My Cousin and the Human Tower (A1)
Beginner Spanish story: in a Catalan square, someone waits while young Laia climbs a human tower and raises one hand.
Mi prima sube con los castellers
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About this article
What you'll learn
Present tense and the verb querer, with words for Catalan human towers: colla, pinya, tronc, pom de dalt and enxaneta.
On a festival day in a Catalan square, the narrator wants to see their young cousin Laia at the top of a human tower. The colla wears white trousers, a colored shirt and a wide sash. A crowd forms the pinya, the tronc rises in the center, and Laia, the enxaneta, closes the pom de dalt. A band plays. Laia raises one hand, the people climb down, and she is back on the ground. The text also says these towers are called castells, that castellers perform at local festivals, that Tarragona has a large contest, and that UNESCO lists the tradition as intangible cultural heritage.
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
Los castellers son una tradición catalana única
newLos castellers son una tradición catalana única
"Son" is the third person plural of "ser" (to be) in present tense.
Use this to describe traditions and cultural identity.
Es un espectáculo impresionante de ver
newEs un espectáculo impresionante de ver
Impresionante = impressive. Pattern "es + infinitive" describes a general impression.
Use this to express impressions about what you see.
Los castellers llevan pantalones blancos
newLos castellers llevan pantalones blancos
Llevan = they wear (custom/habit). Llevar is a versatile verb for "to wear/carry".
Useful for describing clothing and habitual actions.
Niños pequeños suben a la cima de la torre
newNiños pequeños suben a la cima de la torre
Suben = they climb up. Subir = to go up/climb.
Use this for actions involving going upward.
Suben nivel por nivel con cuidado
newSuben nivel por nivel con cuidado
"Nivel por nivel" = level by level. The preposition "por" indicates manner/path.
Useful for describing sequential steps.
La confianza entre personas es clave
newLa confianza entre personas es clave
Entre = between. Ser + adjective for definitions and characteristics.
Use this to express values and importance.
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
castellers
castellers
castellers
Participants in human towers in Catalonia. This is Catalan, not Spanish.
Key word of the article — a Catalan tradition.
colla (casteller team)
colla
colla
A casteller team/group that builds towers together. Catalan word used in Spanish.
Important because each team has its own name and color.
pinya (tower base)
pinya
pinya
The base of the human tower — a large group of people at the bottom. Catalan word.
The first part of the tower to be built.
tronc (central part)
tronc
tronc
The central part of the tower above the base. Catalan word.
Middle section of the tower between base and top.
pom de dalt (top/crown)
pom de dalt
pom de dalt
The top of the tower where a small child stands. Catalan phrase.
The highest and most dangerous position.
faja (sash/belt)
faja
faja
A red sash/belt worn around the waist by castellers for support.
Part of the traditional casteller costume.
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
Regular -ar verbs: llevan
Los castellers llevan pantalones blancos
Los castellers llevan pantalones blancos
"Llevan" is a regular -ar verb in present tense, 3rd person plural. Stem "llev-" + ending "-an".
Most Spanish verbs end in -ar, so this is the most important conjugation group.
hay + noun (there is/are)
Hay concursos entre colles
Hay concursos entre colles
"Hay" is the invariable form of "haber" for expressing existence. Means "there is" or "there are".
Universal pattern for stating that something exists.
Noun gender: masculine
La Vestimenta
La vestimenta
Most nouns ending in -a are feminine, but some like "el problema", "el tema" are exceptions. "Vestimenta" is feminine but uses "la".
Important for correct article and adjective agreement.
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