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B1Spanish·20 cards

Raising a Teenager in Spain

Talk about your teenager with friends and negotiate curfews and rules at home in Spanish.

Spanish teenagers go out late: summer fiestas del barrio or del pueblo run past midnight, and the curfew debate (la hora de llegar) is a classic family fight. Parents vent to friends over a café and use tú with their kids, who use tú back. The cards follow a mother venting to a friend, then negotiating a Saturday night out with her fifteen-year-old.

Two women, one elderly and one middle-aged, walking together on a Madrid street, highlighting companionship.
Photo: Ricardo M M on Pexels
  1. 1

    Mi hija ya tiene quince años.

    My daughter's fifteen now.

  2. 2

    Ha cambiado muchísimo este año.

    She's changed so much this year.

  3. 3

    Se pasa el día pegada al móvil.

    She spends all day glued to her phone.

  4. 4

    Ya no me cuenta nada.

    She doesn't tell me anything anymore.

  5. 5

    Es la edad, ya se le pasará.

    It's just her age, it'll pass.

  6. 6

    Tú eras igual a su edad.

    You were exactly the same at her age.

  7. 7

    ¿Puedo salir con mis amigas el sábado?

    Can I go out with my friends on Saturday?

  8. 8

    ¿A qué hora tienes que estar en casa?

    What time do you have to be home?

  9. 9

    A todas las dejan hasta las dos.

    All the other girls are allowed out till two.

  10. 10

    Me da igual lo que hagan los demás.

    I don't care what everyone else does.

  11. 11

    ¡Nunca me dejas hacer nada!

    You never let me do anything!

  12. 12

    No me hables en ese tono.

    Don't talk to me in that tone.

  13. 13

    Mándame un mensaje cuando llegues.

    Text me when you get there.

  14. 14

    ¿Con quién vas a estar?

    Who are you going to be with?

  15. 15

    Ya no soy una cría.

    I'm not a little kid anymore.

  16. 16

    Vamos a hacer un trato.

    Let's make a deal.

  17. 17

    Si llegas tarde, el finde que viene te quedas sin salir.

    If you're late, you're grounded next weekend.

  18. 18

    Tiene exámenes y no da golpe.

    She's got exams and she's not doing a thing.

  19. 19

    Intento no estar encima de ella todo el rato.

    I try not to be on her back all the time.

  20. 20

    Confía un poco en mí, mamá.

    Trust me a bit, Mum.