The short version
- Conversations die when every answer is a full stop. Add one extra detail to your answers so the other person has something to ask about.
- Pick up on what they say with short follow-ups like ¿Y eso? and Cuéntame.
- When a topic runs out, move on with Por cierto… or Oye, ¿y…? instead of letting it go quiet.
"¿De dónde eres?" "De Inglaterra." "Ah, vale." And that's it. Both of you stand there wondering what to say next. If you've ever wanted to keep a conversation going in Spanish and watched it stop after two lines, this is usually why: the answers were correct, but they didn't leave anywhere to go.
It isn't about your level. People with very simple Spanish can have long, easy conversations. People with good grammar can have short, awkward ones. The difference is a few habits, and they can all be practised.
Why conversations die
A conversation keeps going when each person gives the other something to pick up. When you're concentrating hard on getting a sentence right, it's natural to give the shortest correct answer and stop. You've done the hard part, so you relax.
The problem is that a short answer gives the other person nothing. They either have to think of a new question or let it drop. After two or three of those, most people let it drop.
| Dead end | Leaves a way in | |
|---|---|---|
| ¿De dónde eres? | De Inglaterra. | De Inglaterra, de un pueblo cerca de York. Pero llevo tres años en Málaga. |
| ¿Qué tal el finde? | Bien. | Muy bien. Fuimos a la sierra y comimos en un sitio buenísimo. |
| ¿Te gusta tu trabajo? | Sí. | Sí, bastante. Aunque últimamente tengo demasiadas reuniones. |
None of the answers on the right are difficult. They just have more in them.
Give answers with a hook
A hook is one extra detail that invites a question. Answer the question, then add one thing. That's the whole habit.
In the table above, "I've been in Málaga for three years", "a really good place" and "too many meetings" are all hooks. The other person can ask about Málaga, the restaurant or the meetings, and you're off.
- Soy profesora.I'm a teacher.
- Soy profesora de inglés.I'm an English teacher.
- Soy profesora de inglés en un instituto.I'm an English teacher at a secondary school.
- Soy profesora de inglés en un instituto, y este año tengo una clase un poco loca.I'm an English teacher at a secondary school, and this year I've got a slightly crazy class.
That last line is almost asking to be followed up. Nobody hears "a slightly crazy class" and just says vale.
Write down the five questions you get asked most: where you're from, what you do, how long you've been here, why Spain, what you did at the weekend. For each one, write your answer plus one hook. Say them out loud until they come out naturally. You'll be using them for years, so it's worth getting them right once.
Pick up on what they say
The other half is doing the same for them. When they add a detail, grab it. Short follow-ups work best, because they're quick to say and they put the other person back in charge of talking.
| Spanish | English | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Y eso? | How come? | They mention something unexpected |
| Cuéntame. | Tell me more. | You want the longer version |
| ¿Ah, sí? ¿Y qué tal? | Oh really? And how was it? | They mention something they did |
| ¿Cómo que…? | What do you mean…? | You want them to explain |
| ¿Y qué pasó? | And what happened? | They start telling a story |
| ¿En qué sentido? | In what way? | They give an opinion |
¿Y eso? is one of the most useful phrases in Spain. Someone says Me voy a vivir a Galicia and you say ¿Y eso? It asks "why?" in a relaxed, interested way, and you'll usually get a whole story.
You can also just repeat the key word as a question. They say Estuve en Granada, you say ¿En Granada? It shows you're listening and asks them to say more, without you having to build a sentence.
React while they talk
Keeping a conversation going isn't only about questions. Small reactions while the other person is talking tell them you're following and that you want them to carry on. Without them, people slow down and wonder if you've understood.
¿Sí?, Ya, ¡Qué bien!, ¡No me digas! and Vaya cover most situations. There's a whole post on these in Spanish reactions: qué bien, vaya, madre mía and more.
You don't have to add something clever after every line. In Spanish conversations, a lot of the listener's job is small sounds and words that say "go on". Ya, ya while nodding is doing its job.
Change topic without it going quiet
Every topic runs out eventually. That's normal. What makes it awkward is the silence while both of you look for the next one. A topic-change phrase lets you move straight on.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Por cierto… | By the way… |
| Oye, ¿y…? | Hey, and…? |
| Hablando de…, … | Speaking of…, … |
| Cambiando de tema… | Changing the subject… |
| Y tú, ¿qué tal con…? | And how are things with…? |
Oye, ¿y…? is the easiest. Oye, ¿y el trabajo qué tal? Oye, ¿y tu hermana? It works with almost anything and sounds completely natural.
It helps to have two or three general questions ready for when you can't think of anything. Plans for the weekend, holidays, work and food are safe almost anywhere. There are plenty more in Spanish conversation starters that actually work.
Follow-up questions are great, but ten in a row feels like an interview. After two or three, say something about yourself: Yo también estuve en Granada el año pasado. Give and take is what makes it feel like a chat.
Putting it together
Here's a short conversation that uses hooks, follow-ups, reactions and a topic change.
Look at what each person gives the other. There's always something new to pick up. If you want more ways to ask questions like these, see how to ask questions in Spanish.
Recap
- Conversations die when every answer is a full stop.
- Answer, then add one hook.
- Pick up on their details with ¿Y eso?, Cuéntame or by repeating the key word.
- React while they talk so they keep going.
- When a topic runs out, move on with Oye, ¿y…? or Por cierto.
Every conversation in 100 Spanish Conversations has both sides built in, so you practise asking and following up as well as answering. If you want to try your hooks on someone, the community on Skool is a good place to start.
Leeroy studied Spanish for years before moving to Spain and finding he couldn't hold a conversation. He built Basically Spanish around the method that fixed it. Questions? leeroy@basicallyspanish.com