This topic is about reading personal details in Spanish and copying them accurately into the matching boxes on a form. In the Junior Cycle examination, you may be asked to complete standard form fields using your own details or facts provided in a text.
Understanding Form Headings and Instructions
Application forms use set labels instead of full questions. You need to know these headings so you can put each fact in the right box:
- Nombre: First name.
- Apellidos: Surnames (people in Spanish-speaking countries usually have two).
- Edad: Age. A simple numeral such as 15 is standard on forms. If writing a full sentence, use the verb tener: Tengo 15 años.
- Fecha de nacimiento: Date of birth, written in day/month/year order.
- Sexo: Sex. Select Hombre (male) or Mujer (female) if options are given.
- País: Country.
- Nacionalidad: Nationality (irlandés or irlandesa).
- Dirección: Postal address.
- Correo electrónico: Email address.
- Teléfono / Móvil: Telephone or mobile number.
- Aficiones / Pasatiempos: Hobbies or interests.
Forms also include simple instructions:
- Rellene / Complete: Fill in or complete the form.
- En mayúsculas: In block capital letters.
- Con letra clara: In clear, legible handwriting.
- Marque con una X: Put an X in the chosen box.
- Seleccione / Escoja: Select or choose.
Key Formatting Conventions
Follow the form's instructions and put each detail in the matching field.
| Item | Spanish Convention | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fecha (Date) | Day/month/year order; months are lowercase in words | 18/07/2011 or 18 de julio de 2011 |
| Dirección (Address) | Copy the address accurately without translating Irish street names. In Spanish addresses, C/ means calle (street). | 14 Oak Road, Cork, Irlanda |
| Teléfono (Phone) | Copy the telephone number exactly as given in the text | 087 123 4567 |
| Nacionalidad (Nationality) | Written in lowercase; matches the applicant's gender | irlandés (m) / irlandesa (f) |
Months, days of the week, and nationalities use lowercase letters in Spanish: julio, lunes, irlandesa. However, names, towns, and countries take capital letters: Elena, Madrid, Irlanda. If a form specifies En mayúsculas, write every letter in capitals (JULIO, IRLANDESA), keeping any written accents (IRLANDÉS).
Booking Details and Short Answers
Forms for summer camps, school exchanges, or travel bookings often include specific headings:
- Salida desde: Departure point.
- Destino: Destination.
- Llegada: Arrival. Fecha de llegada asks for the arrival date, while hora de llegada asks for arrival time.
- Número de noches: Number of nights (enter a digit, such as 7).
- Seguro: Insurance. Forms often include a tick-box such as Seguro de viaje: sí / no.
- Nivel: Ability level, such as principiante (beginner) or intermedio (intermediate).
- Firma: Signature at the end.
Under Aficiones, use short hobby entries such as nadar, jugar al fútbol, or la música. If a prompt asks a question like ¿Por qué quieres participar? (Why do you want to take part?), give a short, direct reason using porque: Quiero aprender español porque me gusta el idioma.
Key terms
- Fecha de nacimiento
- Date of birth, formatted in day/month/year order (DD/MM/AAAA).
- Nacionalidad
- Nationality, written with a lowercase initial letter and agreed in gender with the person.
- Dirección
- Postal address, copied accurately as given without translating Irish street names.
- En mayúsculas
- An instruction meaning to write in block capital letters.
- Marque con una X
- An instruction to put an X in the selected box.
- Seguro
- Insurance, often appearing as a yes/no option on travel and booking forms.
Check yourself
What is the difference between 'País' and 'Nacionalidad' on a Spanish form?
'País' is the country (such as Irlanda), whereas 'Nacionalidad' is the nationality (such as irlandés or irlandesa).
How should a female Irish student write her nationality under normal Spanish casing rules?
irlandesa (written in lowercase).
What does the instruction 'En mayúsculas' tell you to do?
Write in block capital letters.
What does the booking term 'Seguro' mean?
Insurance.