Say it in Spanish

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Spanish is fairly easy and pretty much a "what you see is what you say" language. Two rules are 1) get the sounds of the vowels down and you've got it made and 2) say every syllable that you see. 
There are five vowels and each one has only one sound - not like English where there are long vowels and short vowels.

Spanish a: English "a" as in father


Spanish e: English short "e" as in egg


Spanish i: English long "e" as in be, seem


Spanish o: English long "o" as in rose


Spanish u: English "oo" as in boo, moon

A cute rhyming verse to help you learn the vowels is "a, e, i, o, u, el burro sabe mas que tú" which means, "a, e, i, o, u the mule knows more than you" (not very complimentary but very functional sound-wise!) In the words burro and sabe, remember to break the words down and say every syllable bu-rro, sa-be, etc.

HOTEL CHECKING IN:

I want to (to see) a room Quiero (ver) un cuarto
- for two persons /para dos personas
- with (without) bath / con (sin) baño
- with AC / con aire acondicionado
- with a sea view / con vista al mar
- We are leaving tomorrow / Partimos manaña
 Do you accept / Acepta usted
- credit cards / tarjetas de crédito
- traveler's checks/ cheques de viajero
 Do you have a / Tienen
- a restaurant / restaurante?
- car rental / rentadora de autos?
- laundry service / lavandería?
-Internet / Internet? 
- wireless / inalámbrica?
-swimming pool / piscina? 
- Is there one close by? / Hay alguna cerca?

MENUS:

Breakfast / Desayuno
 Eggs / Huevos
- soft boiled / tibios
- scrambled / revueltos
- hard boiled / duros 
- fried / fritos
-Motuleños (see Yucatán cuisine)
-w/ tomato, onion / a la Mexicana
- w/bacon / con tocino
- w/spicy sausage / con longaniza
-w/cheese / con queso
- w/mushrooms / con champiñones
 French toast / Tostadas franceses 
 Fruit plate / Plato de frutas
 Yoghurt/ Yogurt
 Toasted French bread covered w/refried beans au gratin / Molletes
 Toast / Pan tostado
 Sweet rolls / Pan dulce
 Butter/ Mantequilla
 Honey / Miel

Lunch & Dinner /Almuerzo y Cena
 Appetizers / Antojitos
 Broth /Caldo
 Soup / Sopa
- garlic/ de ajo
- lentils / de lentejas
- rice pilaf (not soup) / de arroz
- lime (Yucatecan speciality) / de lima 
- chicken broth w/rice, avocado, tortilla chips, chili guajillo / caldo Tlapeño

Fish / Pescado
 Meat / Carne
 Chicken/ Pollo

SEAFOOD:

Crab - Jaiba
Clams - Almejas
Conch - Caracol 
Lobster- Langosta
Snails - Chivitas 
Shrimp- Camarón
Oysters - Ostiones
Squid - Calamar
Octopus- Pulpo

FISH:

Grouper - Mero
Red Snapper - Huachinango
Snapper - Pargo 
Snook -Robalo 
Medregal - Esmedregal
Mackerel - Sierra 
Yellow Jack - Jurel 
Dolphin (like Mahi Mahi) - Dorado 
Corbina - Corvina 
Perch -Mojarra 
Hog Fish - Boquinete 
Pampano- Pampano 
Jewfish - Cherna 
Tuna - Atún 
Amber Jack - Coronado 
Wahoo - Petro 
Tarpon- Sábalo 
Baby Shark - Cazón 
Shark -Tiburón 
Yellowtail - Rubia

COOKING STYLES:



Ceviche - Fish marinated in lime juice with tomatoes, onions and chilisFried Fish - Pescado Frito
Fillets - Filete
Breaded- Empanizado
In garlic - Al mojo de ajo
Smothered in onion, tomato and bell pepper - A la Veracruzana
In a white cream sauce - A la Crema 
Stuffed- Relleno

 

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