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How to Say ‘I started running in the mornings and gave up soda.’ in Mexican Spanish

Empecé a correr en las mañanas y dejé el refresco.

em-peh-SEH ah koh-REHR en lahs mah-NYAH-nahs ee deh-HEH el reh-FRES-koh

[em-peh-SEH ah koh-REHR en lahs mah-NYAH-nahs ee deh-HEH el reh-FRES-koh]

Phrase Breakdown

Empecé a correr

em-peh-SEH ah koh-REHR

I started running

The first action, in the past tense. Blend 'empecé a' together: em-peh-SEH-ah.

Example

Empecé a correr con mi hermano.

I started running with my brother.

Words in this phrase

Empecé

[em-peh-SEH]

I started

Past tense of 'empezar', first person.

Example

Empecé una dieta nueva.

I started a new diet.

[ah]

Preposition used before a person as the object of introduction.

Example

Voy a a la mesa de empresas internacionales.

I'm going to the table of international companies.

correr

[koh-REHR]

to run

Verb for running, often as exercise.

Example

Me gusta correr en el parque.

I like to run in the park.

en las mañanas

en lahs mah-NYAH-nahs

in the mornings

This says when the running happens. Stress NYAH.

Example

Estudio en las mañanas.

I study in the mornings.

Words in this phrase

[en]

in / on

A preposition indicating location.

Example

Queremos sentarnos "En" la parte tranquila del restaurante.

We want to sit in the quiet part of the restaurant.

las

[lahs]

the

Plural definite article used with plural nouns like 'gracias.'

Example

"las" palabras de tu mensaje fueron muy profesionales.

The words in your message were very professional.

mañanas

[mah-NYAH-nahs]

mornings

Plural of 'mañana'; 'en las mañanas' means in the mornings.

Example

Camino en las mañanas.

I walk in the mornings.

y dejé el refresco.

ee deh-HEH el reh-FRES-koh

and I quit soda.

'Y' joins the second action. Link 'dejé el' smoothly: deh-HEH-el.

Example

Y dejé el cigarro.

And I quit smoking.

Words in this phrase

[ee]

and

A conjunction used to join words or ideas.

Example

«Y» conecta «trabajo» y «vida personal».

“Y” connects “work” and “personal life.”

dejé

[deh-HEH]

I quit / gave up

Past of 'dejar'; with a habit, it means to stop.

Example

Dejé de fumar.

I quit smoking.

[el]

the

Masculine singular definite article.

Example

«El» acompaña al sustantivo en «El crecimiento».

“El” accompanies the noun in “The growth.”

refresco

[reh-FRES-koh]

soda / soft drink

A carbonated sweet drink; the usual Mexican word for soda.

Example

Quiero un refresco de naranja.

I want an orange soda.

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