En la bodega
The corner shop is where you will speak Spanish most often, and the words are not the ones a course gives you. This is what is on the shelves, what the shopkeeper says, and how to buy a small amount of something.
Lo que compras
el panmnoun
the bread
Deme cuatro panes, por favor. · Four rolls, please.
Un pan in Peru is one bread roll, not a whole loaf.
la lechefnoun
the milk
los huevosmnoun
the eggs
Media docena de huevos. · Half a dozen eggs.
el arrozmnoun
the rice
el aceitemnoun
the oil
el azúcarmnoun
the sugar
Takes el, though you will hear la azúcar too.
la gaseosafnoun
the fizzy drink
El refresco elsewhere. In Peru, la gaseosa.
el papel higiénicomnoun
the toilet paper
el jabónmnoun
the soap
el detergentemnoun
the washing powder
la galletafnoun
the biscuit
el aguafnoun
the water
Feminine, but takes el because it starts with a stressed a: el agua fría.
Cuánto
un kilo
a kilo
Un kilo de arroz. · A kilo of rice.
medio kilo
half a kilo
Medio never takes an article: medio kilo, not un medio kilo.
una docena
a dozen
media docena
half a dozen
un poquito
a little bit
In a bodega you can buy tiny amounts. Un poquito de queso is a normal request.
una bolsafnoun
a bag
una botellafnoun
a bottle
un paquetemnoun
a packet
Lo que dices
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much is it?
¿A cómo el kilo?
What's the price per kilo?
The usual phrasing for anything sold by weight.
Deme…
Could I have…
From dar, in the usted form. Polite and completely standard.
¿Algo más?
Anything else?
What the shopkeeper asks. Answer: no, gracias, or eso es todo.
Eso es todo
That is all
¿Tiene sencillo?
Do you have change?
Sencillo is small change in Peru. Suelto in Argentina, menudo in Colombia.
el vueltomnoun
the change
Quédese con el vuelto. · Keep the change.
Está bien
That is fine
Quién y dónde
la bodegafnoun
the corner shop
Not a wine cellar. In Peru it is the small shop on your block.
el bodegueromnoun
the shopkeeper
La bodeguera for a woman.
la esquinafnoun
the corner
La bodega de la esquina. · The shop on the corner.
la cuadrafnoun
the block
La manzana in Spain. In Peru, always la cuadra.
abierto / cerradoadjective
open / closed