False friends

You are probably familiar with the concept of false friends: words and expressions that are very similar to other words and expressions in a different language, but mean something completely different. In this new entry of our blog, we’ll take a look at some of the most common English – Spanish false friends, so you can be sure you don’t make any mistakes when you practice our language (although sometimes they may cause hilarious situations that can be excellent icebreakers!).

 

Actually – Actualmente

We’ll start with a classic: two very common words which are the adverb form of the same adjective (actual is spelled the same both in English and Spanish) but have a different meaning. In our language, actual means current, so actualmente means currently (e.g. Actualmente, muchos jóvenes usan Tik Tok). If you want to use actually in Spanish, the best translation would be en realidad: Mucha gente piensa que Sidney es la capital de Australia pero, en realidad, es Camberra.

 

To be embarrassed – Estar embarazada

If people look at you with a funny face when you declare “¡Estoy embarazado/a!” after you make a mistake, it’s because it doesn’t mean what you think it means. Embarazada is the Spanish word for pregnant (that’s why it’s almost always used in the feminine form), so now you know why those people are offering you a chair. The correct term in this case would be avergonzado/a. Both are used with the verb estar and not ser, because they refer to a state, not a personality trait.

 

Carpet – Carpeta

Both words refer to everyday objects, but they couldn’t be more different. A carpeta is not something you put on the floor to protect yourself from the cold, but a thing you can use to keep papers and documents: it’s a folder (which means we use this word a lot when we talk about computers).  So Aladdin didn’t travel around in a carpeta mágica; instead, he would use an alfombra mágica.

 

Bigot – Bigote

It is a well-known fact that many bigots have a bigote, but don’t let it confuse you! A bigote is a moustache (it can also be used in the plural form for whiskers), or the milk above your upper lip after you drink. We could translate bigot as intolerante or fanático/a; in Spain, we use facha a lot, which refers to the same kind of person, but it’s usually associated with Franco supporters.

 

Bomber – Bombero

If you see the bomberos’ telephone number associated with police and ambulances, don’t worry, we don’t (usually) solve our problems by bombing stuff: that’s how we call the firemen in Spanish (by the way, this year we’ve been proud to welcome the first bombera ever in Madrid). The word bomba does mean bomb, but also pump, hence the confusion. The people who use bombs are called bombarderos/as.

 

Vase – Vaso

These two objects are actually pretty similar, but we use them for different purposes: a vaso is something you put water or other liquids in to drink, so it’s a glass in English. The thing where you put flowers to decorate a room is called a jarrón or a florero. Fun fact: in Spain, when somebody drinks a lot of alcohol at some event, we say “¡Se bebió hasta el agua de los floreros!” (They drank even the water in the vases).

 

Rope – Ropa

Although sometimes people use ropa to tie stuff or other people up, they are not the same thing. Ropa is the Spanish word for clothes (remember: it’s a non-countable noun! You can’t say “dos ropas”, you should say instead “dos prendas” -garments). If you need someone to throw you a rope, you should ask for a cuerda or a soga.

 

Exit – Éxito

We know how tempting it is for English speakers to just add -o  to the end of a word to make it sound more Spanish, but if you are in the metro, or a museum, and you need to find the exit, look for a sign with the word salida on it (from the verb salir: to get out). Éxito means success, which sometimes is something difficult to find, too! And this leads us to our next example…

 

Success – Suceso

Well, you already know that success is éxito in Spanish, so what does suceso mean? It is the noun form of suceder, which means to happen (not to succeed! That would be tener éxito), so a suceso is an event, a happening. If you see this word as a section in the news, it is usually associated with crime and all kinds of misfortune.

 

And these are our English – Spanish false friends! We hope you find them useful, but remember: making mistakes is part of every learning process, and practice is absolutely necessary if you want to speak a new language. So don’t be afraid to engage in conversation whenever you can, and never feel embarrassed! 😉

 

5 day trips from Madrid

When you come to Madrid to learn Spanish in Cronopios, you will have plenty of time to do many other things. Today I want to talk about 5 day trips from Madrid, in Madrid, meaning you won´t even have to travel outside the region. Beautiful places that you can reach with public transport in around 45 minutes and are worth a visit. Just have in mind that there are much more options that you can explore once you are here.

5 day trips from madrid

 

Aranjuez

Home of one of the Royal Palaces of Spanish Monarchy, Aranjuez is a city in the southern end of the region of Madrid. The Royal Palace and Gardens were declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO more than twenty years ago. You may visit the whole site or just enjoy the Gardens, preferably on spring or during fall, take a stroll through the lovely parterre designed to please the royalty more than five hundred years ago. No one, except for the Royal Family members and their entourage, was allowed to enter the place until the 18th century.

