Immersive Spanish - Immersive Spanish - Colombia Adventure - Episode 1 - Arrival to Medellín

Episode Date: July 22, 2026

Learn Spanish naturally through immersive stories and comprehensible input. This podcast is designed for intermediate Spanish learners who want to improve their listening comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and confidence by learning Spanish in context. New to Immersive Spanish? Start from the beginning of the current season, or simply choose a topic that interests you and begin listening. Each episode helps you understand real Spanish while building speaking ability naturally. The Immersive Spanish App Learn Spanish with interactive lessons, listening practice, speaking exercises, and more: https://studio.com/apps/immersivespanish Learn with Video Watch Kav explore the Spanish-speaking world and learn Spanish through real-life experiences: https://www.youtube.com/@ImmersiveSpanish Ad Free, More Episodes and Transcripts Get extra episodes, transcripts, ad free listening and bonus lessons on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ImmersiveSpanish Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Season 7, Episode 1. Hola, Viejeros, welcome back to immerse with Spanish. And today, I've just arrived somewhere very special. Or should I say, moe especial. Medellín, Colombia! They always told me not to come, that Colombia was dangerous. But I did.

And if you didn't know, Medellín is where my Spanish really started to take root. The locals are incredibly friendly, and so encouraging are people trying to learn their language. It's like a boot camp for learning Spanish. People generally don't speak much English here, so you won't be battling to stay speaking Spanish like we often do in Spain. Last season was quite theory-based,

and while it's essential to know all of that, it can be a little less exciting. This season, we're getting back to the core of immersive Spanish, traveling through real life experiences and having real conversations with real people. I truly believe the best way to learn Spanish is through genuine interactions. So in every episode you'll hear me speaking with locals as I travel around Colombia. Afterwards, we'll break those conversations down together with speaking gaps, making sure you understand everything that was said.

Follow along on Patreon for transcripts and photos of the journey. Now then, I just took three planes to get here. De Londres to Madrid. De Madrid to Bogotá. And, finally, de Bogota to Medellin. And my goodness, the hardest part wasn't the flying. It was queuing for immigration.

That hour and a half felt like an entire day. And I just missed sunset. I'll have to have my first night in the dark. Anyway, here I am, and I need to find a taxi. I'm going to my hotel in El Poblado, the most traveler-friendly district of Medellín. Ah, here's one. Buenos, caballero, how is ta?

Is there, signor. That good, I'm going to the Poblado, to an hotel that's called Columbia 13. Sure that is, subhase. Well, and where I'm from? I'm from London. It was a

longisional. Yes, how many hours he demurro? Like, about 14 hours in total? Oh,

no, what a voyage so long? And you where is? I'm of London, England,

Inglaterra. In serious? But you do you speak to Spanish very well, ha.

I do what I can. No, in serious, he's really, it's very good.

Oh, and much thanks. Diggum me a thing, you know Medellin?

Yes, a pair of times. In fact, here was where I've learned

a year, eh? Oh, with reason, he's a

saint Colombian so. Yeah, Probably it's for that. And what you know

the people Colombian? I'm love. The people of here is very very

amable. In London is completely different. Each one goes on your side.

Go to work, he's a coffee and will be to the house.

We don't talk much with people. I think would be

a It's a pretty difficult to learn English in England because the people who never even talk with persons who know know. Yeah, clear. Here we are different. We just to converse.

And when we see that someone is that is learning Spanish, well, we'll just to help us. And, cruehame, thanks to the Colombian to learn to learn Spanish.

That's good to hear that. Ah, Sierra, the Santanas, that we're going to enter the tunnel. Ah, listo. We're about to enter the big tunnel, which connects Medellin with the airport. Everyone closes their windows here to stop the fumes from entering the car. Oiga, how is it a time this tunnel?

The tunnel of orient. And, more or less, how much, how much? More or less eight kilometers. Ah, it's a long. eh? And how it was this trajectory before that construeder their tunnel?

Muchissimo more larger, my ho. This tunnel us changed the life. Now we get us to the airport much more rapid.

Yes, me imagine. Right. Let me break down some of the Spanish we used whilst chatting. Remember to repeat after me in the gaps

and say out loud. The taxi driver started by asking, De Donde vienna. This simply means where are you coming from? From where do you come?

Notice he used Vienne, which comes from the verb Venir, meaning to come, to come. You could also ask De Donde is. De don't de is. It's the formal way of asking where are you from?

De Donde is. But De Donde vienne is asking where you've traveled from. From wherever you come? I replied, Vengo de Londres. Vengo, de Londres.

Vengo, meaning, I come. So, Vengo de Londres, I come from London. Very simple, yet very useful. Next, I said, Fue on Viaje Larguissimo. This means it was a very long journey.

