La fila en la farmacia
At nine, Elena walks into the pharmacy on Plaza del Salvador; the air conditioning fights the heat that slips in whenever the door opens.
What you'll learn
- Bilingual graded story
- Native narration
- 6 useful words
- 3 comprehension questions
Then shadow
Borrow the narrator’s rhythm
Pause after this line and repeat it aloud without translating. Aim for three clean repetitions.
1Listen first
Hear the whole story
Native Spanish narration of this exact text. Keep the transcript visible on the first pass.
Playback speed: Natural
2Then shadow
A las nueve, Elena entra en la farmacia de la Plaza del Salvador; el aire acondicionado pelea con el calor que entra cada vez que alguien abre la puerta de cristal.Your Spanish story
Tap highlighted words when you need help
A las nueve, Elena entra en la de la Plaza del Salvador; el aire acondicionado con el que entra cada vez que alguien abre la puerta de cristal. Coge el número 27 y mira la pantalla: de ella todavía hay seis , una señora que precios con calma infinita y un olor a mentol que llena el pasillo. Necesita un porque el de la ciudad le la garganta antes del viaje a Córdoba. Su madre, al , habla del domingo en el : « fruta, hija, que tu padre no compra nada». La mujer de delante y : «Mi nieta hace lo mismo; siempre y nunca llama». Elena baja un poco el , ríe con y explica que el calor le da en los oídos. «Beba más agua y no salga al sol del », la desconocida, mientras la avanza un paso. Cuando su turno, el spray, paga con el móvil y le dice a su madre: «Ya voy, mamá; guarda la para mí».
Show full English translation
At nine, Elena walks into the pharmacy on Plaza del Salvador; the air conditioning fights the heat that slips in whenever the door opens. She takes number 27 and watches the screen: six people still ahead of her, plus a woman comparing prices with endless calm. She needs a nasal spray because city dust dries her throat before the trip to Córdoba. Her mother, on speakerphone, talks about Sunday in the village: “Bring fruit, love—your father never buys anything.” The woman ahead smiles and says, “My granddaughter does the same—she always promises and never calls.” Elena lowers the volume a little, laughs in embarrassment, and explains that the heat gives her ear strain. “Drink more water and stay out of the midday sun,” the stranger advises, as the queue moves one step forward. When her turn comes, she asks for the spray, pays by phone, and tells her mother, “I’m on my way, Mum—save some shade for me.”
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
B1 Spanish Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Why does Elena need a nasal spray?
Correct: City dust dries her throat before her trip to Córdoba
The story says that city dust dries Elena's throat before her trip to Córdoba.
2. What is happening on Elena’s phone during the wait?
Correct: Her mother is on speaker discussing weekend plans
«Su madre, al altavoz, hablaba del domingo en el pueblo»—her mother on speakerphone talks about Sunday in the village.
3. What does the woman in line recommend?
Correct: Drinking more water and avoiding the sun at midday
The stranger says «beba más agua y no salga al sol del mediodía»—classic Andalusian practical advice during a heatwave.
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Mini-lesson complete
You understood 3 of 3 questions.
That is 182 real Spanish words read in context.
- ✓ 182 words read
- 6 new expressions
- 1 grammar pattern
- B1 level unlocked
- ○ Narration ready
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