Did you know that one of the first conversations you will have in Spanish will be about your daily routine? “What time do you get up?” “What do you do in the afternoons?” are questions you will hear constantly. Mastering the vocabulary of your daily routine will not only allow you to communicate better, but will open doors to deeper, more authentic conversations with Spanish speakers.
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Essential Daily Routine Vocabulary
🌅 Por la Mañana - Morning
Despertarse – “Me despierto a las siete” (- To wake up -“I wake up at seven”)
Levantarse – “Me levanto temprano” (-To get up – “I get up early”)
Ducharse – “Me ducho antes de desayunar” (- To shower/take a shower – “I shower before breakfast”)
Vestirse – “Me visto rápidamente” (- To get dressed – “I get dressed quickly”)
Desayunar – “Desayuno café con tostadas” (- To have breakfast – “I have coffee and toast for breakfast”)
Lavarse los dientes – “Me lavo los dientes después de comer” (- To brush one’s teeth – “I brush my teeth after eating”)
Peinarse – “Me peino antes de salir” (-To comb one’s hair – “I comb my hair before leaving” )
Salir de casa – “Salgo de casa a las ocho” (-To leave home – “I leave home at eight” )
☀️ During the Day - Durante el Día
Trabajar – “Trabajo de nueve a cinco” ( – To work – “I work from nine to five”)
Estudiar – “Estudio por las mañanas” ( – To study – “I study in the mornings”)
Comer – “Como a las dos de la tarde” ( – To eat/have lunch – “I eat/have lunch at two in the afternoon” )
Hacer una pausa – “Hago una pausa para el café” ( – To take a break – “I take a break for coffee”)
Ir de compras – “Voy de compras los sábados” ( – To go shopping – “I go shopping on Saturdays”)
Hacer ejercicio – “Hago ejercicio tres veces por semana” ( – To exercise/work out- “I exercise three times a week”)
Reunirse con amigos – “Me reúno con amigos después del trabajo” ( – To meet up with friends – “I meet up with friends after work” )
🌆 Por la Tarde/Noche - Afternoon/evening
Volver a casa – “Vuelvo a casa sobre las seis” ( – To come back home/return home – “I come back home around six”)
Merendar – “Meriendo algo ligero” ( – To have an afternoon snack – “I have a light snack”)
Cenar – “Ceno con mi familia” ( – To have dinner – “I have dinner with my family”)
Ver la televisión – “Veo la televisión después de cenar” ( – To watch TV – “I watch TV after dinner”)
Leer – “Leo antes de dormir” ( – To read – “I read before sleeping”)
Acostarse – “Me acuesto a las once” ( – To go to bed – “I go to bed at eleven”)
Dormir – “Duermo ocho horas” ( – To sleep – “I sleep eight hours”)
Time Expressions for your Routine
📅 Frecuencia - Frequency
Todos los días – “Me levanto temprano todos los días” ( – Every day – “I get up early every day” )
A menudo – “A menudo voy al gimnasio” ( – Often – “I often go to the gym” )
A veces – “A veces trabajo hasta tarde” ( – Sometimes – “Sometimes I work late” )
Nunca – “Nunca desayuno en casa” ( – Never – “I never have breakfast at home” )
Siempre – “Siempre me ducho por la mañana” ( – Always – “I always shower in the morning” )
⏰ Horarios
Por la mañana – “Trabajo por la mañana” ( – In the morning – “I work in the morning”)
Al mediodía – “Como al mediodía” ( – At noon/at midday -“I eat at noon/midday”)
Por la tarde – “Estudio por la tarde” ( – In the afternoon – “I study in the afternoon”)
Por la noche – “Salgo con amigos por la noche” ( – At night/in the evening – “I go out with friends at night” )
De madrugada – “A veces trabajo de madrugada” ( – In the early morning/at dawn – “Sometimes I work in the early morning/at dawn” )
🕐 Specific Hours
A las ocho en punto – “Me levanto a las ocho en punto” ( – At eight o’clock sharp – “I get up at eight o’clock sharp” )
A las dos y media – “Como a las dos y media” ( – At two thirty/at half past two – “I eat at two thirty/half past two”)
Sobre las diez – “Me acuesto sobre las diez” ( – Around ten – “I go to bed around ten”)
Antes de las nueve – “Salgo antes de las nueve” ( – Before nine – “I leave before nine”)
Después de las cinco – “Vuelvo después de las cinco” ( – After five – “I come back after five”)
Reflexive Verbs: The Key to Routine
Reflexive verbs are fundamental to talk about personal routines:
Me levanto (levantarse) ( – to get up – “I get up” )
Te duchas (ducharse) ( – to shower – “You shower/take a shower” )
Se viste (vestirse) ( – to get dressed – “He/She gets dressed” )
Nos acostamos (acostarse) ( – to go to bed – “We go to bed”)
Os peinéis (peinarse) ( – to comb one’s hair – “You (plural) comb your hair” )
Se despiertan (despertarse) ( – to wake up – “They wake up” )
Examples in Context:
“Me despierto a las siete, pero me levanto a las siete y cuarto” – (“I wake up at seven, but I get up at quarter past seven” )
“Después de desayunar, me lavo los dientes y me voy a trabajar” – (“After having breakfast, I brush my teeth and go to work” )
“Por las noches, ceno, veo un poco la televisión y me acuesto” – (“In the evenings, I have dinner, watch some TV and go to bed” )
Cultural Differences in Routines
In Spain
El almuerzo – Lunch is at 14:00-15:00 – much later than in other countries.
La cena – Dinner is at 21:00-22:00 – Also considerably late.
La siesta – The siesta – Many Spaniards rest after lunch
Horarios nocturnos – Late night hours – Social life extends late into the evening
🌍 In Latin America
Timetables vary from country to country – Each country has its own customs
El desayuno – Breakfast can be more plentiful – Especially in Mexico
La merienda – Snacking is important – Especially for children.
Tips for Talking about your Routine
1. Start Simple
It begins by describing basic activities, “Me levanto, desayuno, trabajo, como, vuelvo a casa, ceno, duermo.” ( “I get up, eat breakfast, work, eat, go home, eat dinner, sleep.”)
2. Use Connectors
Primero – “Primero me ducho” (- First – “First I shower”)
Después – “Después desayuno” (- Then/After that – “Then I have breakfast” )
Luego – “Luego me voy a trabajar” (- Then/Next – “Then I go to work” )
Finalmente – “Finalmente me acuesto” (- Finally – “Finally I go to bed” )
3. Practice Reflexive Verbs
They are essential and are used constantly in Spanish. Memorize the basic conjugations.
4. Adapt to your Reality
Don’t copy other people’s routines. Describe YOUR real routine to make it sound authentic.
5. Question about Routines
“¿A qué hora te levantas?” – (“What time do you get up?” )
“¿Qué haces los fines de semana?” – (“What do you do on weekends?” )
“¿Cómo es tu día típico?” – (“What’s your typical day like?” / “How is your typical day?” )
Model Conversation
A: ¿Cómo es tu rutina diaria?” – “What is your daily routine like?”
B: “Bueno, me levanto a las siete, me ducho y desayuno rápidamente. Salgo de casa a las ocho para ir al trabajo. Como a las dos con mis compañeros y vuelvo a casa sobre las seis. Por la noche ceno, veo un poco la televisión y me acuesto a las once. ¿Y tú?”
A: “Yo me levanto más tarde, sobre las ocho y media…”
🎯 Master the Spanish Routines!
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