Taller digital

English for WhatsApp & Short Emails

By Leonardo Aguilar

Open Ended

How do you usually start a WhatsApp message in English?

Cómo sueles empezar un mensaje de WhatsApp en inglés?

Think in English (don’t translate literally).

​❌ Hello, how are you? I hope you are very well. I write you because…
✅ Hi! Hope you’re doing well. I’m writing
because…

❌Hola, ¿cómo estás? Espero que estés muy bien. Te escribo porque…
✅¡Hola! Espero que estés bien. Te escribo porque…

• Frases cortas

• Directo al punto

• Natural, no perfecto

​Which one sounds more natural? Why?

​Key rules for WhatsApp:

​Greetings and How to Start a Chat

Quick Greetings

​Informal: Hi, Hey, Morning
Profesional: Hi John, Hello Maria, Good morning

⚠️ WhatsApp tip:

• No usar Dear en WhatsApp

• Hey!

• Morning!

• Hi there!

• Hey there!

• Hi 🙂

• Hey! How’s it going?

Ejemplos:

Hey! Are you around?
Morning! Quick question.

​Informal (friends and people you know well)

• Hi John,

• Hello Maria,

• Good morning, Alex

• Hi Ms. Brown,

Ejemplos:

Hi John, I’m writing about the report.
Good morning, Alex. Just checking in.

❌ Evitar en WhatsApp

• Dear Mr. Smith

• Dear Sir / Madam

• To whom it may concern

​Formal (work, clients, first contact)

Open Ended

Escribe el mejor saludo para cada situación:

1️⃣ Un amigo
2️⃣ Un cliente nuevo

3️⃣ Tu jefe

key phrases to introduce yourself on WhatsApp

Formas naturales (profesionales)

• Hi, this is Leonardo from ABC Company.

• Hello, my name is Leonardo.

• Hi, this is Leonardo. I’m contacting you about…

• Hello, this is Leonardo. I got your contact from…

  Ejemplos:

Hi, this is Leonardo from Tech Solutions.
Hello, this is Leonardo. I’m contacting you about the course.

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Formas simples (más informales)

• Hi, it’s Leo.

• Hey, this is Leo.

• Hi! This is Leonardo 🙂

Ejemplos:

Hey, this is Leo. Are you free later?
Hi! This is Leonardo 🙂 Just a quick message.

key phrases to introduce yourself on WhatsApp

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❌ Traducción literal (evitar)

• My name is Leonardo Aguilar and I am writing you…
  Muy largo y poco natural para WhatsApp.

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📌 Estructura fácil para estudiantes

Saludo + nombre + motivo (opcional)

Hi, this is ___ . I’m writing about…

​​Tips

Open Ended

Escribe por WhatsApp a:
1️⃣ Un cliente nuevo

2️⃣ Un profeso

3️⃣ Un amigo

​Key phrases for WhatsApp

✉️ Writing for the first time

​Frases naturales (profesionales)

• I’m writing about…

• I’m writing to ask about…

• I’m contacting you regarding…

• I wanted to ask about…

• I wanted to follow up on…

  Ejemplos:

Hi Maria, I’m writing about the schedule.
Hello John, I wanted to ask about the price.

Key phrases for WhatsApp

✉️ Writing for the first time

Frases simples (más informales)

• I’m texting about…

• Just a quick message about…

• Quick question about…

Ejemplos:

Hi! Just a quick message about tomorrow.
Hey! Quick question about the meeting.

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​Tips

❌ Traducción literal (evitar)

• I write you because…

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📌 Estructura fácil para estudiantes

Saludo + motivo

Hi + name, I’m writing about…

Key WhatsApp phrases

🔁 Following up

Formas naturales (profesionales)

• Just checking in.

• Just following up on my last message.

• I’m following up on…

• Any updates on…?

• I wanted to check if you had a chance to…

Ejemplos:

Hi Maria, just checking in.
Hello John, I’m following up on my last message.
Hi Alex, any updates on the proposal?

Formas simples (más informales)

• Just checking.

• Any news?

• Did you see my message?

• Quick follow-up.

Ejemplos:

Hey! Just checking 🙂
Hi! Any news?
Hey, did you see my message?

​​Frases clave para WhatsApp

Retomar una conversación (follow-up)

Abreviación	Significado	En español	Uso
OK	Okay	Está bien	General
Thx / Thanks	Thanks	Gracias	Informal / neutral
Pls / Please	Please	Por favor	General
ASAP	As soon as possible	Lo antes posible	Profesional
FYI	For your information	Para tu información	Profesional
BTW	By the way	Por cierto	Informal
Msg	Message	Mensaje	General

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Common abbreviations (widely used)

Ejemplos reales en WhatsApp

Thx! I’ll check and let you know.
Gracias, revisaré y te aviso.

Please send it ASAP.
Por favor envíalo lo antes posible.

FYI, the meeting is cancelled.
Para tu información, la reunión está cancelada.

BTW, I’ll be late today.
Por cierto, llegaré tarde hoy.

⚠️ Usar con cuidado (muy informales)

• LOL (laughing out loud)

• OMG (oh my God)

• ROFL (Rolling On Floor Laughing)

Evitarlas con clientes o jefes.

Open Ended

Reescribe este mensaje usando 1 abreviación:

Thank you. Please send the information as soon as possible.

⚠️ Common mistakes when using WhatsApp in English

1️⃣ Tiempo verbal incorrecto

❌ I send you the message yesterday.
(Presente usado para el pasado)

✅ I sent you the message yesterday.
Usamos past simple con yesterday.

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2️⃣ Verbo incorrecto (esperar)

❌ I wait your answer.
Traducción literal del español.

✅ I’m waiting for your reply.
Wait necesita for + sustantivo.

3️⃣ “Doubt” vs “Question”

❌ I have a doubt.
No se usa así en inglés.

✅ I have a question.
Forma natural y correcta.

Common mistakes when using WhatsApp in English

4️⃣ Mensajes demasiado largos

❌Hello, how are you? I hope you are very well. I am writing you because I wanted to ask you if maybe you could please send me the information…

✅Hi! I’m writing about the information. Thanks!

​

• No traducir literal

• Frases cortas

• Tono adecuado según la persona

• WhatsApp ≠ email formal

​Remember Important Rule