can you call her back to the phone for a minute

hace rato que se fue — he left a while ago, he left some time ago

hablamos largo rato — we talked a long time

déjalo para más rato — leave it for later

nos vemos más rato — see you later

¿vas a tardar mucho rato? — will you be long?

para rato —

tenemos carretera para rato — we still have quite a way to go

tenemos para rato con este trabajo — we still have quite a lot to do to get this work finished, we're still a long way from finishing this work

aún queda presidente para rato — the president will still be around for some time to come

durante el rato que estuve esperando — during the short time I was waiting

estoy encantada de haber tenido este rato para charlar contigo — I'm delighted to have had this time to chat to you

en esos ratos me olvido de todo — at such moments I forget about everything

dile que se ponga otro rato al teléfono — can you call her back to the phone for a minute?

¡hasta otro rato! — so long!, I'll see you!

• un rato — a (short) while

al cabo de un rato dijo... — after a (short) while he said...

dentro de un rato — in a (short) while

solo estuvo allí un rato — he was only there a (short) while

todavía tardará un rato en salir — it'll still be a while before he comes out

me quedaré un rato más — I'll stay a bit longer

escríbeme cuando tengas un rato — write to me when you have a spare moment

no regresó hasta pasado un buen rato — he didn't come back for a while

estos hijos no dan más que malos ratos — these children give you nothing but grief

mujer, no te des mal rato — don't let yourself be upset

me hizo pasar un mal rato — I had a terrible time because of him

pasar el rato — to pass the time

ratos de ocio — leisure time

ratos libres — spare time, free time

• ratos: a ratos — at times

a ratos, me parece sincero y a otros no — at times he seems sincere and at other times not

trabajo en el jardín a ratos perdidos — I work in the garden in my spare moments

hace un rato — a while ago

pasé un mal rato — it was terrible

iré dentro de un rato — I'll go shortly

me interrumpe a cada rato — he's always interrupting me

al (poco) rato — shortly afterwards

al rato se me quitó el dolor — shortly afterward(s) the pain went

sólo al rato me di cuenta — I only realized a little while later

a ratos — from time to time, now and again

a ratos perdidos — now and again

tengo para rato — I'll be a while, I'll be some time

todavía hay para rato — there's still a long way to go

pasar el rato — to while away the time

hace un rato — a while ago

pasé un mal rato — it was terrible

iré dentro de un rato — I'll go shortly

me interrumpe a cada rato — he's always interrupting me

al (poco) rato — shortly afterwards

al rato se me quitó el dolor — shortly afterward(s) the pain went

sólo al rato me di cuenta — I only realized a little while later

a ratos — from time to time, now and again

a ratos perdidos — now and again

tengo para rato — I'll be a while, I'll be some time

todavía hay para rato — there's still a long way to go

pasar el rato — to while away the time

ya sabe decir varias palabras — she can already say several words, she already knows several words

- tengo prisa -dijo — "I'm in a hurry," she said

olvídalo, no he dicho nada — forget I said anything

¿decía usted? — you were saying?

como decía mi abuela — as my grandmother used to say

como iba diciendo... — as I was saying...

¿cómo ha dicho usted? — pardon?, what did you say?

mi amigo dice que eres muy guapa — my friend says (that) you're very pretty

dicen que... — they say (that)..., people say (that)...

el cartel dice claramente que... — the sign says clearly {o} clearly states that...

decir que sí/no — to say yes/no

-¿viene? -dice que sí — "is she coming?" - "she says she is {o} she says so"

la miré y me dijo que sí/no con la cabeza — I looked at her and she nodded/shook her head

¿quién te lo dijo? — who told you?

se lo dije bien claro, pero no me hizo caso — I told her quite clearly, but she didn't take any notice of me

tengo algo que decirte — there's something I want to tell you, I've got something to tell you

hoy nos dicen las notas — they're telling {o} giving us our results today

me dijo que no vendría — he told me (that) he wouldn't come

ya te dije que no tiene ni idea — I told you he hasn't got a clue

¿no te digo que no puedo ir? — I've already told you I can't go

la profesora me dijo que esperara fuera — the teacher told me to wait outside

le dije que fuera más tarde — I told her to go later

dile que venga a cenar mañana con nosotros — ask him to come and have supper with us tomorrow

te digo que te calles — I said shut up

decir tonterías — to talk nonsense

¿cómo le dicen a esto en Perú? — what do they call this in Peru?

se llama Francisco, pero le dicen Paco — his name is Francisco, but he's known as Paco

le dicen "el torero" — he's known as "el torero"

en México se le dice "recámara" al dormitorio — in Mexico they say "recámara" instead of "dormitorio"

podemos ir a Portugal, ¿tú qué dices? — we could go to Portugal, what do you say?