The interesting word here is Larguissimo. This comes from Largo meaning long. But adding Isimo makes it much stronger. So, for example, grande becomes grandissimo. Bueno becomes Buenissimo. And in this case, Largo. becomes Larguissimo. It's a really common way to emphasize adjectives in Spanish.

Then the taxi driver asked, Quantas hours se demurro. This is a very Colombian way of asking. How long did it take? The verb here is demorarse to take time. You'll hear Colombians use it all the time. For example, how long did it take you or me demoreau demerest. It took me two hours. When I told him I'd been

traveling for 14 hours, he replied, Oi no, what via he's tan large. I love this expression. It's just a natural reaction that you hear often in Colombia, ohy. It's a bit like saying, wow, or oh no, or blimely. Then he said, Ke viage tan largo. What a long journey. Ke viage tan largo. Very natural Colombian Spanish right there. Next he asked me,

Ja connoissea Medellin. Ja connocia Medellin. This means, had you been to Medellín before? The key verb here is Konoser. Conocer. To know a place. or to know a person.

So, Connozco Medellín. I know Medellín. Connozco Medellín. Connozco a Juan. I know Juan. I replied, Si, Un par de Veses.

This is a great little phrase. Un par de Veses simply means a couple of times. Un par de veces. Then I said, Here was where I learned Spanish. Literally, this is where I learned Spanish. The taxi driver then said, Con raison has a cento Colombian. This is one of my favorite expressions.

Con raison means that makes sense, or with reason. So he was saying, no wonder you have a Colombian accent. You'll hear, con raison, quite a lot. For example, Con raison estes cancadro. No wonder you're tired. It's with reason that you're tired. Or, con raison, you're astarte.

No wonder you arrived late. Finally, towards the end of the journey, the taxi driver said, Cire las Ventanas. Now this means close the windows. Notice he didn't say, Siera las Ventanas. Because we didn't know each other. Instead, he used the more polite form.

Sire las Ventanas. Exactly the sort of Spanish you'll hear from taxi drivers, waiters, and shop assistants all across Latin America. They are very polite around here. And one last phrase before we move on. He said, Que bueno. Literally, how good.

But in everyday Spanish, it usually means that's great, or that's good to hear. Or simply brilliant. You'll hear it absolutely everywhere in Colombia, so it's well worth adding to your vocabulary. Yeah, casinos del tunnel. Ah, perfecto. The tunnel is almost over.

Yeah, we're almost out of the tunnel. Just wait. Wow. Look at all those lights. Every single time I come to Medellin, this moment it gets me. As you emerge from the tunnel, the entire city appears beneath you. Millions of lights, I'm not joking, millions of lights fill the valley, stretching for miles in every direction, and they're surrounded by towering mountains on either side.

It really is one of the most spectacular city views I've ever seen. Now, I'm really excited to be back. Okay, guys, we've arrived at my hotel, Colombia 13. Thanks, caballero. Quanto cost. Are 120,000 pesos. Perfect. Here you have.

much thanks that's your voyage much thanks a

good what a nice guy honestly taxi drivers are one of the best ways to improve

your Spanish I've always said this especially Colombian taxi drivers they are incredibly friendly

they also love a good chat and they're always pleasantly surprised when they

meet an English person who speaks Spanish right then here it is my

hotel hmm wow it actually looks even nicer than it did online well let's head inside hmm there's there's no one here no idea oh yeah noai nadiae a key a really useful phrase noai means there isn't or there aren't and Nadia means nobody so no idea need needy there's nobody here Let's see if someone appears. Here's a little bell. Do you know the word for bell in Spanish? A little bit of trivia.

It's timbre. An timbre is a bell. Like this one right here. A timbre. Let's ring it. Buenos Noches. Tiena a reserve? Hello.

Uh, yes. Tengue a reserve. This is a name of Kav. Perfect. Me can you can't be your passport, for favor?

Here, here you have. Perfecto. A momentico, for favor. Meanwhile a time.

Sivvase a water or jugs of an orange great thanks

Thank you free orange juice and water. Don't mind if I do. I'm always thirsty

after a long haul flight. Another really useful phrase Tengo Ced Tengo Ced Which simply means

I'm thirsty Ah That's much better Very Very well Here you have the His abitation is the 203 I hope

Desfute your stadia Perfecto Muchis Thanks guys After logo With much That's That's

Right Let's break Some of that down The receptionist Asked Diena a reserva? This means do you have a reservation? You'll also hear this all the time in hotels.

I replied, Si, Dengo a reserve. Simple. I have a reservation. Then I said, and listen to this, this,

this is a, Nome, D, CAV. This is really handy. Literally, it's under the name of CAV. So, make sure you remember that.

Esta a nombre de... Whenever you have a hotel booking, restaurant reservation, or appointment, you'll probably need this. For example, It's under the name of Juan. Next, the receptionist asked me, me puo de mustraar su passport, for favor? This means, could you show me your passport, please? Notice he didn't say,

Muestre me his passport Instead, he used Me Pue de mostra. It's softer, more polite, and very common in customer service.