There also museums, churches and the train station and of course good places to eat, like El Corral de la Abuela.

Arrival from Madrid: you can easy reach Aranjuez from Madrid, by train or bus. Trains to Aranjuez leave every 30 minutes from Atocha Station, right in the city center. And buses depart from Estación Sur. Ticket prices are around 5€ in both transports.

If you are looking for another kind of experience, take a look at el Tren de la Fresa, the Strawberry Train. This historical train takes you through the first railway built in Madrid, back in 1851, and is an immersive touristic and cultural experience.

San Lorenzo del Escorial

Located at the mountain side in the northwest of Madrid region, this small town grew beside the famous Royal Monastery of El Escorial, built at the end of 16th century. The Monastery is not only that but also a Library, a School, a Museum and a Royal Palace. Declared World Heritage in 1984. The full visit may take 5 hours, so you can spend the day there! My advice: if you visit the place in fall or winter, wear a thick coat. Inside is colder than outside.

The rest of the town is lovely, there are many hotels and hotels. There´s a coffee bar, the Cafetín Croche, famous for its classic decorative style. If you fancy something different, try to book a dinner at Montia, a small and gorgeous place that has a Michelin star but is affordable and simply fantastic.

You can get there by bus from Moncloa station, its almost an hour trip but very cheap (not even 5€). The train from Atocha takes a little bit more than an hour.

Chinchón

If you are tired of Royal sites, Chinchón’s Plaza Mayor is an example of popular architecture. The first houses with arcades and balconies were built in the 15th century, and it was completely closed in the 17th century. Chinchón is a small town in the southeast of the region, and also the name of a popular liquor in Spain and a card game that most Spanish families have played at some point, so enjoy the sound of this very Spanish word and its meanings.

US film director Wes Anderson, shot his last film in Chinchón. There are the remains of a Castle and a nice walk. Famous for its garlics, take some with you and practice Spanish cuisine at home!

If you like it so much as to spend the night, there´s a Parador there. This kind of establishments, both hotels and restaurants, are in historical and cultural cities and towns throughout Spain.

Alcalá de Henares

The third biggest city of Madrid region, after Madrid and Móstoles, is also a place that´s been inhabited for almost two thousand years. Located at the east of the region, its renown comes from being the place where Miguel de Cervantes was born and the headquarters of Alcalá University, founded in 1499. The city was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1998, it´s full of museums, buildings and monuments if you are interested in a cultural and historical visit. One of them is Miguel de Cervantes Birthplace Museum.

Stay for lunch in the Pollo de Alcalá, a place famous for the locals where you can enjoy a delicious and rather cheap roast chicken.

During the first days of October you may find the Cervantino market, which is a medieval market but also a local festivity that remembers Cervantes time, with parades, activities and much more.

You can get there by train from Atocha or by bus from Avenida de América.

Manzanares El Real

My last proposal is a small town in the northwest of the region. Not a World Heritage Site though it has its own castle, built in the 15th century and in a quite a good condition nowadays.

Manzanares El Real is in the side of the mountain, in Guadarrama Mountains, and the place you should start your route if you want to explore La Pedriza, a very famous part of the mountain for climbers and hikers.

Get there by bus from Plaza de Castilla.

Hope you enjoy this 5 day trips from Madrid city, I´ve chosen 5 places inside Madrid region but next time I can introduce you 5 more places outside the region worth the day visit. There´s no beach in Madrid, as they say, but there are plenty of places to go.

5 tips to learn Spanish in Madrid

Are you a student of Spanish language? Are you considering studying abroad for some time? Or are you already in Madrid and planning on learning some Spanish to improve your social life? In this article I want to give you 5 tips to learn Spanish in Madrid.

But first let me answer a question on my own: Why Madrid? You may find the reason here or here as well.

