How not to look STUPID standing in line

You may be standing in line or look like you’re standing in line when the attendant, one of the workers, or even a customer might come up to you and say, “Estás en línea?”

Now, you may not understand anything else they say along with it, but if you hear the word línea, nine times out of ten, they are simply asking, “Are you in line?” This is something so basic that you don’t want to look confused – like a deer caught in the headlights 🫨 – and they’re just asking you if you’re in line. So, you need to know this.

Follow along with the video for best results:

What Does “Línea” Mean?

Línea means line. If you hear “Estás en línea?” or just línea somewhere, they are probably asking if you’re in line, nine times out of ten.

Another Word for “Line” — “Cola”

I also want to let you know about another word that means line too: cola.

I’ve heard both línea and cola used about equally often. So, something as basic as someone asking you are you in line? might be phrased as “Estás en cola?” or something similar.

If you hear línea or cola, it means the same thing: Are you in line?

How to Remember “Línea”

The way to remember línea is really simple. Look at the spelling in Spanish: L Í N E A.

You can see the English word line right in there. The root word is literally in the Spanish word — just with an A added at the end.

So when you see línea, remember it as line + a.

How to Remember “Cola”

As for cola, think of it like this: you’re standing in line to pay for a cola — a Coca-Cola, whatever.

This little association can help you remember that cola also means line in Spanish.

Now you’re ready next time someone asks if you’re in line in Spanish, whether they say línea or cola!

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