¿tu familia qué dice de la boda? — what does your family say about the wedding?

había 8, digo 9 — there were 8, I mean 9

dirá usted aquel otro — you must mean that other one

¡qué digo! — what am I saying?

no puedo leer lo que dice — I can't read what it says

no me dice nada este libro — this book leaves me cold

mis súbditos se presentarán ante mí ¡he dicho! — my subjects shall appear before me: I have spoken!

aunque no es el director es, como quien dice, el que manda en la empresa — although he isn't the manager, he's the person in charge, so to speak, of the company

está, como quien dice, aquí al lado — it's just round the corner, as they say

como quien no dice nada — quite casually, as though it wasn't important

- gracias por todo -lo mismo digo — "thank you for everything" - "likewise!" {o} "thanks to you too!"

deberías buscar trabajo, vamos, digo yo — you ought to look for a job, that's what I say, if you ask me, you ought to look for a job

¡si te lo digo yo! — of course it's true!

¡lo digo yo y basta! — you will do it because I say so!

mi prima, es decir, la hija de Ana — my cousin, that is (to say) Ana's daughter

¿qué quiere decir "spatha"? — what does "spatha" mean?

¿qué quiere usted decir con eso? — what do you mean by that?

¿querrás decir un millón, no un billón? — do you mean a million rather than a billion?

les ha costado más cara que mi casa, y eso ya es decir — it cost them more than my house did, and that's saying something

no es que yo lo diga, pero... — it's not because I say so, but...

es, digamos, un comerciante — he's a dealer, for want of a better word, he's a sort of dealer

¡haberlo dicho!, ¡me lo hubieras dicho! — you could have told me {o} said!

y su madre, no digamos — not to mention his mother

no estuvo muy cortés, que digamos — he wasn't what you'd call polite, he wasn't exactly polite

¿cómo (lo) diría yo? — how shall I put it?

¿cómo diríamos? — how shall I put it?

¡quién lo diría! — would you believe it!, who would have thought it!

pero no quiso por el qué dirán — but she didn't want to because of what people might say

se preocupa mucho por el qué dirán — she's always worried about what people will say {o} think

-¿te puedo pedir un favor? -dime — "can I ask you a favour?" - "go ahead"

-¿te gustaría cambiar de coche? -¡hombre, ya me dirás! — "would you like a new car?" - "you bet I would!"

su nombre no me dice nada — her name doesn't mean anything to me

su mirada lo dice todo — her expression says it all {o} speaks volumes

una situación que tan mal dice de nuestro gobierno — a situation which shows our government in such a bad light

¿cientos de personas? - bueno, es un decir — hundreds of people? - well, figuratively speaking

ya dice `mamá' — he says `mama' now

no digas esas cosas, por favor — please don't say things like that

no digas estupideces — don't talk nonsense!

¿cómo pudiste decir eso? — how could you say that?

¿eso lo dices por mí? — are you referring to me?

no lo dirás en serio! — you can't be serious!

dijo que sí con la cabeza — he nodded

no se dice `andé', se dice `anduve' — it isn't `andé', it's `anduve'

eso no se dice! — you mustn't say that!

¿cómo se dice `amor' en ruso? — how do you say `love' in Russian?

bonita, lo que se dice bonita, no es — she's not what you would call pretty

es el sábado; ni que decir tiene que estás invitado — it's on Saturday; you're invited, but that goes without saying

haberlo dicho antes — why didn't you say so before?

¿tendrá tiempo de hacerlo? - dice que sí — will he have time to do it? - he says he will

¿no lo encontró? - dice que no — didn't he find it? - no, he says he didn't

digan lo que digan — whatever people say

decirle algo a alguien — to tell somebody something

eso no es lo que me dijo a mí — that's not what he told me

¿sabes qué me dijo? — do you know what he told me?; (expresando sorpresa, indignación, etc) do you know what he said to me?

se lo voy a decir a papá — I'm going to tell Dad

hoy nos dicen el resultado — they're going to give us the result today

Andrés me dijo lo de tu hermano — Andrés told me about your brother

a mí me lo vas a decir! — you're telling me!

