Day 82: World Cup Sticker Trades With Interest
On the playground of an elementary school in Chihuahua, in the spring of 2026, Jacobo (A) and his classmate Martina (B) trade stickers for their World Cup albums.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- 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.
- 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
-
A
¿Cuántas repetidas traes? Ocupo como cuarenta para llenar el álbum, y mi mamá ya no me quiere comprar sobres.
How many doubles do you have? I need about forty to fill the album, and my mom won't buy me any more packs.
-
B
Traigo un montón, pero ya no las cambio: las presto. Te doy diez hoy, y el viernes me devuelves doce.
I've got tons, but I don't trade them anymore: I lend them. I'll give you ten today, and on Friday you give me back twelve.
-
A
¿Doce por diez? ¡Qué gandalla, eso es cobrar réditos! Pareces agiotista, no compañera del salón.
Twelve for ten? What a rip-off, that's charging interest! You're like a loan shark, not a classmate.
-
B
Has de reconocer que te conviene: mi papá dice que las tarjetas cobran muchísimo más. ¿Quién más te va a prestar?
You have to admit it's a good deal for you: my dad says credit cards charge way more. Who else is going to lend you any?
-
A
Va, pero por escrito, como los contratos de verdad, con letra chiquita. Si no, luego dices que te debo el doble.
OK, but in writing, like real contracts, with small print. Otherwise you'll say later that I owe you double.
-
B
A ver, escribo: “Sea cual fuere el pretexto, el deudor ha de devolver doce estampas el viernes. Quien no pagare, pagará quince”.
OK, I'm writing: “Whatever the excuse may be, the debtor shall return twelve stickers on Friday. Whosoever fails to pay shall pay fifteen.”
-
A
¿“Pagare” o “pagaré”? Porque un pagaré es lo que firmó mi papá por el carro, y todavía no acaba.
“Pagare” or “pagaré”? Because a pagaré is the IOU my dad signed for the car, and he still hasn't finished paying it.
-
B
Sin acento, así viene en las leyes. El pagaré va aparte: lo firmas abajito, con tu número de lista.
No accent, that's how it's written in laws. The IOU is separate: you sign it just underneath, with your number on the class list.
-
A
Firmo, pero con cláusula dos: la brillante del escudo de México vale por cinco, y esa me salió repetida.
I'll sign, but with clause two: the shiny Mexico crest counts as five, and I've got that one twice.
-
B
¿Tienes la brillante repetida? ¡Te la compro! Te regalo las diez, te perdono los intereses y te doy otras tres.
You've got the shiny one twice? I'll buy it! You can keep the ten, I'll forgive the interest and I'll give you another three.
-
A
Trato hecho. Oye, está bien curado: ¿ahora quién le debe a quién? Siento que alguien salió ganando, pero no sé quién.
Deal. Hey, this is hilarious: so who owes who now? I feel like somebody came out on top, but I don't know who.
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 83: A Clean Double-Meaning Wedding Toast
If this free course has helped you in your Spanish journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.