  1. Enroll in a course in one of the many Spanish schools. Come to Cronopios Idiomas, we are in a perfect spot between Museo del Prado and Parque del Retiro, in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood but also in walking distance of Barrio de las Huertas and Puerta del Sol. We offer you the chance to study a couple of hours in the morning every day, our school is full of international students, and we plan at least one free afterschool activity per week. Also, you can ask our Spanish teachers for firsthand recommendations for restaurants, places to go, activities and so on.
  2. Choose a homestay family. We have a network of homestay families that we´ve carefully selected for our students to live during their time in Madrid. All of them are lovely hosts with vast experience accommodating students and are situated mostly in the center of Madrid (there are a few of them in more residential areas should it be the interest of the student). Sharing your everyday routine with a Spanish family will help boost your language skills. Not only that but you will also learn plenty about the Spanish culture, taste authentic Spanish homemade meals and definitely make friends that are almost like family.
  3. Find the language exchange that suits you best. Madrid is a sparkling city bursting with activities, events and people, many people from every corner of Spain and the world. There are quite a few bars that host language exchanges, you may find one for each day of the week. Check out: the Beer Station, Thursdays at 22:00, Veinti7 bar Saturdays evening, Madreselva Cocktail bar for karaoke and language exchange… Or join an exchange language group like Meet and Speak in Café Echegaray.
  4. Discover Madrid´s Public Libraries and here as well. Each district in the city has its own Public Library. Libraries are much more than books, there are one of my favorite places in the city. In a Library there is space to rest, sit down and recover from the accelerated rhythm of the capital. The newspapers of the day, space to study or do your homework, obviously books, thousands of books, books to practice Spanish, books in different languages and digital books, movies… And events and activities, also for the youngest ones. Get your own library card and start enjoying one of the sadly few quality public services that are still around. Visit Eugenio Trías Library, situated in the old Casa de Fieras in the Retiro Park, or discover Ivan de Vargas Library in La Latina.
  5. Go out! Talk to people! Madrid, we say, is like a big town… The city doubled its population in just a few years during the sixties. People from every corner of the country came here to make a living and hope for a better life. As a result, and still today, madrileños are quite a chatty kind, people will talk to you in the bus stop, in the supermarket, in the doctor´s waiting room. About the weather, about the prices, they will answer your questions and ask you some in return. When I came here, more than twenty years ago, I was expecting the big city anonymous life, but I found that people were mostly the same as in the small town where I was born.

When you come to Madrid to learn Spanish, you may be tempted to choose a lodging in the center and I can see the appeal, I lived in Tirso de Molina for five years and it was wild… But also, eventually, tiresome. Madrid´s center is not so big, compared to other European cities, so if you stay in a house in the center you can walk to the pubs in Malasaña, Chueca, Lavapies, etc., and enjoy the night life without spending much time getting around.

5 tips to learn Spanish in Madrid

But if you choose to stay in one of the neighborhoods outside of M30, traditionally the boundary between the downtown and the rest of the city, you will not only save money, since the rent will probably be cheaper, even nowadays, but also you will find bakeries, butchers shops, fish market, parks, gyms, bars and plenty of places where they will call you by your name after some time and who knows, maybe find the person you were looking for!

So, I hope my 5 tips to learn Spanish in Madrid help you and you take advantage of the unique personality of the city: both the capital and Spanish biggest city and also, in its own way, just somewhat of an overgrown town with its ups and downs. The perfect place to learn Spanish.

Tips for the DELE exam

In the current article I would like to give you tips for the DELE exam in order to help you pass it. As Cronopios is a DELE Examination Center, we are used to guiding our students to succeed at the Spanish DELE Diploma.

Tips for the DELE exam

Find out your real Spanish language level (A1-C2)

If you are not sure about it, ask your teacher in order to prepare yourself effectively. Some learners overestimate their level and become frustrated while preparing it and during the exam.

By the way, if you are a teenager, remember that there are also two exams specifically for young learners between 11 and 17 years old.

Become familiar with the exam structure

As any official diploma the DELE exam has a special and fixed structure. It is divided into different parts, whose length depends on the level. Each test includes several tasks comprising four skills:

  • Reading comprehension
  • Written expression and interaction
  • Listening comprehension
  • Oral expression and interaction

Practice your reading comprehension

As for the reading comprehension, this part consists of several tasks (some DELE have four reading tasks while others five). Each task is different, since different kind of skills are evaluated. For example, you can find a reading comprehension task with gaps that must be filled with a given option (be it a noun, or verb tenses, or a connector…) On the contrary, other tasks evaluate one’s logic text comprehension (you need to put some given sentences in the proper part of a text).

Read carefully what you are asked to write about

In every DELE level students need to write two or three different kind of texts, e. g. an answer per email to an invitation, a formal complaint letter or an opinion article. Please follow the instructions you are given in your writing.

On the other hand, the first writing task in B2, C1 and C2 includes a listening comprehension, whose content must be partly reproduced in your written text.

Practise to listen different kinds of tasks

For this part of the DELE exam I recommend you to practice with a DELE preparation book at home. The different listening comprehension tasks are heard twice but this part might be the most difficult if you are not used to it.

And keep in mind that texts in B2, C1 or C2 levels are hold in different Spanish accents, from different Spanish regions or countries.

Control your nerves in the speaking tasks

Speaking in a foreign language is usually stressing for many of us, but at the DELE exam you are lucky as you are given some preparation time. So please take advantage of this time to prepare thoroughly the two first tasks of the oral exam. A good preparation (you can take notes and skim them while speaking) can help you talk with confidence and certainty.

