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ePaper created 2014-06-22, 15:43:25 | version 1.31.00
26 News, Views & Sunshine TheCanaryNews.com El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria Summer 2014 Ever need to call someone out to fix your washing ma- chine, water heater or TV? You might find this lesson use- ful for communicating the fault in question, and to avoid being ripped off. FINDING A HANDYMAN Online, enter key words in Spanish plus your town to find the right kind of repairman for your problem. Try typing in: reparación de… (repair of) and then the ítem in question: ELECTRODOMESTICOS (household appliances): horno/ placa eléctrica – oven/electric hob lavadora/lavavajillas– washing machine/dishwasher calentador de agua/termo eléctrico - water heater televisor/equipo de música - tv set, stereo. A more gen- eral description is reparación electrónica which covers all electronic repairs arreglo de ordenadores means fixing/mending of com- puters, and look for ‘servicio a domicilio’ (in-home ser- vice) Necesito un fontanero en Puerto Rico, (I need a plumber in Puerto Rico). For electrician, it´s electricista Anyone who fixes things is a técnico (technician), a build- er is un constructor, while a more general handyman is un manitas. EL PRESUPUESTO: THE ESTIMATE Some companies have a minimum call-out fee, so ask: ¿se cobran los gastos de desplazamiento? (do you charge for the travelling expense?). Find out if you can get a quote first: ¿Puede darme un presupuesto para arreglar mi lavadora/secadora? Can you give me a quote to fix my washing maching/tumble dryer? Find out what time the repairman is coming: ¿a qué hora viene el técnico? and ask that he calls you before arriving: ¿Puede llamar/me antes de venir? EXPLAINING THE FAULT La máquina no funciona (the machine doesn´t work – lit- erally, ‘it no functions’). For example: El cd (seh-deh) no funciona en mi equipo de música (the cd doesn´t function/work on my stereo). hay un escape (eh-SCA-peh) de agua - there´s a water leak (lit: an escape of wáter) el lávabo/fregadero está atascado (the bathroom/kitchen sink is blocked up) No hay agua caliente – there isn´t any hot wáter. ¿Se puede instalar un cable/reparar el grifo? – Can you install a cable/repair the tap? CAR TROUBLE? Call un mecánico (mechanic) or take your car to el taller (the garaje, literally the workshop). An MOT is called ITV (ee teh ooh-beh). If there is a fault – una avería, you might hear: necesito comprar los recambios – I need to buy the spare parts. Maybe the engine wont start: el motor no arranca; or the car broke down: mi coche se rompió. There´s an oil leak: hay un escape de aceite or a strange noise: un ruido ex- traño. How much is it to change a tyre? ¿Cuánto es para cambiar un neumático? FACTURA Y GARANTÍA Try to get a guarantee: ¿Puede darme una garantía es- crita? Can you give me a written guarantee? If you need a formal invoice tell them ‘necesito una factu- ra oficial’ as a handwritten receipt - un recibo - will not satisfy an insurance company. PRACTICE PRONUNCIATION Go to www.spanishdict.com and type the word or phrase you want to translate, then click on the speaker button to hear how it is pronounced. Free language exchange: Meet the locals! Spanish conversation club with Cynthia Blickstein Griner every second Saturday San Fernando 6pm. For details: cynthiagriner@yahoo.es For more info about language exchanges or Spanish lessons, email theresacoe@gmail.com or see: www.facebook.com/LEGintercambio SpanishLesson86 with Theresa Coe JUAN’LL FIX IT - SPANISH FOR WORKMEN