In this workshop you will practice a short, realistic visit to a post office. You will learn how to say what you need, ask about the price for international mail, and respond when a clerk asks how many you want. Each native example comes from the source recordings, and you will see its English meaning before you try it. You can play both roles: customer and clerk. There is no automatic scoring, so use the answer keys and self-checks to confirm your choices. Speak out loud, repeat each line a few times, and keep a steady, polite tone.
Starting the conversation as a customer
A simple opening works well. You greet the clerk and state your need clearly. The line «Necesito estampillas para estas postales.» means "I need stamps for these postcards." Notice that the word for stamps here is estampillas, which is common in Latin America. If you are in Spain, you may hear sellos instead. After you say what you need, the clerk may ask a follow-up question. In the source dialogue, the clerk says «Claro. ¿Para enviar al extranjero o nacional?», which means "Of course. To send abroad or domestically?" This is a choice question. You can answer with al extranjero for abroad or nacional for domestic. Keep your answer short and clear, then continue with your price question.
Asking about the price and quantity
When you want to know the cost for a specific destination, use «¿Cuánto cuesta enviar una postal a Estados Unidos?», which means "How much does it cost to send a postcard to the United States?" In this workshop we practice the recorded version. If you are not sure whether the post office sells international stamps, you can ask «¿Tiene estampillas para el extranjero?», meaning "Do you have stamps for international mail?" The clerk's answer in the source dialogue is «Cuesta veinte pesos por cada una. ¿Cuántas necesita?», which means "It costs twenty pesos each. How many do you need?" Listen for the price and the question cuántas necesita. Then you can say how many you want with a polite phrase like «Quisiera cinco estampillas, por favor.», which means "I would like five stamps, please." Keep the polite quisiera and the recorded number five for this workshop.
Putting the exchange together
Now combine the pieces. You greet the clerk and say «Buenos días. Necesito estampillas para estas postales.», which means "Good morning. I need stamps for these postcards." The clerk asks «Claro. ¿Para enviar al extranjero o nacional?», meaning "Of course. To send abroad or domestically?" You answer al extranjero and then ask «Al extranjero. ¿Cuánto cuesta enviar una postal a Estados Unidos?», which means "Abroad. How much does it cost to send a postcard to the United States?" The clerk replies «Cuesta veinte pesos por cada una. ¿Cuántas necesita?», meaning "It costs twenty pesos each. How many do you need?" Finally, you say «Quisiera cinco estampillas, por favor.», meaning "I would like five stamps, please." This is a complete, polite transaction. Practice it slowly, then faster. You can also switch roles and play the clerk, using the same recorded lines.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Necesito estampillas para estas postales.
I need stamps for these postcards.
neh-seh-SEE-toh es-tam-PEE-yas PAH-rah ES-tas pos-TAH-les
¿Cuánto cuesta enviar una postal a Estados Unidos?
How much does it cost to send a postcard to the United States?
KWAN-toh KWES-tah em-bee-AR OO-nah pos-TAL ah es-TAH-dos oo-NEE-dos
¿Tiene estampillas para el extranjero?
Do you have stamps for international mail?
TYEH-neh es-tam-PEE-yas PAH-rah el eks-tran-HEH-roh
Quisiera cinco estampillas, por favor.
I would like five stamps, please.
kee-SYEH-rah SEEN-koh es-tam-PEE-yas por fah-BOR
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenos días. Necesito estampillas para estas postales.
Good morning. I need stamps for these postcards.Claro. ¿Para enviar al extranjero o nacional?
Of course. To send abroad or domestically?Al extranjero. ¿Cuánto cuesta enviar una postal a Estados Unidos?
Abroad. How much does it cost to send a postcard to the United States?Cuesta veinte pesos por cada una. ¿Cuántas necesita?
It costs twenty pesos each. How many do you need?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: customer at the post office
You are at a post office in a Spanish-speaking place. You have postcards to send abroad. The clerk is ready to help. Use the recorded lines to complete the conversation.
Your task: Say the customer's first line to greet the clerk and state your need. Then answer the clerk's choice question with 'abroad'. Next, ask the price for a postcard to the United States. When the clerk gives the price and asks how many you need, say you would like five stamps, please.
Reply comprehension: what does the clerk mean?
You are the customer. The clerk has just asked you a question. Listen to or read the clerk's line and choose the correct meaning.
Your task: The clerk says: 'Claro. ¿Para enviar al extranjero o nacional?' Does this mean (a) 'Of course. To send abroad or domestically?' or (b) 'Of course. How many stamps do you need?' Choose the correct answer. Then the clerk says: 'Cuesta veinte pesos por cada una. ¿Cuántas necesita?' Does this mean (a) 'It costs twenty pesos each. How many do you need?' or (b) 'It costs twelve pesos each. Do you need stamps?' Choose the correct answer.
Recall and role switch: complete the transaction
You will now recall the full exchange from memory. You can play both roles. The goal is to use the recorded lines in the correct order and with the correct roles.
Your task: First, play the customer. Greet the clerk, state your need, answer the choice question, ask the price, and request five stamps. Then play the clerk. Ask whether the customer wants to send abroad or domestically, give the price, and ask how many stamps are needed. Do this without reading the lines if you can.
Common questions
Do I need to use the exact recorded lines, or can I change the number of stamps?
The recorded line for requesting stamps uses the number five. You can change the number if you want to practice other quantities, but keep the polite form 'quisiera' and the word 'estampillas'. The rest of the recorded lines should stay as they are so you can practice the exact pronunciation and rhythm.
What is the difference between 'al extranjero' and 'nacional' in the clerk's question?
'Al extranjero' means abroad or international. 'Nacional' means domestic or within the country. The clerk asks which one you need so they can give you the correct stamp or price. In the source dialogue, the customer answers 'al extranjero' because the postcards are going to the United States.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: buy a stampChecked September 2026
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