Day 35 of 135

Day 35: What Her Will Really Says

In San Luis Potosí, Adriana (A) goes through the notary's draft of a will with her mother-in-law, Doña Cleotilde (B), the mother of Adriana's husband Fernando and of Imelda.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Spanish word to see what it means.
  3. Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Spanish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.

Dialogue

Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning

  1. A

    Leído el borrador, suegra, nomás me queda una duda: ¿qué le pidió exactamente al notario?

    Having read the draft, I only have one question left: what exactly did you ask the notary for?

  2. B

    Lo de siempre, mija: la casa de San Miguelito, para mis nietos, y que muerta yo no haya pleitos.

    The usual, honey: the house in San Miguelito for my grandchildren, and no squabbles once I'm dead and gone.

  3. A

    Con todo respeto, aquí dice otra cosa: “Instituyo como único y universal heredero a mi hijo Fernando”.

    With all due respect, it says something else here: “I appoint as sole and universal heir my son Fernando.”

  4. B

    Pues es lo mismo, ¿no? Fernando es el papá de los niños y ya sabe lo que quiero.

    Well, it's the same thing, isn't it? Fernando is the children's father and knows what I want.

  5. A

    De los míos, sí, pero el hecho de que diga “mi hijo Fernando” deja fuera a los de Imelda.

    Of mine, yes, but the fact that it says “my son Fernando” leaves out Imelda's.

  6. B

    ¡Válgame Dios! Pero Fernando es muy derecho: él les daría su parte a sus sobrinos, ¿o no?

    Good Lord! But Fernando is as honest as they come: he'd give his nephews and nieces their share, wouldn't he?

  7. A

    Yo metería las manos al fuego por él, suegra, pero un juez no lee buenas intenciones: lee cláusulas.

    I'd stake my life on him, but a judge doesn't read good intentions: a judge reads clauses.

  8. B

    Tienes razón. Háblale al licenciado: que la casa quede como legado para los seis nietos, por partes iguales.

    You're right. Call the notary: the house is to be left as a bequest to all six grandchildren, in equal shares.

  9. A

    Ahorita le marco. Eso sí, corregida la cláusula, la que le da la noticia a Fernando es usted, ¿eh?

    I'll call him right now. One thing, though: once the clause is corrected, you're the one breaking the news to Fernando, all right?

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