ya te lo decía yo! — I told you so!

fue algo espantoso, todo lo que te diga es poco — it was terrible, I can't begin to tell you how terrible

no me digas que no es precioso! — isn't it beautiful?

dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres — you can judge a man by the company he keeps

porque lo digo yo! — because I say so!

harás lo que yo diga — you'll do as I say

papá dice que vayas — Dad wants you

dice que llames cuando llegues — she says (you are) to phone when you get there

dijo que tuviéramos cuidado — she said to be careful

decirle a alguien que + subj — to tell somebody to + inf

diles que empiecen — tell them to start

le dije que no lo hiciera — I told him not to do it

decir adiós — to say goodbye

decirle adiós a alguien — to say goodbye to somebody

di adiós a tu vida de estudiante — you'd better say goodbye to your student days

¿qué dice aquí? — what does it say here?

el diario no dice nada sobre el asunto — there's nothing in the paper about it

se llama Rosario pero le dicen Charo — her name is Rosario but people call her Charo

la forma de vestir dice mucho de una persona — the way someone dresses says a lot/tells you a lot about them

el tiempo lo dirá — time will tell

algo me decía que no iba a ser fácil — something told me it wasn't going to be easy

¿te dice algo ese nombre? — does that name mean anything to you?

decir misa — to say mass

querer decir — to mean

¿qué quiere decir esta palabra? — what does this word mean?

¿qué quieres decir con eso? — what do you mean by that?

¿quieres decir que ya no te interesa? — do you mean (to say) that you're no longer interested?

¿y los padres qué dicen? — what do her parents think of it?, how do her parents feel about it?

habría que regalarle algo, no sé, digo yo — we ought to buy her a present, well, I think so anyway

es muy fácil - si tú lo dices... — it's very easy - if you say so...

a decir verdad — to tell you the truth, to be honest

como quien dice — so to speak

papá - dime, hijo — dad - yes, son?

quería pedirle un favor - usted dirá — I wanted to ask you a favor - certainly, go ahead

se decían secretos al oído — they were whispering secrets to each other

se dijeron de todo — they called each other every name under the sun

yo sé lo que me digo — I know what I'm talking about

tú te lo dices todo — you seem to have all the answers

¿cientos de personas? - bueno, es un decir — hundreds of people? - well, figuratively speaking

ya dice `mamá' — he says `mama' now

no digas esas cosas, por favor — please don't say things like that

no digas estupideces — don't talk nonsense!

¿cómo pudiste decir eso? — how could you say that?

¿eso lo dices por mí? — are you referring to me?

no lo dirás en serio! — you can't be serious!

dijo que sí con la cabeza — he nodded

no se dice `andé', se dice `anduve' — it isn't `andé', it's `anduve'

eso no se dice! — you mustn't say that!

¿cómo se dice `amor' en ruso? — how do you say `love' in Russian?

bonita, lo que se dice bonita, no es — she's not what you would call pretty

es el sábado; ni que decir tiene que estás invitado — it's on Saturday; you're invited, but that goes without saying

haberlo dicho antes — why didn't you say so before?

¿tendrá tiempo de hacerlo? - dice que sí — will he have time to do it? - he says he will

¿no lo encontró? - dice que no — didn't he find it? - no, he says he didn't

digan lo que digan — whatever people say

decirle algo a alguien — to tell somebody something

eso no es lo que me dijo a mí — that's not what he told me

¿sabes qué me dijo? — do you know what he told me?; (expresando sorpresa, indignación, etc) do you know what he said to me?

se lo voy a decir a papá — I'm going to tell Dad

hoy nos dicen el resultado — they're going to give us the result today

Andrés me dijo lo de tu hermano — Andrés told me about your brother

a mí me lo vas a decir! — you're telling me!

ya te lo decía yo! — I told you so!

fue algo espantoso, todo lo que te diga es poco — it was terrible, I can't begin to tell you how terrible

no me digas que no es precioso! — isn't it beautiful?

dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres — you can judge a man by the company he keeps

porque lo digo yo! — because I say so!

harás lo que yo diga — you'll do as I say

papá dice que vayas — Dad wants you

dice que llames cuando llegues — she says (you are) to phone when you get there

dijo que tuviéramos cuidado — she said to be careful

decirle a alguien que + subj — to tell somebody to + inf

diles que empiecen — tell them to start

le dije que no lo hiciera — I told him not to do it

decir adiós — to say goodbye

decirle adiós a alguien — to say goodbye to somebody

di adiós a tu vida de estudiante — you'd better say goodbye to your student days

¿qué dice aquí? — what does it say here?

