In this workshop you will practice a very practical conversation: asking whether pets are allowed when you are interested in a rental property. You will hear short, natural Spanish lines and use them in guided speaking tasks. The goal is not to memorize a long script, but to become comfortable asking the key question, understanding a common answer, and responding with one simple detail about your pet. You can do all tasks alone by playing the recordings and speaking your part aloud. Imagine you are visiting an apartment and talking with the person who shows it. Speak clearly, repeat each line several times, and focus on rhythm and polite tone. If a line feels fast, pause the audio and say it slowly before trying it at normal speed.
Asking the main question
Start with the most direct way to ask whether pets are allowed. The line «¿Se permiten mascotas?» means 'Are pets allowed?' and works in many situations. A very similar option is «¿Aceptan mascotas?», which means 'Do you accept pets?' and is common when you speak with a landlord or an agency. Both questions are short and polite. Practice saying each one slowly, then at a natural speed. Pay attention to the melody: the voice usually rises at the end because it is a yes-or-no question. When you feel ready, imagine you are standing at the door of an apartment and ask the question aloud. Then answer it yourself with a simple 'sí' or 'no' to get used to the sound of the exchange.
Understanding a common answer
A common answer may include a condition. In the recorded exchange, the person says «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?», which means 'Yes, they are allowed, but only small pets. What type of pet do you have?' Notice that the answer starts with a yes, then adds a limit, and finally asks you a question. This is useful because it tells you that pets are welcome but with a restriction. You do not need to understand every word at once. First, listen for the yes or no. Then listen for words like 'pero' (but) and 'solo' (only), which often introduce a condition. Finally, listen for the question at the end. When you can identify these three parts, you can respond more confidently.
Giving a simple detail about your pet
After the other person asks what type of pet you have, you can give a short answer. The line «Tengo un perro.» means 'I have a dog.' If you have a cat, you can use the same pattern with a different animal word, as shown in the recorded exchange where the speaker says «Tengo un gato. Es tranquilo y no hace ruido.», meaning 'I have a cat. It's calm and doesn't make noise.' This kind of answer is simple and helpful because it gives one fact about your pet. You can also use a softer question if you are unsure about the policy: «¿Hay algún problema con mascotas?» means 'Is there any problem with pets?' Use it when you want to ask politely before giving details. Practice these lines aloud, then combine them: ask the main question, listen to a possible answer, and reply with one short sentence about your pet. The later line quotes a 100-dollar deposit per pet in this fictional rental; it is not a general fee. Naming a dog gives its type but does not establish its size or prove it meets the small-pet condition.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Se permiten mascotas?
Are pets allowed?
seh peh-RMEH-tehn mas-KOH-tahs
¿Aceptan mascotas?
Do you accept pets?
ah-SEHP-tahn mas-KOH-tahs
Tengo un perro.
I have a dog.
TEHN-goh oon PEH-rroh
¿Hay algún problema con mascotas?
Is there any problem with pets?
eye ahl-GOON proh-BLEH-mah kohn mas-KOH-tahs
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenas tardes, estoy interesado en el departamento. ¿Se permiten mascotas?
Good afternoon, I'm interested in the apartment. Are pets allowed?Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?
Yes, they are allowed, but only small pets. What type of pet do you have?Tengo un gato. Es tranquilo y no hace ruido.
I have a cat. It's calm and doesn't make noise.Perfecto. Solo hay un depósito adicional de 100 dólares por mascota.
Perfect. There's just an additional deposit of 100 dollars per pet.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
Imagine you are interested in an apartment and you speak with the person who shows it. You will play both roles. First, play the recording of the question and repeat it. Then play the recording of the answer and repeat it. Finally, say both parts yourself without the audio.
Your task: Step 1: Listen to «¿Se permiten mascotas?» and repeat it three times. Step 2: Listen to «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?» and repeat it three times. Step 3: Say the question from «¿Se permiten mascotas?» aloud, then answer with the first part of «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?» up to the word 'pequeñas'. Step 4: Add the final question from «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?» and answer it with «Tengo un perro.».
Reply comprehension: choose the correct response
You will hear a recorded answer and decide which reply fits best. This task checks whether you understand the main idea and the condition in the answer. Read the options before you listen.
Your task: Listen to «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?». It means 'Yes, they are allowed, but only small pets. What type of pet do you have?' Choose the best reply: A) «Tengo un perro.» or B) «¿Hay algún problema con mascotas?». Say your choice aloud, then say the full reply. After that, listen to «Tengo un gato. Es tranquilo y no hace ruido.» and decide whether the speaker is talking about a cat or a dog. Say your answer aloud.
Recall with correct roles
In this task you will rebuild a short conversation from memory. The scene is a visit to an apartment. One person is interested in renting and the other person shows the apartment. You will play both roles, but you must use the correct line for each role.
Your task: First, say the interested person's opening question using «¿Se permiten mascotas?». Then say the other person's answer using the full line, including the pet-type question, from «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?». Next, say the interested person's reply using «Tengo un gato. Es tranquilo y no hace ruido.». Finally, say the other person's final line using «Perfecto. Solo hay un depósito adicional de 100 dólares por mascota.». Do this once with the recordings, then once without them.
Common questions
Do I need to understand every word in the recorded answers?
No. Start by listening for the main idea: yes or no. Then listen for a condition, often introduced by words like 'pero' or 'solo'. Finally, listen for a question at the end. When you can identify these parts, you can respond with a short line such as «Tengo un perro.» or «Tengo un gato. Es tranquilo y no hace ruido.». Repeat the recordings several times and pause when needed.
Can I use these lines if I am the one showing the apartment?
Yes. You can play both roles. If you are the person showing the apartment, you can use the answer from «Sí, se permiten, pero solo mascotas pequeñas. ¿Qué tipo de mascota tiene?» and the final line from «Perfecto. Solo hay un depósito adicional de 100 dólares por mascota.». If you are the interested person, you can use the question from «¿Se permiten mascotas?» and a short reply like «Tengo un perro.» or «Tengo un gato. Es tranquilo y no hace ruido.». Practice switching roles so you become comfortable with both sides of the conversation.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask about pets allowedChecked September 2026
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