A third speaking task is usually more casual and easy. Here examiners can evaluate how natural you can hold a conversation and negotiate some points with someone in Spanish.

Know the vocabulary for your DELE level

Make sure you know well the vocabulary you are expected to understand and master in the DELE level you have signed up for. For example, in DELE A2 you should know vocabulary about house, furniture, character and personality, body and health, etc. On the other hand, you must be able of speaking about climate change, society, technology changes and so on in higher levels (B2, C1 and C2).

Get a good DELE preparation book

Nowadays there are some excellent DELE preparation books that can help you prepare it very accurately and successfully.

Control your exam time

As every part of the DELE exam has a fixed time I recommend you to control how long each task takes you when practising it. Time management is extremely important in order to be able to finish the exam in the given time.

Be aware of the DELE exam materials

For the reading and listening comprehension you are given a answer sheet. These exam parts are closed-ended questions that must be answered in pencil.

For the writing part you are also given a piece of paper for every text. Your text must be written exactly inside of the provided space in pen.

As to the oral exam, you are given a blank piece of paper where you can take notes for you presentation and have it with you during this task.

Prepare the DELE exam with a teacher

I hope these tips for the DELE exam have clarified you some doubts and questions for a good preparation of it. Last but not least it is highly advisable to prepare it with a teacher who can guide you more efficiently. And of course, choosing a good examination school is always a guarantee for a smooth and confortable DELE experience.

Best TV Shows to Learn Spanish

From addictive telenovelas to unbelievable reality shows, Spanish speaking people are just good at conveying drama, comedy and day-to-day life through shows. To make studying Spanish easier, we have compiled a list of the best TV shows to learn Spanish. Get your favorite blanket, lay down on your couch and enjoy!

Best TV Shows to Learn SpanishAmaia is the main character of this funny and magical TV series where teenage daily life converges with folklore. At first, Amaia is bummed because her mom has decided to leave Barcelona and move to Salabarria, a fictional village in the region of Navarra, in the north of Spain, bringing Amaia with her. She has to adapt now to a new town, new people and worst of all: a new high school. While she is trying to face all these changes, rumors about her grandma being a witch start to spread. Amaia will uncover the truth about her ancestors, make new friends and even fall in love in this teenage comedy.

We recommend it starting from an A2 or basic level, and you will find it on Netflix. Remember to add subtitles if you find it a bit hard (but in Spanish, please!).

We do love a good passionate TV series, moreover if the story is set in the beautiful Colombian Coffee Triangle. Gaviota is a beautiful coffee picker. Sebastián, the son of Octavio, a wealthy landlord. Gaviota and her mom are planning to pick coffee beans for the last time in Octavio’s hacienda, since he has promised to provide them with an hectare of his land. However, their plans come to a standstill when Octavio tragically dies. In his funeral, Sebastián and Gaviota meet for the first time and it is love at first sight. Although attracted to each other in ways none of them can explain, their love is not meant to be due to their opposite upbringings. Drama will then unveil episode after episode, leaving you with the inescapable necessity of watching more. And anyway, how can we not recommend a show where literally everyone is astonishingly beautiful?

Ideal for people who have reached a B1 or intermediate level in Spanish. Do not forget that this series is Colombian so be ready to hear expressions from this specific variety of Spanish! You will find it on Netflix.

We bet you have heard about Cristiano Ronaldo. If you happen to live in a cave, or if football is not particularly your cup of tea, here is a quick bio: Cristiano Ronaldo is a worldwide known football player, five times winner of a Golden Ball and owner of a net worth of 500 million dollars according to Celebrity Net Worth. He has got the job, the fame and the money, and guess what? He also has the love of a Spanish lady called… yes, you guessed it well: Georgina.

In this reality show Georgina explains how she went from being an ordinary girl from Buenos Aires to a businesswoman, model and the romantic partner of Cristiano Ronaldo. Far from what you might think, Georgina will make you laugh and cry in this reality-drama that mixes luxury with the daily life of Georgina.

Recommended for speakers of A2 or more (although you will probably be amazed anyway by the daily use of their wealth without understanding a word). You will find it on Netflix.

We can assure you there is one thing happening after watching this show: you won’t be able to stop humming Aaaay Paquita, señora, niña bonita! Not only is it the main song of this TV series, but also a song performed by Rosalía long before she became the international star that she is now. The show, as the song, will live in your heart longer than you expect, considering that the series is nothing but a comedy mixed with emotional bits from the life of Paquita Salas. Paquita, a decaying manager of actors and actresses, fights for reviving the success of her business with the help of Magüi, her tender and sort of moony assistant and the few actresses that remain in her management company. Culturally embedded, Paquita Salas is perfect to approach the sense of humor of Spanish people, sometimes falling into the utter absurd, sometimes closer to tearing you up.

