni" in
English, but stronger. RrMuch more stronger than thenormal "R"
XIt
depends on its location, same as in English, e.g. "Xerox". ZAs in English "S | | Pronouns | | | You
should always refer to two or more people including children as "Ustedes". To refer to others as "Tu" besides
being inappropriate, could annoy officials and older people. If your Spanish is limited, try to keep the polite expressions: Usted (Ud)
in the singular, Ustedes in the plural and you will never offend anyone. You may violate this rule when dealing with
a friend or a child. | | Tips | | | In
Ecuador the most common reply to ¡Gracias! is ¡A la orden! ("Yours to command!"), or "¡De
nada!" ("It's nothing!"). Also, many misunderstandings occur due to terminology rather than tardiness.
e.g. Ahora (now) is often used to say "today", and Ahorita means "right now" or immediately. | | Greetings & courtesies | | | Good-bye = adiós, chao | Good morning = buenos días | | Hello = hola |
Go away! = ¡váyase! | | How are you? = ¿como está?, or ¿como estás? | Good
afternoon, evening, or night = buenas tardes, noches | | Leave me alone = déjame en páz, or "no me moleste" | I do not understand = no entiendo | | Yes = si | No = no | | Please = por favor | See you later = hasta luego | | What is your name? = ¿Cómo se llama? | Thank you (very much) = (muchas) gracias | | I speak Spanish = Yo Hablo español | I don't speak Spanish = Yo no hablo español | |
I speak = Yo Hablo | Money = Dinero | | I'm fine = Estoy bien | I'm called = Yo me Ilamo | | We speak German = Hablamos alemán | Do you speak English? = ¿Habla usted inglés? | | They speak French = Hablan francés | Please speak slowly = hable despacio por favor | | I am very sorry = lo siento mucho, or disculpe | What do you want? = ¿Que desea? | | Good = bueno | Bad = Malo | | I want = Yo quiero | I don't want it = No lo quiero | | Long distance phone call = Ilamada de larga distancia | Excuse
me & I beg your pardon = permiso | | Pleased to meet you = mucho gusto, encantado, or encantada |
| | Basic questions | | Have you got a room for two people?
¿tiene habitación para dos personas? When? = ¿Cuándo? arrive? = ¿llega?
How do I get to_? = ¿Cómo llego a_? Where is ? ¿Donde está?
How much does it cost? = ¿Cuanto vale?, or ¿Cuanto cuesta? Where is the nearest petrol station?
¿Dónde está la gasolinera más cercana? How much is it? = ¿Cuánto es?
When does the bus leave? = ¿A que hora sale el bus? Why? = ¿Por qué? | | Basics | | | Bank = El Banco | Money = Dinero | | Bathroom / Toilet = El baño | Expensive = Caro | | Bill
= La cuenta / La factura | Market = Mercado | | Cash = Efectivo | Coins = Monedas / Sueltos | | Cheap = Barato | Police = El Policía | | Church / Cathedral = Iglesia / Catedral | Policemen = La policía | | Exchange house = Casa de cambio | Post office = Oficina de Correo | | Supermarket = El supermercado | Telephone office = Centro de llamadas | | Travelers' cheques = Cheques de viajero | Exchange rate = Tasa de cambio |
| | Useful Ecuadorian Expressions | | | How are you? or What's up? | ¿Que tal?, ¿Como estas? | | Right now! | ¡Ahorita! | | Lodging | Alojamiento | | Cabin | Cabaña | |
Countryside people | Campesino, Montubio | | Bus | Bus, Colectivo | | Pastry filled with meat or cheese | Empanada | | Corner | Esquina | | Street | Calle | | Avenue | Avenida | | Foreigner | Gringo/a | | Mixed grill | Parrillada |
| Floor | Piso | | Town or village | Pueblo | | Soft drink | Refresco | | Shop | Tienda | | Afterwards | Después, Luego |
| | Useful verbs | | | To Go | Ir | | I go | Yo voy | | You go (Singular) | Tu vás | | You, and they go (Plural) | Ellos van | | He, she, it goes |
El, Ella, Eso vá | | We go | Nosotros vamos | | To have (possess) | Tener | | I have | Yo tengo | | You have (Singular) | Tu tienes | | You and they have (Plural) | Ustedes, Ellos tienen | | He, she, it has | El, Ella, eso tiene | | We have | Nosotros tenemos |
| Also used as "to be" | Ser | | I am | Soy, or Yo soy | | You are (Singular) | Tu eres, or eres | | You and They are (Plural) | Ustedes, ellos son | | He, she it is | El, ella, eso es | | We are | Nosotros somos | | Also used as "to have" | Haber | | I have eaten | Yo
he comido | | You have eaten | Tu haz comido | | You and they have eaten | Ustedes, ellos han comido | | He, she, it has eaten | El, ella, eso ha comido | | We have eaten | Nosotros hemos comido |
|  | | Spanish words and phrases: | |
General pronunciation | Vowels | Consonants | Pronouns | Tips | Greetings & Courtesies | Basic questions | Basics | Useful Ecuadorian Expressions | Useful verbs | |
| ECUADOR HOT LINKS | 
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