Day 158 of 185

Day 158: Twenty Pesos a Morning for Tamales

In Tlaxcala, Liam (A), a young boy who helps his grandmother Felipa (B) at her tamale stand every morning before school, has something to discuss with her; in this family the grandchildren say usted to their grandparents.

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

    Abuelita, llevo un mes madrugando para ayudarle en el puesto. Por lo tanto, quiero un sueldo.

    Grandma, I've been getting up early to help you at the stall for a month now. Therefore, I want a wage.

  2. B

    ¿Un sueldo? A ver, señor licenciado, ¿y de cuánto estamos hablando?

    A wage? Well now, Mr. Lawyer, and how much are we talking about?

  3. A

    Veinte pesos por mañana, es decir, cien a la semana. De hecho, le salgo más barato que un ayudante.

    Twenty pesos a morning, that is, a hundred a week. In fact, I come cheaper than a hired helper.

  4. B

    Muy bien argumentado. Pero hay una razón por la cual solo te puedo pagar en tamales.

    Very well argued. But there's a reason why I can only pay you in tamales.

  5. A

    ¿Ah, sí? ¿Y cuál es esa razón, si se puede saber?

    Oh, really? And what might that reason be, if I may ask?

  6. B

    Pues que la ganancia de este puesto se va en tus útiles, tus zapatos y tu uniforme.

    Well, the profit from this stall goes to your school supplies, your shoes and your uniform.

  7. A

    Entonces retiro lo del sueldo. Sin embargo, el tamal de rajas sí se lo cobro, ¿eh?

    Then I take back the part about the wage. However, I'm still charging you for a chili-and-cheese tamale, OK?

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