Useful Spanish Translations

Follow the link Spanish Translations by Topic to find translations of major topics such as holidays, animals, family, directions, greetings, questions, and body in Excel workbook style format. Please note that there is one sheet per topic. The tabs for switching topics are located at the bottom of the screen page.

Useful Spanish Phrases

The following phrases can be used while teaching:

Good morning class.

Buenos días clase.

Good afternoon class.

Buenas tardes clase.

How are you today?

¿Cómo están hoy?

Ready?

¿Listos?

Are you ready?

¿Estan listos?

Attention please.

Atención por favor.

Let’s start.

Empezemos / Vamos a empezar.

Silence please.

Silencio por favor.

Quiet please.

Callados/Calladitos por favor.

(Note that Calladitos would generally be used when speaking to children)

No more talking please.

Ya no hablen por favor.

Raise your hand…

Levanta la mano…

Levanten la mano…

(Note that levanten is the plural version and would be used when addressing a group or the class as a whole)

If you know the answer.

Si sabes la respuesta.

Repeat after me

Repitan” or “repitan después de mi” (for a class)

Repite (for an individual)

Ball

pelota or bola (I used pelota more often growing up)

Stand up please.

Párense por favor.

Párate por favor. (used when referring to one child)

Sit down please.

Siéntense por favor.

Sientate por favor.

(Note that siéntense is used for plural and siéntate would be used when speaking to an individual)

Sit silently.

Siéntense en silencio.

Siéntate en silencio.

(Note that siéntense is used for plural and siéntate would be used when speaking to an individual)

Who wants to help me?

¿Quien quiere ayudarme?

He/She is my helper.

El/Ella es mi ayudante

He/She is my assistant.

El/Ella es mi asistente.

If you can hear me…

Si puedes oírme…

Si pueden oírme…

(Note that pueden is the plural version and would be used when addressing a group or the class as a whole)

Cover the whole card.

Cubran toda la tarjeta.

Can I help you?

Puedo ayudarte?

Puedo ayudarla?

Puedo ayudarlo?

(Note that ayudarte is informal and would be used when speaking to a student. If a student is asking to help you, then he or she should use the formal version… ayudarla if you’re female and ayudarlo if you’re male)

Can I be your helper?

Puedo ser su asistente?

(Note that if you ask the student if you can be his/her helper, then you would use ‘tu’ instead of ‘su’)

Let’s keep score.

Vamos a tantear.

Vamos a apuntar los tantos.

The following phrases are in Risas and Sonrisas. I’ve added translations and included some additional related phrases.

What is ? It’s…

¿Qué es? / Es…

How do you write Laura? You write it L-A-U-R-A.

¿Cómo se escribe Laura? Se escribe L-A-U-R-A.

(Related: How do you spell Laura? ¿Cómo se deletrea Laura?

How do you say hamburger in Spanish? You say hamburguesa.

¿Cómo se dice hamburger en espanol? Se dice hamburguesa.

What does computadora mean in English? It means computer.

¿Qué significa computadora en inglés? Significa computer.

Do you understand? Yes, /No, I don’t understand.

¿Comprendes? Si, /No, no comprendo.

Hello, how are you? Very well, thank you. And you?

Hola ¿cómo estás? Muy bien, gracias ¿y tú?

So, so. What is your name? My name is Carlos.

Así, así. ¿Cómo te llamas? Me llamo Carlos.