B1 · Arguing, apologising, caring
As a couple
Difficult conversations in a language that is not yours. These formulas exist because saying the same thing translated from English lands cold, or lands as a reproach.
When something bothers you
No es por molestar, pero…
I do not mean to make a fuss, but…
Opens a complaint without it sounding like an attack.
Me hizo sentir mal cuando…
It made me feel bad when…
Talks about the effect, not the blame. Works the same as in English and sounds natural.
No entendí bien lo que quisiste decir.
I did not quite understand what you meant.
Asks for a repeat without accusing anyone of being unclear.
¿Podemos hablar de esto más tarde?
Can we talk about this later?
Postpones without closing the door.
Apologising
Tienes razón, me equivoqué.
You are right, I was wrong.
Tener razón, not estar correcto.
Perdón, no fue mi intención.
Sorry, I did not mean it.
The all-purpose apology.
No quise decir eso.
That is not what I meant.
Quise, not quería: a single moment rather than a state.
¿Me perdonas?
Do you forgive me?
Direct and common, without sounding childish.
Affection
Te extraño.
I miss you.
Spain says te echo de menos instead.
- España
- te echo de menos
- Perú
- te extraño
- Argentina
- te extraño
Amor, mi vida, mi amorPeruvian
terms of endearment
Used far more than in English, even in everyday sentences.
Qué bueno que estás aquí.
I am glad you are here.
Qué bueno que takes the indicative here, because the fact is true and present.
Ojalá pudiéramos quedarnos así.
I wish we could stay like this.
Ojalá always takes the subjunctive; here the imperfect one, because it is a wish rather than a plan.
With your partner's family
Gracias por recibirme.formal
Thank you for having me.
The standard thank you on leaving someone's home.
Camila me habló mucho de usted.
Camila has told me a lot about you.
Usted at a first meeting, until they offer the tú.
¿En qué puedo ayudar?Peruvian
What can I help with?
Offering to help in the kitchen counts for more than any gift.
15 expressions in this pack