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Getting to know someone
Learn to ask simple questions about personal information.
1 · NOTICE THE WORDSSpanish above, English below
¿Defrom
dóndewhere
eres?(you) are
2 · UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONWhere are you from?
The English words under the Spanish are clues to the structure. The full translation shows natural English.
3 · ANSWER IN SPANISHSoy de China.
First, practise with tú. Then compare the usted forms and try the activities.
01 · ASK & ANSWER
Your name
WORD BY WORD
¿Cómohow
teyourself
llamas?(you) call
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat’s your name?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Me llamo Daniel.
USE THIS PATTERN
Me llamo + name
Te llamas means “you are called”. Learn ¿Cómo te llamas? as a whole question.
Say your own name, or use a name from a role card.
02 · ASK & ANSWER
Your first name
WORD BY WORD
¿Cuálwhich / what
esis
tuyour
nombre?name
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat’s your first name?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Mi nombre es Daniel.
USE THIS PATTERN
Mi nombre es + first name
Here, we use nombre for a first name and apellido for a surname.
Me llamo Daniel. and Mi nombre es Daniel. both introduce a name.
03 · ASK & ANSWER
Your surname
WORD BY WORD
¿Cuálwhich / what
esis
tuyour
apellido?surname
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat’s your surname?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Mi apellido es García.
USE THIS PATTERN
Mi apellido es + surname
Compare the questions: ¿Cuál es tu nombre? / ¿Cuál es tu apellido?
Change only one word to ask for a different piece of information.
04 · ASK & ANSWER
Where are you from?
WORD BY WORD
¿Defrom
dóndewhere
eres?(you) are
NATURAL ENGLISHWhere are you from?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Soy de Alemania.
Soy de Berlín.
USE THIS PATTERN
Soy de + place
De dónde means “from where”. You can answer with a country or a city.
NationalitySoy chino / china.
Use soy de with a place. Use soy with a nationality.
05 · ASK & ANSWER
Is the information correct?
WORD BY WORD
¿Eres(you) are
francesa?French · feminine form
NATURAL ENGLISHAre you French?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Sí, soy francesa.
No, soy italiana.
USE THIS PATTERN
Sí, soy… / No, soy…
Eres already tells us that we are talking about “you”.
Say sí if the guess is correct. Say no and give the correct information if it is wrong.
06 · ASK & ANSWER
Your age
WORD BY WORD
¿Cuántoshow many
añosyears
tienes?(you) have
NATURAL ENGLISHHow old are you?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Tengo veintitrés años.
USE THIS PATTERN
Tengo + number + años
Spanish uses have for age. English uses be.
Tengo diecinueve años. · Tengo veinticinco años. · Tengo treinta años.
07 · ASK & ANSWER
A mobile phone
WORD BY WORD
¿Tienes(you) have
móvil?mobile phone
NATURAL ENGLISHDo you have a mobile phone?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Sí. Mi número es 000 123 456.
USE THIS PATTERN
Sí. Mi número es…
This question asks if you have a phone. You can answer sí or no. The example also gives a number.
Read phone numbers one digit at a time. The number here is a classroom placeholder.
08 · ASK & ANSWER
An email address
WORD BY WORD
¿Tienes(you) have
correomail
electrónico?electronic
NATURAL ENGLISHDo you have an email address?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Sí. Mi correo electrónico es ana@example.com.
USE THIS PATTERN
Sí. Mi correo electrónico es…
Correo electrónico means “email”. Learn these two words together.
Spell the address aloud. This is a fictional email address for practice.
09 · ASK & ANSWER
Your work
WORD BY WORD
¿Enin
quéwhat
trabajas?(you) work
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat do you do for work?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Trabajo como recepcionista en un hotel.
USE THIS PATTERN
Trabajo de / como + job
This question asks about the work you do.
JobTrabajo como recepcionista.
WorkplaceTrabajo en un hotel.
Use trabajo de / como for a job and trabajo en for a workplace.
