Roommates

How to talk to your roommates in Spanish

Q: Should I use tú or usted with my roommate?

Tú. Usted with someone you live with sounds cold and formal. Default to tú unless they're clearly older or ask for usted.

Sort out the chores, split the bills, and raise a problem — kindly, out loud.

CONVERSATION PACK · 6 LESSONS · B1

With a roommate you use tú, not usted — usted creates a distance you don't want at home. The trick is to propose rather than demand: ¿te parece si nos turnamos para limpiar el baño? lands far better than an order, and for money say pago mi parte, not yo pago la mitad, which can sound like you're doing a favor. When something's bothering you, open softly and honestly: quería hablar contigo sobre algo sin que se haga grande. You can be direct without being harsh — frame the complaint as a preference, me gustaría, not an accusation.

Below: the phrases that keep the peace, the regional words for the fridge and the bills, and a way to rehearse the whole sit-down out loud before you have it.

Say this

The phrases that carry the conversation

Chores and cleaning schedule

¿Podemos armar un horario de limpieza para la cocina?Can we set up a cleaning schedule for the kitchen?
Esta semana me toca a mí sacar la basura.This week it's my turn to take out the trash.
¿Te parece si nos turnamos para limpiar el baño?How about we take turns cleaning the bathroom?
Yo preferiría barrer y trapear los viernes.I'd prefer to sweep and mop on Fridays.

Utility bills and shared expenses

La cuenta de la luz llegó más alta este mes.The electricity bill came higher this month.
Propongo que dividamos todo en partes iguales.I propose we split everything equally.
Yo te transfiero mi parte el viernes, ¿está bien?I'll transfer you my share on Friday, is that okay?
¿Quién va a pagar el internet este mes?Who's going to pay the internet this month?

Handling conflicts diplomatically

Quería hablar contigo sobre algo sin que se haga grande.I wanted to talk to you about something before it blows up.
No es nada personal, solo quiero que estemos cómodos.It's nothing personal, I just want us both to feel comfortable.
Entiendo tu punto, pero desde mi lado se ve distinto.I get your point, but from my side it looks different.
¿Podemos buscar una solución que funcione para los dos?Can we find a solution that works for both of us?

Regional Spanish

What locals actually say

Textbooks teach one word. Locals use several — pick your region's and stay consistent.

English	Mexico	Argentina
the utility bill	el recibo	la boleta
the fridge	el refri	la heladera
friends coming over	caen unos amigos	vienen unos pibes
to mop the floor	trapear	pasar el lampazo

Watch out

Mistakes that mark you as a textbook speaker

Using 'me molesta' aggressively when a softer 'me gustaría que...' works better.frame complaints as preferences, not accusations.
Saying 'yo pago la mitad' instead of 'pago mi parte' — the former can sound like you're doing the other person a favor.use 'mi parte' or 'lo que me toca' for shared expenses.
Overusing usted with a roommate, which creates distance.default to tú in cohabiting situations unless the other person is clearly older or insists on usted.

The part no phrase list can do

Rehearse it before it's real

Isabella

Your conversation teacher for this pack

In the Roommates pack, the last lesson is the conversation everyone puts off — and Isabella plays your roommate: easygoing but conflict-averse, the type who offers to make coffee before anything serious. It's Sunday morning, dishes in the sink, and three things have been piling up: a cleaning rota that keeps slipping, a utility bill that came in high, and last weekend's noise. You have to raise all three without it turning into a fight. Out loud. And she has her own side of it:

Isabella reveals she can't afford her full share of the bill this month — student must propose a fair compromise without making her feel small
She pushes back on the cleaning rota saying she 'already does more' — student must hold ground using 'desde mi lado se ve distinto' without escalating
She admits her partner has been staying over too often and asks for a rule — student must negotiate guest expectations both ways

Blank mid-sentence and nothing bad happens — she waits. That's the practice, without unnecessary judgement.

Finish the 6 lessons and Roommates is yours — earned, not given.

First 10 lessons free · 10-minute spoken lessons · your AI coaching team remembers you

Quick answers

Questions people ask

Should I use tú or usted with my roommate?

Tú. Usted with someone you live with sounds cold and formal. Default to tú unless they're clearly older or ask for usted.

How do I bring up chores without sounding bossy?

Propose, don't command: ¿podemos armar un horario de limpieza para la cocina? and ¿te parece si nos turnamos para limpiar el baño?. First-person plural (turnémonos, dividamos) keeps it collaborative.

How do I split the bills fairly?

Propongo que dividamos todo en partes iguales, and use pago mi parte rather than yo pago la mitad. Then settle the timing: yo te transfiero mi parte el viernes, ¿está bien?

How do I raise a problem without starting a fight?

Open soft and early: quería hablar contigo sobre algo sin que se haga grande. Acknowledge their view too — entiendo tu punto, pero desde mi lado se ve distinto — and aim for una solución que funcione para los dos.

How do I ask about noise or guests?

¿Te molesta si invito a unos amigos el sábado? and avísame con tiempo si va a venir alguien a quedarse. Propose a rule if you need one: podemos poner una regla de silencio entre semana.