Spanish Phrase
No, es una entrevista con varias personas.
Meaning
This phrase is used to clarify that an interview or meeting will involve more than one person. It directly corrects a potential misunderstanding, indicating a panel or group of interviewers rather than a one-on-one situation. It's a straightforward way to provide more specific details about an upcoming event.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase when someone asks about an interview or meeting, and they assume it will be with a single individual. It's perfect for correcting that assumption and informing them that multiple people will be present, common in job interviews, academic defenses, or formal discussions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Noesuna entrevistaconvarias personas
No
'No' is the most common way to express negation in Spanish, placed directly before the verb or at the beginning of a sentence to contradict a statement.
Es (ser)
'Es' is the third-person singular form of the verb 'ser' (to be). 'Ser' is used to describe permanent characteristics, identity, origin, and what something fundamentally is, as in defining the type of interview.
Una entrevista
'Una' is the indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for feminine singular nouns. 'Entrevista' is a feminine noun meaning 'interview'.
Con
'Con' is a preposition meaning 'with'. It indicates accompaniment or association, showing who will be present at the interview.
Varias personas
'Varias' means 'several' and is the feminine plural form, agreeing with 'personas' (people), which is a feminine plural noun. This phrase specifies the quantity of individuals.
🗨In Conversation
¿Tu entrevista es uno a uno?
Is your interview one-on-one?
No, es una entrevista con varias personas.
No, it's an interview with several people.
✕Common Mistakes
No, está una entrevista con varias personas.
Using 'estar' instead of 'ser' is incorrect here. 'Ser' is used to define what something is (its nature or identity), while 'estar' is for location or temporary states.
No, es una entrevista con muchos personas.
'Personas' is a feminine noun, so the quantifier should also be feminine ('muchas'). While 'muchas' is grammatically correct, 'varias' is often preferred for 'several' people.
↔Alternatives
No, es una entrevista grupal.
No, it's a group interview.
No, habrá varias personas en la entrevista.
No, there will be several people in the interview.
No, es un panel de entrevista.
No, it's an interview panel.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish-speaking professional environments, panel interviews are common, similar to other cultures. Being direct with information, like clarifying the number of interviewers, is generally appreciated and seen as efficient. There isn't a strong cultural nuance against directness in this context; clarity is key.