Inviting Neighbors to a Get-Together
You are hosting a small BBQ or informal gathering in your backyard and decide to invite a few neighbors to join.
Estás organizando una pequeña barbacoa o reunión informal en tu patio trasero y decides invitar a unos pocos vecinos a unirse.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
wondering
This is the present participle of 'wonder,' used here in 'I was wondering' to politely ask a question or make a suggestion without being too direct. It's a common way to soften requests in English conversations.
Este es el participio presente de 'wonder', utilizado aquí en 'I was wondering' para hacer una pregunta o sugerencia de manera educada sin ser demasiado directo. Es una forma común de suavizar las solicitudes en las conversaciones en inglés.
free
Means available or not busy. In social contexts, like 'Are you free this Saturday?', it asks if someone has no plans and can join an event.
Significa disponible o no ocupado. En contextos sociales, como '¿Estás libre este sábado?', pregunta si alguien no tiene planes y puede unirse a un evento.
informal
Describes something relaxed and not formal, like casual clothes or events. Here, 'informal BBQ' means a friendly, easy-going gathering without strict rules.
Describe algo relajado y no formal, como ropa casual o eventos. Aquí, 'informal BBQ' significa una reunión amigable y relajada sin reglas estrictas.
BBQ
Short for barbecue, a popular outdoor cooking event where food like burgers is grilled. It's often casual and social, common in Western neighborhoods during good weather.
Abreviatura de barbecue, un evento popular de cocina al aire libre donde se asa comida como hamburguesas. A menudo es casual y social, común en barrios occidentales durante buen tiempo.
hanging out
Means spending time together in a relaxed way, without a specific plan. It's used for casual social activities like chatting or relaxing with friends or neighbors.
Significa pasar tiempo juntos de manera relajada, sin un plan específico. Se usa para actividades sociales casuales como charlar o relajarse con amigos o vecinos.
casual
Refers to something relaxed and not serious or formal. In invitations, 'keeping it casual' means no need for fancy clothes or preparations; just come as you are.
Se refiere a algo relajado y no serio o formal. En invitaciones, 'keeping it casual' significa que no es necesario ropa elegante o preparaciones; ven como estás.
catch up
Means to talk and share updates with someone you haven't seen in a while. It's useful in social invitations to show interest in reconnecting with neighbors or friends.
Significa hablar y compartir actualizaciones con alguien a quien no has visto en un tiempo. Es útil en invitaciones sociales para mostrar interés en reconectar con vecinos o amigos.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hey Sarah, I was wondering if you and Mike are free this Saturday afternoon?
This is a polite way to start an invitation by asking about availability. 'I was wondering' softens the question, making it less direct. Use this pattern when checking if someone can join an event; it's common in friendly neighbor talks.
Esta es una forma educada de iniciar una invitación preguntando sobre disponibilidad. 'I was wondering' suaviza la pregunta, haciéndola menos directa. Usa este patrón cuando verifiques si alguien puede unirse a un evento; es común en charlas amigables entre vecinos.
We're actually having a small, informal BBQ in our backyard, just grilling some burgers and hanging out.
This sentence describes the event clearly and casually. 'Actually' adds a sense of revealing information naturally. It's useful for explaining plans simply; the present continuous 'having' and 'hanging out' show ongoing, relaxed activities.
Esta oración describe el evento de manera clara y casual. 'Actually' añade un sentido de revelar información de forma natural. Es útil para explicar planes de manera simple; el presente continuo 'having' y 'hanging out' muestran actividades en curso, relajadas.
Is there anything we can bring?
A polite offer to contribute to the event, showing good manners in social situations. This question uses 'can' for possibility and is great for hosts and guests to build positive relations; it's a common phrase in invitations.
Una oferta educada para contribuir al evento, mostrando buenos modales en situaciones sociales. Esta pregunta usa 'can' para posibilidad y es genial para que anfitriones e invitados construyan relaciones positivas; es una frase común en invitaciones.
Oh, no need! We'll have plenty of food and drinks. Just bring yourselves!
This reassures the guest that nothing is required, keeping the event stress-free. 'No need' is idiomatic for 'not necessary,' and 'bring yourselves' is a friendly idiom meaning just come. Use it to make invitations welcoming and casual.
Esto tranquiliza al invitado de que no se necesita nada, manteniendo el evento sin estrés. 'No need' es una expresión idiomática para 'no es necesario', y 'bring yourselves' es una expresión idiomática amistosa que significa simplemente venir. Úsala para hacer las invitaciones acogedoras y casuales.
Let me just confirm with Mike, but I'm pretty sure we'd love to come.
This shows politeness by checking with others before committing. 'Confirm' means to verify, and 'pretty sure' expresses confidence softly. It's useful for group decisions in social plans; the conditional 'would' adds politeness.
Esto muestra cortesía al consultar con otros antes de comprometerse. 'Confirm' significa verificar, y 'pretty sure' expresa confianza de manera suave. Es útil para decisiones de grupo en planes sociales; el condicional 'would' añade cortesía.
Looking forward to it!
A positive closing phrase meaning excited about the future event. It's short and enthusiastic, often used to end invitations. This expression builds rapport and is versatile for any upcoming social gathering.
Una frase de cierre positiva que significa estar emocionado por el evento futuro. Es corta y entusiasta, a menudo usada para terminar invitaciones. Esta expresión construye rapport y es versátil para cualquier reunión social próxima.