Here is the complete guide on how to talk about your family in Spanish. Make sure to read this post!
talk about your family in Spanish
Everyone has one of those families. And if you’re like most people, you probably have more than one.
It can be challenging to keep track of all the different relationships in your extended family, especially if everyone talks a different language and lives on a different continent.
Spanish is widely spoken in many Latin American countries and is an official language in several more. This makes it easy to find someone who speaks your family’s native tongue.
But that doesn’t make talking about them any easier! If you have a large family, getting the discussion going can be harder.
You’re probably used to making small talk at holiday gatherings with your cousins or exchanging pleasantries with your aunt while waiting in line at the post office.
You may not even understand what people are saying when they address you directly in Spanish, which could make it even harder for you to converse with other members of the extended family in their native language.
What to talk about at family get-togethers
When you get the chance to spend time with your extended family, try to make the most of it. Create an opportunity to speak Spanish with one of your aunts or cousins and make it happen.
Invite them to sit with you and your parents so you can all talk in their native language. This is also a good time to ask questions about their culture and traditions and learn more about your extended family’s relationships.
If you don’t have a chance to talk in Spanish with other members of your family, don’t worry. You can still create opportunities to practice your Spanish with them in other ways.
You can always speak to your relatives in Spanish when you see them and try to incorporate some basic phrases in everyday conversation.
Be welcoming
It can be frustrating when you meet someone who doesn’t speak the language, so be sure to be welcoming when you meet people in Spanish.
Be sure to say “Hola, como estas?,” (Hello, how are you?) and “Gracias,” (Thanks, usually translated as “Thanks”) when people meet you, and always try to be polite and respectful.
Talk about food
Food is a great way to start a conversation with people from other cultures. Ask them about their favorite foods, talk about your favorite foods, and try to incorporate some basic vocabulary related to food into everyday conversations.
Try to avoid making food-related puns, though, because those can be confusing to someone who doesn’t speak your native language.
If you’re having a conversation with a family member who speaks Spanish, try to incorporate some food concepts into the conversation.
Talk about traditions
Traditions are an important part of Spanish culture. Discussing these traditions with family members can help you, and they understand each other better while also providing some great opportunities to practice your Spanish.
Some traditions that can be great to start talking about with other extended family members include: – Celebrations: Talk about the holiday celebrations and traditions that are important to you in your culture.
Discuss the holidays and cultural celebrations important to your extended family members. – Food: Try to incorporate some basic vocabulary related to food into conversations when possible.
Discuss the foods that are important to your culture and how your culture prepares and consumes these foods. – Family: Try to incorporate some basic Spanish concepts, such as proper etiquette and how people address each other, into your conversations.
Stay on topic
Resist the urge to jump from subject to subject. It’s tempting to make small talk by talking about a few different things quickly, but it’s best to pick one topic and stick to it.
When conversing with someone who speaks another language, try to pick one topic and stick with it. If you want to switch topics, try to do so smoothly.
Pick a second topic quickly and then start talking about the first one again.
Wrap up the discussion!
When you’re done talking with Spanish family members, pick up on any final expressions or words you need help understanding. Remember to offer your thanks and say “Adios” (Goodbye) before you leave.
These simple things will help you retain what you’ve learned from your conversations and make your next encounter with them a little easier.
Summary
Learning a new language can be challenging, but You can learn a lot from interacting with people from other cultures. And Spanish is a great way to practice this. The key is to ensure you’re engaging with people who speak Spanish in a way that allows you to practice the language.
If you have a large family and don’t have anyone in your immediate close circle who speaks Spanish, don’t worry. You can still progress by interacting with people from other cultures in other ways, like reading or traveling.
Maintain a regular schedule of social activities that help you practice speaking Spanish with people from other cultures, and you’ll be on your way to fluency in no time!