Spanish · A1 · Family moment
Out and about in Spanish
This guide helps parents navigate public spaces and transportation with their children, focusing on safety commands and basic interactions in shops and buses.
What you'll learn
- Learn to give simple safety instructions like 'hold my hand'.
- Understand how to describe movement using the verb 'ir' (to go).
- Master basic vocabulary for public transport and shopping.
Spanish phrases for out and about
Dame la mano.
Hold my hand.
Literally 'give me the hand'. Used frequently for safety.
Vamos a la tienda.
We are going to the shop.
'Vamos a' means 'we are going to'.
Espera a la luz verde.
Wait for the green light.
A vital safety phrase for crossing the street.
Mira a la izquierda y a la derecha.
Look left and right.
Left is 'izquierda' and right is 'derecha'.
Viene el autobús.
The bus is coming.
'Viene' comes from 'venir' (to come).
Dos billetes, por favor.
Two tickets, please.
In many Latin American countries, 'boletos' is used instead of 'billetes'.
Ya estamos aquí.
We are here.
'Ya' adds the sense of 'already' or 'finally arrived'.
Vamos a casa.
Let's go home.
Note that we don't say 'la casa' when referring to going home.
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
La mano
The hand
Even though it ends in 'o', it is a feminine noun.
La tienda
The shop / store
Used for most retail shops.
Billetes / Boletos
Tickets
'Billetes' is common in Spain; 'boletos' is common in the Americas.
The Verb 'Ir' (To Go)
To say where you are going, use the verb 'ir' + 'a' + the place. It is an irregular verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I go / I'm going | Yo voy | Yo voy a la tienda. |
| You go (informal) | Tú vas | Tú vas al autobús. |
| We go / Let's go | Nosotros vamos | Vamos a casa. |
More examples
¡Mira! Viene el autobús.
Look! The bus is coming.
Using 'Mira' to grab a child's attention.
Dame la mano para cruzar.
Give me your hand to cross.
'Cruzar' means to cross the street.
Vamos a la tienda ahora.
We are going to the shop now.
'Ahora' means 'now'.