Taking into account the great amount of cultural references and the fluency and vocabulary used in the show, we think it would be more enjoyable for people with a C1 level in Spanish. If you are not an advanced speaker and wish to watch it anyway, don’t hesitate to press play! Subtitles are of great help and you will be able to dive into Spanish culture. You will find it on Netflix.

Learning Spanish should not mean spending hours and hours in front of a book. In fact, my students from Cronopios Idiomas and myself spent a bit of our classes recommending the Best TV Shows to Learn Spanish and discussing it. It can be fun, educational and it may let you share your opinions in Spanish. Do not hesitate and give it a go! And make sure you let us know your thoughts about these shows!

Basic vocabulary to go shopping in Spain

Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world. Every year, millions and millions of tourists travel here for many different reasons: the weather, the food, the culture… and shopping! Home of internationally well-known brands such as Zara, Bershka and Loewe, Spain also has, in general, lower prices in many products than other European countries, something that may be attractive for certain visitors who decide to spend some money in local stores before going back home. So, in case you are one of those people looking for a Lladró figurine, a pair of Manolos or a Real Madrid jersey, here is some basic vocabulary to go shopping in Spain:

Hola, quería/querría…

We begin with the most common structure to tell the salesperson what you are looking for. In Spanish, as in many other languages, the use of the present tense (quiero) is considered a bit too straightforward in this kind of situations. Instead, the use of pretérito imperfecto (quería) or condicional (querría) is advised. Feel free to use this formula to ask for anything, from a beer at a bar to a ticket for the museum.

 

Basic vocabulary to go shopping in Spain

 

¿Cuánto cuesta/cuestan…? or ¿Cuánto vale/valen…?

This is the question that allows you to ask what is probably the most important bit of information when you want to buy something: the price! (el precio). In Spanish we use both verbs, costar (irregular verb) and valer, indistinctly. Remember to use the singular form if you are asking about one item and the plural form if it’s more than one: ¿Cuánto cuesta/vale esta camiseta? ¿Cuanto cuestan/valen estos zapatos?

¿Puedo probármelo? ¿Dónde está el probador?

This is only used when you are shopping for clothes. Probarse (reflexive verb!) means to try something on, so with the first question you can ask for permission to do that. The second one will let you know where the fitting room (el probador) is.

¿Tiene una talla más/menos?

Also used for clothes. Although the general translation for size in Spanish is tamaño (if you are ordering a pizza you can say you want tamaño grande, for example), talla is the word you need if you are buying shoes, jeans or sweaters. ¿Tiene una talla más/menos? means Do you have a larger/smaller size? Oh, and remember that L (large), M (medium) and S (small) equate to G (grande), M (mediano/a) and P (pequeño/a) in Spanish!

¿Aceptan devoluciones? ¿Cuánto tiempo tengo para devolverlo?

Most Spanish shops will let you return you purchases if for some reason you are not satisfied with them. Some will give you back your money; others will offer a card that you can use to shop there. Anyway, it´s always a good idea to ask before you buy anything, just in case (and don’t forget to ask for how long returns are allowed, too).

¿Puede envolvérmelo para regalo?

If you are not shopping for yourself, but for your friends and family, you may want to get whatever it is wrapped. Most shops will do it for you, although others have a designated space for you to do it. Regalo is the Spanish word for gift, so you can also find it in the expression tarjeta regalo (gift card).

And here are some expressions you can hear from the salespeople at the store:

¿Le puedo ayudar?

This will probably be the first thing you hear when you enter a shop, the classic Can I help you? You can answer with Hola, quería… (as we have previously suggested on this basic vocabulary to go shopping in Spain) or with another classic: Gracias, solo estoy mirando (Thanks, I’m just taking a look).

¿En efectivo o con tarjeta?

Probably one of the most asked questions in shops all around the world, this is the Spanish version of Cash or card? After the pandemic in 2020, payment by card is encouraged almost everywhere; however, there are still a handful of places (especially mom-and-pop businesses) where card payments are not accepted, so be prepared for that eventuality!

¿Quiere bolsa?

In Spain, as in most countries, the use of plastic and paper bags has been dramatically reduced in the last few years due to ecologic and economic reasons. Therefore, you will normally be offered a bag but they will charge you 10-15 cents for it. Remember that it is always eco-friendlier to carry your own tote bag with you!

And that would be it for today! Shopping is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish, so even if English is usually spoken by most shop assistants, don’t be shy and try to use some of the expressions you have learnt here in our basic vocabulary to go shopping in Spain. People will appreciate your effort and they will help you and correct you if you need it. Happy bargain hunting!

