In this workshop, you will practice asking about laundry services in Spanish. You will learn how to ask if there is a laundromat nearby, where the nearest one is, what time it opens and closes, and whether it is self-service or full service. You will also practice understanding replies about location, hours, and price. The workshop uses recorded native examples to help you hear and repeat natural Spanish. You will do three exercises: a guided exchange, a reply comprehension task, and a recall task where you play both roles. Each exercise includes a self-check so you can verify your answers. This is active practice, so speak aloud and repeat the examples as you go.
Asking About a Laundromat Nearby
To ask if there is a laundromat near your location, use the question «¿Hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?». This means 'Is there a laundromat near here?' The word lavandería means laundromat or laundry shop. If you want to ask for the nearest one, use «¿Dónde está la lavandería más cercana?», which means 'Where is the nearest laundromat?' Notice that más cercana means 'nearest' and agrees with the feminine noun lavandería. Practice saying both questions aloud. Then imagine you are on a street and need to find a laundromat. Ask the question from «¿Hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?» to a passerby. After they answer, you can follow up with «¿Dónde está la lavandería más cercana?» to get a specific location. Remember that in some regions, lavandería can also mean a laundry room in a building, so context matters. But in most situations, these questions will be understood as asking about a laundromat or laundry service.
Asking About Hours and Service Type
To ask about opening and closing times, use «¿A qué hora abren y cierran?», which means 'What time do they open and close?' The verb forms abren and cierran are third-person plural, matching 'they' or 'you all' in Latin American Spanish. To ask whether the laundromat is self-service or full service, use «¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?», which means 'Is it self-service or full service?' This is useful when you want to know if you wash the clothes yourself or drop them off. Autoservicio is widely understood, though in some countries people may say 'de autoservicio' or simply 'para lavar uno mismo'. Practice these questions aloud. Then imagine you have found a laundromat and want to know its hours and service type. Ask «¿A qué hora abren y cierran?» and «¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?». Listen carefully to the answers, which may include times and prices.
Understanding Replies About Location, Hours, and Price
When you ask about a laundromat, you may hear a reply like «Sí, hay una a dos cuadras. Abren a las siete y cierran a las ocho.», which means 'Yes, there is one two blocks away. They open at seven and close at eight.' This reply gives you location, opening time, and closing time. If you ask about service type, you may hear «Es autoservicio. Cuesta cinco dólares por carga.», which means 'It is self-service. It costs five dollars per load.' This tells you the service type and the price per load. Notice that the reply uses cuesta, meaning 'it costs', and por carga, meaning 'per load'. Practice listening to these replies and repeating them. Then imagine you are the person asking. Use «Disculpe, ¿hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?» to ask if there is a laundromat nearby. After you hear the reply, use «¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?» to ask if it is self-service or full service. This will help you practice both asking and understanding.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?
Is there a laundromat near here?
ah-ee OO-nah lah-bahn-deh-REE-ah SEHR-kah deh ah-KEE
¿Dónde está la lavandería más cercana?
Where is the nearest laundromat?
DOHN-deh es-TAH lah lah-bahn-deh-REE-ah mahs sehr-KAH-nah
¿A qué hora abren y cierran?
What time do they open and close?
ah keh OH-rah AH-brehn ee SYEH-rrahn
¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?
Is it self-service or full service?
es ow-toh-sehr-VEE-syoh oh sehr-VEE-syoh kohm-PLEH-toh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, ¿hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?
Excuse me, is there a laundromat near here?Sí, hay una a dos cuadras. Abren a las siete y cierran a las ocho.
Yes, there is one two blocks away. They open at seven and close at eight.¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?
Is it self-service or full service?Es autoservicio. Cuesta cinco dólares por carga.
It is self-service. It costs five dollars per load.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Asking for a Laundromat
You are on a street in a Spanish-speaking area. You need to find a laundromat. You will ask a passerby for help. Use the recorded questions to guide you.
Your task: First, say the question from «¿Hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?» aloud. Then, imagine the passerby answers with «Sí, hay una a dos cuadras. Abren a las siete y cierran a las ocho.». Listen to the reply and repeat it. Next, ask the question from «¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?» to find out about the service type. Finally, imagine the passerby answers with «Es autoservicio. Cuesta cinco dólares por carga.». Repeat that reply as well.
Reply Comprehension: What Did They Say?
You will hear two replies. Your job is to understand the key information: location, hours, service type, and price. Use the recorded lines to check your understanding.
Your task: Listen to «Sí, hay una a dos cuadras. Abren a las siete y cierran a las ocho.». Then answer these questions in English: Where is the laundromat? What time does it open? What time does it close? Next, listen to «Es autoservicio. Cuesta cinco dólares por carga.». Answer: Is it self-service or full service? How much does it cost per load? After you answer, check your answers against the translations provided in the workshop.
Recall and Role-Play: Asking and Answering
In this exercise, you will recall the questions and replies without looking at the text. You will play both roles: the person asking and the person answering. Use the recorded lines as your guide.
Your task: First, play the role of the person asking. Say the question from «¿Hay una lavandería cerca de aquí?» from memory. Then, play the role of the passerby and reply with «Sí, hay una a dos cuadras. Abren a las siete y cierran a las ocho.» from memory. Next, ask the question from «¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?» from memory. Finally, reply with «Es autoservicio. Cuesta cinco dólares por carga.» from memory. If you forget a line, listen to the recording again and repeat it.
Common questions
What is the difference between lavandería and lavandería automática?
Lavandería generally means laundromat or laundry shop. Lavandería automática specifically refers to a self-service laundromat with machines. However, in many contexts, lavandería alone is enough. The recorded questions use lavandería, which is widely understood. If you want to be specific about self-service, you can use autoservicio as in «¿Es autoservicio o servicio completo?».
How do I understand the price per load?
In the recorded reply «Es autoservicio. Cuesta cinco dólares por carga.», the speaker says the laundry is self-service and costs five dollars per load. Por carga means per load. Listen for the service type first, then identify the amount and what it is charged for. Repeat the reply as the person giving information.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask about laundry serviceChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Spanish into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr