Sightseeing

1. Onde está a catedral?

   Where is the cathedral?

   Usage

   Ask where the cathedral is; in Galicia the best-known one is in Santiago de Compostela

   Grammar Note

   Location questions use estar. "Catedral" is feminine; the dictionary example is "A catedral de Santiago de Compostela"

2. A que hora abre o museo?

   What time does the museum open?

   Usage

   Ask what time a museum or attraction opens

   Grammar Note

   "Museo" is masculine. Times are asked with "a que hora"; question words carry no accent

3. Pode tirarnos unha foto?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask a passer-by to take your photo

   Grammar Note

   "Tirar unha foto" is attested in the dictionary. The pronoun "nos" attaches to the infinitive without a hyphen

4. Canto custa a entrada?

   How much is the admission fee?

   Usage

   Ask the admission price; "entrada" means both the ticket and the entrance

   Grammar Note

   "Canto" is the unaccented question word. "Entrada" is feminine and means entering or entrance; for a ticket "billete" is also used

5. Ten un mapa da cidade?

   Do you have a city map?

   Usage

   Ask at a tourist office or shop whether they have a city map

   Grammar Note

   Questions to vostede use the 3rd person "ten". "Mapa" ends in -a but is masculine; de + a contracts to "da"

6. Hai visitas guiadas en inglés?

   Are there guided tours in English?

   Usage

   Ask whether guided tours in English are available

   Grammar Note

   "Visita guiada" is a guided visit; the adjective agrees as feminine plural. Language names are lowercase

7. Cal é o horario?

   What are the opening hours?

   Usage

   Ask for the opening hours of a place

   Grammar Note

   "Horario" is a masculine noun for a schedule of hours. "Cal" carries no accent

8. Hai desconto para estudantes?

   Is there a student discount?

   Usage

   Ask whether there is a student discount

   Grammar Note

   "Desconto" is masculine, unlike Spanish descuento in spelling. "Estudante" is the same for both genders; plural "estudantes"

9. Este lugar é incrible!

   This place is incredible!

   Usage

   An exclamation when you are impressed by a place or view

   Grammar Note

   "Incrible" is the dictionary form (incríbel is also accepted). Exclamations take only the closing "!", no "¡"

10. Canto tempo dura a visita?

    How long does the visit take?

    Usage

    Ask how long a visit takes

    Grammar Note

    "Durar" means to last. "Canto" agrees with masculine singular tempo; visita is feminine

11. A Torre de Hércules está na Coruña

    The Tower of Hercules is in A Coruña

    Usage

    Say where a famous Galician sight is; Galician place names use the official Galician spelling

    Grammar Note

    The city is "A Coruña", where "A" is part of the name; with en it contracts to "na Coruña"

12. As Rías Baixas teñen praias marabillosas

    The Rías Baixas have wonderful beaches

    Usage

    Say that the Rías Baixas, the southwest coast of Galicia, have wonderful beaches

    Grammar Note

    The 3rd plural of ter is "teñen" (singular "ten"). The adjective agrees with praias: "marabillosas"

13. Lugo ten unha muralla romana impresionante

    Lugo has an impressive Roman wall

    Usage

    Comment on the Roman walls of Lugo

    Grammar Note

    "Muralla" is feminine; the dictionary example is "A muralla lucense". Adjectives follow the noun

14. Quero visitar o Pazo de Oca

    I want to visit the Pazo de Oca

    Usage

    Say you want to visit the Pazo de Oca, a Galician manor house

    Grammar Note

    "Pazo" is a dictionary word for a large noble residence in Galicia; in a proper name it is capitalised. First person of querer is "quero"

15. O Pórtico da Gloria é unha obra románica impresionante

    The Pórtico da Gloria is an impressive Romanesque work

    Usage

    Comment on the Pórtico da Gloria of the Santiago cathedral

    Grammar Note

    The proper name keeps the local spelling "Gloria". "Románica" is feminine to agree with obra and needs its accent

16. A Ribeira Sacra é famosa polo viño

    Ribeira Sacra is famous for its wine

    Usage

    Say that Ribeira Sacra, an inland Galician area, is famous for its wine

    Grammar Note

    por + o contracts to "polo". "Viño" is written with ñ (Spanish vino, Portuguese vinho). "Famosa" is feminine to agree with Ribeira

17. Combarro parece un conto de fadas

    Combarro looks like a fairy tale

    Usage

    Say that the seaside village of Combarro looks like something from a fairy tale

    Grammar Note

    "Parecer" + noun means "looks like". "Fada" is a feminine noun, here in the plural "fadas"

18. A Costa da Morte ten paisaxes impresionantes

    The Costa da Morte has impressive landscapes

    Usage

    Praise the scenery of the Costa da Morte, the northwest coast of Galicia

    Grammar Note

    "Paisaxe" is a feminine noun written with x (Spanish paisaje has j). "Impresionante" is the same for both genders; plural adds -s

19. As Illas Cíes son un bo destino para o mergullo

    The Cíes Islands are a good destination for diving

    Usage

    Recommend the Cíes Islands off Vigo as a destination for diving

    Grammar Note

    The 3rd plural of ser is "son". The adjective "bo" is masculine singular to agree with destino; "mergullo" is listed in the dictionary

20. Santiago de Compostela é unha cidade universitaria

    Santiago de Compostela is a university city

    Usage

    Say that Santiago de Compostela is a university city

    Grammar Note

    "Universitaria" is the feminine adjective agreeing with cidade, and it is listed in the dictionary

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