Free Spanish audio course (Latin America)
Learn by copying everyday conversations.
Hear a short scene, understand the useful phrases, copy them out loud, then try your own answers in the pauses.
Episode 5
At the mercado
Spanish (Latin America) · A1 beginner · 12 minutes · No signup
Free to play, download, and read, with no account or email needed.
Voices are AI-generated. Mateo, the teacher, and Sam, the learner, are fictional characters.
All episodes
Take them in order: each episode builds on the phrases before it. Every one is free to play, download, and read.
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Episode 1
A1 beginner · 9 minutes
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Episode 2
A1 beginner · 11 minutes
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Episode 3
A1 beginner · 11 minutes
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Episode 4
A1 beginner · 11 minutes
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Episode 5
At the mercado
A1 beginner · 12 minutes · Playing on this page
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Spanish (Latin America)
Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
How the lesson works
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1
Hear the scene
Sam buys avocados, tomatoes and oranges at a fruit and vegetable stall in a Mexican market. First, you just listen for the total at the end.
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2
Understand the useful phrases
Mateo explains each phrase in English, only as much as helps your next try.
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3
Copy them out loud
Say each phrase in the pause after you hear it. Copy the sound and rhythm before worrying about grammar.
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4
Try your answers
Order from memory, change one kilo to two, play the shopper with one offer, then shop again without bargaining. A spoken answer follows every pause, so you can compare.
Missed an answer? Keep listening. The words come back, and you don’t need to touch the screen once the episode is playing.
After this episode
You can say good morning at a market stall, ask prices, order one or two kilos, make an offer where bargaining is invited, and ask how much everything is.
Level A1. Written for adult English speakers starting Spanish. The Spanish is Mexican and understood across Latin America. You don’t need any Spanish to begin.
Phrases you’ll say
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Buenos días. ¿Cuánto cuestan los aguacates?
Good morning. How much are the avocados?
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¡Ay, es caro! ¿A veinticinco?
Oh, that's expensive! How about twenty-five?
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Un kilo de aguacates, por favor.
One kilo of avocados, please.
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¿Cuánto es un kilo de tomates?
How much is a kilo of tomatoes?
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¿Y las naranjas?
And the oranges?
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¿Cuánto es todo?
How much is everything?
Phrases you’ll recognize
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Treinta pesos el kilo, marchanta.
Thirty pesos a kilo, marchanta.
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¿Cuántos kilos quiere?
How many kilos would you like?
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Diez pesos el kilo. Están muy dulces.
Ten pesos a kilo. They're very sweet.
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Sí, cincuenta pesos. Aquí tiene.
Yes, fifty pesos. Here you go.
Listening with your screen off
The download is the most reliable way. Save the MP3 and play it offline in any audio app. Your browser puts it with your other downloads (on iPhone, in the Files app).
Playing from this page can keep going when you lock your phone, depending on your phone and browser. Some pause when you switch apps or close the tab. If yours does, use the download.
The speaking pauses are optional. If you’re driving, keep your attention on the road: just listen, or skip the speaking parts. The episode says the same.
Transcript
Every word of Episode 5. Choose a time to play from there. “Your turn” marks a pause for you to speak; Spanish is in bold.
Welcome
Sam: I'm at a market in Mexico, standing in front of a mountain of avocados. I want some.
Mateo: Then let's get you some. I'm Mateo, and this is Copycat Cafe.
Sam: And I'm Sam.
Mateo: Sam and I are AI-generated voices. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to buy fruit and vegetables by the kilo: say good morning, ask prices, order a kilo, and ask how much everything is. Listen first. Copy the sound. Then try the words for yourself.
Mateo: If you miss an answer, let it go. You'll hear the words again, and you don't need a screen. If you're driving, keep your attention on the road and skip the speaking exercises.
Warm up
Mateo: First, one from the taco stand in Episode 1. If you're new, just listen. Ask: how much do they cost?
Your turn · 5-second pause
At the market
Mateo: ¿Cuánto cuestan? You'll need it again today. Sam is the shopper, and I'm the vendor at a fruit and vegetable stall. Listen for one thing: how much is everything at the end?
Sam: Buenos días. ¿Cuánto cuestan los aguacates?
