Spanish for English speakers Clothes · Lesson 1

What would you like?

Express preferences in Spanish with prefiero — No, prefiero una blusa (no, I'd rather a blouse) — to refuse politely and counter-offer.

Conversation

  1. Rose Rose

    ¿Busca una camiseta?

    Would you like a t-shirt?

    Tip: Literally, <busca> can mean "you look for/ you're looking for". It's a very common way to ask what you would like to buy.

  2. Yaya Yaya

    No, prefiero una blusa

    No, I'd rather a blouse

    Tip: <Prefiero> = I prefer <Prefieres> = You prefer

  3. Rose Rose

    Bien. ¿Y qué tipo de falda le gustaría?

    Great. And what kind of skirt would you like?

    Tip: <le gustaría>= you would like <tipo>= kind

  4. Yaya Yaya

    Una lo bastante formal, para la oficina

    A quite formal one, for the office

    Tip: <lo bastante> + adjetivo = Quite + adjective <bastante> literally means "enough"

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I prefer' in Spanish?

Prefiero + noun/infinitive: prefiero una blusa, prefiero comer en casa.

Camiseta vs blusa?

Camiseta = t-shirt (usually cotton, casual). Blusa = blouse (typically women's, dressier).

How do you politely decline in Spanish?

No, prefiero... or No, gracias, prefiero... — Spanish allows direct 'no' more than Japanese or Korean.

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