Whether you want to take up Spanish from scratch or brush up on your existing skills, this practical, easy-to-follow guide is for you! Inside you'll find helpful lessons, cultural facts, handy references and much more, including a Spanish-English mini-dictionary and common verb lists. Learn how to use your skills in a variety of everyday contexts, and discover common expressions, important holidays and phrases that'll make you sound fluent.Spanish For Dummies is your one-way ticket to speaking mainland Spanish with confidence.

Spanish For Dummies includes:

Part I: Getting StartedChapter 1: You Already Know a Little SpanishChapter 2: The Nitty Gritty: Basic Spanish Grammar

Part II: Spanish in ActionChapter 3: Hola! Hello! Greetings and IntroductionsChapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small TalkChapter 5: Dining Out and Going to MarketChapter 6: Shopping Made EasyChapter 7: Going Out on the TownChapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: RecreationChapter 9: Talking on the PhoneChapter 10: At the Office and Around the House

Part III: Spanish on the GoChapter 11: Money, Money, MoneyChapter 12: Dónde Está? (Where Is It?): Asking DirectionsChapter 13: Checking into a HotelChapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and MoreChapter 15: Planning a TripChapter 16: Help! Handling Emergencies

Part IV: The Part of TensChapter 17: Ten Ways to Speak Spanish QuicklyChapter 18: Ten Favourite Spanish ExpressionsChapter 19: Ten Holidays to RememberChapter 20: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Spanish

Part V: AppendixesAppendix A: Spanish-English Mini DictionaryAppendix B: Spanish VerbsAppendix C: Spanish Facts

Pedro Vázquez Bermejo is a Spanish teacher living in London. He tutors privately as well as being the BBC's in-house Spanish teacher. He is a proofreader, editor and adviser on Sega Multilingual role games at Soho Voice Over studios.

Susana Wald is a language instructor, translator and publisher.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Realising that You Know a Little Spanish Already 9

Chapter 2: Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty: Basic Spanish Grammar 25

Part II: Spanish in Action 41

Chapter 3: ¡Hola! Hello! Greetings and Introductions 43

Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 63

Chapter 5: Dining Out and Going to Market 77

Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy 101

Chapter 7: Organising a Night on the Town 121

Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation 141

Chapter 9: Talking on the Telephone 163

Chapter 10: Looking Around the Home and Office 175

Part III: Spanish on the Go 199

Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money 201

Chapter 12: Asking Directions: ¿Dónde Está? (Where is it?) 213

Chapter 13: Checking into a Hotel 229

Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis and More 245

Chapter 15: Planning a Trip 267

Chapter 16: Handling Emergencies 283

Part IV: The Part of Tens 305

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Speak Spanish Quickly 307

Chapter 18: Ten (Plus Two) Favourite Spanish Expressions 311

Chapter 19: Ten Holidays to Remember 315

Chapter 20: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Spanish 321

Part V: Appendixes 325

Appendix A: Mini-Dictionary 327

Appendix B: Spanish Verbs 343

Appendix C: Spanish Facts 355

Index 359