el diario no dice nada sobre el asunto — there's nothing in the paper about it

se llama Rosario pero le dicen Charo — her name is Rosario but people call her Charo

la forma de vestir dice mucho de una persona — the way someone dresses says a lot/tells you a lot about them

el tiempo lo dirá — time will tell

algo me decía que no iba a ser fácil — something told me it wasn't going to be easy

¿te dice algo ese nombre? — does that name mean anything to you?

decir misa — to say mass

querer decir — to mean

¿qué quiere decir esta palabra? — what does this word mean?

¿qué quieres decir con eso? — what do you mean by that?

¿quieres decir que ya no te interesa? — do you mean (to say) that you're no longer interested?

¿y los padres qué dicen? — what do her parents think of it?, how do her parents feel about it?

habría que regalarle algo, no sé, digo yo — we ought to buy her a present, well, I think so anyway

es muy fácil - si tú lo dices... — it's very easy - if you say so...

a decir verdad — to tell you the truth, to be honest

como quien dice — so to speak

papá - dime, hijo — dad - yes, son?

quería pedirle un favor - usted dirá — I wanted to ask you a favor - certainly, go ahead

se decían secretos al oído — they were whispering secrets to each other

se dijeron de todo — they called each other every name under the sun

yo sé lo que me digo — I know what I'm talking about

tú te lo dices todo — you seem to have all the answers

¿tienes dinero? — do you have {o} have you got any money?

¿tienes un bolígrafo? — do you have {o} have you got a pen?

¿tiene usted permiso para esto? — do you have {o} have you got permission for this?

tiene un tío en Venezuela — he has an uncle in Venezuela, he's got an uncle in Venezuela

ahora no tengo tiempo — I don't have {o} I haven't got time now

tiene el pelo rubio — he has blond hair, he's got blond hair

tenía una sonrisa preciosa — she had a lovely smile

tiene la nariz aguileña — she has an aquiline nose, she's got an aquiline nose

tenía el pelo mojado — his hair was wet

tiene siete años — he's seven (years old)

¿cuántos años tienes? — how old are you?

al menos debe de tener 55 años — she must be at least 55

tenemos clase de inglés a las 11 — we have an English class at 11, we've got an English class at 11

el lunes tenemos una reunión — we're having a meeting on Monday, we've got a meeting on Monday

mañana tengo una fiesta — I'm going to a party tomorrow

va a tener un niño — she's going to have a baby

tener 5cm de ancho — to be 5cm wide

tener hambre/sed/calor/frío — to be hungry/thirsty/hot/cold

no tengas tantos celos — don't be so jealous

hemos tenido mucho miedo — we have been very frightened

le tengo mucho cariño — I'm very fond of him

he tenido un presentimiento — I've had a premonition

han tenido un accidente — they have had an accident

hemos tenido muchas dificultades — we have had a lot of difficulties

Luis tiene la gripe — Luis has {o} has got flu

tengo fiebre — I have {o} I've got a (high) temperature

¿qué tienes? — what's the matter with you?, what's wrong with you?

tenía el pasaporte en la mano — he had his passport in his hand, he was holding his passport in his hand

tenme el vaso un momento, por favor — hold my glass for me for a moment, please

¡ten!, ¡aquí tienes! — here you are!

aún no he tenido carta — I haven't had a letter yet

¿has tenido noticias suyas? — have you heard from her?

le tengo por poco honrado — I consider him (to be) rather dishonest

tengo trabajo que hacer — I have {o} I've got work to do

no tengo nada que hacer — I have {o} I've got nothing to do

eso no tiene nada que ver — that has {o} that's got nothing to do with it

ya saben dónde me tienen — you always know where you can find me

de bueno no tiene nada — there's nothing good about it

no tiene nada de particular — it's nothing special

¿qué tiene de malo? — what's wrong with that?

no las tengo todas conmigo de que lo haga — I'm none too sure that he'll do it, I'm not entirely sure that he'll do it

tengo que comprarlo — I have to {o} I've got to buy it, I must buy it

tenemos que marcharnos — we have to {o} we've got to go, we must be going

tienen que aumentarte el sueldo — they have to {o} they've got to give you a rise

tuvo que devolver todo el dinero — he had to pay all the money back

tiene que ser así — it has to be this way

¡tienes que estar cansadísima! — you must be really tired!

tiene que dolerte mucho ¿no? — it must hurt a lot, doesn't it?

tiene que estar en tu despacho — it must be in your office

tiene que haberte dolido mucho — it must have hurt a lot

¡tendrías que haberlo dicho antes! — you should have said so before!

