Mexican Spanish: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Book Description

I would never have found this place, learned your name, shared a bottle of tequila - unless I'd opened this book...

o local expressions and cultural facts
o culinary guide to Mexico's world-famous cuisine
o shopping lingo, pick-up lines & sports speak

Customer Reviews:

Great Help in Learning Spanish.......2007-05-13

Mexican Spanish is a book I bought because I live in an area where there are many Mexican people. I have been trying to learn enough of their language to "get by". This book could be a tremendous help.

However, it is printed in very small print, as the book itself is pocket sized, a nice size to carry with me. The small print is understandable but the pastel colors of the text is more than difficult to read, especially since the print is so tiny. I think whoever put this book together was going for "attractive" but what I need most is black text!

Otherwise, I would reccommend this book to anyone who has some Spanish, surely not to someone who has not done at least a little studying of the language.

The book is well designed, just, harping on it again, the text needs to be black or at least dark red, navy blue, dark brown, dark green - to differentiate subjects. It is almost impossible to see the tildes and accent marks. One needs a magnifying glass! The italics that are supposed to tell one which syllable of the words must be accented for correct pronounciation, again, are almost impossible to detect.

Good Refresher.......2007-04-01

I used to speak pretty fluent Spanish when I was in high school, but with years of neglect and non-use, I've become a bit rusty. This book is a great refresher on key phrases and structure, and will fit in your pocket quite easily.
Don't expect to have a long, involved conversation using this book (only reason I gave this a 4), but if you're going on a trip, there are plenty of phrases to help you out in MANY types of situations. The scenarios in this book are QUITE comprehensive. I also have the Lonely Planet Japanese handbook which is also quite good.

So handy, I bought two........2007-01-12

This little book is packed with valuable information and advise when traveling in Mexico.I found the phrases useful and adequate. The book covers every thing from buying groceries to ending up in the Doctor's office. The size of the book is also a plus since it fits into small purses and fanny packs. In 06,I spent a month in Mexico going to village to village and found this book immensley helpful. Go for it!

Don't go to Mexico without it!.......2006-05-13

My wife and I went to Mexico to get married and we are not Spanish speakers. This handy book is first class and here are the reasons why:-

The book is small enough to easily fit into a coat or shirt pocket.

It has drawings of common situations with arrows pointing at items in the drawing with the Mexican word highlighted (how much easier could they make it)

The sections in the book are colour coordinated according to the situations you may find yourself (reservations,dining,partying... etc. Flick to the section and then use the obvious sentences to converse around the subject.

Pronunciation and grammar are explained clearly at the start of the book and all the words in the book are laid out phonetically (the only way you are going to get this wrong is if you can't read)

In conclusion, a first class guide, when we showed the book to the locals in Mexico they wanted to know if they could buy it in Mexico as they didn't think they could. They loved the pictures and even chipped in to help with correct pronunciation if we went astray.

The Mexican slang in the book is spot on, the Mexicans couldn't believe that some of the words were in the book.

When I go back to Mexico this book will be in my pocket, don't leave home without it.

Highly recommended

Reasonably good Mexican Spanish, TERRIBLE pronunciation guide.......2005-09-16

This handy new phrasebook is MUCH closer to the Mexican Spanish being spoken today than any other I have found. It's actually pretty good, BUT the pronunciation guide is very, very bad for anyone from the central/western US or western Canada. If you're from those areas and don't already have some idea of correct Spanish pronunciation, avoid this phrasebook.

I think the authors must have had some idea about this in advance, since they tell you, "Don't worry too much about pronunciation." That of course is totally wrong. Spanish is one of the world's almost perfectly phonetic languages and pronunciation is the MOST important thing about being understood.

Latin American Spanish: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Average customer rating:

Very Good Phrasebook
A neat, useful dictionary
Keep this one away from the kiddies!
A great, basic phrasebook
3rd edition was better

Latin American Spanish: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
Roberto Esposto , and Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740591704

Book Description

Speak the right lingo in country after country, for over 5,000 miles! This book covers the local Spanish of: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Phrasebook.......2007-05-04

This is not a Latin American Spanish course or a full dictionary as some seem to think it should be. It contains many useful words and phrases that are helpful for travellers and for those taking a comprehensive language course and want to be able to speak the language quickly. I found it quite helpful.

