Lesson 2.1.7 · Conversación Cotidiana
🗣️ Everyday Conversation
The exact phrases you'll use in your first ten Colombian conversations — greetings, introductions, telling people about yourself and your family, and politely surviving when you don't catch every word.
Sub-lessons
Break this lesson into focused chunks. Each sub-lesson has its own Memory Lab — active recall, mnemonics, elaboration, interleaved review, and shadowing — scoped to just those words.
Greetings & Introductions
Colombians lean formal — default to 'usted' with new people. 'Mucho gusto' is the standard 'nice to meet you'; 'fue un placer conocerle' wraps things up warmly when you part ways.
Nice to meet you
It was a pleasure to meet you
My name is Chris
What is your name?
How are you?
I am fine / I am well
We are very well
I am a little sad
She's already better
Thank you
Thank you very much
Goodbye
The Colombian default sign-off.
You look amazing
When You Don't Understand
Don't fake it — Colombians are patient if you ask. 'Disculpe' opens any polite request. Asking someone to repeat or slow down is normal and welcomed.
Excuse me / Pardon me
Pardon me, do you speak English?
Sorry, I don't understand
I don't understand
No, I do not understand
Yes, I understand
Can you repeat that, please?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Do you understand English?
Do you understand Spanish?
I speak English
I speak Spanish
I speak a little Spanish
I am learning Spanish
Ok / alright
About Me
Where you're from, where you live, your age, your work, your status. Colombians ask all of these in the first five minutes — it's friendly, not nosy.
Where are you from?
I am from the United States
Where do you live?
I live in Nashville
How old are you?
I am 54 years old
What do you do for work?
I am a student
I am married
Woman: 'soy casada.'
I am single
Woman: 'soy soltera.'
I rested well
In the morning
Family
Family is the universal Colombian icebreaker. Expect questions about siblings, kids, and parents — and ask back.
Do you have family?
Yes, I have family
Do you have siblings?
Yes, I have two siblings
How many children do you have?
I have two children
Yes, I have children
I don't have children
Talking About Your Best Friend
A complete mini-conversation about a person you love — name, age, looks, personality, and what they like to do.
What is your best friend's name?
My best friend is named Cathe
How old is your best friend?
My best friend is 34 years old
What is your best friend like?
My best friend is kind and loving, with a wonderful sense of humor
What does your best friend look like?
My best friend is petite and beautiful, with dark black hair
What does your best friend like to do?
My best friend likes to sleep a lot
Hobbies, Food & Free Time
Talk about what you love to do, how often you do it, and what's on your plate.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Do you like cooking?
Yes, I like to cook
How often do you cook?
I cook every day
I cook once a week
Do you like watching movies?
Yes, I like watching movies
I like to read
I don't like to dance
What sports do you like?
What do you like to eat?
I like to eat spicy food
I eat spicy food every day
I do not like to eat vegetables
How often do you eat your favorite food?
Memory lab
Five research-backed techniques — active recall, mnemonics, elaboration, interleaving, and production — applied to this lesson's vocabulary. Your progress trains a spaced-repetition schedule under the hood.
Force the answer from memory before peeking. The struggle is the workout — that's the testing effect.
Recall from English
Pardon me, do you speak English?
Practice exercises
Test what stuck. Multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank — pulled live from this lesson's vocabulary.
Cocino todos los días
What do you do for work?
What does your best friend look like?
¿Cómo es tu mejor amiga?
Soy soltero
I speak Spanish
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