The best weekend trips from Madrid

When you come to our school to learn Spanish, you come to Madrid, the capital of Spain. It´s the most populated city in the country and, as you probably already know, the sunniest capital of Europe. Madrid city has plenty of monuments and activities for everyone, you can visit the best museums in Spain or spend the night partying. But if you are planning to visit other places in Spain, being in Madrid is already an advantage to travel. That’s why on this occasion I´m going to write about the best weekend trips from Madrid.

Madrid is in the very center of the country and since it was stablished as capital, more than 500 years ago, it has been the principal node of the means of transport of Spain. The result is that nowadays the main roads and high-speed railways radiate from Madrid to the rest of the country, so travelling to almost anywhere of Spain from Madrid is quite easy, there are many options and ways to get both to the coast in every direction, and to the cities closer to Madrid. But before starting your trip, go to Puerta del Sol and take a picture of the Km. 0, the starting point of the 6 radial highways and the reference for the numeration of the streets in the capital: the first number of any given street in the city is the closest to this place, the Km. 0.

Now let´s go over the means of transport in Madrid.

If you are travelling by train, the main stations in Madrid are Atocha and Chamartin. You may get to both of them via metro, Atocha is in Line 1 and Chamartín in Line 10, or via city bus, check EMT website to know which buses are the best choice for you. Atocha and Chamartín are the origin or destination of many long and medium distance trains, as well as commuter service. Spanish high-speed rail, AVE by its initials in Spanish, the longest of its type in Europe and second longest in the world after China´s, can get you to many destinations in a very short time and with a varied range of prices, depending mainly on how much time in advance you buy your tickets and the season. Always check out for discounts, either for students or special promotions. By train some of the best weekend trips from Madrid are Barcelona or Seville in 2 and a half hours from 90€ (that´s the price for a Friday to Sunday trip, if you can travel during the week, is cheaper), or to Valencia in 1 hour 50 minutes from 55€. If you prefer the north, a ticket to Santiago de Compostela, with a 3 hour trip, can be as cheap as 60€. Or closer, get to Segovia in 20 minutes for 13€ or to Toledo in 30 minutes for 11€.

The best weekend trips from Madrid

A cheap option to travel is getting a bus. The main bus station for long distance buses is the Estación Sur, its metro station is called Mendez Álvaro in Line 6, however, it’s probably better to start checking out the websites of the main bus companies and they will refer you to the appropriate station once you get your ticket. Other bus stations are: Intercambiador of Avenida de América, Intercambiador of Moncloa, Príncipe Pío, all of them reachable via metro. (Intercambiador means that it’s a big station where you can change from/to metro, bus, or train).

A ticket to Barcelona is just 22€ and you can get a night bus and take advantage of your time, the trip by bus takes about 7:30 hours. One ticket to Granada in Andalusia, in a 5 hour trip, is 20€. If you want to go to Bilbao, there are buses that takes 4 hours to get there for 45€. Toledo or Segovia are one hour away from Madrid via bus and you can find tickets as cheap as 4,2€. These are just a few options of some of the best weekend trips from Madrid by bus.

Last but not least, Madrid Airport whose whole name is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, is the second largest airport in Europe, by size, and the sixth busiest airport. There are many flights to other capitals in Spain as well as many international destinations. You can get to the airport by metro, line 8, commuter train, bus, or taxi.

Visit the Canary Islands in a 2 hours and a half flight from 85€ or go to Ibiza in a little more than 1 hour for 150€, of course the prices may vary depending on the season and whether you buy your ticket with enough time in advance. If you schedule your trip in advance, you may get a return flight to Barcelona, for a weekend, for just 65€. With this many options, there´s no excuse to travel a bit when you are in Madrid. Choose a destination in line with your interests: Spain is not such a big country, which is a good thing when planning for a weekend trip, but we are proud to have a little bit of everything. Nature, culture, great food, even not so warm climate in the north, if that´s your preference… Pick a destination and enjoy your time here!

Our Spanish school in Madrid is ten years old

Teaching your language to people of different nationalities and cultures is an extremely rewarding profession. Working as a Spanish teacher in a school managed by teachers is a dream come true, our Spanish school in Madrid is ten years old.

Teachers and students enjoyed a fun and entertaining day to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the School.

Cronopios Idiomas is a cooperative business, which means that the cleaning staff, administrative staff and teachers are the owners of the company. Cronopios Idiomas is currently made up of eight women and five men.

The partners participate in the meetings and make important decisions collectively. Being a part of a cooperative business adds a special motivation: the company develops thanks to the ideas of the entire team.

We are very proud of what we have achieved thanks to the efforts of the entire team:

– Accredited centre by the Instituto Cervantes: This guarantees that our courses and our teachers meet quality standards in teaching Spanish as a foreign language.

