MAKING WAY WITH WORDS AND PHRASES
You do not have to speak Spanish when you are in the Domnican Republic. Many Dominicans speak English as well as many other languages.
However, if you have a basic grasp of words and phrases, it will help you communicate more effectively and additionally demonstrates your willingness to bond with the culture.
Dominicans speak their Spanish loud and fast and it is easy to become intimidated. You can say: Mas lento, por favor (please, more slow). Pronounce your words, whether you are using English or Spanish slowly so that those you are speaking with can understand you. Remember, in Caribbean Spanish, the S is most often not pronounced. So that ES POSA becomes E POSA (wife). That is why when you hear the phrase, “Como tu estas”? it sounds like “Como tu Ta”. It is best at least at the outset, that you speak your Spanish in classroom style. If you try to speak it as if you are a local, the reply will be to you as a local and you will very likely be lost. About 1/3 of the Dominican economy is based on tourism and as a result, Dominicans have tremendous patience for tourists. What is most important is that you always maintain a friendly comportment and never ever lose your patience, regardless of what has happened. If you do (lose your patience), you will make matters ever so much worse!
| Greetings Hello / Hola Goodbye / Adios Good morning/good day / Buenos dias Good afternoon / Buenas tardes Good evening/night / Buenas noches How are you? / Como esta usted? Very well thank you / Muy bien, gracias See you soon / Hasta luego That’s all right / Esta bien Don’t worry / No se preocupe Useful Statements Opposites |
Common Phrases Yes / Si No / No Please / Por favor Thank you / Gracias You’re welcome / De nada No thank you / No gracias Sorry / Perdone What is your name? / Como se llama? My name is ___ / Me llamo ___ Language Problems Questions In A Restaurant |
COMMON VERBS
| The 20 Most Common SpanishVerbs | |
| andar aprender beber buscar cantar correr creer escuchar hablar hacer poner querer saber ser tener traer venir vender vestir vivir |
to walk to learn to drink to look for to sing to run to believe to listen to talk to make to put to want to know to be to have to bring to come to sell to dress to live |
COMMON NOUNS
| vez time (as in number of times) | caso case, occasion |
| año year | país country |
| tiempo time, weather | lugar place, position |
| día day | persona person |
| cosa thing | hora hour, time |
| hombre man, mankind; husband | trabajo work, job, effort |
| parte part, portion | punto point, dot, period |
| vida life | mano hand |
| momento moment, time | manera manner, way |
| forma form, shape, way | fin end |
| casa house | tipo type, kind |
| mundo world | gente people |
| mujer woman, wife |
A FEW TRICKS
There are two verbs for being in Spanish. SER AND ESTAR. Ser is permanent and Estar is temporary.
When declined it makes sense. Yo Soy Hombre (I am a man). Yo Estoy Aqui (I am here). In the first case I am a man and that is a permanent condition (at least it was when I was growing up!). the second is a temporary condition, in that I am here and later I can be there or somewhere else.
Also to get future tense, rather than have to decline verbs in the future tense, which is a whole other tense to remember, you can use the Verb to go. The verb to go is IR. It is declined as Yo Voy (I go) and tu Vas (you go) and El or Ella Va (he or she goes). Thus one can say, Me Voy a comer (I will go to eat) as compared to Yo estoy comiendo (I am eating) or Yo como (I eat). You can add the verb to go, in the tense you want to any other verb that is not declined and have the future. Simple as that.
PHRASES DOMINICANS LIKE
Si Dios Quieres! If God wants……..add this after you say ANYTHING. It demonstrates that you are not arrogant.
Propina or Ceilito A small tip. Ones little piece of heaven.
Amorcito or Amorcita My little love. Masculine & Feminine.
Por favor Please
Ayudarme un chin Help me a little ( i you da me un chin)
Que Dios te Bendigas God Bless You (If someone says that to you, you respond, AMEN)
Que Tenga buen dia have a good day
Te Veo Manana See you tomorrow
When all else fails, always remember that you can use SPANGLISH.
Spanlish is a corruption of English and Spanish and uses popular words that everyone understands. For instance Jacket can become Jacketa. In other words, use whatever spanish you know, use English for what you don’t know and improvise in between.
When asked or pushed for a tip that you do not want to pay, you can respond, lo siento (I am sorry) but I no hava cash. Ahorrita! (Perhaps a little later and maybe never). Always be sure to say I am sorry before you disappoint someone…good manners…lo Siento.
Never waive anyone off who asks for money. You do not have to stop and have a conversation, but do not be rude. Smile and keep walking and rub your your forefinger and thumb together and nod NO that you do not have any money. Why look for problems?
If you do decide to give a tip, never remove a wad of cash from your pocket. Have tip money set aside for the moment and be able to fish it out in an exact amount.
The best language in any foreign country and it works really well in the Dominican Republic is gentleness, patience and a willingness to go with the flow. Remember YOU ARE A GUEST in someone else’s country. You are just visiting!
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