In this workshop you will practice asking for a bank or ATM in Spanish and understanding simple directions. You will use the key question forms and location words from the recordings. The practice is active: you will speak, listen, and check your own answers. You can play both roles when you practice with the audio. There is no automatic assessment, so use the answer keys in the success criteria to check yourself.
Asking if a bank or ATM is nearby
Start with the most direct question. «¿Hay un banco cerca de aquí?» means 'Is there a bank near here?' The word hay means 'there is' or 'there are.' It does not change for singular or plural. Use it to ask about one bank or several banks. If you need an ATM, use «¿Dónde está el cajero automático más cercano?», which means 'Where is the nearest ATM?' The phrase cajero automático is the general Latin American term for ATM. In some regions you may hear cajero alone, but cajero automático is widely understood. For a polite question to a stranger, use «¿Me puede decir dónde hay un banco?», which means 'Can you tell me where there is a bank?' The form me puede is a safe formal way to ask 'can you.' If you need to explain why you are asking, say «Necesito sacar dinero.», which means 'I need to withdraw money.' The phrase sacar dinero means to take out or withdraw money. Practice saying each line aloud. Replay each question and match the recording at a comfortable pace.
Understanding a simple answer about distance and location
When you ask «Buenos días, ¿hay un banco cerca de aquí?», which means 'Good morning, is there a bank near here?', you may hear an answer like «Sí, hay uno a dos cuadras. También hay un cajero automático en la esquina.». This line means 'Yes, there is one two blocks away. There is also an ATM on the corner.' Listen for the distance phrase a dos cuadras, which means 'two blocks away.' The word también means 'also.' The location phrase en la esquina means 'on the corner.' If you then ask «¿El cajero está abierto ahora?», which means 'Is the ATM open now?', you may hear «Sí, está abierto las veinticuatro horas. Está al lado del supermercado.». This line means 'Yes, it is open twenty-four hours. It is next to the supermarket.' The phrase al lado del supermercado means 'next to the supermarket.' Notice that está is used for location and temporary states, while hay is used to say something exists. Practice listening for these key words: cuadras, esquina, abierto, al lado.
Using hay and está correctly
Hay and está are both common in these conversations, but they do different jobs. Use hay to ask if something exists or is present. «¿Hay un banco cerca de aquí?» uses hay to ask if a bank exists near here. «Sí, hay uno a dos cuadras. También hay un cajero automático en la esquina.» uses hay to say there is one and there is also an ATM. Use está to ask or say where something is located or whether it is open. «¿El cajero está abierto ahora?» uses está to ask if the ATM is open now. «Sí, está abierto las veinticuatro horas. Está al lado del supermercado.» uses está to say it is open and to say where it is located. A simple way to remember: hay introduces something new; está talks about something already known. Compare the recorded existence question «¿Hay un banco cerca de aquí?» with the recorded opening-hours question «¿El cajero está abierto ahora?». Use the matching replies taught above.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Hay un banco cerca de aquí?
Is there a bank near here?
¿ai un BAN-ko SEHR-ka de a-KI?
¿Dónde está el cajero automático más cercano?
Where is the nearest ATM?
DON-de es-TA el ka-HEH-ro au-to-MA-ti-ko mas sehr-KA-no
¿Me puede decir dónde hay un banco?
Can you tell me where there is a bank?
me PWE-de de-SIR DON-de ai un BAN-ko
Necesito sacar dinero.
I need to withdraw money.
ne-se-SI-to sa-KAR di-NE-ro
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenos días, ¿hay un banco cerca de aquí?
Good morning, is there a bank near here?Sí, hay uno a dos cuadras. También hay un cajero automático en la esquina.
Yes, there is one two blocks away. There is also an ATM on the corner.¿El cajero está abierto ahora?
Is the ATM open now?Sí, está abierto las veinticuatro horas. Está al lado del supermercado.
Yes, it is open twenty-four hours. It is next to the supermarket.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 for a bank
Imagine you are a traveler in a new city. You need a bank. You will play both roles: first the traveler, then the local person. Use the recordings to guide your lines.
Your task: Say the traveler's question from «Buenos días, ¿hay un banco cerca de aquí?». Then say the local person's answer from «Sí, hay uno a dos cuadras. También hay un cajero automático en la esquina.». Repeat the exchange two times. Focus on clear pronunciation of cuadras and esquina.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct answer
You will hear or read a question and then choose the best reply from the recordings. This checks if you understand distance and location words.
Your task: Question: You hear «¿El cajero está abierto ahora?», which means 'Is the ATM open now?' Which reply from the recordings fits best? Option A: «Sí, hay uno a dos cuadras. También hay un cajero automático en la esquina.». Option B: «Sí, está abierto las veinticuatro horas. Está al lado del supermercado.». Say your choice aloud, then say the full reply you chose.
Recall with correct roles: who says what?
In this task you will recall the lines from the recordings and match them to the correct speaker. This helps you remember the flow of a real conversation.
Your task: Look at these four lines: «Buenos días, ¿hay un banco cerca de aquí?», «Sí, hay uno a dos cuadras. También hay un cajero automático en la esquina.», «¿El cajero está abierto ahora?», «Sí, está abierto las veinticuatro horas. Está al lado del supermercado.». Decide which lines are spoken by the traveler (A) and which by the local person (B). Say each line aloud with the correct role. Then check your answers in the success criteria below.
Common questions
What is the difference between hay and está?
Hay means 'there is' or 'there are.' Use it to ask if something exists or is present, as in «¿Hay un banco cerca de aquí?». Está means 'is' for location or temporary states. Use it to ask where something is or if it is open, as in «¿El cajero está abierto ahora?». A simple way to remember: hay introduces something new; está talks about something already known.
Which word should I use for ATM?
The general Latin American term is cajero automático, as in «¿Dónde está el cajero automático más cercano?». In some regions you may hear cajero alone, but cajero automático is widely understood. If you are unsure, use the full phrase from the recording.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for a bankChecked September 2026
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