packages and visitors
- ¿Llegó un paquete para mí? Did a package arrive for me?
- Viene una visita. A visitor is coming.
- ¿Me avisa cuando llegue? Can you let me know when they arrive?
- Vengo con el del 302. I am here to see the person in 302.
Back to situations 
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Photo by Fernando Mola-Davis on Unsplash
expat life
portero, vigilante, casero: building life Spanish
The people who make your building work have their own tiny script: packages, visitors, repairs, keys, and permission.
Use This First
- Learn portero, vigilante, casero, paquete, visita, and ¿me avisa?
- Use usted with building staff unless they invite casual speech.
- Be clear about apartment number, names, and whether someone is expected.
Memorize these first
building logistics
- ¿Está el casero? Is the landlord here?
- ¿A qué hora cierran? What time do you close?
- ¿Puedo dejar esto aquí? Can I leave this here?
- Muchas gracias, que tenga buen día. Thanks a lot, have a good day.
One-screen cheat sheet
🛎️
building life cheat sheet Screenshot this before you go.
| Spanish | English | Use case | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Llegó un paquete para mí? | Did a package arrive for me? | package check | safe |
| Viene una visita. | A visitor is coming. | visitor notice | safe |
| ¿Me avisa cuando llegue? | Can you let me know when they arrive? | request | safe |
| Vengo con el del 302. | I am here to see the person in 302. | visitor entry | safe |
| ¿Está el casero? | Is the landlord here? | landlord check | safe |
| ¿A qué hora cierran? | What time do you close? | building schedule | safe |
| ¿Puedo dejar esto aquí? | Can I leave this here? | storage ask | safe |
| Muchas gracias, que tenga buen día. | Thanks a lot, have a good day. | closing | safe |
the gringo trap
Do not say this by default
don't say this
Do not use tú automatically with every building worker.
say this
Start with usted and let the relationship relax naturally.
Respectful building Spanish gets you farther than overly friendly gringo speed-running.
safe / local / spicy
Pick your register
safe
¿Me puede avisar cuando llegue?
local
¿Me avisa cuando llegue?
spicy
Me echa un grito cuando llegue, ¿sí?
The spicy one is casual and only fits after rapport.
How it sounds
package
Buenas, ¿llegó un paquete para mí? Hi, did a package arrive for me?
¿De qué departamento? Which apartment?
Del 402. 402.
Sí, aquí está. Yes, here it is.
visitor
Viene una visita como a las seis. A visitor is coming around six.
¿A nombre de quién? Under what name?
A nombre de Luis. Under Luis.
Va, le aviso. Okay, I will let you know.
Practice cards
three fast taps before you try it outside.
You want the portero to tell you when a visitor arrives.
You need the safest version for building life. What do you pick first?
Which move avoids the gringo trap?
Words you'll hear
Deep dives
FAQ
What should I memorize first for building life?
Start with ¿Llegó un paquete para mí?, Viene una visita., ¿Me avisa cuando llegue?, Vengo con el del 302., ¿Está el casero?. These cover the fastest moments on the page.
Is this building life Spanish safe to use as a foreigner?
Yes. Start with the safe phrases, then use the local phrases with friends or people your age. Treat spicy phrases as context-dependent, not universal.
How should I practice this situation?
Read the cheat sheet out loud, run the mini-dialogues once in Spanish and once in English, then answer the practice card before you go out in CDMX.