5 Introducing people to each other
To introduce people in formal situations in Spanish, you can use the following expressions:
Le presento a Carlos Frutos. – Let me introduce Carlos Frutos.
Le presento a la señora Serra. – Let me introduce Mrs Serra.
Le presento al* señor Bustos. – Let me introduce Mr Bustos.
(* a + el → al)
To introduce people in informal situations in Spanish, you can use the following expressions:
Este es Carlos. – This is Carlos.
Esta es Consuelo. – This is Consuelo.
Note that you use este when introducing a male, and esta when introducing a female. You can also just motion to each person as you say their name.
If the situation is formal, you can reply as follows.
- Mucho gusto.
- Encantado. – ‘Pleased to meet you.’
- Encantada.
If the situation is less formal, you can respond witht the following:
- ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?
- ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? – ‘Hello, how are you?’
Activity 6
Listen to people being introduced and decide whether the situation is formal or informal.
Discussion
In dialogue (a) the language used is informal: “Esta es…’’, “¡Hola, ¿qué tal?”. Fernando is introducing his friend María and his partner Liliana to another friend of his, Cristina.
Discussion
In dialogue (b) the language used is formal: “señora Hernández”, “señor Fernando Cortés”, “le presento”, etc. This conversation takes place in a work context, and the participants haven’t met before.
Activity 7
Listen to the audio below in which you are introduced to a number of people. Respond to the introduction formally or informally according to how they are introduced to you. Say your response out loud. A model answer is provided in the recording, although this may differ from the response you choose.
Note that encantada is said by a woman, encantado by a man; it does not depend on the gender of the person addressed, but on the gender of the person speaking.
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