Say it in Spanish

Spanish is pretty easy and pretty much a "what you see is what you say" language. Two rules are 1) get the sounds of the vowels down and you've got it made and 2) say every syllable that you see.
There are five vowels and each one has only one sound - not like English where there are long vowels and short vowels.

Spanish a: English short "a" father
Spanish e: English short "e" there
Spanish i: English long "e" bee, seem
Spanish o: English short "o" off, loss
Spanish u: English "oo" boo, moon

A cute rhyming verse to help you learn the vowels is "a, e, i, o, u, el burro sabe mas que tu" which means, "a, e, i, o, u the mule knows more than you" (not very complementary but very functional sound wise!) In the works burro and sabe, remember to break the words down and say every syllable bu-rro, sa-be, etc.

HOTEL CHECKING IN:

• I want to (to see) a room Quiero (ver) un cuarto
- for two persons / para dos personas
- with (without) bath / con (sin) baño
- with AC / con aire acondicionado
- with a sea view / con vista al mar
- We are leaving tomorrow / Partimos manaña
• Do you accept / Acepta usted
- credit cards / tarjetas de crédito
- traveler's checks / cheques de viajero
• Do you have a / Tienen
- a restaurant / restaurante?
- car rental / rentadora de autos?
- laundry service / lavandería?
- Internet / Internet?
- wireless / inalámbrica?
- swimming pool / piscina?
- Is there one close by? / Hay alguna cerca?

MENUS:

• Breakfast / Desayuno
• Eggs / Huevos
- soft boiled / tibios
- scrambled / revueltos
- hard boiled / duros
- fried / fritos
- Motuleños (see Yucatan cuisine)
- w/ tomato, onion / a la Mexicana
- w/bacon / con tocino
- w/spicy sausage / con longaniza
- w/cheese / con queso
- w/mushrooms / con champiñones
• French toast / Tostadas franceses
• Fruit plate / Plato de frutas
• Yoghurt / Yogurt
• Toasted French bread covered w/refried beans au gratin / Molletes
• Toast / Pan tostado
• Sweet rolls / Pan dulce
• Butter / Mantequilla
• Honey / Miel

• Lunch & Dinner / Almuerzo y Cena
• Appetizers / Antojitos
• Broth / Caldo
• Soup / Sopa
- garlic / de ajo
- lentils / de lentejas
- rice pilaf (not soup) / de arroz
- lime (Yucatecan speciality) / de lima
- chicken broth w/rice, avocado, tortilla chips, chili guajillo / caldo Tlapeño

• Fish / Pescado
• Meat / Carne
• Chicken / Pollo

SEAFOOD

Crab - Jaiba
Clams - Almejas
Conch - Caracol
Lobster - Langosta
Snails - Chivitas
Shrimp - Camarón
Oysters - Ostiones
Squid - Calamar
Octopus - Pulpo

FISH

Grouper - Mero
Red Snapper - Huachinango
Snapper - Pargo
Snook - Robalo
Medregal - Esmedregal
Mackerel - Sierra
Yellow Jack - Jurel
Dolphin (like Mahi Mahi) - Dorado
Corbina - Corvina
Perch - Mojarra
Hog Fish - Boquinete
Pampano - Pampano
Jewfish - Cherna
Tuna - Atún
Amber Jack - Coronado
Wahoo - Petro
Tarpon - Sábalo
Baby Shark - Cazón
Shark - Tiburón
Yellowtail - Rubia

COOKING STYLES

Ceviche - Fish marinated in lime juice with tomatoes, onions and chilis
Fried Fish - Pescado Frito
Fillets - Filete
Breaded - Empanizado
In garlic - Al mojo de ajo
Smothered in onion, tomato and bell pepper - A la Veracruzana
In a white cream sauce - A la Crema
Stuffed - Relleno

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