How to talk about your day in Spanish
Esta mañana he trabajado
“This morning I worked”
When: Telling someone what your morning was like
The moment
You are on a coffee break at work in Madrid and a Spanish colleague asks how your day is going. Keep the small talk alive for a minute instead of freezing up.
A1 · Unit 4 · People
The lines
Saying what you did today
For things you did earlier today, Spaniards use 'he' plus the verb: 'Esta mañana he trabajado' (this morning I worked). Swap the last word for 'estudiado', 'desayunado' or 'salido' and you can cover most of your morning.
Esta mañana he trabajado
“This morning I worked”
When to use it: Telling someone what your morning was like
What you’ll hear back: ¿Ah, sí? ¿Y qué tal? (Oh yeah? And how was it?)
Handing the question back
Never let the conversation die after your answer. Bounce it straight back with '¿Y tú, qué tal el día?' — it is the standard way Spaniards keep small talk going.
¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
“And you, how's your day going?”
When to use it: Right after you answer their question
What you’ll hear back: Pues nada, mucho trabajo. (Well, nothing much, lots of work.)
Words for this scene
| Spanish | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| un poco liado | oon POH-koh lee-AH-doh | a bit hectic, snowed under |
Hoy estoy un poco liado con el trabajo. Today I am a bit snowed under with work. Tip: Women say 'liada'; it is Spain's default word for busy. | ||
| ¡Qué bien! | keh BYEN | That's great! |
¿Has terminado ya el proyecto? ¡Qué bien! Have you already finished the project? That's great! Tip: React out loud in Spain; staying silent reads as bored. | ||
| Acabo de comer | ah-KAH-boh deh koh-MEHR | I've just had lunch |
Acabo de comer, sobre las tres. I've just had lunch, around three. Tip: Lunch in Spain runs 2 to 3pm; earlier sounds odd. | ||
Your objective
Tell them two things you did today, then ask how their day is going.
- one thing you did
- a second thing you did
- a question about their day
Lines that get it done
- Esta mañana he trabajado
- Acabo de comer, sobre las tres. · I've just had lunch, around three.
- ¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to tell a colleague that you worked this morning. What do you say?
- Esta mañana he trabajado.
- Esta mañana he trabajo.
- Esta mañana trabajar mucho.
- Mañana trabajo mucho.
Show the answer
Esta mañana he trabajado.
'He' plus 'trabajado' is how you talk about something you did earlier today.
2. Your colleague finishes telling you about her morning. How do you keep the chat going?
- ¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
- ¿Y tú, cómo te llamas?
- ¿Y tú, de dónde eres?
- ¿Y tú, qué hora es?
Show the answer
¿Y tú, qué tal el día?
'¿Y tú?' plus the same question hands the conversation straight back.
3. A friend tells you her day has gone really well. Which reaction sounds natural?
- ¡Qué bien!
- ¡Qué pena!
- ¡Qué caro!
- ¡Qué va!
Show the answer
¡Qué bien!
'¡Qué bien!' is the everyday way to show you are happy for someone.