We have been learning greetings last week, which we will continue. Here are some additional details of how to be polite and show respect in Spanish. This is taken from http://www.learn-spanish-smart.com/polite-in-spanish.html
Please read through this short article in order to be prepared for our game on Wednesday!
Mucho gusto for nice to meet you.
When you shake hands,if the other person says "mucho gusto" (nice to meet you) first, it is acceptable to reply: "igualmente" (likewise) or "el gusto es mío" (the pleasure is mine). You are showing good manners in Spanish with these phrases. You can also use the response:
"encantado" (enchanted), if you're a man. "encantada" if you're a woman.
Often when a native speaker in Mexico extends his hand to greet you, other than just saying his name you may hear:
"Carlos Garcia Lorca, a sus ordenes."
or
"Jose Luis Santos Ruiz para servirle."
This is often said very quickly, especially when children introduce themselves. It can sound like a string of words until the end when you can just barely make out something about " ordenes" or "servirle". Those two phrases basically mean "at your service". Again these normal protocol phrases show that they are being polite in Spanish.
When the person says their two last names, the first is the father's last name, the second is the mother's. So Señor Garcia, and Señor Santos, is how you would address these men (from the previous examples) in a formal situation.
In an informal situation (and if they are older men) you might address them as Don Carlos or Don Jose Luis.
"Don" is a friendly term of respect used with older men. It is combined with the first name only, not the last name. "Doña" is used with women.
Coming from an informal culture such as the one of the United States, some of these phrases may see a little extravagant or too elegant. However, they are phrases that are typically accepted or expected in normal conversation. You will be considered polite in Spanish, not exaggerated.
While being introduced to people whether man or a woman, it is normal to extend your hand and shake theirs. Among those who are middle class and richer, it is also common to shake hands and to greet women with a quick kiss on the cheek. (just one cheek, one time). Just to be clear: it is women greeting each other with a kiss, and a woman and a man greeting with a kiss. Man to man is just shaking hands.
Asking "What did you say?"If Spanish is a foreign language for you, it is most likely you will be needing some kind of phrase to ask people to repeat what they say, whether you didn't hear or didn't understand. The polite in Spanish in Mexico is to ask with a simple word,
"¿Mande?" (almost sounds like Monday)
That's it. This word encapsulates, "What did you just say?" in a very polite Spanish way. Children who are native speakers of Spanish are consistently remineded to say: ¿Mande? and not ¿Qué? when they didn't hear something. Just saying ¿Qué? is not good manners in Spanish.
------------side note----------------
"Mande" comes from the Spanish verb mandar--to command or order. When a servant or soldier is called by a superior, he will answer: ¿Mande Usted? meaning: command me, order me.
"¿Mande?" is the polite way in Spanish to answer when anybody in authority calls. This can be a boss to a worker or parents to children.
--------------------------------------
"¿Mande?" has come through the years now as asking to repeat what was said and reflects well that you know how to be polite in Spanish.
Politeness phrases that require a responseSneezing
The first example in this group of polite phrases in Spanish is saying"¡salud!" This is said when somebody sneezes. The person who sneezed should politely respond with, "Gracias".
This little social exchange can be taken very seriously. One can be on a crowded bus and if you sneeze, several people may say "¡Salud!", not just the person next to you. It is correct for you to respond, with a "¡Gracias!" that is loud enough to be heard so that they know you acknowledged their "¡Salud!" Likewise, you will then be acknowledged in their minds a person who knows how to be polite in Spanish, since they were expecting to hear the "¡Gracias!"
On a lighter note, if a person is sneezing in succession, for the first sneeze, one will hear "¡Salud!" for the second, one might hear: "¡Dinero!", and for the third sneeze, one will hear "¡Amor!"
You can acknowledge again with, "gracias, gracias, gracias" too. With those three wishes of health, money and love, sometimes you will hear the person who sneezed comment about hoping to be lucky with love.
