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Domestic Activities

In the bedroom

arreglar - to straighten up
tender - to make (a bed)
hacer - to make (a bed)
colgar - to hang up
barrer - to sweep
el armario - closet
el piso - floor

In the living room/office

recoger - to pick up, put away
colocar - to place (somewhere)
el estante - bookcase
vaciar - to empty
el cesto de papeles - waste paper basket
los ceniceros - ashtrays
pasar las aspiradora - to vacuum
sacudir - to shake
quitar el polvo de - to dust

In the dining room

poner - to set (the table)
recoger - to clear (the table)

In the kitchen

lavar - to wash
pelar - to peel
cortar - to cut
el fregadero - sink
fregar - to wash
lavar - to wash
los platos - dishes
secar - to dry
sacar - to take out
la basura - trash

In the laundry room

lavar las sábanas - wash the sheets
planchar - to iron

In the garden

plantar - to plant
regar - to water
cortar - to cut
la hierba - grass
el césped - lawn

With domestic animals

cuidar - to take care of
sacar a pasear - to walk
darle de comer - to feed

Useful Objects of Everyday Life

un trapo - dishcloth
una percha - hanger
una escoba - broom
una plancha - iron
una máquina de lavar, una lavadora de ropa - washing machine
una máquina de secar, una secadora de ropa - dryer
una lavaplatos, una lavadora de platos - dishwasher
una aspiradora - vacuum
una manguera - hose
una cortadora de césped - lawnmower

For Conversation

How to ask for help

¿Me puede...? - Can you...for me?
¿Me podría...? - Can you...for me?
ayudar - to help
echar un mano, dar un mano - lend a hand
hacer un favor - do me a favor

How to accept

con mucho gusto - with much glee
Encantado - A pleasure
¿En qué puedo servirle? - How can I serve?

How to refuse

No, de ceras, no puedo - No, I can't.
Mira, me gustaría, pero - I would like to, but
Quisiera, pero - I would like to, but
Lo siento mucho, pero - I'm very sorry, but
Perdóneme, pero - Excuse me, but
¡Qué lástima! - How inconvenient!
Estoy ocupadísimo(a) - very busy
Estoy cansado(a), rendido(a) - exhausted
No tengo tiempo - I don't have time
Tengo otras cosas que hacer - I have other things to do
Me es imposible - it is impossible for me

How to thank someone and accept thanks

¡Muchas gracias! - Thanks so much!
¡Mil gracias! - A thousand thanks!
¡Se lo agradezco mucho! - I'm very grateful!
De nada - You're welcome
No hay de qué - It was nothing
Para servirle - You're welcome

Verbs and Expressions of Wishing

To give orders

querer - to wish, want
exigir - to demand, require
insistir en - to insist
mandar - to order
pedir - to ask, request
rogar, suplicar - to beg

To express a wish

desear - to wish
esperar - to hope
ojalá - let's hope that

To express a preference

preferir - to prefer

To give advice

aconsejar - to advise
recomendar - to recommend
sugerir - to suggest

To give permission

dejar - to let
permitir - to permit

To disallow

impedir - to prevent
oponerse - to be against
prohibir - to prohibit

Impersonal Expressions

bueno - good
malo - bad
mejor - better
necesario - necessary
indispensable - indispensable
importante - important
preciso - necessary
lástima - too bad
vale la pena - worthwhile
agradable - pleasant
justo - fair
absurdo - absurd
ridículo - ridiculous
raro - strange
sopredente - surprising
escandaloso - scandalous