In this workshop you will practice a short hotel front desk exchange in Spanish. You will learn how to ask for your room key or key card, state your room number, and understand simple instructions about the key card and the elevator. The focus is on polite questions and listening for practical details. You can play both the guest and the staff member with the recordings, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your answers with the provided self-checks.
Asking for the key or key card
The most useful question is a polite request. In Spanish, 'Me da' literally means 'you give me', but it works as a polite way to ask for something. You can ask for the key with «¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?». If the hotel uses a card, you can ask for the key card with «¿Me da la tarjeta de la habitación 205?». Both 'llave' (key) and 'tarjeta' (card) are feminine, so they take 'la'. If the receptionist asks for your room number, you can state it simply with «Mi habitación es la 205.». After you have the key, you can ask where your room is with «¿Dónde está mi habitación?». The answer may include floor numbers or directions like 'al fondo' (at the end).
Understanding the front desk reply
In a typical exchange, the guest asks for the key and the staff member responds. Listen to «Buenas tardes. Ya hice el check-in. ¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?» and «Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.». In «Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.», the staff member says 'Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta' (Of course, here is your key card) and 'Su habitación está en el segundo piso' (Your room is on the second floor). The word 'segundo' means second, and 'piso' means floor. Then the guest asks about the elevator with «Gracias. ¿Tengo que usar la tarjeta para el ascensor?», and the staff member gives an instruction with «Sí, pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar.»: 'pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar' (swipe the card on the reader before entering). Notice that 'pase' here is an instruction to swipe, not a direction to turn.
Practicing both roles
You can practice both the guest and the staff member. As the guest, use «¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?» or «¿Me da la tarjeta de la habitación 205?» to ask for the key. As the staff member, use «Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.» to offer the key card and give the floor. Then switch roles. Pay attention to the difference between asking for a key ('llave') and a key card ('tarjeta'). Also notice that «Sí, pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar.» is an instruction about using the card, not a direction to turn right. When you hear 'pase la tarjeta por el lector', it means you should swipe the card on the reader. Practice saying the lines aloud and check your understanding with the exercises below.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?
Can I have the key to room 205?
meh dah lah YAH-veh deh lah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN doh-SYEN-toh SEEN-koh
¿Me da la tarjeta de la habitación 205?
Can I have the key card for room 205?
meh dah lah tar-TEH-tah deh lah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN doh-SYEN-toh SEEN-koh
Mi habitación es la 205.
My room is 205.
mee ah-bee-tah-SYOHN es lah doh-SYEN-toh SEEN-koh
¿Dónde está mi habitación?
Where is my room?
DOHN-deh es-TAH mee ah-bee-tah-SYOHN
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenas tardes. Ya hice el check-in. ¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?
Good afternoon. I already checked in. Can I have the key to room 205?Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.
Of course, here is your key card. Your room is on the second floor.Gracias. ¿Tengo que usar la tarjeta para el ascensor?
Thank you. Do I have to use the card for the elevator?Sí, pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar.
Yes, swipe the card on the reader before entering.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 the key
Imagine you are at a hotel front desk. You have already checked in and you want the key to room 205. The receptionist is waiting.
Your task: Say the polite question to ask for the key to room 205. Use the recording «¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?» as your model. Then say the question again, but this time ask for the key card instead, using «¿Me da la tarjeta de la habitación 205?».
Reply comprehension: what did the staff member say?
Listen to the staff member's reply in «Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.». Then answer the questions below.
Your task: After listening to «Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.», choose the correct answer: (a) The staff member gives you a key card and says your room is on the second floor. (b) The staff member says your room is on the first floor. (c) The staff member asks you to pay.
Recall with correct roles
You will now recall the full exchange. One person is the guest (A) and the other is the staff member (B). If you are alone, play both roles.
Your task: Guest: ask for the key to room 205 using «Buenas tardes. Ya hice el check-in. ¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?» as a model. Staff member: respond with the key card and the floor using «Claro, aquí tiene su tarjeta. Su habitación está en el segundo piso.». Guest: thank the staff member and ask about the elevator using «Gracias. ¿Tengo que usar la tarjeta para el ascensor?». Staff member: give the instruction about the card reader using «Sí, pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar.».
Common questions
What is the difference between 'llave' and 'tarjeta'?
'Llave' means key, and 'tarjeta' means card. In many hotels, the key is a card, so you can use either word. Both are feminine, so you say 'la llave' and 'la tarjeta'. Use «¿Me da la llave de la habitación 205?» for key and «¿Me da la tarjeta de la habitación 205?» for key card.
How do I know if 'pase' means 'swipe' or 'turn right'?
In the context of «Sí, pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar.», 'pase la tarjeta por el lector' means 'swipe the card on the reader'. The word 'pase' here is a verb meaning to pass or swipe, not a direction. The recording «Sí, pase la tarjeta por el lector antes de entrar.» makes the meaning clear with 'por el lector' (on the reader).
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for the room keyChecked September 2026
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