Una llamada a mamá
After work, Marcos calls home for two minutes—and still learns three useful everyday phrases.
Today's learning
- 1-minute story
- Native narration
- 8 useful words
- 3 comprehension questions
- A1 Spanish
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Review these key words and phrasing examples before you begin reading.
Your Spanish story — tap highlighted words when you need help
Marcos sale del metro, agotado, y el aire fresco le da un poco de energía. Antes de cenar, marca el número de su mamá. Ella contesta rápido porque la olla en la cocina tiene agua . " ¿Ya cenaste, hijo?" pregunta con cariño. Marcos responde que no, que necesita dormir una hora antes de cocinar algo. Su madre le recuerda cerca del balcón y cerrar bien la puerta del . "Ábreme la ventana antes de llamar", dice ella, al final de la llamada. Marcos sonríe porque la conversación es corta, clara y llena del vocabulario que realmente necesita usar.
Show full English translation
Marcos steps out of the subway, exhausted, and the fresh air gives him a bit of energy. Before dinner, he dials his mom’s number. She answers quickly because the pot in the kitchen has water boiling. “Have you already had dinner, son?” she asks warmly. “Have you already had dinner, son?” she asks warmly. Marcos replies no, that he needs to sleep for an hour before cooking something. Marcos replies no, that he needs to sleep for an hour before cooking something. Marcos replies no, that he needs to sleep for an hour before cooking something. His mother reminds him to hang his coat near the balcony and to close the refrigerator door tightly. “Open the window for me before you call,” she says, joking at the end of the call. Marcos smiles because the conversation is short, clear, and full of everyday vocabulary he really needs.
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
A1 Spanish Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. What does Marcos do when he comes out of the subway?
Correct: Dials his mom's number
Marcos calls his mom right after leaving the subway.
2. What does his mother remind him about home?
Correct: To hang up his coat and close the fridge properly
Marcos's mother gives him practical advice for keeping the home.
3. Why does Marcos smile at the end?
Correct: Because the call was funny but useful
Marcos appreciates the brief but useful call with his mother.
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Patterns to reuse
Saying you need to do something
necesita dormir una hora
he needs to sleep for an hour
In Spanish, the verb often comes right before what you need.
necesitar + [infinitive]
- necesito comer
- necesitas descansar
- necesitamos hablar
Use 'necesitar' plus an infinitive verb to say you or someone needs to do something.
Giving gentle reminders
le recuerda colgar el abrigo... y cerrar bien la puerta
reminds him to hang his coat... and to close the door tightly
Spanish uses the verb right before what should be done.
recordar + [infinitive/thing to do]
- te recuerdo comprar pan
- le recuerdo lavar los platos
- nos recuerda apagar la luz
'Recordar' plus an infinitive is a common way to remind someone of an action in Spanish.
Asking if someone has already done something
¿Ya cenaste, hijo?
Have you already had dinner, son?
'Ya' means 'already' or 'yet' when asking questions.
¿Ya + [verb in past]...?
- ¿Ya saliste?
- ¿Ya llamaste a papá?
- ¿Ya terminaste?
'Ya' is used to check if an action has already happened.
Making casual requests with friendly verbs
Ábreme la ventana
Open the window for me
The 'me' on the verb is for 'for me'.
[command verb]+me
- Tráeme agua
- Pásame la sal
- Llámame luego
Adding 'me' to a verb asks someone to do it for you in a casual way.
Translator's Note
"After work, Marcos calls home for two minutes—and still learns three useful everyday phrases. The English renders idiomatic meaning line by line so you can shadow the A1 family call scene without word-for-word stiffness."
Story complete
You just understood 104 Spanish words.
- 8 new expressions
- 2 grammar patterns
- A1 level unlocked
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