SPANISH NOTES (Basics)

ALPHABET:
Vowels: ​a, e, i, o, u
Consonants: ​b c ch d f g
(be) (ce) (che) (de) (efe) (ge)

h j k l ll m
(ache) (jota) (ca) (ele) (elle) (eme)

n ñ p q r rr
(ene) (eñe) (pe) (cu) (erre) (doble erre)

s t v x y
(ese) (te) (uve) (ekis) (y griega)

z
(zeta o zeda)

DIPTONGO and TRIPTONGO​ (sounds of vowels)

Diptongo:​ simultaneous sound of 2 vowels

Main Diptongo:
Ai​ - as in “aire” (air) io​ - as in “Dios” (God)
Ay​ - as in “hay” (there is) iu​ - as in “ciudad” (city)
Au​ - as in “causa” (cause) ua​ - as in “agua” (water)
Ei​ - as in “piene” (comb) ue​ - as in “bueno” (good)
Eu​ - as in “deuda” (debt) ui​ - as in “cuidado” (care)
Ia​- as in “viaje” (trip) uo​ - as in “cuota” (share, quota)
Ie​ - as in “tiempo” (time)

Triptongo: ​occurs when 2 weak vowels (i, u) and one strong vowel (a, e, o) in between them are
pronounced with only one sound. There are 4 tripthongs in Spanish:

Iai​ - as in “apreciáis” (you appreciate)

Iei - ​as in “principiéis” (may you begin)
Uai ​- as in “averiguáis” (you find out)
Uei ​ - as in “atestigüéis” (may you witness)

Punctuation marks
, - coma
; - punto y coma
: - dos puntos
. - punto final
Inverted ? - principio de interrogación
Normal ? - final de interrogación
Inverted ! - principio de admiración
Normal ! - final de admiración
( - principio de paréntesis
) - final de paréntesis
¨- diéresis
“ “ - comillas
Short (- ) - guión
Long (-) - raya

Articles: ​the articles in spanish are twofold: ​definite ​and ​indefinite. ​These 2 kinds are also classified
separately according to gender, and if it’s either singular or plural.

Kinds of Masculine Feminine Neutral Translation:

articles
S P S P

Definite EL LOS LA LAS LO The

Indefinite UN UNOS UNA UNAS (Un & una = ​A) (​unos & unas =​ SOME)

General rule:
● The articles (both definite and indefinite) ​THE & A​ are ​OMITTED​ in spanish sentences
that denote religion, the professions, nationalites, political ideologies, qualities, place of
origin, status, etc.

POSSESSIVE FORM:

SINGULAR PLURAL TRANSLATION

MASCULINE FEMININE MASCULINE FEMININE

MIO MIA MIOS MIAS MY

TUYO TUYA TUYOS TUYAS YOUR

SUYO SUYAS SUYOS SUYAS HIS / HER

NUESTRO NUESTRA NUESTROS NUESTRAS OUR

VUESTRO VUESTRA VUESTROS VUESTRAS YOUR

SUYO SUYA SUYOS SUYAS THEIR

DEFINITE ​articles always ​PRECEDES THE NOUN, ​restricting its meaning:

Examples:
El h​ ombre - the man
La​ casa - the house
Lo​ bueno - the good
Los a ​ lumnos - the pupils
Las c​ alles - the streets
The article LO precedes ADJECTIVES that are ​USED AS ABSTRACT NOUNS:
Examples:
Lo​ bueno - the good
Lo ​malo - the evil
Lo ​necesario - the necessary
Lo ​heróico - the heroic
Lo​ cierto y ​lo​ dudoso - the certain and doubtful

INDEFINITE​ articles also precedes nouns:

Examples:
Un ​niño - a boy
Una​ ventana - a window
Unos​ coches - some cars
Unas​ palabras - some words

Rules on sentence construction:

1) When the ​NOUN​ ​is preceded by an ​ADJECTIVE​, the ​article​ is used ​BEFORE ​the
adjective:

a) El​ ​buen​ ​profesor​ es estimado por los estudiantes.

- The​ ​GOOD​ ​professor​ is esteemed by the students.
b) Un​ ​erudito​ ​escritor​ es leido con interes.
- A​ learned ​writer​ is read with interest.
c) Las​ g​ randes​ ​hazañas​ son alabadas por todos
- The​ ​great ​feats​ are praised by all.