You'll hear the same structure everywhere. For example, me Puedea'i Audea'u'a'u'est, could you wait for me? Then I handed it over and said, Here you do'i'en.

This is one of those phrases you're here constantly in Spanish. It means here you are. Or literally, here you have it. Whenever you're giving someone something, your passport, your credit card, your ticket, your ID, simply say, here you know, okay? Here you know.

Next, the receptionist said, a momentico, por favor. Now, I really love this one. In Colombia, you're often hear people add Iko to words instead of just saying ito. So instead of an moment, you'll hear, Un momentico. It simply means just a little moment. It's one of those little details that immediately makes Colombian Spanish sound Colombian.

It just softens, softens things a little bit. What sounds softer? Wait a moment or wait a little moment. for me. Then he said, Mientras Tanto. Mientras Tanto. This means in the meantime. In the meantime, or meanwhile,

it's a really useful phrase you'll often hear in everyday conversation. Mientras Tanto. Mientras Tanto. Then, serevase, water or juger of an ananja. This literally means help yourself to some water, or orange juice. Serve yourself.

Serve yourself. Serve yourself water or orange juice. The verb here is servilese. To serve yourself. You'll often hear this in hotels, cafes and buffets. Then I said, Que maravia.

This literally means how wonderful. What maravia. It's just a nice. natural way of saying brilliant. That's amazing, that kind of thing. After my 14-hour journey, free orange juice definitely counted as a maravilla.

Then we learned another really useful phrase. Tengo said, I'm thirsty. Very easy to remember, right? Tengo said, I'm thirsty. Tengo ambre. I'm hungry. Tengo sueno. I'm sleepy. Tengo frio. I'm cold. Just remember, Spanish uses Tener

to have for lots of expressions where English uses to be. Finally, as I was leaving reception, he said, This means I hope you enjoy your stay. And as I walked away, he finished with, Kisdense, literally, may you rest? Or more naturally, have a good rest. It's a lovely phrase you're here all over Colombia. They're just so polite out here.

Okay, guys. Now that we've broken everything down, I'm now going to play the interactions again. And if you didn't understand much the first time, I'm sure you will now. Let's go. Buas, caballero, how ista? Ista libra? Seigneur. That good.

I'm going to the Poblado, a hotel that's called Columbia 13. Sure that's see. Subas. Well, and where comes? I'm from London. It was a long Verysim

Yeah How many hours He demor How much About about About a 14 hours

In total Ory No What year So Where is I'm Of course

I'm Inglare Inceria But you But you You know You're I'm

I'm I'm I'm What I I'm No In serious You

He's Well very well. Oh, much thanks. Diggum a

thing. I know Medellin. Yes, a part of many times. Of

actually, here was where I've learned a year. Oh,

with a reason, you know, probably is for that so.

And what you think the people the people people

of here is very calida and very amable. In London, is completely

different. Each one goes on their side. Go to work, he takes

a coffee, and go to the house. We don't talk much

with people. I think it's pretty difficult to learn

English in England because the people never never

with people who know so we're Sure. Here we are different.

We just to conversar. And when we see that someone is learning Spanish, well, we're very good we'll help. And,

cramame, thanks to the Colombians, I've learned to speak to hear that. Uh,

see the santanas that we're to enter the tunnel. Ah, list. We're about to enter the

big tunnel, which connects Medellin with the airport. Everyone their windows here to stop the fumes from entering the car. Oiga, how is it a time this tunnel? The tunnel of oriente.

And, more or less, how much how much? More or minus eight kilometers. Ah, it's a longito, eh? And how was this trajectory before that they were the tunnel? Much more large, my God. This tunnel

us changed the life. Now we get to the

airport much more more more so I'm imagine

I'm good good good good you have a

right I'm a name of Kav perfect me

can you can be you please sure here

he he he he he perfect a moment a momentic

for for while meantime a water or jugger of an orange. That's great. Very well.

Here you have the Lave. Your abitation is the 203. I'm sure you perfect. Muchisimaz thanks. After the

then. With much that's can't you do. Well, how did you do? Feel free to listen to these episodes

as many times as you need until you understand everything in the interactions. I must say I am absolutely knackered. I'm going to go and get some sleep because tomorrow we've got a full day exploring Medellegine, one of my favorite

places on planet Earth. If you'd like to follow the journey with me, head over to Patreon where you'll find the full transcript for this episode, along with photos from my trip to Colombia. And if you'd like to take your Spanish beyond listening and start speaking with confidence, be sure to check out Fluency Builder,

the Immersa Spanish app. Finally, if you'd like to watch me interacting with native Spanish speakers, head over to the Immerserces Spanish YouTube channel. Well, that's everything. Muchisimaz gracias, and hasta lo.