... Short Cuts For Learning Spanish,
"Filling Out Forms in Spanish" ...
by Christopher Howard M.A.
Author of The New Golden Door Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica

If have ever travelled or resided in a Spanish speaking country,
you probably have had to fill out papers or forms in Spanish. Although
many forms are in both Spanish and English, the majority are only in
Spanish.

One of the most important Spanish survival skills is to be able to
understand and fill out forms. On countless occasions I have had to help
fellow English speakers with paperwork. You would be surprised how many
foreign residents of Costa Rica can't fill out basic forms.

Here are some handy phrases and words which should help make this chore a little easier.

nombre - first name

apellido - last name

apellido de soltera - maiden name

lugar de nacimiento - birthplace

fecha de nacimiento - date of birth

dirección permanente - permanent addresse

nacionalidad - nationality

estado civil - marital status

casado/a - married (man/women)

soltero/a - single (man/woman)

viuda/o - widow(er)

dependientes - dependents

número de pasaporte - passport number

expedido en - issued at

firma - signature

formulario - form

papeles - papers

documentos - documents

renglón - a line on a piece of paper

marcar - mark or check

contestar sí a la pregunta - answer 'yes' to a question

contestar no a la pregunta - answer 'no' to a question

dirección en Costa Rica - address in Costa Rica

papel sellado - a type of legal form

anverso - frontside of a paper

dorso - backside of a paper

cuadro - small box on a form

columna - column

Christopher Howard M.A. is the author of "The New Golden Door Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica," He is also a paid consultant for National Geographic in Costa Rica. For more information call 800-365-2342, access: www.costaricabooks.com or www.publishingonline.com to directly download his books from the Internet. Mr. Howard also conducts monthly one-of-a-kind exploratory trips for those wanting to live in Costa Rica Please call toll-free 800-493-8426, e-mail: crbooks@racsa.co.cr or tico@gate.net. Contact them to see how your can win a FREE round-trip ticket to Costa Rica on one of their tours. Mr. Howard also works as a paid consultant for newcomers and those thinking of investing or going into business. For a listing of his services see: www. liveincostarica.com. Anyone needing assistance may contact him directly at: crbooks@racsa.co.cr.