Saturday 27 August 2011

The Language

Spanish is the main language spoken in Colombia.

Beginners
It is important for those who speak no Spanish to those who speak fluent Spanish brush of on the language. You don’t have to be fluent in Spanish to get around Barranquilla however it is polite to be able to say thank you to the locals in their own language. Beginners can take Spanish classes before they leave their country or they can take classes in Colombia.  The most legitimate place to learn Spanish in Colombia is at the Universidad del Norte, which is the top University in Atlantico.

Below is the direct link on the University website:

Contact information can be found at the bottom of the page and I have also included them below:
Sibila Maury
Phone: (57) (5) 3509509 or 4943-4157

Simple Phrases
Hello
Good Morning
Good Night
Hola
Buenos Días
Buenas Noches
Good bye
See You Later
See You Tomorrow
Chao/Adiós
Hasta Luego
Hasta Mañana
Yes
Si
No
No
Thank You/No Thank you
Gracias/ No Gracias
Please
Por Favor
How are you?
cómo estás?
I am good thank you and you?
Estoy bien, gracias, y tú?
Do you speak English?
Tu habla inglés?
I don’t speak Spanish
No habla español
Nice to meet you
Mucho gusto
What is you name?
Cómo te llamas?
My name is...
Me llamo...
Help!
Ayúdame!
I don’t understand
No entiendo
Can you speak slower please
Por favor puedes hablar más despacio
I don’t like...
No me gusta…
I want...
(Yo) Quiero..
Word used to call white people, is more towards Americans however anyone who is white will be called it
Gringo/a
For more phrases of food, drinks, transport, direction, time, places ect. visit: http://www.the-backpacking-site.com/countries/colombia-phrase.html

Fluent
Those who are fluent in their Spanish may be in for a bit of a shock entering Barranquilla. Barranquilleros speak much faster, use more slang and drop usually the ‘s’ of the ends of their words. Below is a link to a list of some of the slang you may come across:

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