Mateo: Treinta pesos el kilo, marchanta.
Sam: ¡Ay, es caro! ¿A veinticinco?
Mateo: Bueno, veinticinco el kilo. ¿Cuántos kilos quiere?
Sam: Un kilo de aguacates, por favor. ¿Cuánto es un kilo de tomates?
Mateo: Quince pesos el kilo. Están buenos.
Sam: Un kilo de tomates, por favor. ¿Y las naranjas?
Mateo: Diez pesos el kilo. Están muy dulces.
Sam: Un kilo de naranjas también. ¿Cuánto es todo? ¿Cincuenta?
Mateo: Sí, cincuenta pesos. Aquí tiene.
Mateo: How much is everything? Cincuenta pesos. Fifty pesos.
Sam: And he called me marchanta. I think I have a market nickname now.
Good morning
Mateo: Sam starts with: buenos días. Good morning. Copy it: buenos días.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Then: ¿cuánto cuestan los aguacates? How much are the avocados? Copy just that word: aguacates.
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Mateo: Now the whole question: ¿cuánto cuestan los aguacates?
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: And with good morning: buenos días. ¿Cuánto cuestan los aguacates?
Your turn · 7-second pause
Marchanta
Mateo: The vendor says: treinta pesos el kilo, marchanta. Thirty pesos a kilo. Treinta is thirty. And marchanta? Some vendors at Mexican markets call a female customer marchanta, and a male customer marchante. It sounds warm and a little salesy, and not everyone uses it. Just recognise it.
It's expensive
Mateo: Sam answers: ¡ay, es caro! ¿A veinticinco? Oh, that's expensive! How about twenty-five? Veinticinco is twenty-five. A short offer like this works at some market stalls where bargaining is expected. Many places have fixed prices, so follow the vendor's lead. Copy it: ¡ay, es caro!
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Mateo: And the offer: ¿a veinticinco? Copy it.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: The vendor agrees: bueno, veinticinco el kilo. ¿Cuántos kilos quiere? OK, twenty-five a kilo. How many kilos would you like? You only need to recognise that question.
Sam: He said yes. I didn't expect that.
One kilo, please
Mateo: Sam orders: un kilo de aguacates, por favor. One kilo of avocados, please. Por favor, as at the taco stand. Copy it: un kilo de aguacates, por favor.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: Then she asks about tomatoes, tomates: ¿cuánto es un kilo de tomates? How much is a kilo of tomatoes? Copy it.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Mateo: Then the vendor says: quince pesos el kilo. Están buenos. Fifteen pesos a kilo. They're good. Quince is fifteen, like one taco in Episode 1. Sam orders, then asks about one more thing: ¿y las naranjas? And the oranges? Copy it: ¿y las naranjas?
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: From memory now. Order one kilo of tomatoes, please.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: Un kilo de tomates, por favor. And the oranges? Diez pesos el kilo. Están muy dulces. Ten pesos a kilo. They're very sweet. Diez is ten.
How much is everything?
Mateo: Sam finishes: un kilo de naranjas también. One kilo of oranges too. También means too. Copy it: un kilo de naranjas también.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: Then: ¿cuánto es todo? How much is everything? Copy it: ¿cuánto es todo?
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Mateo: She guesses: ¿cincuenta? Fifty? Twenty-five, plus fifteen, plus ten. And the vendor: sí, cincuenta pesos. Aquí tiene. Yes, fifty pesos. Here you go. You'll hear aquí tiene when someone hands you something. You don't need to say it.
Sam: I did that maths in my head. Please don't check it.
Two kilos
Mateo: Now one change. Dos kilos, two kilos. Dos, as in dos tacos. Kilo becomes kilos, because there are two. Dos kilos de naranjas, por favor. Copy it.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: Now without hearing it first. Ask for two kilos of tomatoes, please.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: Dos kilos de tomates, por favor.
Your market run
Mateo: Let's put it together. You play Sam's part, the shopper, and I'm the vendor. I'll call you marchanta, as I called Sam. To a man, I'd say marchante. Say good morning, and ask how much the avocados are.
Your turn · 8-second pause
Mateo: Treinta pesos el kilo, marchanta.
