Spanish · A2 · Family moment
Close By Your Side in Spanish
This guide helps parents connect with their children by describing acts of care, expressing preferences, and talking about family bonds. We focus on verbs that use object pronouns to show who is being helped or who feels an emotion.
What you'll learn
- Use 'ayudar' to talk about daily routines
- Express likes using the 'gustar' structure
- Show ownership with the verb 'pertenecer'
- Learn to express feelings of missing someone
Spanish phrases for close by your side
Te ayudo con los calcetines.
I am helping you with your socks.
'Te' represents 'you' as the person receiving help.
Papá me ayuda con tu baño.
Dad is helping me with your bath.
'Me' shows that Dad is helping 'me'.
¿Te gusta esta manta suave?
Do you like this soft blanket?
In Spanish, we say the blanket 'pleases you'.
Te gusta esta canción suave.
You like this gentle song.
'Suave' can mean soft to the touch or gentle to the ear.
Este peluche te pertenece.
This teddy belongs to you.
'Pertenecer' uses 'te' to show who the owner is.
Estos calcetinitos le pertenecen a tu hermana.
These little socks belong to your sister.
We use 'le' even when 'tu hermana' is explicitly mentioned.
Echas de menos a mamá cuando no está.
You miss Mum when she is away.
'Echar de menos' is a common Spanish idiom for 'to miss'.
Te echo de menos cuando estoy en el trabajo.
I miss you when I am at work.
Here, 'Te' is the person being missed.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
calcetines
socks
You might also hear 'calcetinitos' for tiny baby socks.
manta
blanket
A common word for a baby's favorite cover.
peluche
stuffed animal / teddy
Derived from the French word for plush.
suave
soft / gentle
Used to describe textures, voices, or music.
Indirect Object Pronouns
Spanish uses pronouns like 'me' (to me), 'te' (to you), and 'le' (to him/her) to show who is affected by a verb. This is very common with verbs of giving, helping, or belonging.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To me | me | me ayuda (helps me) |
| To you (informal) | te | te pertenece (belongs to you) |
| To him/her | le | le gusta (he/she likes) |
The Verb Gustar
Unlike English 'I like it', Spanish uses a structure where the thing you like is the subject. The person who likes it is indicated by the pronoun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular thing | gusta | Te gusta el perro. |
| Plural things | gustan | Te gustan los libros. |
More examples
Me gustan tus abrazos.
I like your hugs.
Notice 'gustan' is plural because 'abrazos' is plural.
La abuela te echa de menos.
Grandma misses you.
A sweet way to tell a baby they are loved from afar.