Una búsqueda de departamento
An apartment search
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
El sábado por la mañana, Lara y Tomás salieron temprano con una carpeta, algunas fotos impresas y el celular cargado. Querían alquilar un departamento antes del lunes. Ya estaban cansados de mirar avisos y mandar mensajes. Tenían dos visitas cerca del trabajo y querían aprovechar el día.
La primera dueña los recibió con una sonrisa y les ofreció agua. El departamento era luminoso y tenía una cocina amplia. Lara miró el balcón y dijo: “Qué bueno”. Pero Tomás escuchó un ruido fuerte desde la calle. La dueña explicó que pasaban autos todo el día y que, a la noche, también había mucho ruido.
También hablaron del precio. Era más alto de lo que habían pensado, y además pedían dos meses de depósito. Tomás frunció el ceño y sacó una nota de su bolsillo. “Si sumamos todo, se nos va del presupuesto”, dijo. Lara miró la cocina otra vez, pero ya no estaba tan segura.
La segunda visita estaba en un edificio viejo, en una calle tranquila. El ascensor era chico, pero el departamento tenía buen espacio. La dueña les mostró una terraza pequeña y les dijo que podían usarla para plantas o para tomar aire. Lara se sorprendió. No pensaba encontrar un lugar tan tranquilo ahí.
Antes de irse, Tomás le preguntó por los gastos. La dueña fue directa y explicó todo con calma. No había trampa ni letra chica. Eso les dio confianza. Lara abrió la ventana, escuchó el silencio y sonrió. “Ahora entiendo por qué te gusta”, dijo. Tomás respondió: “Sí, llamemos antes de que alguien más lo vea”.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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querían alquilar un departamento
they wanted to rent an apartmentThis phrase says they wanted to rent a home, not buy one.
Mis amigos quieren alquilar un estudio cerca del centro.
My friends want to rent a studio near the center.
ruido fuerte
loud noiseThis phrase describes a noise that is hard to ignore.
Escuché un ruido fuerte en la calle anoche.
I heard a loud noise in the street last night.
dos meses de depósito
two months of depositIn rental contexts, depósito is money paid as a guarantee.
Usage: Formal; suitable for polite or professional situations.
El contrato pide un mes de depósito y un mes por adelantado.
The contract asks for one month of deposit and one month in advance.
se nos va del presupuesto
it goes beyond our budgetThis phrase is useful when the total cost is too high.
Usage: This phrase is common in everyday Argentine Spanish. It means the price is too high for what you planned to spend.
Con esas reparaciones, se nos va del presupuesto.
With those repairs, it goes beyond our budget.
No pensaba encontrar
I did not think I would findThis phrase shows surprise about a result.
No pensaba encontrar una mesa libre tan rápido.
I did not think I would find a free table so quickly.
letra chica
fine printThis phrase refers to small text with important conditions.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is common in everyday Argentine Spanish for hidden or small contract details.
Lee la letra chica antes de pagar.
Read the fine print before paying.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
On Saturday morning, Lara and Tomás left early with a folder, some printed photos, and the cell phone charged. They wanted to rent an apartment before Monday. They were already tired of looking at ads and sending messages. They had two visits near work and wanted to make the most of the day.
The first owner received them with a smile and offered them water. The apartment was bright and had a large kitchen. Lara looked at the balcony and said: “How nice.” But Tomás heard a loud noise from the street. The owner explained that cars passed all day and that, at night, there was also a lot of noise.
They also talked about the price. It was higher than they had thought, and they also asked for two months of deposit. Tomás frowned and took a note out of his pocket. “If we add everything up, it goes beyond our budget,” he said. Lara looked at the kitchen again, but she was no longer so sure.
The second visit was in an old building, on a quiet street. The elevator was small, but the apartment had good space. The owner showed them a small terrace and told them that they could use it for plants or to get some fresh air. Lara was surprised. She did not think she would find such a quiet place there.
Before leaving, Tomás asked her about the expenses. The owner was direct and explained everything calmly. There was no trick or fine print. That gave them confidence. Lara opened the window, listened to the silence, and smiled. “Now I understand why you like it,” she said. Tomás replied: “Yes, let's call before someone else sees it”.