– Official examination centre: We are a DELE official examination centre and all our teachers are trained as DELE examiners.

– In the heart of Madrid: Our school has been in two different locations before finding our current building perfectly located next to Retiro Park, Prado Museum and Atocha Station.

-A different Spanish School: five thousand students chose our school where we, the teachers, are 100% involved in our own company.

We are aware that we must continue to grow and we put all our energy, motivation and best work into it.

After two difficult years because of Covid-19, we are developing our expansion in areas such as teaching, facilities and branding.

We have a long future ahead! Thanks to our students for making our dream possible!

Vocabulary to travel by train & bus in Spain

Learning a foreign language abroad allows you to immerse yourself in an exciting new culture. One of the best ways to practice what you are taught during our intensive courses is traveling around Spain, a country with a varied landscape and a wide range of accents, traditions and worth seeing places to discover. However, dealing with everyday situations such as purchasing a bus ticket can be a bit of a struggle for some students. But don’t panic. With this post you’ll get the basic vocabulary to travel by train & bus in Spain and your life will be easier when getting around. Fasten your seatbelts!

Most popular means of transport

Public transport is a great alternative to driving in Spain, with metro networks, buses, and an impressive number of trains, within the city or even across the country.

Train (Tren)

Tickets can be bought in person at ticket windows (“ventanillas”) and vending machines (“puestos automáticos”) at the railway station (“estación de tren”) or can be purchased online at the official site of Renfe, the main railroad company (“compañía ferroviaria”), which operates most of the national trains. Here’s some of the essential vocabulary and expressions you will need to know before getting your tickets.

  • Excuse me, where’s the ticket office? – Disculpe, ¿dónde está la taquilla?
  • At what time does the next train to Barcelona leave? – ¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren a Barcelona?
  • A ticket to Sevilla, please. – Un billete para Sevilla, por favor.
  • A round-trip ticket, please – Un billete de ida y vuelta, por favor.
  • Aisle o window seat? – ¿Pasillo o ventanilla?
  • How long is the journey? – ¿Cuánto dura el trayecto?
  • This is a non-refundable ticket – Este billete no admite devoluciones.
  • You’ll have to change train at Ciudad Real. – Tiene que cambiar de tren en Ciudad Real.
  • How much is the first class/tourist class ticket to Madrid? – ¿Cuánto cuesta el billete preferente/turista a Madrid?
  • What platform does the train to Zaragoza depart from? – ¿De qué andén sale el tren a Zaragoza?
  • Is there any student discount? – ¿Hay algún descuento para estudiantes?
  • I’m going to pay in cash. – Voy a pagar en efectivo.
  • I’m going to pay with a credit card. – Voy a pagar con tarjeta de crédito.

Once you have your ticket, with your car (“coche”) and seat number (“número de asiento”), check the departures (“salidas”) information board (“panel informativo”) at the station and be careful with last minute PA systems announcements (“mensajes de megafonía”) regarding tracks (“vías”) and plattforms (“andenes”).

Basic vocabulary in Spain to travel by bus & train

Bus (Autobús)

Commuting by bus (“autobús, or guagua in Canary Islands”) can be a more economic option, although not as fast as the train. Furthermore, there are plenty of small towns and villages in Spain where this is the only way to get there. The bus network covers the entire country, with many routes (“rutas”), lines (“líneas”) and operators (“compañías de autobuses”). Look at this collection of basic phrases that may come in handy in your next trip in bus.

  • Does this bus go to downtown? – ¿Este autobús va al centro?
  • Does this bus stop at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium? – ¿Este autobús para en el estadio Santiago Barnabéu?
  • Where’s the bus station? – ¿Dónde está la terminal de autobuses?
  • How much is the ticket fare to Madrid? – ¿Cuánto vale un billete a Madrid?
  • What’s the next stop? – ¿Cuál es la próxima parada?
  • At which stop do I have to get off? – ¿En qué parada debo bajarme?
  • At which stop do I have to get off? – ¿En qué parada debo bajarme?
  • Where do I have to catch the bus? – ¿Dónde se coge el autobús?
  • May I drink alcohol or drink on board? – ¿Se puede beber alcohol o comer a bordo del autobús?
  • Your bigger luggage will be placed under the bus, in the storage areas. – El equipaje más voluminoso deberá ir en el maletero del autobús.
  • Does my ticket allow changes? – ¿Mi billete admite cambios?

