Spanish · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 23
La ropaClothes
Clothes and sizes. Vocabulary: la ropa, la camiseta, los pantalones, los zapatos, el vestido, la talla, el color, rojo, azul, negro. Key point: the colour adjective AGREES in gender and number with the item: la camiseta ROJA, el vestido ROJO, los pantalones NEGROS, las camisetas ROJAS. English speakers don't change the adjective ("la camiseta rojo" ✗ → "la camiseta roja" ✓). "Azul" does not change for gender (azul/azules). Ask the size: "¿Qué talla?". Culture corner: Markets, bargaining and paying.
Dialogue
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roja / rojo
- Vendedora¿Qué camiseta quieres?Which T-shirt do you want?
- MikeQuiero la camiseta rojo.I want the red T-shirt. (slip: camiseta is feminine — say "roja")
- Vendedora"La camiseta roja" — el color concuerda con "camiseta"."La camiseta roja" — the colour agrees with "camiseta".
- MikeAh, quiero la camiseta roja y los pantalones negros.Ah, I want the red T-shirt and the black trousers.
Dialogue
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Un vestido azul— A Blue Dress
- VendedoraBuenos días. ¿Qué desea?Good morning. What would you like?
- LucíaNecesito un vestido azul. ¿Qué talla tiene?I need a blue dress. What sizes do you have?
- VendedoraTengo la talla pequeña y la grande. Cuesta treinta euros.I have the small and the large. It costs thirty euros.
- LucíaEs bonito. Quiero la talla pequeña, gracias.It's nice. I want the small size, thank you.
Vocabulary
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- ropa
n.f.clothes (f)
- camiseta
n.f.T-shirt (f)
- pantalones
n.m.pltrousers, pants (m pl)
- zapatos
n.m.plshoes (m pl)
- vestido
n.m.dress (m)
- talla
n.f.size (clothing) (f)
- color
n.m.colour (m)
- rojo
adjectivered (roja/rojos/rojas)
- azul
adjectiveblue (azul/azules)
- negro
adjectiveblack (negra/negros/negras)
Grammar
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The colour agrees (roja / rojo)
Explanation
The colour adjective agrees with the noun in GENDER and NUMBER, and goes AFTER the noun. "Rojo" has four forms: rojo (m), roja (f), rojos (m pl), rojas (f pl): el vestido ROJO, la camiseta ROJA, los zapatos ROJOS, las camisetas ROJAS. "Negro" the same: negro/negra/negros/negras. BUT "azul" doesn't change for gender, only number: azul (sg), azules (pl) — el vestido AZUL, la camiseta AZUL, los pantalones AZULES. English speakers leave the adjective fixed: "la camiseta rojo" ✗ → "la camiseta roja" ✓. Size: "¿Qué talla?", "la talla grande / pequeña".
Examples
- Quiero una camiseta roja.I want a red T-shirt.
- Los pantalones negros cuestan veinte euros.The black trousers cost twenty euros.
- ¿De qué color es el vestido? — Es azul.What colour is the dress? — It is blue.
- Necesito la talla grande.I need the large size.
Culture
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Mercados, regateo y pagarMarkets, bargaining & paying
Shopping in Spain or Latin America is not always like in a mall. Between the neighbourhood market, the weekend street market and the small shop, there are customs worth knowing: where you can bargain, how you pay, and why the price already includes tax.
The market
Almost every neighbourhood has a market with stalls of fruit, vegetables, fish and meat. Many towns also have a street market (mercadillo) on a fixed day each week, with clothes, food and second-hand things. At the market you buy fresh and of the day, greet the seller, and ask by quantity: "un kilo de tomates, por favor" (a kilo of tomatoes, please). It is normal to bring your own bag. Shopping at the market is also a way to get to know the neighbours.
Bargaining
Careful: in Spain bargaining is NOT normal in shops, supermarkets or most food markets — the price is the price. You only haggle a little at second-hand street markets (like El Rastro in Madrid) or when buying something big. In many Latin American countries, however, bargaining at markets and with street vendors is common and even expected. If you want to try politely, ask: "¿Me hace un descuento?" (Can you give me a discount?) or "¿Es tu mejor precio?" (Is that your best price?).
Paying
When you pay they will ask: "¿En efectivo o con tarjeta?" (Cash or card?). Cards are used a lot, but at markets and small stalls it is wise to carry cash. Good news: the price on the label ALREADY includes the tax (IVA), so you pay what you see, with no surprises at the end. You also don't need to tip like in the United States: in a bar or restaurant you leave little or nothing, and only if you want to. When you finish, a simple "Gracias, hasta luego" closes the purchase kindly.
In short: buy fresh at the market, bargain only where appropriate (little in Spain, more in Latin America), carry some cash, and remember the price already includes tax. Shopping is also chatting and greeting. Happy shopping!
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