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Illustration for “Happy birthday, Irene”

Spanish story with translation · B1 · 18 lines

Felicidades, Irene Happy birthday, Irene

Comic · 9 panels

Panel 1 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: Dear Irene, happy birthday! I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart. Today you turn thirty, and I'm in Valencia, very far from Bilbao.
  1. Querida Irene: ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Te felicito de corazón.

    Dear Irene, happy birthday! I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.

  2. Hoy cumples treinta años y yo estoy en Valencia, muy lejos de Bilbao.

    Today you turn thirty, and I'm in Valencia, very far from Bilbao.

Panel 2 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: I don't like long-distance birthday wishes, but this year I can't be with you. I know it hasn't been an easy year: you separated from Adrián and moved to a different city.
  1. No me gustan las felicitaciones a distancia, pero este año no puedo estar contigo.

    I don't like long-distance birthday wishes, but this year I can't be with you.

  2. Sé que no ha sido un año fácil: te separaste de Adrián y cambiaste de ciudad.

    I know it hasn't been an easy year: you separated from Adrián and moved to a different city.

Panel 3 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: You've suffered a lot, and in a new city loneliness is hard. Although I would try to comfort you and cheer you up on the phone, a call isn't a hug.
  1. Has sufrido mucho, y en una ciudad nueva la soledad es dura.

    You've suffered a lot, and in a new city loneliness is hard.

  2. Aunque intentaba consolarte y animarte por teléfono, una llamada no es un abrazo.

    Although I would try to comfort you and cheer you up on the phone, a call isn't a hug.

Panel 4 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: However, you haven't lost your hope or your smile. You have a huge heart. Now you have new friends and a job you like. I'm really happy: you deserve everything good.
  1. Sin embargo, tú no has perdido ni la esperanza ni la sonrisa. Tienes un corazón enorme.

    However, you haven't lost your hope or your smile. You have a huge heart.

  2. Ahora tienes amigos nuevos y un trabajo que te gusta. Me alegro mucho: mereces todo lo bueno.

    Now you have new friends and a job you like. I'm really happy: you deserve everything good.

Panel 5 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: I hope this year brings you lots of joy and very few problems. Hopefully you'll find true love soon. And if not, at least a good apartment, because that's hard too.
  1. Espero que este año te traiga mucha alegría y muy pocos problemas.

    I hope this year brings you lots of joy and very few problems.

  2. Ojalá encuentres pronto un amor verdadero. Y si no, al menos un buen piso, que también es difícil.

    Hopefully you'll find true love soon. And if not, at least a good apartment, because that's hard too.

Panel 6 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: I want you to know one thing: here you have a faithful friend, forever (woman speaking). Tonight, when you blow out the candles, make a wish. But don't say it out loud: they…
  1. Quiero que sepas una cosa: aquí tienes una amiga fiel, para siempre.

    I want you to know one thing: here you have a faithful friend, forever (woman speaking).

  2. Esta noche, al soplar las velas, pide un deseo. Pero no lo digas en voz alta: dicen que así no se cumple.

    Tonight, when you blow out the candles, make a wish. But don't say it out loud: they say it doesn't come true that way.

Panel 7 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: I wish you all the happiness in the world. Hopefully your dreams will come true. And here's to many more! I hope we celebrate them together (women speaking).
  1. Te deseo toda la felicidad del mundo. Ojalá tus sueños se hagan realidad.

    I wish you all the happiness in the world. Hopefully your dreams will come true.

  2. ¡Y que cumplas muchos más! Espero que los celebremos juntas.

    And here's to many more! I hope we celebrate them together (women speaking).

Panel 8 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: I'm very lucky to have you as a friend. Don't ever stop shining (woman speaking, to a woman). And one more thing: check your email, because I've sent you a little gift. It's a…
  1. Soy muy afortunada de tenerte como amiga. No dejes nunca de brillar.

    I'm very lucky to have you as a friend. Don't ever stop shining (woman speaking, to a woman).

  2. Y una cosa más: mira tu correo, que te he enviado un detalle. Es un billete de avión a Valencia para las Fallas.

    And one more thing: check your email, because I've sent you a little gift. It's a plane ticket to Valencia for the Fallas.

Panel 9 of 9 for “Happy birthday, Irene”: I'm asking you not to say no. I want you to see my city during the festivities. Big hugs, with all my love, Ana.
  1. Te pido que no digas que no. Quiero que veas mi ciudad en fiestas.

    I'm asking you not to say no. I want you to see my city during the festivities.

  2. Un fuerte abrazo, con todo mi cariño, Ana.

    Big hugs, with all my love, Ana.

Grammar for this text

Wishes use the subjunctive. Espero que este año te traiga… (traer → traiga), ojalá encuentres…, ojalá tus sueños se hagan realidad, quiero que sepas (saber → sepa), quiero que veas (ver → vea).

Que + subjunctive without a first verb is a short wish: ¡Que cumplas muchos más! The word espero is left out. But with a noun you don't need the subjunctive: te deseo toda la felicidad — "I wish you all the happiness".

Negative commands (unit 16): no lo digas en voz alta, no dejes nunca de brillar. Te pido que no digas que no — "please don't say no".

Al + infinitive — "when you…": al soplar las velas — "when you blow out the candles".

A letter to a friend. In Spanish, a colon follows the greeting: Querida Irene: Friendly closings are un fuerte abrazo and con todo mi cariño. Un detalle is a small gift, a sign of attention. Las Fallas is Valencia's biggest festival, March 15–19.

Words and grammar of the unit: Share wishes and requests with loved ones.

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