In this workshop, you will practice a short, polite exchange at a tourist office. You will learn how to ask for a city map, understand a simple yes answer, and ask where the city center is on the map. You will also hear and use basic map words. The practice uses short, realistic lines so you can speak with confidence. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the answer keys to check yourself.
Asking for a map politely
Start with a greeting, then ask your question. A simple and polite way to ask is «¿Tiene un mapa de la ciudad?». This means 'Do you have a map of the city?' The word 'tiene' is the formal 'you have' form, which is common with staff at an office. Another polite option is «¿Me puede dar un mapa, por favor?», which means 'Can you give me a map, please?' The phrase 'me puede dar' literally means 'can you give me', and 'por favor' makes it softer. If you want to check the price, you can ask «¿Es gratis?», which means 'Is it free?' Use these lines in order: greet, ask for the map, then ask about the price if needed.
Understanding the answer and asking about the center
When you ask for a map, the employee may answer with a short line like «Sí, claro. Aquí tiene. Es gratis.». This means 'Yes, of course. Here you go. It's free.' The first word, 'Sí', means 'yes'. 'Aquí tiene' means 'here you go' when handing something to you. 'Es gratis' means 'it is free'. After you receive the map, you can ask where the city center is. A useful question is «¿Dónde está el centro?», which means 'Where is the downtown / city center?' If you are looking at the map together, you can ask «Gracias. ¿Dónde está el centro en el mapa?», which means 'Thank you. Where is the downtown on the map?' The employee may point and say «Aquí, en la plaza principal. Esta calle es la avenida Central.», which means 'Here, at the main square. This street is Central Avenue.' In that line, 'plaza' means 'square', 'calle' means 'street', and 'avenida' means 'avenue'.
Map words and directions
Three common map words are 'calle' (street), 'avenida' (avenue), and 'plaza' (square). You heard them in «Aquí, en la plaza principal. Esta calle es la avenida Central.». When someone says 'esta calle', it means 'this street'. When someone says 'la avenida Central', it means 'Central Avenue'. When someone says 'la plaza principal', it means 'the main square'. These words help you find places on a map. If someone points to a place and says 'aquí', it means 'here'. If they say 'en la plaza principal', it means 'at the main square'. Listen for these words when you ask for directions. You can also repeat the words back to check: '¿La plaza principal?' This means 'The main square?' It is a simple way to confirm.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Tiene un mapa de la ciudad?
Do you have a map of the city?
TEE-eh-neh oon MAH-pah deh lah seeoo-DAHD
¿Me puede dar un mapa, por favor?
Can you give me a map, please?
meh PWEH-deh dahr oon MAH-pah por fah-VOR
¿Es gratis?
Is it free?
es GRAH-tees
¿Dónde está el centro?
Where is the downtown / city center?
DON-deh es-TAH el SEN-troh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenos días. ¿Tiene un mapa de la ciudad?
Good morning. Do you have a map of the city?Sí, claro. Aquí tiene. Es gratis.
Yes, of course. Here you go. It's free.Gracias. ¿Dónde está el centro en el mapa?
Thank you. Where is the downtown on the map?Aquí, en la plaza principal. Esta calle es la avenida Central.
Here, at the main square. This street is Central Avenue.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 map
Imagine you are at a tourist office. You want a city map. The employee is ready to help. Use the recording lines to guide your speaking.
Your task: Play the role of the visitor. Greet the employee, then ask for a map using «¿Tiene un mapa de la ciudad?». After that, ask if it is free using «¿Es gratis?». Say each line out loud. Then play the role of the employee and answer with «Sí, claro. Aquí tiene. Es gratis.». Repeat the exchange two times.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
You will hear or read a short reply from an employee. Choose what it means in English. This checks your understanding, not your speaking.
Your task: Read the line «Sí, claro. Aquí tiene. Es gratis.». Choose the correct meaning: A) 'No, we do not have maps.' B) 'Yes, of course. Here you go. It's free.' C) 'The map costs money.' Then read «Aquí, en la plaza principal. Esta calle es la avenida Central.». Choose the correct meaning: A) 'Here, at the main square. This street is Central Avenue.' B) 'The center is far from here.' C) 'I do not know where the center is.'
Recall and role swap: ask and answer
Now you will practice both roles without looking at the lines first. Imagine the same tourist office scene. You will ask for a map, then answer as the employee.
Your task: First, play the visitor. Say the line that means 'Do you have a map of the city?' Then play the employee and say the line that means 'Yes, of course. Here you go. It's free.' Next, play the visitor again and ask where the downtown is on the map. Finally, play the employee and say the line about the main square and Central Avenue. Try to do this from memory. Then check with the recordings.
Common questions
Do I need to use the formal 'tiene' or can I use 'tienes'?
In the recordings, the formal 'tiene' is used, which is common with staff at an office. If you are talking to a friend, you might hear 'tienes', but for this workshop, practice the formal form from «¿Tiene un mapa de la ciudad?». It is polite and safe in a tourist office.
How do I ask where the city center is on the map?
If you need help locating the center, use the recorded question «¿Dónde está el centro?», meaning 'Where is the city center?' You can then listen for the employee's recorded answer about the main square and Central Avenue.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for a mapChecked September 2026
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