A neat, useful dictionary.......2007-01-29

FOr most situations, you will find the exact phrase. For a more substantive discussions, the dictionary is weak-ish, but it will get you through. It's a useful accessory for any Latin American travel in case you're a total Spanish dumm, like me. :)

Keep this one away from the kiddies!.......2006-03-27

I thought this was basically alright. We liked DK much better, and found ourselves using it a lot more. DK was better at grammar and pronunciation as well. The layout was good and easy to follow (Lonely Planet). However, a word of caution,there is a whole social section of phrases that you will want to keep away from the kids! This is clearly an adults only phrase book!

A great, basic phrasebook.......2006-03-08

This book has worked out great for me. I bought it for my trip to the climbing area, El Potrero Chico, in Mexico. Lucky for me, English will get you by around the climbing area. However, when I wander into town, Spanish is a necessity. This book is by no means comprehensive, but it's great for a book that fits in your pocket. If I knew nothing about the language, it might not be enough. However, since I took Spanish 10 years ago in High School and remember the basics, it is perfect. I only have one small complaint...I know it is not meant as a 2-way dictionary, but it does have a small one with important words in it. I would prefer it if that section was larger.

3rd edition was better.......2004-01-10

I originally picked up the 3rd edition some time ago, and found it to be a wonderful reference. The layout was easy to follow, and the dictionary had most of the words that I would use in brief conversations. The grammar section also helped me pick up the lttle differences that seperated Spanish form Portuguese. Because it was so pratical and user friendly I decided to pick up a set of these books for a brief Spanish course I was going to teach. Unfortunately the 4th edition almost entirely left out any talk on grammar. While not much of an issue if the book is used exclusively as a phrasebook, it is extremely limiting in what this book can teach you. Lists of common verbs are absent. List of conjugations are also absent. Unbelievable! While the layout has improved, and the food dictionary is nice, I can't beleive they would voluntarily leave out any discussion of verb conjugation! For this reason I really can't recommend buying this book. Look for the 3rd edition. The breif information on grammar there makes the two books worlds apart in how far they will take you in picking up the language.

Lonely Planet Costa Rica Spanish Phrasebook (Phrasebooks)

Average customer rating:

Well organized and useful
This book has phrases for every occasion!
Please add local expressions
Bad mistakes
Grammar and cultural mistakes...

Lonely Planet Costa Rica Spanish Phrasebook (Phrasebooks)
Thomas Kohnstamm
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1864501057

Book Description

In Costa Rica, it's impossible not to get caught up in the feeling of Pura Vida, 'pure life'. So whether selecting from the huge range of traditional dishes, dancing the merenge at a fiesta, or cheering a toro brava, 'fighting bull', this book will help you get into the swing.

join in the crowd at a rodeo, street festival or salsa club
loads of cultural & traveling tips, whether you go by bus, scooter or donkey
sections on diving, hiking and surfing
includes Lim n Creole, the language of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast
music, food, shopping, art & more

Customer Reviews:

Well organized and useful.......2005-08-26

This is a handy phrase book for those who have no knowledge of Spanish and for those situations where you just need to be that much more specific in communicating your needs. It's not too big, so it's relatively easy to travel with.

This book has phrases for every occasion!.......2005-07-21

Tins book will help you in just about every situation; meeting people, getting around, accommodations, food, illegal drugs, Dating, Romance and Intimate phrases, dealing with police, and lots more!

Most people in the tourist areas spoke enough English to get by but I found this book invaluable to brush up on my memories of high school Spanish so that I could communicate in any situation while I was in Costa Rica

Please add local expressions.......2005-06-16

This phrasebook is very well organised. This is its strong point, I think. This is what I told some English people who asked for my advice (I am a Costarican). I also told them that I think it covers all the expected areas of vocabulary, like airport, travelling, food, but it could cater better for local expressions, the voccabulary local people use. This is what I am asking for, perhaps for the next edition.

Bad mistakes.......2005-06-03

Just for the author's attention in the dating and romance section the phrase "sacate" does NOT mean take off your clothes, and it can be taken as a very vulgar remark in Spanish. Just one many mistakes in Spanish that this book has.

Grammar and cultural mistakes..........2005-05-20

I agree with several of the criticisms raised about this book. Imagine if you picked up a phrasebook for your native region and found mistake after mistake about your native language and about how you and your fellow countrymen and women speak the language. Most of the tourists who rate this book excellent probably do so because they don't understand Costa Rican Spanish and because the were able to use some of the phrases and be understood while in Costa Rica. This is fine but they should also know that many of the phrases are incorrect. The point is if you are going to publish something and claim this is the way an entire country of people speak then it should be accurate and at the very least be free of all the grammar mistakes that this book has. It is also true as one reviewer points out that here in Costa Rica we do not use tu but vos or actually usted unless you know the person very well and are being informal. This is a major mistake considering the book is supposed to help foreigners fit in. I could not recommend this book to anyone.