2) Verbs preceded by the article are considered as nouns:

El​ engañar - ​to cheat

El c​ omer - ​to eat
El​ vivir - ​to live

3) Article ​EL​, when preceded by the preposition ​A ​or ​DE​, is contracted to ​AL ​or ​DEL
respectively

Voy ​al​ colegio - I am going to the college

Miro ​al​ cielo - I am looking at the sky
Dar de comer ​al​ hambriento - to feed the hungry

El sombrero ​del​ niño - the hat of the boy

El techo ​del​ edificio - the roof of the building
El suelo ​ del​ colegio - the floor of the college

4) EL ​& ​UN​ are used instead of ​LA ​& ​UNA​ respectively when a feminine noun begins with
a stressed ​a ​or ​ha
 El a​ gua potable - the drinking water
El​ ama de casa - the landlady
El​ hacha - the axe, the torch
El a ​ lma humana - the human soul

Un​ agua cristalina - the crystalline water

Un​ ama hacendosa - a diligent landlady
Un​ hacha de acero - an axe of steel
Un​ alma inocente - an innocent soul

5) Gendered nouns are preceded by a definite article

MASCULINE
SINGULAR PLURAL

El padre Los padres

(the father) (the fathers)
El abuelo Los abuelos
(the grandfather) (the grandfathers)

El hijo Los hijos

(the son) (the sons)

El nieto Los nietos

(the grandson) (the grandsons)

El tio Los tios

(the uncle) (the uncles)

El primo Los primos

(the cousin) (the cousins)

El sobrino Los sobrinos

(the nephew) (the nephews)

FEMININE

SINGULAR PLURAL

La madre Las madres

(the mother) (the mothers)

La abuela Los abuelas

(the grandmother) (the grandmothers)

La hija Las hijas

(the daughter) (the daughters)
 La nieta Las nietas
(the granddaughter) (the granddaughters)

La tia Las tias

(the aunt) (the aunts)

La prima Las primas

(the cousin) (the cousins)

La sobrina Las sobrinas

(the niece) (the nieces)

SIMPLE SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION AND TRANSLATION:

1) Un​ profesor es muy estricto.

2) El​ profesor es muy estricto.
3) Una​ hermana esta enferma.
4) La​ hermana esta enferma.
5) Unos​ trabajadores son diligentes.
6) Unas​ mañana son frescas.
7) Las​ mañana son frescas
Es - is
Esta - is
Son - are
Muy estricto - very strict
Enferma - sick
Trabajadores - workers
Diligentes - diligent
Mañana - morning
Fresca - fresh
HOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF IN SPANISH:

Basic verb: LLMARSE - ​to call oneself (name)

Conjugation:
Yo ​me llamo Nosotros / Nosotras ​nos​ l​ lamamos
Tu ​te llamas Vosotros / Vosotras o ​ s llamais
​ e llama
El / Ella / Usted s Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes s​ e llaman

VERBS CONJUGATION:
SER - to be ESTAR - to be TENER - to have COMER - to eat
(permanent) (temporary)

VIVIR - to live AMAR - to love IR - to go VENIR - to come

SER ESTAR TENER VIVIR COMER AMAR IR VENIR

Yo soy estoy tengo vivo como amo voy vengo

Tu eres estas tienes vives comes amas vas vienes

El es esta tiene vive come ama va viene

Ella

Usted

Nosotros somo estamos tenemos vivimos comemos amamos vamos venimos

Vosotros sois estais teneis vivis comeis amais vais venis

Ellos / son estan tienen viven comen aman van Vienen

Ellas

Ustedes

VERB: SER
SINGULAR: PLURAL
Yo soy - I​ am Nosotros / Nosotras somos - ​We are
Tu eres​ - You are (informal way) ​ ou are
Vosotros / Vosotras sois - Y
(informal)
Usted es - Y ​ ou are (formal way) Ustedes son - ​You are (formal)
El / Ella es​ - He / She is Ellos / Ellas​ ​son ​ - They are
SAMPLE SENTENCES USING “SER”:

1) YO SOY​ CATOLICO ROMANO CERRADO.

- I AM​ a closed Roman Catholic.

2) TU ERES​ MUY RELIGIOSA

- YOU ARE​ very religious.

3) USTED ES​ MUY GENEROSO

- YOU ARE​ very generous.