¡tendría que darte vergüenza! — you should be ashamed of yourself!

¡tú tenías que ser! — it would be you!, it had to be you!

tendrías que comer más — you should eat more

tendríamos que pedirle perdón — we should apologize to him

tenía puesto el sombrero — he had his hat on

nos tenían preparada una sorpresa — they had prepared a surprise for us

tenía pensado llamarte — I had been thinking of phoning you

te lo tengo dicho muchas veces — I've told you hundreds of times

yo no le tengo visto — I've never set eyes on him

procura tener contentos a todos — he tries to keep everybody happy

me tiene perplejo la falta de noticias — the lack of news is puzzling, I am puzzled by the lack of news

tienen tres meses de no cobrar — they haven't been paid for three months, it's three months since they've been paid

tengo cuatro años aquí — I've been here for four years

¿tienen hijos? — do they have any children?, have they got any children?

no tenemos pan — we don't have any bread, we haven't got any bread

no tengo a quién recurrir — I have nobody to turn to

tú no tienes idea de lo que fue — you've no idea what it was like

ahí tienes! yo te lo dije — there you are! I told you so

¿conque ésas tenemos? — so that's the way things are, is it?

¿tiene hora? — have you got the time?

qué traje más elegante tienes! — that's a smart suit you're wearing!

tenemos clases mañana — we've got school tomorrow

tener... que + inf — to have... to + inf

tiene mucho tacto — he's very tactful

tiene un metro de largo — it is one meter long

tiene mucho de su padre — he's very much like his father

¿y eso qué tiene de malo? — and what's so bad about that?

no tiene nada de extraño — there's nothing strange about it

¿cuántos años tienes? — how old are you?

tengo veinte años — I'm twenty (years old)

no creo que tenga arreglo — I don't think it can be fixed

el problema tiene solución — there is a solution to the problem

tenlo derecho — hold it upright

no hemos tenido noticias de él — we haven't heard from him

la propuesta tuvo una acogida favorable — the proposal was favorably received

tengo hambre/sueño/frío — I'm hungry/tired/cold

tiene celos de su hermano — she's jealous of her brother

no tiene interés por nada — she's not interested in anything

le tengo mucho cariño — I'm very fond of him

tengo el placer de... — it gives me great pleasure to...

¿qué tienes? — what's wrong?, what's the matter?

no saben lo que tiene — they don't know what's wrong with him

que tengas buen viaje — have a good trip

tener una discusión con alguien — to have an argument with somebody

ten más respeto — have a little more respect

ten paciencia/cuidado — be patient/careful

la mesa tiene una pata rota — one of the table legs is broken

tengo las manos sucias — my hands are dirty

tienes el cinturón desabrochado — your belt's undone

lo tengo terminado — I've already finished it

me tiene muy preocupada — I'm very worried about it

nos tuvo allí esperando — he kept us waiting there

me tienen de sirvienta — they treat me like a maid

tengo a la niña enferma — my little girl's sick

tener algo/a alguien por algo: se lo tiene por el mejor he/it is considered (to be) the best; siempre lo tuve por tímido I always thought he was shy; ten por seguro que lo hará — you can be sure he'll do it

tener que + inf — to have (got) to + inf

no tienes más que apretar este botón — all you have to do is press this button

no tengo por qué darte cuentas a ti — I don't have to explain anything to you

tienes que comer más — you ought to eat more

tener que + inf: tenemos que ir a verla we must go and see her; tengo que hacer ejercicio I must get some exercise; tendrías que llamarlo — you should ring him

tener que + inf: tiene que estar en este cajón it must be in this drawer; tiene que haber sido él it must have been him; tú tenías que ser! — it had to be you!

¿tiene previsto asistir? — do you plan to attend?

te tengo dicho que eso no me gusta — I've told you before I don't like that

teníamos pensado irnos hoy — we intended leaving today

tiene bastante dinero ahorrado — she has quite a lot of money saved up

tienen tres años de casados — they've been married for three years

tenía un año sin verlo — she hadn't seen him for a year

no podía tenerse en pie — he couldn't stand

tenerse por algo: se tiene por muy inteligente — he considers himself to be very intelligent