Average customer rating:

Traveltalk Mexican Spanish (Traveltalk)
Lonely Planet Publications
Manufacturer: Penton Overseas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1591258367

Book Description

Get the words you need to communicate and get around, plus a musical introduction to your destination! The classic audio of 300 essential travel words & phrases. An enhanced audio CD with the U-Print PDF quick-reference audio guide NEW! A music CD offering a variety of selections reflecting national culture NEW! The latest edition of the comprehensive Lonely Planet Phrasebook with two-way dictionary and cultural insights. The unique audio includes both what you hear and what you say to interact with locals at hotels, restaurants, shops - anywhere your travels take you! The enhanced CD with PDF audio guide means that you can reprint it any time you need - perfect for groups! Meanwhile, what better way to immerse yourself in the culture than listening to its rhythms!

Lonely Planet Traveltalk Latin American Spanish (Traveltalk)

Average customer rating:

User friendly for travelers
Mediocre. There are better CD + phrase book packs out there.

Lonely Planet Traveltalk Latin American Spanish (Traveltalk)
Inc. Penton Overseas
Manufacturer: Penton Overseas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

User friendly for travelers.......2006-07-27

If you want to learn Spanish for travel to Spain, this is a very useful product. Contrary to the previous review, the English speaking woman has a standard midwestern American speaking voice and the Spanish speaking man is easy to understand. They cover phrases useful for the traveler, but you do need to use it with the book, which covers all kinds of modern day phrases for many situations, including some elementary grammar so you can personalize your sentences. Especially useful are sections covering different Spanish dialects including Basque and Galacian. Even if you don't attempt to actually speak these dialects, having a reference to road & other signs will be useful if you travel in these areas. The book is very compact and easily fits in a pocket or purse.

Mediocre. There are better CD + phrase book packs out there........2005-04-04

First I should say I went overboard and bought 5 (yes FIVE!) different spanish audio CD kits... (please read all my reviews)
I did this because:
1) They are cheap enough to,
2) I thought if I got bored of one I could listen to a different CD from another kit, rather than listening to the same CD 5 times over, and
3) Hardly any reviews have been written and you just don't know what you're buying (meaning: I couldn't decide, so I bought them all!).
____________________________________

This pack includes a 60 minute audio CD and phrase book... I am just beginning to learn spanish & I think you need to hear the spoken language before you can really begin to learn it. It's best if you can repeat the words to yourself. While that is okay, I think the CD isn't as good as the ones in other sets. There is a damn lot of spanish learning audio material out there which this set has to compete with...

Now on to the info about this set...

The 60 minute CD has virtually no intros or explanations, it seems to adhere strictly to repetition of english & spanish words & phrases.

The english speaking host is a female, with a somewhat annoying American accent. The spanish voice is provided by a male. I can't say I enjoy listening to his accent either.

In each case, the word or phrase is 1st said in english by the American woman, then it is repeated twice by the spanish guy.

The recordings + words are clear enough, but the bottom line is the whole CD is pretty BORING. It lacks the enthusiasm of the Collins or DK audio CDs....
This is not a good start to learning a new language. I've never really been a big fan of Lonely Planet stuff. What is all the fuss about, I wonder?

At least the phrase book is okay... but I'm sure there a plenty of separate reviews for that.

__________________________________________

I can tell that not all CD + phrase book packs are created equal.... For a single CD + phrase book I'd recommend either the Collins Gem spanish phrase book + Audio CD kit or the Dorling Kindersley (DK) Eyewitness Travel guide phrase book + audio CD travel pack. They are both cheaper too!

V HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL TO YOU!

Lonely Planet Latin American Spanish Phrasebook

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Latin American Spanish Phrasebook
Anna Cody
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864423438

Traveltalk: Spanish Latin America (TravelTalk)

Average customer rating:

Travel Talk Spanish (European)

Traveltalk: Spanish Latin America (TravelTalk)
Inc Penton Overseas , and Lonely Planet Publications
Manufacturer: Penton Overseas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1560156384

Book Description

In each compact TravelTalk kit: 60-minute audio cassette in both English and the target language provides key words and phrases with accurate native pronunciationHandy fold-out audio guide for quick on-the-spot reference and reinforcementLonely Planet Phrasebook/Dictionary features clear and comprehensive grammar chapters, an extensive, 2-way dictionary, information on local culture plus travel tips

Customer Reviews:

Travel Talk Spanish (European).......2001-04-06

Small, packable book is really great. Helpful grammar and pronuncialtion advice, vocabulary and phrases grouped by activity.

