Running into a friend in Spanish: from hello to a plan
¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
“And you, how's your day going?”
When: After you answer their first question
The moment
Outside a café in Malasaña you bump into someone you met once at a party. Say hello, ask how their day is going, chat for a minute, and walk away with a real plan: day, time and place.
A1 · Unit 4 · People · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Keeping the small talk alive
Answer briefly and hand the question straight back: '¿Y tú, qué tal el día?' This one line does most of the work in a chat on the street.
¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
“And you, how's your day going?”
When to use it: After you answer their first question
What you’ll hear back: Bien, un poco liado. (Good, a bit hectic.)
Inviting with a day attached
Put the invitation and the day in one line: '¿Tomamos un café el jueves?' Then pin the hour with '¿Te va bien a las siete?' and the plan is nearly done.
¿Tomamos un café el jueves?
“Shall we get a coffee on Thursday?”
When to use it: When the chat is ending and you want to meet again
What you’ll hear back: ¡Vale! ¿A qué hora? (Okay! What time?)
Words for this scene
| Spanish | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| un poco liado | oon POH-koh lee-AH-doh | a bit hectic, snowed under |
Uf, hoy estoy un poco liado. Ugh, today I'm a bit snowed under. Tip: Women say 'liada'; it beats a flat 'bien' every time. | ||
| ¿Dónde quedamos? | DON-deh keh-DAH-mos | Where shall we meet? |
Perfecto, ¿y dónde quedamos? Perfect, and where shall we meet? Tip: Ask it before you say goodbye or the plan stays vague. | ||
| Entonces, el jueves a las siete | en-TON-thes el HWEH-behs ah lahs SYEH-teh | Thursday at seven, then |
Entonces, el jueves a las siete en la plaza. ¡Hasta luego! Thursday at seven in the square, then. See you! Tip: Saying the plan back locks it in before you both walk off. | ||
Your objective
Say hello, ask about their day, tell them one thing about yours, and leave with a plan: a day, a time and a place.
- a question about their day
- something about your day
- a day, a time and a place
Lines that get it done
- ¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
- Uf, hoy estoy un poco liado. · Ugh, today I'm a bit snowed under.
- Entonces, el jueves a las siete en la plaza. ¡Hasta luego! · Thursday at seven in the square, then. See you!
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. Someone asks you '¿Qué tal el día?'. Which reply answers and keeps the chat going?
- Bien, un poco liado. ¿Y tú?
- Bien, gracias. ¿Cuánto es?
- Sí, por favor. ¿Y tú?
- Muy bien. ¿Qué hora es?
Show the answer
Bien, un poco liado. ¿Y tú?
Answer in a few words, then bounce the question back with '¿Y tú?'.
2. You want to say you worked this morning. Which sentence is right?
- Esta mañana he trabajado.
- Esta mañana he trabajo.
- Esta mañana trabajaré.
- Esta mañana trabajar.
Show the answer
Esta mañana he trabajado.
'He trabajado' is what you say about something you did earlier today.
3. You have both agreed on Thursday at seven in the square. How do you seal the plan?
- Entonces, el jueves a las siete en la plaza.
- Entonces, ¿te va bien el jueves?
- Entonces, ¿tomamos un café?
- Entonces, ¿dónde quedamos?
Show the answer
Entonces, el jueves a las siete en la plaza.
Repeating day, time and place back is how Spaniards confirm a plan.