Pralingo

Spanish · A1 · Reading

Signs and notices

On the door, in a shop, at a hotel: signs are often the first Spanish texts you read on a trip. They are short, usually without an and often in capital letters – and you already know almost all the words.

Open or closed?

On the door it says ABIERTO (open) or CERRADO (closed). You read the opening hours with the days of the week and times you already know: De lunes a viernes: de 9:00 a 14:00 means "Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm".

In a sentence the adjective agrees: La tienda está abierta. El banco está cerrado.

In a shop

OFERTA shows an offer, GRATIS means free of charge. You pay at the CAJA, and small signs show PRECIO with the price: PRECIO: 3 €.

In a building

In hotels, stations and big shops, INFORMACIÓN can help you. You get upstairs with the ASCENSOR (lift) or by the ESCALERA (stairs). In a hotel you find the RECEPCIÓN.

Entrance, exit and doors

ENTRADA is the entrance, SALIDA the exit. Doors often say EMPUJAR (push) or TIRAR (pull). On signs, the toilets are ASEOS; on their door, LIBRE shows that it is free and OCUPADO that it is occupied. As words, you learn the with their : la entrada, la salida, los aseos.

Please note

Some signs ask you to do something or forbid something: SILENCIO, POR FAVOR – please be quiet, for example in the library. PROHIBIDO FUMAR means "no smoking".

Examples

  • ABIERTO
  • CERRADO
  • OFERTA
  • CAJA
  • ASCENSOR
  • ENTRADA
  • SALIDA
  • PROHIBIDO FUMAR
  • SILENCIO, POR FAVOR

Exercises

A1ReadingSigns and notices

Exercise 1 of 5

What does the sign say?

Match each sign with its meaning.

What does the sign mean?

Now the signs at entrances, doors and toilets. For each situation, think: what do you want to do, and what does the sign say?

A1ReadingSigns and notices

Exercise 2 of 5

Entrance, exit, door

Choose the right sign for each situation.

You want to go into the cinema:
The film is over and you want to go out:
You mustn't smoke a cigarette here:
You have to push the door away from you:
You have to pull the door towards you by the handle:
In a restaurant you are looking for the toilet:
On the toilet door: nobody is inside, you can go in:
On the toilet door: somebody is inside, you have to wait:

Opening hours are on almost every door. With the days of the week and times you know, you can already read them.

A1ReadingSigns and notices

Exercise 3 of 5

When is the bakery open?

Read the sign and complete the sentences.

PANADERÍA LUNA
De lunes a viernes: de 8:00 a 14:00
Sábado: de 9:00 a 13:00
Domingo: cerrado
El domingo la panadería está .
El martes a las 10:00 la panadería está .
El sábado a las 15:00 la panadería está .
De lunes a viernes la panadería abre a las .
El sábado está abierta hasta la .
A1ReadingSigns and notices

Exercise 4 of 5

Which sign are you looking for?

Choose the right sign for each situation.

Quiero pagar. Busco :
Mi habitación está en el quinto piso y estoy muy . Busco :
No sé dónde está el baño. Voy a:
En la biblioteca hay un cartel:
Hoy el café cuesta solo un euro. En la tienda hay un cartel:
Llego al hotel. Primero voy a:
A1ReadingSigns and notices

Exercise 5 of 5

A note on the door

Read the notice and choose the correct meaning.

«CERRADO POR VACACIONES. Abrimos el 1 de septiembre.»