4) EL/ELLA ES​ MUY GUAPO/GUAPA/BUENO/BUENA

- HE / SHE IS ​very handsome/beautiful/good

5) NOSOTROS SOMOS ​LOS MEJORES ESTUDIANTES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE STO

TOMAS.
- WE ARE​ the best students of the University of Sto. Tomas.

6) VOSOTROS SOIS​ MIS AMIGOS VERDADEROS

- YOU ARE​ my true friends

7) USTEDES SON​ GABINETES DEL PRESIDENTE DUTERTE?

- YOU ARE c​ abinets of Pres. Duterte?

8) ELLOS/ELLAS SON​ CIUDADANOS BUENOS

- THEY ARE​ good citizens.

When is “SER” used?

- To identify or define persons or things
- To express about ideologies, professions, nationalities, place of origin, or status
- To express relations
- To express qualities
- To indicate time, days, quantity, and price, etc.
- To indicate place of origin, things, or possessions etc.

VERB: ESTAR

SINGULAR: PLURAL:
YO ESTOY ​- I AM NOSOTROS/NOSOTRAS ESTAMOS-​ WE ARE
TU ESTAS​ - YOU ARE VOSOTROS/VOSOTRAS ESTAIS​ – YOU
ARE
USTED ESTA​ – YOU ARE USTEDES ESTAN​ – YOU ARE
EL/ELLA ESTA​ – HE/SHE ES ELLOS/ELLAS ESTAN -​ THEY ARE

SAMPLE SENTENCES USING “ESTAR”

1) YO ESTOY​ ESCRIBIENDO CARTA DE AMOR

I am writing a love letter
 2) TU ESTAS​ ESCUCHANDO A LA RADIO
You are listening to the radio

3) USTED ESTA​ EN AYALA PARA COMPRAR COCHE NUEVO?

You are in Ayala in order to buy new car?

4) EL/ELLA ESTA ​PREPARANDO LA COMIDA NUESTRA.

He/she is preparing our meal

5) NOSOTROS ESTAMOS​ JUGANDO AL FUTBOL

We are playing football

6) VOSOTROS ESTAIS ​CANSADOS DE ANDAR?

You are tired of walking?

7) USTEDES ESTAN​ HACIENDO BIEN CON SUS TRABAJOS

You are doing well with your job.

8) ELLOS/ELLAS ESTAN​ PEDIENDO AYUDA DE NOSOTROS

They are asking for help from us

When is “ESTAR” used?

- To indicate the physical situation of someone or something
- To indicate the temporary physical condition of someone
- In general, the verb “Estar” is used to refer to temporary conditions or situations of
anything

CONJUGATION WITH REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:

LLAMARSE​: ​To call oneself PLURAL:

SINGULAR: NOSOTROS NOS LLAMAMOS​ – We call
YO ME LLAMO​ -I call ​myself ourselves
TU TE LLAMAS​ – You call ​yourself VOSOTROS OS LLAMAIS​ - You call
USTED/EL/ELLA SE LLAMA​ – He/She yourselves
calls ​himself/herself USTED/EL/ELLA SE LLAMAN​ – Th​ey​ call
themselves

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:
SINGULAR:
ME (​ myself)
TE (​ yourself)
SE​ (​ himself/herself)
PLURAL:
NOS​ (​ ourselves)
OS ​(yourselves)
SE​ ​(themselves)

VERB: TENER

SINGULAR: PLURAL:
YO TENGO – ​ I HAVE NOSOTROS TENEMOS – ​ WE HAVE
TU TIENES​ – YOU HAVE VOSOTROS TENEIS​ – YOU HAVE
USTED/EL/ELLA TIENE ​– HE/SHE HAS ​ THEY HAVE
USTED/ELLOS/ELLAS TIENEN –

● TENER is usually used to express obligation.

SAMPLE SENTENCE FOR “TENER”:

SINGULAR:
1) Cuantos anos tienes? YO TENGO SEISENTA ANOS
2) TU TIENES UN COCHE? Si. Yo tengo un coche nuevo
3) USTED TIENE UNA CASA? Si. Yo tengo una casa nueva
4) EL/ELLA TIENE UNA PERRA? Si. El/ella tiene una perra pequina

PLURAL:
1) NOSOTROS TENEMOS UN TIEMPO LIBRE PARA DISCANSAR
We have free time to rest.

