Greetings & Introductions
Saludos y Presentaciones
After this lesson, you'll be able to:
- ✓Greet people at different times of day
- ✓Introduce yourself by name
- ✓Ask someone's name
- ✓Say goodbye appropriately
- ✓Understand that Spanish nouns have gender (masculine/feminine)
- ✓Use el/la (the) with common nouns
Grammar Focus
Essential grammar for this lesson with examples.
The Spanish Alphabet & Pronunciation
Spanish uses the same alphabet as English, plus the letter ñ. The good news: Spanish pronunciation is very consistent - letters almost always sound the same way. Here are the key sounds that differ from English:
Examples:
🔤 Interactive Alphabet - Click to Hear
Click any letter to jump to its pronunciation, or use the play button to hear the complete alphabet.
Word Stress Rules
Spanish words have rules about which syllable to stress. Accent marks (á, é, í, ó, ú) tell you when the stress breaks the normal rule.
Introducing yourself with "ser"
To say who you are in Spanish, use the verb "ser" (to be). For now, you only need two forms. Don't worry about learning all the verb forms yet - we'll cover verbs properly from Week 8.
Examples:
Asking names with "llamarse"
To ask and give names, Spanish uses "llamarse" (literally: to call oneself). This is a reflexive verb, but don't worry about what that means for now - just learn these phrases as set expressions. We'll explain reflexive verbs in detail in a later stage.
Examples:
Time of Day Greetings
Spanish greetings change based on the time of day. Unlike English, these are essential in everyday interactions - you'll use them constantly when entering shops, meeting people, or starting conversations.
Examples:
Definite Articles - el, la (the)
Every Spanish noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. This isn't about biology - even objects like "table" or "book" have a gender! The word for "the" changes to match: "el" for masculine nouns, "la" for feminine nouns.
Examples:
Numbers 0-20
Numbers 0-15 need to be memorized individually. From 16-19, you'll notice a pattern: dieci + number (dieciséis = diez + seis). Learning these well now will make higher numbers much easier later!
Examples:
Conversation Example
Two people meet at a coffee shop.
🌍 Greetings in the Spanish-Speaking World
Physical greetings vary by region. In Spain and Latin America, it's common to greet with a kiss on the cheek (one or two depending on the country) among friends and family. In professional settings, a handshake is standard. The greeting "buenos días/tardes/noches" is considered polite when entering shops, elevators, or meeting strangers.