Saludar a un vecino en el ascensor
David: Good morning.
Laura: Oh, hi, good morning.
David: I think we live on the same floor, right?
Laura: Yes, I’m on the fifth floor, apartment 3.
David: Me too, I’m in apartment 1.
Laura: Nice, so we really are neighbors.
David: The elevator is a bit slow today.
Laura: Yes, it feels slower every Monday.
David: At least it is working this week.
Laura: True, last month it broke twice.
David: Did the noise from the repairs bother you?
Laura: A little, but I was at work most of the time.
David: I work from home, so I heard everything.
Laura: Oh, that must be difficult sometimes.
David: Sometimes it is, especially when they drill the walls.
Laura: I hate that sound, it gives me a headache.
David: By the way, I like the new plants in the lobby.
Laura: Yes, they make the entrance look more friendly.
David: The building manager finally did something nice.
Laura: Yes, maybe someone complained a lot.
David: Maybe it was you.
Laura: No, I only complain in my head.
David: The weather is strange today, it is sunny but cold.
Laura: I know, I didn’t know what jacket to wear.
David: I chose the wrong one, I’m still freezing.
Laura: I brought a scarf, but I left my gloves at home.
David: Do you usually take the elevator at this time?
Laura: Yes, I start work at nine, so I leave around now.
David: I am going to the supermarket before work.
Laura: That is smart, the shop is empty in the morning.
David: I like to buy fresh bread early.
Laura: I love the smell of fresh bread.
David: How is your day looking after work?
Laura: Pretty busy, I have to clean and do some laundry.
David: I have to answer emails and then go to the gym.
Laura: You are more active than me, I just want a nap.
David: A nap sounds better than the gym to be honest.
Laura: Maybe you can reward yourself with a nap after.
David: Good idea, I will think of that while I exercise.
Laura: Motivation is important, even small things help.
David: Oh, here is the fifth floor already.
Laura: Yes, that was fast in the end.
David: After all my complaining, the elevator was kind today.
Laura: Maybe it heard you and got scared.
David: Well, have a nice day at work.
Laura: You too, good luck at the supermarket.
David: See you around the building.
Laura: See you, neighbor.
RESUMEN DEL DIÁLOGO
El diálogo muestra una situación típica de small talk en un ascensor
entre dos vecinos. Hablan de:
– El edificio y el ascensor
– El tiempo meteorológico
– Sus rutinas y planes del día
El lenguaje es sencillo, natural y muy útil para hispanohablantes que quieran
sonar amables sin ser demasiado formales.
VOCABULARIO CLAVE DEL DIÁLOGO
SALUDOS Y PRESENTACIONES
– Good morning. --> saludo neutro y muy frecuente.
– Hi, good morning. --> mezcla de hi (informal) con good
morning (cortés). Muy natural entre vecinos.
– Nice, so we really are neighbors. --> Nice funciona como
comentario positivo general (“Qué bien”).
RECOMENDACIÓN:
En un ascensor con un vecino que ya has visto antes, funciona muy bien empezar
con:
– Good morning.
– Hi there.
– Hi, how are you?
VOCABULARIO DEL EDIFICIO Y EL ASCENSOR
– We live on the same floor. --> en inglés se dice on the floor,
no in.
– I’m on the fifth floor, apartment 3. --> estructura modelo: I’m on
[ordinal] floor, apartment [número].
– The elevator is a bit slow today. --> a bit slow = “un poco
lento”, suena suave, no agresivo.
– At least it is working this week. --> at least = “al menos”.
– It broke twice. --> to break para “estropearse” (máquinas), no
solo “romperse físicamente”.
DIFERENCIA IMPORTANTE:
En español tendemos a decir “I live in the fifth floor”; en inglés es
incorrecto. Debe ser:
– I live on the fifth floor.
VOCABULARIO DEL TIEMPO (WEATHER)
– The weather is strange today.
– It is sunny but cold.
– I didn’t know what jacket to wear.
Frases muy reutilizables:
– It’s so cold today.
– It’s nice and sunny.
– The weather is weird lately.
VOCABULARIO DEL DÍA A DÍA
– I work from home. --> estructura clave para muchos trabajos actuales.
– I’m going to the supermarket before work. --> before work =
“antes de trabajar / ir al trabajo”.
– I have to clean and do some laundry. --> do the laundry = hacer
la colada.