Mateo: Say oh, it's expensive, and offer twenty-five.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Mateo: Bueno, veinticinco el kilo. ¿Cuántos kilos quiere?
Mateo: Order one kilo of avocados, please. Then ask how much a kilo of tomatoes is.
Your turn · 10-second pause
Mateo: Quince pesos el kilo. Están buenos.
Mateo: Order one kilo of tomatoes, please. Then ask: and the oranges?
Your turn · 8.5-second pause
Mateo: Diez pesos el kilo. Están muy dulces.
Mateo: Order one kilo of oranges too, and ask how much everything is.
Your turn · 8-second pause
Mateo: Cincuenta pesos. Aquí tiene.
Mateo: Here's one version of your part. Buenos días. ¿Cuánto cuestan los aguacates? ¡Ay, es caro! ¿A veinticinco? Un kilo de aguacates, por favor. ¿Cuánto es un kilo de tomates? Un kilo de tomates, por favor. ¿Y las naranjas? Un kilo de naranjas también. ¿Cuánto es todo? In the scene, Sam also guesses ¿cincuenta?, but you don't need it. If you missed a step, that's fine. These gaps are for practice, not a test.
Listen again
Mateo: Here's the original scene again, with no explanations. Notice which bits you recognise.
Sam: Buenos días. ¿Cuánto cuestan los aguacates?
Mateo: Treinta pesos el kilo, marchanta.
Sam: ¡Ay, es caro! ¿A veinticinco?
Mateo: Bueno, veinticinco el kilo. ¿Cuántos kilos quiere?
Sam: Un kilo de aguacates, por favor. ¿Cuánto es un kilo de tomates?
Mateo: Quince pesos el kilo. Están buenos.
Sam: Un kilo de tomates, por favor. ¿Y las naranjas?
Mateo: Diez pesos el kilo. Están muy dulces.
Sam: Un kilo de naranjas también. ¿Cuánto es todo? ¿Cincuenta?
Mateo: Sí, cincuenta pesos. Aquí tiene.
Your turn
Mateo: Now you're shopping again, and Sam will stay quiet. This time you want tomatoes and oranges, two kilos of each, and no bargaining. Say good morning, and ask how much the tomatoes are.
Your turn · 8-second pause
Mateo: Quince pesos el kilo. Están buenos.
Mateo: Order two kilos of tomatoes, please. Then ask: and the oranges?
Your turn · 8.5-second pause
Mateo: Diez pesos el kilo. Están muy dulces.
Mateo: Order two kilos of oranges too, and ask how much everything is.
Your turn · 8.5-second pause
Mateo: Cincuenta pesos. Aquí tiene.
Mateo: Here's one version of your part. Buenos días. ¿Cuánto cuestan los tomates? Dos kilos de tomates, por favor. ¿Y las naranjas? Dos kilos de naranjas también. ¿Cuánto es todo? And the total is cincuenta pesos again: thirty for the tomatoes, twenty for the oranges.
Sam: Four kilos of fruit and vegetables. Now I have to carry them.
Keep it
Mateo: One last one from memory. Ask how much everything is.
Your turn · 5-second pause
Mateo: ¿Cuánto es todo? Keep that, and ¿cuánto cuestan? To order, say un kilo de, then the thing you want, then por favor. For example: un kilo de naranjas, por favor. You don't need every word from the scene today. Come back and try the gaps again. This is the free Copycat Cafe audio course. The optional paid app adds pronunciation feedback and conversations that respond to you. Today's matching lesson is At the mercado.
Sam: And then I'm going back for the avocados. Guacamole.
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About this episode
Episode 5 of the free Copycat Cafe Spanish audio course. It’s adapted from “At the mercado”, lesson 5 of our Spanish (Latin America) course.
Mateo and Sam are fictional characters with AI-generated voices. The music is original.
Want feedback on your pronunciation?
The free course gives you the phrases, the pauses, and an answer to compare with. It can’t hear you. The Copycat Cafe app is a paid app that adds a pronunciation score on every word you say, and conversations with Copy, your AI conversation partner, that respond to what you actually say. In the app, “At the mercado” uses the same scene.
See how Copycat works