💡 Copies are fotocopias; en blanco y negro is black and white, en color colour; una cara single-sided, doble cara double-sided; a copistería is a copy shop.
💡 For printing: imprimir, archivo (file), memoria USB (stick), correo (email); you can email the file to them.
💡 Scanning is escanear or digitalizar; the result is emailed or saved on a stick; ask about the format (PDF).
💡 For orders: tarjetas de visita (business cards), cartel (poster), tamaño (size), papel (paper), plazo (deadline); ask for a presupuesto (quote).
💡 Binding is encuadernación; espiral is spiral, tapa cover; the clerk asks colour and number; usually same-day.
💡 Passport-type photos (foto de carné): size three by four, light background, no headwear; say which document - they know the requirements.
💡 You book the hairdresser in advance (cita); there are also walk-in hours (sin cita), but you may wait long; men's cuts are at a barbería.
💡 Description: un poco más corto (a little shorter), solo las puntas (just the ends), flequillo (fringe), capas (layers), degradado (fade); show a photo.
💡 Colouring is tinte; mechas are highlights, color natural natural colour, moreno dark, rubio blonde; say beforehand if you've coloured before.
💡 Prices vary: corte (cut), lavado y secado (wash and blow-dry), tinte (colouring), tratamiento (treatment); ask ¿Cuánto cuesta? before starting.
💡 At a barbershop: corte de pelo (cut), arreglo de barba (beard trim), a máquina (clippers), con tijera (scissors), a cero (zero).
💡 If you don't like the cut say calmly: No es exactamente lo que quería; hairdressers usually fix it; arguing won't help.
💡 A duplicate is a copia de la llave; the clerk asks the key type; a cerrajería is the locksmith, a zapatería shoe repair, often keys too; the price is low.
💡 A lock change is cambio de cerradura; the locksmith comes to the home, quotes and asks for the flat owner's ID; ask the price beforehand.
💡 Small repairs: arreglar, grifo (tap), persiana (blind), enchufe (socket), bombilla (bulb); the handyman states the call-out fee (desplazamiento).
💡 Shoe repair is at a zapatería: suela (sole), tacón (heel), cremallera (zip), coser (sew), pegar (glue); the price is usually low, the time a few days.
💡 To hem is arreglar el bajo; acortar is shorten, ensanchar widen; you try on in place and the tailor pins; the time is a few days.
💡 A watch is a reloj; pila is battery, correa strap; a relojería changes the battery quickly and cheaply.
💡 Dry cleaning is tintorería; limpieza en seco is dry cleaning, lavandería laundry, planchado ironing, abrigo coat, traje suit.
💡 Prices are per item: abrigo dearer, camisa cheaper; the time is the plazo (two or three days); urgente is rush with a surcharge.
💡 Clothes are collected with the receipt (resguardo) with a number; check whether the stain is gone on the spot; if not, say so at once.
💡 If an item was damaged tell them at once with the receipt and photos; the cleaner may compensate under the rules; ask for a letter on liability.
💡 A lavandería de autoservicio is a self-service laundry: coins or card; there are lavadora (washer) and secadora (dryer); say ¿Cómo funciona?
💡 Care labels: lavar a mano (hand wash), no usar lejía (no bleach), no planchar, limpieza en seco; if in doubt ask the dry cleaner.