– I have to answer emails and then go to the gym. --> muy útil para
hablar de rutinas.
– You are more active than me, I just want a nap. --> a nap =
siesta.
EXPRESIONES MUY NATURALES (SMALL TALK)
Algunas expresiones clave del diálogo:
At least it is working this week.
Frase típica para relativizar algo malo. Útil en muchas situaciones:
At least + algo positivo.
By the way, I like the new plants in the lobby.
By the way = “Por cierto”. Marca cambio suave de tema.
To be honest, (aparece en to be honest implícito en “to be honest”
con “to be honest, the gym…”)
Equivalente a “la verdad es que…”, muy usado para dar una opinión sincera pero
suave.
That must be difficult sometimes.
Estructura That must be… para mostrar empatía:
– That must be tiring.
– That must be stressful.
Have a nice day. / See you around the building.
Formas muy típicas de despedida casual y amable.
RECOMENDACIÓN:
Memoriza 3–4 “muletillas” útiles:
– By the way… (Para cambiar de tema)
– At least… (Para relativizar o consolar)
– That must be… + adjetivo (Para mostrar empatía)
– Have a nice day. (Cierre perfecto en un ascensor)
GRAMÁTICA DESTACABLE
PRESENT SIMPLE PARA HÁBITOS Y HECHOS
Ejemplos del diálogo:
– I work from home.
– I start work at nine.
– I usually take the elevator at this time.
Uso: describir rutinas, horarios y hábitos. Muy útil en small talk
porque hablamos mucho de lo que hacemos normalmente.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS Y ADJETIVOS CON “BE”
– The elevator is a bit slow today.
– The weather is strange today.
Aquí se usa is + adjetivo para describir estados temporales del día.
VERBOS MODALES Y ESTRUCTURAS FRECUENTES
– That must be difficult sometimes. --> must para deducir y
mostrar empatía.
– Maybe it was you. / Maybe it heard you and got scared. -->
maybe para especular de forma suave.
ESTRUCTURAS CON “HAVE TO” (OBLIGACIÓN)
– I have to clean and do some laundry.
– I have to answer emails and then go to the gym.
Muy útil para hablar de tareas del día:
– I have to… + verbo base
DIFERENCIAS IDIOMÁTICAS Y CULTURALES
SMALL TALK EN EL ASCENSOR
En muchos países de habla inglesa (especialmente en contextos urbanos):
– Es normal hacer pequeños comentarios sobre el tiempo, el edificio, el día.
– No se entra en temas demasiado personales en un trayecto corto.
– Se valora el tono amable, ligero y no invasivo.
En culturas hispanohablantes, a veces:
– Podemos pasar del simple “hola” a una mini conversación más personal.
– No siempre se hace small talk si no conoces de nada a la persona.
CONSEJO:
En inglés, con vecinos que no conoces mucho, mantente en temas neutros:
– El tiempo
– El edificio o el ascensor
– El trabajo de forma general (“I’m going to work”, sin detalles íntimos)
B) FORMALIDAD VS CERCANÍA
– En el diálogo se usan nombres de pila: David y Laura, muy
frecuente.
– Se evita el tratamiento muy formal tipo Sir / Madam en un ascensor con
un vecino; suena raro.
En inglés es normal esta combinación de:
– Lenguaje sencillo
– Cortesía básica
– Distancia respetuosa (no preguntas íntimas)
CONSEJOS Y RECOMENDACIONES PARA HISPANOHABLANTES
TEN PREPARADAS FRASES “DE EMERGENCIA”
Puedes memorizar un pequeño “guion” adaptable:
Saludo
– Good morning.
– Hi, how are you?
Comentario sobre el ascensor o el edificio
– The elevator is a bit slow today.
– At least it’s working.
– I like the new plants in the lobby.
Comentario sobre el tiempo
– The weather is strange today. It’s sunny but cold.
– It’s so cold today.
– It’s really nice and sunny.
Cierre y despedida
– Have a nice day.
– See you later.
– See you around.
EVITA ERRORES TÍPICOS
– No digas I live in the fifth floor --> usa on the fifth floor.
– No traduzcas literalmente expresiones como “Qué raro tiempo hace” --> di
The weather is strange/weird today.
– No recargues con demasiada información personal en un trayecto corto.
PRONUNCIACIÓN A TENER EN CUENTA
– Work /w
