Spanish · Real conversations
Expressing preferences: Spanish conversation practice
Explain what you would enjoy and make a joint choice. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A2 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A friend deciding what to do or eat together.
Goal: Explain what you would enjoy and make a joint choice.
Read the conversation
Partner
¿Te gustaría ir a otro lugar?
Show English translation
Would you like to go somewhere else?
You
Preferiría quedarme aquí.
Show English translation
I'd rather stay here.
Partner
Entonces quedémonos. ¿Qué quieres tomar?
Show English translation
Let's stay, then. What would you like to drink?
You
Tengo ganas de tomar un café.
Show English translation
I'm in the mood for coffee.
Partner
Tienen un café fuerte y otro más suave.
Show English translation
They have a strong coffee and a milder one.
You
Cualquiera de las dos opciones me parece bien.
Show English translation
Either is fine with me.
Partner
Está bien. También hay un aperitivo picante en el menú.
Show English translation
Fine. There's also a spicy snack on the menu.
You
No me gusta mucho la comida picante.
Show English translation
I'm not very keen on spicy food.
Partner
Podemos elegir algo suave. Me gusta venir aquí.
Show English translation
We can choose something mild. I like coming here.
You
¿Qué te gusta de este lugar?
Show English translation
What do you like about this place?
Try your part first
Partner says: Would you like to go somewhere else? Your goal: I'd rather stay here.
Reveal a sample reply
Preferiría quedarme aquí.
I'd rather stay here.
Partner says: Let's stay, then. What would you like to drink? Your goal: I'm in the mood for coffee.
Reveal a sample reply
Tengo ganas de tomar un café.
I'm in the mood for coffee.
Partner says: They have a strong coffee and a milder one. Your goal: Either is fine with me.
Reveal a sample reply
Cualquiera de las dos opciones me parece bien.
Either is fine with me.
Partner says: Fine. There's also a spicy snack on the menu. Your goal: I'm not very keen on spicy food.
Reveal a sample reply
No me gusta mucho la comida picante.
I'm not very keen on spicy food.
Partner says: We can choose something mild. I like coming here. Your goal: What do you like about this place?
Reveal a sample reply
¿Qué te gusta de este lugar?
What do you like about this place?
Make it your own
- Choose between two different meals.
- Explain a preference without rejecting the person.
- Let your partner make the final choice.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Spanish
These guides use broadly understandable Latin American Spanish. Tú is familiar and usted is respectful or formal, with important regional variation. Me gustaría and ¿podría …? are useful for considerate requests.
Keep accent marks and opening question marks. Some regions choose different everyday words. Follow the complete example rather than substituting English words one by one, especially with pronouns and expressions of preference.
