Spanish grammar
Andean Spanish: nomás, pues, polite diminutives, dice
Follow a caller from the Andes: nomás, final pues, polite diminutives and the reporting dice.
From the scene Pase nomás (Come right in)
In short
Andean Spanish softens with diminutives (un ratito), says pasen nomás for come in, and adds dice for apparently.
Your turn
Which one goes with have your coffee?
Options: tómese su cafecito · un ratito · pasen nomás
Show answer
have your coffee → tómese su cafecito
How it works
In the Andes (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador) diminutives make requests and offers kinder: espere un ratito, tómese su cafecito.
Good to know
Nomás means just, go ahead: pasen nomás (also common in Mexico). Pues often closes a reply: sí, pues.
Good to know
A dice at the end of a sentence marks second-hand news, like "apparently": es muy caro, dice.
wait a moment (polite) un ratito
Elena
¿Que la espere un ratito? Claro, un ratito.
Wait just a moment? Of course, a moment.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿Que la espere (blank)? Claro, un ratito.
Options: tómese su cafecito · pasen nomás · un ratito
Show answer
Elena
¿Que la espere un ratito? Claro, un ratito.
Wait just a moment? Of course, a moment.
have your coffee tómese su cafecito
Elena
«Elenita, tómese su cafecito, que en Madrid ya hace frío».
"Elenita, do have your coffee, it's already cold in Madrid."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
«Elenita, (blank), que en Madrid ya hace frío».
Options: pasen nomás · tómese su cafecito · un ratito
Show answer
Elena
«Elenita, tómese su cafecito, que en Madrid ya hace frío».
"Elenita, do have your coffee, it's already cold in Madrid."
come right in pasen nomás
Elena
«Cuando vengan, pasen nomás». Sí, pues, Doña Yolanda.
"When you come, come right in." Yes, of course, Doña Yolanda.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
«Cuando vengan, (blank)». Sí, pues, Doña Yolanda.
Options: tómese su cafecito · pasen nomás · un ratito
Show answer
Elena
«Cuando vengan, pasen nomás». Sí, pues, Doña Yolanda.
"When you come, come right in." Yes, of course, Doña Yolanda.
yes, of course sí, pues
Elena
«Cuando vengan, pasen nomás». Sí, pues, Doña Yolanda.
"When you come, come right in." Yes, of course, Doña Yolanda.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
«Cuando vengan, pasen nomás». (blank), Doña Yolanda.
Options: Tómese su cafecito · Sí, pues · Un ratito
Show answer
Elena
«Cuando vengan, pasen nomás». Sí, pues, Doña Yolanda.
"When you come, come right in." Yes, of course, Doña Yolanda.
it's very expensive, apparently muy caro, dice
Elena
«Madrid es muy bonito, dice. Y muy caro, dice».
"Madrid is very pretty, apparently. And very expensive, apparently."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
«Madrid es muy bonito, dice. Y (blank)».
Options: tómese su cafecito · muy caro, dice · un ratito
Show answer
Elena
«Madrid es muy bonito, dice. Y muy caro, dice».
"Madrid is very pretty, apparently. And very expensive, apparently."
Common mistake
Not re or chacho here. Andean: come right in.
«Cuando vengan, pasen nomás». Sí, pues, Doña Yolanda.
"When you come, come right in." Yes, of course, Doña Yolanda.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| wait a moment (polite) | un ratito |
|---|---|
| have your coffee | tómese su cafecito |
| come right in | pasen nomás |
| yes, of course | sí, pues |
| it's very expensive, apparently | muy caro, dice |
More lines from the story
- ElenaY Ramón es muy gruñón, dice.And Ramón is very grumpy, apparently.
- RamónUn ratito en directo es una eternidad.A moment, on air, is an eternity.