Which Spanish phrases matter most here?

“Vengo a dejar este abrigo para limpiar.” (I’ve come to drop off this coat for cleaning); “¿Se puede quitar esta mancha?” (Can this stain be removed); “Aquí tiene su resguardo.” (Here’s your ticket). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Spain. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Spanish phrases for dry cleaning and shoe repairs in Spain

At a Spanish dry cleaner’s, a tintorería, say “Vengo a dejar este abrigo para limpiar” and ask “¿Se puede quitar esta mancha?”. Keep the slip, el resguardo, and ask “¿Cuándo puedo pasar a recogerlo?”. At a shoe repair shop, say “Necesito arreglar estos zapatos”.

Try it · about two minutes

You leave a coat at the dry cleaner’s and shoes at the shoe repair shop next door, and ask when they’ll be ready.

Sound on: the shop assistant speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Shop assistant
Dígame, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle?
Hello, how can I help you?
You
Vengo a dejar este abrigo para limpiar.
I’ve come to drop off this coat for cleaning.
Shop assistant
Tiene una mancha.
It has a stain.
You
¿Se puede quitar esta mancha?
Can this stain be removed?
Shop assistant
Aquí tiene su resguardo.
Here’s your ticket.
You
¿Cuándo puedo pasar a recogerlo?
When can I come and pick it up?
Shop assistant
Estará listo el jueves por la tarde.
It’ll be ready on Thursday afternoon.
You
¿Hasta qué hora abren?
What time are you open until?
Next door, at the shoe repair shop, the cobbler looks up and waits for you to speak.
You
Necesito arreglar estos zapatos.
I need to get these shoes repaired.
Shop assistant
Se los arreglo para mañana por la tarde.
I can have them done for tomorrow afternoon.
You
Perfecto, mañana paso a por ellos.
Perfect, I’ll come for them tomorrow.

Which Spanish phrases do you need?

Vengo a dejar este abrigo para limpiar.
I’ve come to drop off this coat for cleaning.
¿Se puede quitar esta mancha?
Can this stain be removed?
Aquí tiene su resguardo.
Here’s your ticket.
¿Cuándo puedo pasar a recogerlo?
When can I come and pick it up?
Estará listo el jueves por la tarde.
It’ll be ready on Thursday afternoon.
Vengo a recoger una camisa.
I’m here to pick up a shirt.
Necesito arreglar estos zapatos.
I need to get these shoes repaired.
Se me ha despegado la suela del zapato.
The sole of my shoe has come unstuck.
¿Me puede cambiar las tapas de los tacones?
Could you replace the heel tips?
¿Cuánto tardáis en arreglarlo?
How long does it take you to fix it?

What is worth knowing in Spain?

Leaving something to be cleaned

1
Say what you’re leaving, and point out any stain.
Can this stain be removed?
2
Keep the slip you’re given, el resguardo.
Here’s your ticket.
3
Come back for it with the slip.
I’m here to pick up a shirt.

Tintorería or lavandería?

A tintorería cleans your clothes for you. A lavandería is often a launderette where you wash your own clothes, though some will wash a load for you.

At the shoe repair shop

A zapatero mends soles, heels and heel tips, and small jobs are often done quickly. Point at the problem or say what happened.

¿Me puede cambiar las tapas de los tacones?

Could you replace the heel tips?

Questions about this situation

Which Spanish phrases matter most here?: “Vengo a dejar este abrigo para limpiar.” (I’ve come to drop off this coat for cleaning); “¿Se puede quitar esta mancha?” (Can this stain be removed); “Aquí tiene su resguardo.” (Here’s your ticket). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Spain. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Spanish

All situations in Spanish

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

Try free on the App Store (opens the App Store in a new tab)

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.