Commuting in the city

The public transport system of the most populated areas offers a wide range of services. If you need to get to your accommodation (“alojamiento”) from the bus or the train station you can use the subway (“Metro”), the light railway (“Tren ligero”) or even the tramway (“Tranvía”), in cities such as Valencia.  In the subway, you may need to transfer (“hacer transbordo”) to different lines before arriving at your destination, but don’t worry, a single ticket (“billete sencillo”) on the Madrid or Barcelona Metro is very affordable (“asequible”), compared to other European big cities. Bear in mind that you need to have your ticket validated (“tienes que validar tu billete”) before boarding your train (“subir al vagón”), otherwise you could be fined (“ser multado”). So, you have already learned the basic vocabulary to travel by train & bus in Spain. Don’t think twice and pack your bags. If you come to our school in Madrid, we will provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your stay in Spain, and to travel throughout our beautiful country.

Spanish expressions to use in bars & restaurants

One of the aspects of the Spanish culture foreigners appreciate much is its gastronomy. For this reason we would like to offer you in this post some Spanish expressions to use in bars & restaurants.  After reading it, you are going to be ready to order something in a bar like a real Spaniard.

First of all you should know what are the most typical dishes in Spain. Although the variety is quite huge, we are going to introduce you here the ones you cannot miss in Madrid:

Tortilla: is a Spanish omelette, made of potatoes, eggs and onions, and cooked in olive oil.

Paella: is a rice dish originally from Valencia. It is a saffron-scented rice, cooked with rabbit, seefood and vegetables. And there are different versions for all tastes, even for vegetarians.

Ensaladilla rusa: the Spanish Russian salad is a very popular dish and it is cooked with potatoes, carrots, boiled eggs, cooked peas, tuna, and mayonnaise.

Patatas bravas: “spicy” potatoes, cut in chunks and fried in olive oil, are served with a special sauce (made of tomatoes, smoked Spanish paprika and flour).

Pimientos de Padrón: they are a variety of peppers from Galicia. The small, bright green peppers have a special flavour and are served fried.

Huevos revueltos: it is a dish of scrambled eggs mixed with other ingredients according to your taste (i. e. ham, onions, asparagus, shrimps, etc.)

Bocadillo de calamares: it is a very beloved dish in Madrid. It typically consists of a French baguette, stuffed with fresh and crunchy calamari rings.

When Spaniards eat out with friends, it’s quite common to order different dishes to share. The Spanish tapas, worldwide known nowadays, are small portions of food and are usually served with a drink as a appetiser. But you can also order several tapas as a main meal and of course, it has a very important social aspect: sharing different tapas with friends is a really nice gastronomic experience.

Our Spanish school offers a program of activities to practice Spanish outside of class hours so that our students can have fun, meet people and enjoy our wonderful gastronomy.

Spanish expressions to use in bars & restaurants

Regarding the kind of tapas, they are either just simple like queso manchego, jamón serrano or olives or a small portion of a dish: for example, meatballs or paella. In some Spanish regions and bars tapas are served for free when ordering a drink.

Along with tapas, you can find pinchos. Pinchos are quite similar to tapas but they are always served with bread. For example, a pincho de tortilla consists of a slice of white bread with a piece of tortilla. Pinchos are traditional in northern Spain.

But it could be that you would like to share bigger portions of food with somebody, and in that case the best options are raciones. You can order, for example, a ración de ensaladilla rusa or media ración (half portion).

Regarding drinks, Spaniards drink as much wine as beer. But if you look around in outdoor bars, what people drink the most with tapas is beer and we are sure, you probably too. There are different Spanish brands and kinds of beer for all tastes. The most popular beer brands in Madrid are Mahou and Estrella Galicia. But you should better know some Spanish expressions to use in bars & restaurants regarding beers. There are different measures. Caña is a small glass of beer (a little less than half a pint). A doble is double the size of the caña. A tercio is a 330 ml bottle. And then there is also botellín, a 200 cl/ml. bottle.

Tipping is welcomed in Spain, but it is a much less common practice than in other countries. When ordering just a drink, nobody leaves a tip. Some people leave simply the coins they are given as change if they have ordered food. On the other hand, at a more expensive and elegant restaurant, tipping is more common (about 5 percent of the total bill).

And here we can provide you with some useful Spanish expressions to use in bars & restaurants:

1. To order a beer: Quería una cerveza.

2. If you are a beer connoisseur, you can ask for different brands and advice: ¿Qué marcas de cerveza tienen?, ¿cuál me recomienda?

3. If a single person orders something to eat: Para comer quería una tapa de + name/ una ración de + name

4. If several people order together something to eat: Para comer queremos + food name / vamos a tomar varias tapas.

5. To ask the waiter what tapas they have, you can say: ¿Qué tapas tienen?

6. To ask for suggestion, you can say: ¿Qué me recomienda pedir?

7. If you are a group of people and want to order something more substantial to eat and get full, you can order several raciones: Nos gustaría pedir varias raciones.

8. To ask for the bill, you can use either La cuenta, por favor or ¿Cuánto le debo?