10 · ASK & ANSWER
Your occupation or main activity
WORD BY WORD
¿Ato
quéwhat
teyourself
dedicas?(you) devote
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat do you do?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Soy estudiante.
Soy profesor.
Trabajo de camarero.
USE THIS PATTERN
Soy + occupation / role
Learn this as a whole phrase. It asks about your work or main activity. The word-by-word clues help you see the structure.
PUT INFORMATION TOGETHERSoy estudiante y trabajo como recepcionista en un hotel.
You can be a student and also have a job. Y means “and”.
11 · ASK & ANSWER
Ask for the phone number
WORD BY WORD
¿Cuálwhich / what
esis
tuyour
númeronumber
deof
teléfono?telephone
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat’s your phone number?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Mi número de teléfono es 000 123 456.
USE THIS PATTERN
Mi número de teléfono es…
Número de teléfono means “phone number”. This question asks for the actual number.
Compare: ¿Tienes móvil? asks if you have a phone. This question asks for the number.
12 · ASK & ANSWER
Ask for the email address
WORD BY WORD
¿Cuálwhich / what
esis
tuyour
correomail
electrónico?electronic
NATURAL ENGLISHWhat’s your email address?
ANSWER IN SPANISH
Mi correo electrónico es ana@example.com.
USE THIS PATTERN
Mi correo electrónico es…
This question asks for the actual email address.
Compare: ¿Tienes correo electrónico? asks if you have one. This question asks for the address.
13 · ASK & ANSWER
From tú to usted · 1
The bold words change in a more formal conversation.
| tú | usted | What changes? |
|---|
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | ¿Cómo se llama? | se llama → you are called · formal |
| ¿Cuál es tu nombre? | ¿Cuál es su nombre? | su → your · formal, in this question |
| ¿Cuál es tu apellido? | ¿Cuál es su apellido? | su → your · formal, in this question |
| ¿De dónde eres? | ¿De dónde es? | es → you are · formal, in this question |
| ¿Eres francesa? | ¿Es francesa? | es → you are · formal, in this question |
| ¿Cuántos años tienes? | ¿Cuántos años tiene? | tiene → you have · formal |
Your answer about yourself stays the same.
¿Cómo te llamas? → Me llamo Ana.
¿Cómo se llama? → Me llamo Ana.
Here, su means “your” in a formal question. Its meaning can change in other contexts.
14 · ASK & ANSWER
From tú to usted · 2
The bold words change in a more formal conversation.
| tú | usted | What changes? |
|---|
| ¿Tienes móvil? | ¿Tiene móvil? | tiene → you have · formal |
| ¿Tienes correo electrónico? | ¿Tiene correo electrónico? | tiene → you have · formal |
| ¿En qué trabajas? | ¿En qué trabaja? | trabaja → you work · formal |
| ¿A qué te dedicas? | ¿A qué se dedica? | se dedica → you devote yourself · formal |
| ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? | ¿Cuál es su número de teléfono? | su → your · formal, in this question |
| ¿Cuál es tu correo electrónico? | ¿Cuál es su correo electrónico? | su → your · formal, in this question |
Your answer about yourself stays the same.
¿Cómo te llamas? → Me llamo Ana.
¿Cómo se llama? → Me llamo Ana.
Here, su means “your” in a formal question. Its meaning can change in other contexts.
15 · PRACTICE
Match the question and answer
Choose the best answer for each question. Then check your choices.
16 · PRACTICE
Read the answer. Ask the question.
Say a suitable question in Spanish. Click each answer card to see a possible question.
More than one question may work. The revealed questions are examples.
17 · PRACTICE
Interview a partner
Choose a role card. Ask and answer questions using the information on the card.
Spelling cue
WORK IN PAIRSAsk. Answer. Swap roles.
- Student A asks about the first name, surname, nationality, age, phone number, email and occupation.
- Student B answers as the person on the card.
- Swap roles and choose another card.
- Start with tú. Then try a more formal conversation with usted.
Answer in complete Spanish sentences. Spell names and email addresses when practising the alphabet.
All people and contact details are fictional classroom examples.