Takeaway food
Comida para llevar
- Ask for a specific menu.
- Order take-away meals.
- "Acabar de", "empezar a", "volver a" + infinitive
Learn how to order takeaway food in Spanish using key expressions like "acabar de" (to have just), "empezar a" (to start to), and "volver a" (to do again). Practice ordering tapas such as "la tortilla de patata" and phrases for quick, natural conversations in local restaurants and taquerías.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
A2.24.2 Cultura
La tortilla de patata: ¿qué tiene de especial?
La tortilla de patata: what makes it special?
Vocabulary (20) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Estar lleno
To be full
2
La comida rápida
The fast food
3
La pasta
Pasta
4
Las patatas bravas
Bravas potatoes
5
La ración
The portion
Ejercicio 2: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- You want to order takeaway. What do you say? (You want to order takeaway. What do you say?)
- Do you cook yourself or do you often order takeaway? Why? (Do you cook yourself or do you often order takeaway? Why?)
- Do you like fastfood? And what about prepared meals? (Do you like fastfood? And what about prepared meals?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
¡Hola! Me gustaría pedir unas croquetas y también pasta con salsa de tomate, por favor. Hello! I would like to order some croquettes as well as some pasta with tomato sauce, please. |
|
¡Buenas noches! ¿Puedo pedir un Pad Thai, rollitos de primavera y arroz frito? Good evening! Can I please have a Pad Thai, Egg Rolls and Fried Rice? |
|
No me gusta cocinar. Por lo tanto, pido comida para llevar con bastante frecuencia. I don't like to cook. Therefore I order takeaway quite often. |
|
Es caro pedir comida para llevar todo el tiempo. Así que solo lo hago a veces. It is expensive ordering takeaway all the time. So I only do it sometimes. |
|
Prefiero cocinar yo mismo. Es más saludable y más barato. I prefer cooking myself. It is healthier and cheaper. |
|
No me gusta la comida rápida como las hamburguesas y las patatas fritas, pero me encanta la comida china. I don't like fastfood like burgers and fries but I do love chinese food. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Acabo de _____ una ración de gambas porque tengo hambre.
(I just _____ a portion of prawns because I am hungry.)2. Después de comer las tapas, empecé a _____ la tortilla de patata.
(After eating the tapas, I started to _____ the potato omelette.)3. Volví a _____ patatas bravas porque estaban deliciosas.
(I _____ patatas bravas again because they were delicious.)4. Cuando _____ tomar algo, el restaurante ya estaba cerrado.
(When I _____ to have something, the restaurant was already closed.)Exercise 5: A takeout dinner after work
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Querer - To want
Pretérito indefinido
- yo quise
- tú quisiste
- él/ella/usted quiso
- nosotros/nosotras quisimos
- vosotros/vosotras quisisteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes quisieron
Empezar - To start
Pretérito indefinido
- yo empecé
- tú empezaste
- él/ella/usted empezó
- nosotros/nosotras empezamos
- vosotros/vosotras empezasteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes empezaron
Pedir - To order
Pretérito indefinido
- yo pedí
- tú pediste
- él/ella/usted pidió
- nosotros/nosotras pedimos
- vosotros/vosotras pedisteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes pidieron
Probar - To try
Pretérito indefinido
- yo probé
- tú probaste
- él/ella/usted probó
- nosotros/nosotras probamos
- vosotros/vosotras probasteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes probaron
Volver - To return
Pretérito indefinido
- yo volví
- tú volviste
- él/ella/usted volvió
- nosotros/nosotras volvimos
- vosotros/vosotras volvisteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes volvieron
Estar - To be
Pretérito imperfecto
- yo estaba
- tú estabas
- él/ella/usted estaba
- nosotros/nosotras estábamos
- vosotros/vosotras estabais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes estaban
Exercise 6: "Acabar de", "empezar a" , "volver a" + infinitivo
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: "Acabar de", "empezar a", "volver a" + infinitive
Show translation Show answersempiezan a, acaban de, empecé a, vuelve a, acabamos de, acabas de
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A2.24.3 Gramática
"Acabar de", "empezar a" , "volver a" + infinitivo
"Acabar de", "empezar a", "volver a" + infinitive
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Pedir to ask Share Copied!
Pretérito indefinido
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) pedí | I asked |
| (tú) pediste | You asked |
| (él/ella) pidió | he/she asked |
| (nosotros/nosotras) pedimos | we asked |
| (vosotros/vosotras) pedisteis | you asked |
| (ellos/ellas) pidieron | they asked |
Querer to want Share Copied!
Pretérito indefinido
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) quise | I wanted |
| (tú) quisiste | You wanted |
| (él/ella) quiso | he/she wanted |
| (nosotros/nosotras) quisimos | we wanted |
| (vosotros/vosotras) quisisteis | You wanted |
| (ellos/ellas) quisieron | they wanted |
Probar to try Share Copied!
Pretérito indefinido
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) probé | I tried |
| (tú) probaste | You tried |
| (él/ella) probó | he/she tried |
| (nosotros/nosotras) probamos | we tried |
| (vosotros/vosotras) probasteis | You tried |
| (ellos/ellas) probaron | they tried |
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Lesson Overview: Takeaway Food in Spanish
This lesson focuses on practical Spanish vocabulary and expressions related to ordering takeaway food. It is designed for A2 level learners who want to improve their ability to communicate in everyday situations involving food orders, especially at local restaurants, tapas bars, and taquerías.
Key Grammar Structures
- Acabar de + infinitive: Used to express something that has just happened. Example: "Acabo de empezar a trabajar" (I just started working).
- Empezar a + infinitive: Indicates beginning an action.
- Volver a + infinitive: Means to do something again or repeat an action.
Practical Vocabulary and Phrases
- La tortilla de patata: A classic Spanish potato omelette, often featured in tapas menus.
- Common tapas items like croquetas, calamares, patatas bravas.
- Ordering food phrases such as "¿Qué menús para llevar tienen hoy?" (What takeaway menus do you have today?) and "Me llevo una ración de croquetas" (I'll take a portion of croquettes).
- Expressions for confirming orders: "¿Quieres algo más?" (Do you want anything else?)
Sample Dialogues
The lesson provides dialogues to practice realistic scenarios such as:
- Quick takeaway orders at a local restaurant.
- Ordering tapas to go and repeating favorite orders using volver a.
- Ordering specific menus at a taquería, confirming details with the staff.
Verb Usage and Conjugations
Focus is given to several verbs in the pretérito indefinido tense, crucial for narrating past events:
- Querer (quise) – wanted
- Empezar (empecé) – started
- Pedir (pedí, pidió) – asked for, ordered
- Probar (probé) – tasted, tried
- Volver (volví) – returned, did again
- Estar (estábamos) – was/were (imperfect tense)
Lesson Highlights
Key expressions essential for everyday takeaway situations include:
- Acabo de llegar a casa – I just got home
- Volveré a pedir aquí – I will order here again
- Empecé a probar – I started to try
Cultural Notes and Language Insights
Spanish takeaway culture frequently involves tapas and informal dining options, with local menus changing daily. Unlike English, Spanish commonly uses the periphrasis acabar de + infinitive to reference very recent past actions, a nuance useful for specifying timing. Phrases like "acabo de pedir" directly translate as "I have just ordered," whereas English would usually use the present perfect.
Vocabulary related to food items, such as "tortilla de patata" (potato omelette), doesn't have an exact English equivalent but is an essential gastronomic term in Spanish.
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