The terms above salud, dinero, amor though written with exclamation points, aren't necessarily shouted. Depending on the situation and the personality of the person saying it, the words may be spoken quietly or with much exuberance.
Please read through this short article in order to be prepared for our game on Wednesday!
Mucho gusto for nice to meet you.
When you shake hands,if the other person says "mucho gusto" (nice to meet you) first, it is acceptable to reply: "igualmente" (likewise) or "el gusto es mío" (the pleasure is mine). You are showing good manners in Spanish with these phrases. You can also use the response:
"encantado" (enchanted), if you're a man. "encantada" if you're a woman.
Often when a native speaker in Mexico extends his hand to greet you, other than just saying his name you may hear:
"Carlos Garcia Lorca, a sus ordenes."
or
"Jose Luis Santos Ruiz para servirle."
This is often said very quickly, especially when children introduce themselves. It can sound like a string of words until the end when you can just barely make out something about " ordenes" or "servirle". Those two phrases basically mean "at your service". Again these normal protocol phrases show that they are being polite in Spanish.
When the person says their two last names, the first is the father's last name, the second is the mother's. So Señor Garcia, and Señor Santos, is how you would address these men (from the previous examples) in a formal situation.
In an informal situation (and if they are older men) you might address them as Don Carlos or Don Jose Luis.
"Don" is a friendly term of respect used with older men. It is combined with the first name only, not the last name. "Doña" is used with women.
Coming from an informal culture such as the one of the United States, some of these phrases may see a little extravagant or too elegant. However, they are phrases that are typically accepted or expected in normal conversation. You will be considered polite in Spanish, not exaggerated.
While being introduced to people whether man or a woman, it is normal to extend your hand and shake theirs. Among those who are middle class and richer, it is also common to shake hands and to greet women with a quick kiss on the cheek. (just one cheek, one time). Just to be clear: it is women greeting each other with a kiss, and a woman and a man greeting with a kiss. Man to man is just shaking hands.
Asking "What did you say?"If Spanish is a foreign language for you, it is most likely you will be needing some kind of phrase to ask people to repeat what they say, whether you didn't hear or didn't understand. The polite in Spanish in Mexico is to ask with a simple word,
"¿Mande?" (almost sounds like Monday)
That's it. This word encapsulates, "What did you just say?" in a very polite Spanish way. Children who are native speakers of Spanish are consistently remineded to say: ¿Mande? and not ¿Qué? when they didn't hear something. Just saying ¿Qué? is not good manners in Spanish.
------------side note----------------
"Mande" comes from the Spanish verb mandar--to command or order. When a servant or soldier is called by a superior, he will answer: ¿Mande Usted? meaning: command me, order me.
"¿Mande?" is the polite way in Spanish to answer when anybody in authority calls. This can be a boss to a worker or parents to children.
--------------------------------------
"¿Mande?" has come through the years now as asking to repeat what was said and reflects well that you know how to be polite in Spanish.
Politeness phrases that require a responseSneezing
The first example in this group of polite phrases in Spanish is saying"¡salud!" This is said when somebody sneezes. The person who sneezed should politely respond with, "Gracias".
This little social exchange can be taken very seriously. One can be on a crowded bus and if you sneeze, several people may say "¡Salud!", not just the person next to you. It is correct for you to respond, with a "¡Gracias!" that is loud enough to be heard so that they know you acknowledged their "¡Salud!" Likewise, you will then be acknowledged in their minds a person who knows how to be polite in Spanish, since they were expecting to hear the "¡Gracias!"
On a lighter note, if a person is sneezing in succession, for the first sneeze, one will hear "¡Salud!" for the second, one might hear: "¡Dinero!", and for the third sneeze, one will hear "¡Amor!"
You can acknowledge again with, "gracias, gracias, gracias" too. With those three wishes of health, money and love, sometimes you will hear the person who sneezed comment about hoping to be lucky with love.
The terms above salud, dinero, amor though written with exclamation points, aren't necessarily shouted. Depending on the situation and the personality of the person saying it, the words may be spoken quietly or with much exuberance.