Day 60 of 135

Day 60: The Landlord Heard "Chafa"

In an apartment in the Narvarte, Mexico City, Mariela (A) and her roommate Pamela (B) face their landlord, Don Genaro (C), who has shown up upset because a voice note Mariela meant for Pamela, calling his new water heater “chafa” (shoddy), reached him instead.

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

    Pamela, auxilio: el audio del calentador le llegĂł a don Genaro, no a ti. Y ya viene subiendo.

    Pamela, help: the voice note about the water heater went to Don Genaro, not to you. And he's on his way up.

  2. B

    ÂżEl audio donde le dices chafa a su calentador nuevo? Ábrele tĂș, amiga, que yo ahorita no existo.

    The one where you call his new water heater shoddy? You get the door, my friend, because right now I don't exist.

  3. C

    Buenas tardes, señoritas. Vengo por lo del calentador “bien chafa”, cuya garantĂ­a, por cierto, traigo en la mano.

    Good afternoon, ladies. I've come about the “really shoddy” water heater, whose warranty, incidentally, I've got in my hand.

  4. A

    Qué pena con usted, don Genaro. Lo dije de coraje, después de tres días de agua helada, lo cual no me justifica.

    I'm so embarrassed, Don Genaro. I said it out of anger after three days of freezing water, which is no excuse.

  5. C

    Y al final dice “quĂ© oso”. Treinta años rentando departamentos en la Narvarte, y nunca me habĂ­an dicho oso.

    And at the end it says “quĂ© oso.” Thirty years renting out apartments in the Narvarte, and nobody has ever called me a bear.

  6. B

    No, don Genaro: “quĂ© oso” es “quĂ© vergĂŒenza”. Y el oso, perdone que se lo diga, lo estĂĄ haciendo ella.

    No, Don Genaro: “quĂ© oso” means “how embarrassing.” And, if you'll pardon my saying so, the one making a fool of herself is her.

  7. C

    Pues el contrato es muy claro: quien dañare el equipo, o lo difamare por WhatsApp, pagarå la reparación.

    Well, the contract is very clear: whosoever shall damage the equipment, or defame it on WhatsApp, shall pay for the repair.

  8. B

    Nadie le moviĂł nada: no hace ni chispa. ÂżNo le echa un ojo, ya que estĂĄ aquĂ­?

    Nobody has touched anything: it doesn't even spark. Would you take a look at it, since you're here?

  9. C

    A ver... Ahí estå lo chafa: las pilas, puestas al revés. Las puso mi plomero, y eso no sale de aquí.

    Let's see... There's the shoddy part: the batteries, put in backwards. My plumber put them in, and that doesn't leave this room.

  10. A

    Entonces el audio era para su plomero, don Genaro. Pero la disculpa sĂ­ es para usted, y va en serio.

    So that voice note was meant for your plumber, Don Genaro. But the apology really is for you, and I mean it.

  11. C

    Aceptada, con una cláusula: quien volviere a decir “chafa” aquí pondrá las pilas. Y ustedes, pónganse las pilas con los audios.

    Accepted, with one clause: whosoever shall say “shoddy” here again shall supply the batteries. And you two, get your act together with those voice notes.

Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 61: A Separation Agreement for Roommates 

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