In this workshop you practice a short, polite hotel conversation in Spanish. You will ask for a wake-up call, say the time you want, and check the time the other person repeats back. The key polite phrase is a soft way to say 'I would like', and the time pattern uses 'a las' plus a number. You can play both roles out loud: first the guest, then the receptionist. Listen to each recording, repeat it, and then use it in the tasks below.
Asking politely at the front desk
Start with a greeting, then make your request. The recording «Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.» means 'I would like a wake-up call, please.' The word for 'I would like' is a courteous form, softer than a direct demand, so it fits a hotel desk well. In the full scene, the guest opens with a greeting and then the same request: «Buenas noches. Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.». Notice that the greeting comes first and the request follows. When you speak, keep your voice calm and friendly. You do not need to add extra words; the request is complete as it is. If you prefer to ask to be woken rather than name the service, you can use the question in «¿Me puede despertar a las siete?», which means 'Can you wake me at seven?' Both ways are polite. Choose one and say it clearly.
Giving the time with 'a las'
To give a clock time, use 'a las' plus the number. The line «A las siete de la mañana, por favor.» means 'At seven in the morning, please.' The phrase for 'in the morning' tells the listener it is a.m., not the evening. After you give the time, the receptionist may ask which time you want. That question is in «Claro. ¿A qué hora?», which means 'Of course. At what time?' You answer with your time line. Then the receptionist often repeats the time to confirm it. The reply in «Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.» means 'Very well, at seven. Rest well.' The short confirmation question in «¿A las siete, verdad?» means 'At seven, right?' and invites you to agree. When you hear your time repeated, listen for the number and the part of day, then say yes if it matches.
Checking and confirming
A good conversation ends with both people agreeing on the same time. After you say your time, listen carefully. If the receptionist repeats the correct number and the correct part of day, you can simply agree. If something sounds different, say the time again slowly. The confirmation tag in «¿A las siete, verdad?» is a quick way to check: it works like 'right?' in English. In the full scene, the receptionist closes with a warm line, «Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.», which means 'Very well, at seven. Rest well.' You can answer with a short thank you. Practice the whole exchange out loud, switching roles, until the request, the time, and the confirmation feel natural.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.
I would like a wake-up call, please.
kee-SYEH-rah OO-nah yah-MAH-dah deh des-per-tah-DOR, por fah-BOR
A las siete de la mañana, por favor.
At seven in the morning, please.
ah las SYEH-teh deh lah mah-NYAH-nah, por fah-VOR
¿Me puede despertar a las siete?
Can you wake me at seven?
meh PWEH-deh des-per-TAR ah las SYEH-teh
¿A las siete, verdad?
At seven, right?
ah las SYEH-teh, ber-DAD
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenas noches. Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.
Good evening. I would like a wake-up call, please.Claro. ¿A qué hora?
Of course. At what time?A las siete de la mañana, por favor.
At seven in the morning, please.Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.
Very well, at seven. Rest well.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: guest and receptionist
Imagine you are at a hotel front desk in the evening. You want a wake-up call. Play the guest first, then play the receptionist. Use only the lines you have practiced.
Your task: As the guest, greet the receptionist and make your request using «Buenas noches. Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.». Then, when the receptionist asks the time with «Claro. ¿A qué hora?», answer with «A las siete de la mañana, por favor.». As the receptionist, ask the time with «Claro. ¿A qué hora?», then confirm with «Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.». Say every line out loud.
Reply comprehension: which time did you hear?
A receptionist repeats your wake-up time back to you. You need to decide whether it matches what you asked for. Read each option and choose the best reply.
Your task: You asked for seven in the morning. The receptionist says «¿A las siete, verdad?». Choose the correct response: (a) agree, because the time matches; (b) give a new time, because the time is wrong. Then listen again to «Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.» and decide whether the receptionist has accepted your time.
Recall and role switch
Cover the lines above. Imagine the same hotel scene, but now you speak first as the receptionist and then as the guest. Try to remember the polite request, the time question, and the closing line.
Your task: As the receptionist, greet the guest and ask the time using «Claro. ¿A qué hora?». As the guest, make the request with «Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.» and give the time with «A las siete de la mañana, por favor.». Then, as the receptionist, confirm with «Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.». If you prefer, use «¿Me puede despertar a las siete?» as the guest instead of «Quisiera una llamada de despertador, por favor.».
Common questions
Do I need to use the exact words from the recordings?
The recordings give you safe, polite lines you can use as they are. Start by copying them closely so your request and your time are clear. Once they feel easy, you can say the same ideas in your own voice, but keep the polite request and the 'a las' time pattern.
How do I know if the receptionist confirmed the right time?
Listen for the number and the part of day in the repeated line. The short check «¿A las siete, verdad?» means 'At seven, right?' and the closing line «Muy bien, a las siete. Que descanse.» means 'Very well, at seven. Rest well.' If both match what you asked for, you can agree. If they do not match, say your time again slowly.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for a wake up callChecked 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