La Cena
Tonight, the Rodríguez family prepares a special dinner. The grandmother makes her famous paella. The grandfather sets the table with white plates and crystal glasses.
Today's learning
- 1-minute story
- Native narration
- 9 useful words
- 5 comprehension questions
- A1 Spanish
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Your Spanish story — tap highlighted words when you need help
1 min readEsta noche, la familia Rodríguez prepara una especial. La cocina su famosa paella, llena de mariscos frescos. El abuelo arregla la con platos blancos y vasos de cristal. Los niños ayudan a lavar las verduras, riendo y salpicando agua. " La paella necesita más azafrán," comenta la abuela con una sonrisa. El a azafrán y mariscos llena la cocina. Toda la familia se sienta a la mesa, ansiosa por comer. " Gracias por esta deliciosa comida, abuela," dice el padre con gratitud. Todos disfrutan y hablan sobre su día lleno de aventuras. Los niños historias emocionantes del colegio. La abuela sonríe, escuchando con atención. Esta es su parte favorita del día: la familia , feliz.
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Esta noche, la familia Rodríguez prepara una cena especial. La abuela cocina su famosa paella, llena de mariscos frescos.Pause after this line and repeat it aloud without translating. Aim for three clean repetitions.
Show full English translation
Tonight, the Rodríguez family is preparing a special dinner. Grandmother cooks her famous paella, brimming with fresh seafood. Grandfather arranges the table with white plates and crystal glasses. The children help wash the vegetables, laughing and splashing water. " The paella needs more saffron," grandmother remarks with a smile. The scent of saffron and seafood fills the kitchen. The whole family sits at the table, eager to eat. " Thank you for this delicious meal, grandmother," the father says gratefully. Everyone enjoys and talks about their day full of adventures. The children share exciting stories from school. Grandmother smiles, listening attentively. This is her favorite part of the day: the family together, happy.
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
A1 Spanish Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. What does the grandmother prepare for dinner?
Correct: Paella
The grandmother prepares her famous paella, a traditional Spanish dish.
2. What do the children do while helping in the kitchen?
Correct: Wash the vegetables
The children help wash the vegetables, laughing and splashing water.
3. What does the father say to the grandmother during dinner?
Correct: Thanks for this delicious meal
The father thanks the grandmother for the delicious meal.
4. Which ingredient does the grandmother say the paella needs more of?
Correct: Saffron
Saffron is a key ingredient in paella, giving it its distinctive color.
5. How does the grandmother feel at the end of the day?
Correct: Happy
The grandmother feels happy seeing her family together enjoying dinner.
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Patterns to reuse
Saying what's happening tonight
Esta noche, la familia Rodríguez prepara una cena especial.
Tonight, the Rodríguez family is preparing a special dinner.
In Spanish, 'esta noche' (tonight) can start a sentence to talk about plans.
Esta noche, [person] [verb] [activity].
- Esta noche, cenamos juntos.
- Esta noche, Marta cocina.
- Esta noche, veo una película.
Use 'esta noche' at the beginning of a sentence to say what will happen tonight.
Expressing what someone is doing (present tense)
El abuelo arregla la mesa con platos blancos y vasos de cristal.
Grandfather arranges the table with white plates and crystal glasses.
The present tense is used to describe actions happening now.
[Person] [verb in present tense] [object or activity].
- La abuela cocina paella.
- Los niños ayudan a lavar las verduras.
- Todos disfrutan y hablan.
Just use the correct present tense form of the verb for each person to say what they are doing.
Giving thanks for something
Gracias por esta deliciosa comida, abuela.
Thank you for this delicious meal, grandmother.
'Gracias por' is used to thank someone for something specific.
Gracias por [thing or action], [person].
- Gracias por tu ayuda, mamá.
- Gracias por la cena, papá.
- Gracias por escucharme, amigo.
Say 'gracias por' plus the thing or action, then the person’s name or title, to show gratitude.
Describing who sits together
Toda la familia se sienta a la mesa, ansiosa por comer.
The whole family sits at the table, eager to eat.
Use 'se sienta(n) a la mesa' to talk about sitting down to eat as a group.
[Group/person] se sienta(n) a la mesa.
- Mi familia se sienta a la mesa.
- Los amigos se sientan a la mesa.
- Ella se sienta a la mesa.
You can use 'se sienta(n) a la mesa' to describe who is sitting at the table.
Translator's Note
"This story captures the warmth of a family dinner, focusing on simple yet vivid descriptions to engage beginner learners."
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