SpanishB1Lesson 4.2
🇪🇸 Spanish B1 · Lesson 4.2

Un correo formal — Workplace communication

Write a formal email: greet, request, explain a problem and close politely.

Listen first

An employee dictates a formal email to a supplier about a delayed delivery.

🔊 Real audio — spoken by your browser in Spanish. Tap any word below to hear it.
New vocabulary — tap to hear
Estimado/aDear (formal) 🔊
le escribo paraI am writing to 🔊
adjuntarto attach 🔊
a la mayor brevedadas soon as possible 🔊
quedo a la espera deI look forward to 🔊
AtentamenteYours sincerely / Best regards 🔊

Now say it

Tap the phrase to hear it, then press the mic and repeat — we score your pronunciation for real (Chrome/Edge).

« Le escribo para solicitar información sobre el puesto que han publicado. » 🔊
I am writing to request information about the position you have posted.
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Pronunciation

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Read the dialogue

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Estimado señor García, le escribo para informarle de un problema con el pedido. 🔊Dear Mr. García, I am writing to inform you of a problem with the order.
Dígame, ¿qué ha ocurrido exactamente? 🔊Tell me, what exactly has happened?
El envío no ha llegado y lo necesitaríamos a la mayor brevedad. 🔊The shipment hasn't arrived and we'd need it as soon as possible.
Lo lamento. ¿Podría adjuntar el número de pedido para revisarlo? 🔊I'm sorry about that. Could you attach the order number so I can check it?
Por supuesto, lo adjunto en este correo. Quedo a la espera de su respuesta. 🔊Of course, I'm attaching it in this email. I look forward to your reply.
Gracias por avisar. Le responderé hoy mismo. Atentamente. 🔊Thank you for letting me know. I'll reply today. Best regards.
Grammar in focus · register and formal email structure

Formal Spanish uses « usted » (third-person verb forms) and a fixed structure. Open with « Estimado/a Sr./Sra. + apellido, ». State your purpose: « Le escribo para… + infinitive. » Soften requests with the conditional: « Le agradecería que… » or « ¿Sería posible…? » Close with « Quedo a la espera de su respuesta » and a formal sign-off: « Atentamente » or « Un cordial saludo. » Avoid « tú » forms and contractions of tone (no « hola, qué tal »).

Write it yourself

Write a short formal email (5–6 lines) to a company requesting information or reporting a problem, with a proper greeting and closing.

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Tip for this task
« ¡Bien! » Your email keeps the formal register consistently. Make sure every verb stays in the « usted » form. Example: « Estimada Sra. López: Le escribo para solicitar una cita. Quedo a la espera de su respuesta. Atentamente. »

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. Which is a correct formal opening?
2. Which closing is appropriate for a formal email?
3. Which form shows the formal 'usted' register?
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