In a restaurant, you may need to explain that a dish is not what you ordered and ask for a change. This workshop uses short recorded Spanish lines to help you speak politely and clearly. You will first learn the meaning of each line, then practice a guided exchange, choose the right reply, and finally recall the conversation with the correct roles. The recordings give you the exact words to use, so you can focus on speaking calmly and politely.
Say what you ordered and what is wrong
Start by politely getting attention and stating your order. The line «Pedí esto sin queso.» means "I ordered this without cheese." It tells the staff what you asked for. If the dish arrives with cheese, you can explain the problem clearly with «Este plato tiene queso, pero yo lo pedí sin queso.», which means "This dish has cheese, but I ordered it without cheese." This separates what you ordered from what you received. If you want to be more direct about the mistake, «No es que falte algo, es que está mal preparado.» means "It's not that something is missing, it's that it's incorrectly prepared." Use these lines to describe the problem without sounding angry. Speak slowly and keep your voice calm.
Ask for a change and respond to staff
After explaining the problem, ask for a solution. The line «¿Me lo puede cambiar?» means "Can you change it for me?" It is a polite request. In a full exchange, you might say «Disculpe, pedí esta pasta sin queso, pero tiene queso.», which means "Excuse me, I ordered this pasta without cheese, but it has cheese." The staff member may reply with «Lo siento. ¿Quiere que se lo cambie?», meaning "I'm sorry. Would you like me to change it for you?" You can accept with «Sí, por favor. ¿Me lo puede traer de nuevo sin queso?», which means "Yes, please. Can you bring it to me again without cheese?" The staff member may confirm with «Claro, ahora mismo se lo traigo sin queso.», meaning "Of course, I'll bring it to you right away without cheese." Notice that the staff member asks about changing the dish, and you answer with a clear yes and a specific request.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Pedí esto sin queso.
I ordered this without cheese.
peh-DEE EHS-toh seen KEH-soh
Este plato tiene queso, pero yo lo pedí sin queso.
This dish has cheese, but I ordered it without cheese.
EHS-teh PLAH-toh TYEH-neh KEH-soh, PEH-roh yoh loh peh-DEE seen KEH-soh
¿Me lo puede cambiar?
Can you change it for me?
meh loh PWEH-deh kam-BYAHR
No es que falte algo, es que está mal preparado.
It's not that something is missing, it's that it's incorrectly prepared.
noh ehs keh FAHL-teh AHL-goh, ehs keh ehs-TAH mahl preh-pah-RAH-doh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, pedí esta pasta sin queso, pero tiene queso.
Excuse me, I ordered this pasta without cheese, but it has cheese.Lo siento. ¿Quiere que se lo cambie?
I'm sorry. Would you like me to change it for you?Sí, por favor. ¿Me lo puede traer de nuevo sin queso?
Yes, please. Can you bring it to me again without cheese?Claro, ahora mismo se lo traigo sin queso.
Of course, I'll bring it to you right away without cheese.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: report the problem
You are a customer at a restaurant. You ordered pasta without cheese, but the dish has cheese. A staff member is at your table.
Your task: Read your part aloud. First say the line for "Excuse me, I ordered this pasta without cheese, but it has cheese." Then, when the staff member asks if you want a change, say the line for "Yes, please. Can you bring it to me again without cheese?"
Choose the right reply
You are the customer. The staff member has just said the line for "I'm sorry. Would you like me to change it for you?"
Your task: Which reply fits? Choose A or B. A: the line for "Yes, please. Can you bring it to me again without cheese?" B: the line for "I ordered this without cheese." Say your choice aloud, then say the full reply.
Recall the conversation with correct roles
You are the staff member. A customer has just said the line for "Excuse me, I ordered this pasta without cheese, but it has cheese."
Your task: Say your first line aloud: the line for "I'm sorry. Would you like me to change it for you?" Then, after the customer asks for a change, say your second line: the line for "Of course, I'll bring it to you right away without cheese."
Common questions
What if I only remember one line?
Start with the line for "I ordered this without cheese." It states your order clearly. If the staff member asks a question, you can answer with the line for "Yes, please. Can you bring it to me again without cheese?" Keep your voice calm and polite.
How do I know which line is for the customer and which is for the staff?
The customer explains the problem and asks for a change. The staff member apologizes, offers to change the dish, and confirms the new dish. In the recordings, the customer says the line for "Excuse me, I ordered this pasta without cheese, but it has cheese." The staff member replies with the line for "I'm sorry. Would you like me to change it for you?"
Sources and further reading
- spanish: send food back politelyChecked September 2026
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