Spanish For Dummies

Whether you want to take up Spanish from scratch or brush up on your existing skills, this practical, easy-to-follow guide is for you! Inside you'll find helpful lessons, cultural facts, handy references and much more, including a Spanish-English mini-dictionary and common verb lists. Learn how to use your skills in a variety of everyday contexts, and discover common expressions, important holidays and phrases that'll make you sound fluent. Spanish For Dummies is your one-way ticket to speaking mainland Spanish with confidence.

Spanish For Dummies includes:

Part I: Getting Started
Chapter 1: You Already Know a Little Spanish
Chapter 2: The Nitty Gritty: Basic Spanish Grammar

Part II: Spanish in Action
Chapter 3: Hola! Hello! Greetings and Introductions
Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk
Chapter 5: Dining Out and Going to Market
Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy
Chapter 7: Going Out on the Town
Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation
Chapter 9: Talking on the Phone
Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House

Part III: Spanish on the Go
Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money
Chapter 12: Dónde Está? (Where Is It?): Asking Directions
Chapter 13: Checking into a Hotel
Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and More
Chapter 15: Planning a Trip
Chapter 16: Help! Handling Emergencies

Part IV: The Part of Tens
Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Speak Spanish Quickly
Chapter 18: Ten Favourite Spanish Expressions
Chapter 19: Ten Holidays to Remember
Chapter 20: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Spanish

Part V: Appendixes
Appendix A: Spanish-English Mini Dictionary
Appendix B: Spanish Verbs
Appendix C: Spanish Facts

Auteur

Pedro Vázquez Bermejo is a Spanish teacher living in London. He tutors privately as well as being the BBC's in-house Spanish teacher. He is a proofreader, editor and adviser on Sega Multilingual role games at Soho Voice Over studios.

Susana Wald is a language instructor, translator and publisher.

Texte du rabat

Learn to:

• Speak Spanish on the go in a variety of everyday situations
• Communicate confidently in spoken or written Spanish

• Get to grips with basic grammar and vocabulary Say ¡hola! to instant Spanish Whether you're travelling for a week's getaway or setting up a new life in Spain, this book is the perfect tool to get you up and running. From help with the basics to techniques for honing your conversation skills, this easy-to-use book will help you understand and be understood in European Spanish. Taking you step-by-step through the pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, you'll be speaking Spanish with confidence in no time.

• Grasp the basics – learn some simple Spanish, discover how words are pronounced and become familiar with key grammar rules
• Hit the town – order food and drink when you're out and about and get to know the locals
• Make the call – communicate with people over the phone, in both business and social contexts
• Spend your money – work your way around the shops with ease and master currency lingo

• Find your way – navigate your way around Spain's key attractions and learn how to ask for and understand directions Open the book and find:

• Handy greetings and introductions
• How to speak like a local
• Examples of typical Spanish conversations
• Essential grammar rules
• Pronunciation tips
• Etiquette for written Spanish
• Techniques for successful telephone conversations
• Advice on navigating public transport systems
• How to call for help in an emergency

Contenu
Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Realising that You Know a Little Spanish Already 9

Chapter 2: Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty: Basic Spanish Grammar 25

Part II: Spanish in Action 41

Chapter 3: ¡Hola! Hello! Greetings and Introductions 43

Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 63

Chapter 5: Dining Out and Going to Market 77

Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy 101

Chapter 7: Organising a Night on the Town 121

Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation 141

Chapter 9: Talking on the Telephone 163

Chapter 10: Looking Around the Home and Office 175

Part III: Spanish on the Go 199

Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money 201

Chapter 12: Asking Directions: Dónde Está? (Where is it?) 213

Chapter 13: Checking into a Hotel 229

Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis and More 245

Chapter 15: Planning a Trip 267

Chapter 16: Handling Emergencies 283

Part IV: The Part of Tens 305

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Speak Spanish Quickly 307

Chapter 18: Ten (Plus Two) Favourite Spanish Expressions 311

Chapter 19: Ten Holidays to Remember 315

Chapter 20: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Spanish 321

Part V: Appendixes 325

Appendix A: Mini-Dictionary 327

Appendix B: Spanish Verbs 343

Appendix C: Spanish Facts 355

Index 359