Taking the edge off

es que… / un poquito

the thing is… / a little bit· tap the form for the whole table

Say these out loud

Why it works

Spanish softens with small words, not with longer sentences.

Es que opens an excuse, un poquito shrinks a complaint, ¿te importa si…? asks permission.

O sea restates, bueno concedes, and pues buys you a second to think.

Why not no quiero

no quiero ir

I don't want to go

Blunt. Es que no me apetece mucho says no and keeps the room warm.

In a full sentence

Es que hoy voy un poquito justo de tiempo.
The thing is, I'm a little short on time today.
Es que and un poquito make the excuse sound less abrupt.
Es que no puedo ir a la oficina mañana.
The thing is, I can't go to the office tomorrow.
Es que softens a refusal or inconvenient answer.
Es que la reunión es un poquito larga.
The thing is, the meeting is a little long.
Un poquito makes criticism sound more polite.

5 gaps to fill, then 3 sentences from the English · say or type each one