2) VOSOTROS TENEIS UNAS VENTAJAS

You have the advantages.

3) USTEDES TIENEN UNOS AMIGOS DE EUROPA

You have some friends from Europe.

4) ELLOS/ELLAS TIENEN UNAS VISITAS DE AMERICA

They have some visitors from America.

GENERAL:
1) TENGO QUE​ HACER DEPORTES

I have to do sports

2) TIENES QUE​ ESTUDIAR MORE

I have to study more

3) USTED/EL/ELLA TIENE​ QUE TOMAR MEDICINA

He/she has to take medicine

4) NOSOTROS TENEMOS​ QUE CAMINAR HOY

We have to walk today

5) VOSOTROS TENEIS​ QUE COCINAR LA COMIDA

You have to cook the meal

6) USTEDES/ELLOS/ELLAS TIENEN​ QUE AYUDAR A LOS POBRES.

They have to help the poor

VERB: VIVIR

SINGULAR: PLURAL:
YO VIVO – I LIVE NOSOTROS VIVIMOS - WE LIVE
TU VIVES – YOU LIVE VOSOTROS VIVIS – YOU LIVE
USTED/EL/ELLA VIVE –HE/SHE LIVES USTEDES/ELLOS/ELLAS VIVEN – THEY
LIVE

SAMPLE SENTENCES USING “VIVIR”:

1) YO VIVO EN CAVITE .
I live in Cavite.

2) TU VIVES LA VIDA LOCA.

You live a crazy life.

3) USTED VIVE PARA SERVIR A DIOS.

You live in order to serve God.

4) EL/ELLA VIVE PARA SU AMOR.

He/she lives for his/her love

5) NOSOTROS VIVIMOS TRANQUILAMENTE.

We live peacefully.

6) VOSOTROS VIVIS EN LA CIUDAD DE MANILA.

You live in Manila City

7) USTEDES VIVEN PARA DAR ESPERANZA A LOS JOVENES.

You live to give hope to the youth

8) ELLOS/ELLAS VIVEN SIN MIEDO DEL FUTURO.

They live without fear of the future.

BASIC WORDS IN SPANISH:

BODY PARTS: TIME:

EL CUERPO -> BODY DE LA MADRUGA -> IN THE EARLY MORNING
EL BRAZO -> ARM DE LA MANANA -> IN THE MORNING
EL CODO -> ELBOW DE LA TARDE -> IN THE
AFTERNOON
EL ANTEBRAZO​ -> FOREARM DE LA NOCHE -> IN THE EVENING
EL ESPALDA -> BACK EN PUNTO -> ON THE DOT
EL PECHO -> CHEST MAS O MENOS -> AROUND
LA CINTURA -> WAIST MEDIA NOCHE -> MIDNIGHT
EL ABDOMEN​ -> ABDOMEN MEDIODIA -> NOON
LAS NALGAS​ -> BUTT
LA CADERA -> HIP COLOR:
LA PIERNA -> LEG AMARILLO​ - YELLOW NEGRO​ - BLACK
EL HOMBRO -> SHOULDER ANARANJADO​ - ORANGE MARRON / CAFE​ - BROWN
EL CUELLO -> NECK AZUL​ - BLUE ROSADO​ - PINK
LA MANO -> HAND ROJO​ - RED MORADO​ - PURPLE
LA FRENTE -> FOREHEAD VERDE​ - GREEN BLANCO​ - WHITE

ADJECTIVES: DAYS:
DELGADO -> THIN LUNES -> MONDAY
ALTO -> TALL MARTES -> TUESDAY
LINDO -> PRETTY MIERCOLES -> WEDNESDAY
FELIZ -> HAPPY HUEVES -> THURSDAY
GRANDE -> LARGE VIERNES -> FRIDAY
PEQUENO -> SMALL SABADO -> SATURDAY
DELICIOSO -> DELICIOUS DOMINGO -> SUNDAY
CANSADO -> TIRED
DULCE -> SWEET

PRONOUNS:
(1st person) YO --> I <-- NOSOTROS
(2nd person) TU --> YOU <-- VOSOTROS
(3rd person) EL --> HE } ​SINGULAR <-- ELLOS } ​PLURAL
(3rd person) ELLA --> SHE <-- ELLAS
(3rd person) USTED --> YOU <-- USTEDES