Tape may be accurate, native-speaker pronunciation, but I wanted a tape to listen to in the car to help me prepare for travel. Too hard to hear exactly what the words/letters in the words are when you're not familiar with the words in the first place.

I had 2 years of high school Spanish years ago, but I still couldn't differentiate many of the word sounds.

IF you want a cassette that's more basic so that you can understand and memorize the words and phrases before you go on to this more advanced tape, try Spanish for Gringos. His tone is a bit patronizing, but it's clearer to begin with.

Book Description

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, particularly owing to the large number of people speaking Spanish in Latin America. The Latin American countries where Spanish is the predominant language are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panana, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.

two-way dictionary; dialect variations; slang; grammar specific to Latin American usage
usage and vocabulary differences from country to country identified
conversation topics such as sport, current issues and romance
attractive illustrations and two-colour throughout
specific needs include business, health, gay and travelling with children

Customer Reviews:

Perfect size to always have on you..........2002-07-18

I have traveled all over Mexico with this book in my back pocket. It has an execellent grammar/verb conjugation review section for those who know some Spanish but can't always remember. The phrases are logically grouped and reflect real situations. The phrases can easily be dissected and put back together to fit almost any situation. Lonely Planet did an excellent job of squeezing a lot into a pocket size book.

Looks great, but was of very little use.......2002-04-30

Everything about this phrase book looks great - it seems well designed and seems to carry the right information.

The only problem is that whenever I opened it to look up something I didn't understand, I didn't find it in this book. Not once!

Here are some examples:

- I wanted the Spanish word for "delivery". Nowhere to be found, not in the mail section, nor in the dictionary.

- I was using an ATM and one of the choices was "Ahorro" and I had no idea what that was. But this book was no help, not in the banking section, nor in the dictionary. (The word means "savings", by the way.)

- I was in a restaurant and on the menu was "mole sauce". This was not in the menu section of the book, nor in the dictionary. It turns out that it is a non-sweet chocolate sauce for meat.

These are only a few examples. In every case, the book was no help.

However, the book has some strange phrases like "I want to marry you". Why would you need a phrasebook for that? Would you really want to marry someone whom you could not communicate well enough with to ask them to marry you?

In short, the overall organization of the book is great, but the choice of content is poor.

Not recommended.

An Essential Companion to South/Central American travel.......2000-12-03

For someone who has just returned from South America after 3 months travelling, I have to say that this book was a "life-saver" on many occasions and made my time there much easier than perhaps it could have been.

The phrasebook has a complete listing of words for any situation: from "Menu Decoders" to "Booking a Room at a hotel", and from "Market Barterring" to even "Political or Philosophical discussions".

Perhaps, however, the most amusing chapter in the phrasebook has to be the "Dating and Romance" section where everything from "Can I buy you a drink" to "Can I take you home" and finally "Will you marry me" is translated!

This book also, very importantly, takes into account dialectical variations of words and often includes different regional variations on certain translations.

If you cannot be bothered with looking for a topic/chapter, then there is an really conveniant, concise two-way dictionary at the back - which has the translation of virtually every word you would need to know on your travels.

On my travels I came into contact with many fellow travellers with a whole range of different phrase books, however this one was certainly the best that I have come across. And more importantly, it is a POCKET phrasebook which means that you can keep it in your pocket so that it is easily accessable.

This book, along with a general travel guide of the area, is absolutely essential for anyone who is thinking of travelling to South/Central America, and who is not completely fluent in Spanish.

An essential companion.

Do not travel without it.......2000-06-22

This book is great. It was a indispensible help throught my journeys in South America as it covers almost all situations you can find yourself in to. From finding your missing luggage at the airport, to clarifying a restaurants menu or how to ask for an aspirin, surely this book is not to miss!

Taalgids - Latijns-Amerikaans Spaans (Lonely Planet Dutch Phrasebooks)

Average customer rating:

Taalgids - Latijns-Amerikaans Spaans (Lonely Planet Dutch Phrasebooks)

Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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