Common Spanish Phrases For Travel

Spanish is an incredibly useful language, spoken in many countries across the world, including Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and more. Even Portuguese shares many similarities with Spanish (though the Portuguese often say they made several improvements when they developed their own language).

In this article, I’ll share a list of common Spanish phrases and words that will help you navigate a new Spanish-speaking country. These phrases are not just about communication—they're about connecting with the local people.

Contents

• Greetings
• Dining
• Asking for Prices
• Numbers
• Navigating Places
• Food and Drink
• Download the app "LocalSpeaks"

Greetings

• Hello (Hola) - Pronunciation: oh-lah
  Start your interactions with a warm "Hola," the Spanish way to say hello.

• Thank you! (¡Gracias!) - Pronunciation: grah-syahs
  Show your appreciation with a heartfelt "Gracias!" when someone helps you out.

• You're welcome! (¡De nada!) - Pronunciation: deh nah-dah
  Respond with "De nada" when someone thanks you, meaning "You're welcome."

• Excuse me (Disculpe) - Pronunciation: dees-kool-peh
  Use "Disculpe" to politely get someone's attention or to say "Excuse me."

• Please (Por favor) - Pronunciation: por fah-vor
  "Por favor" is essential when making polite requests.

• Yes (Sí) - Pronunciation: see
  "Sí" is the simple way to say yes.

• No (No) - Pronunciation: noh
  "No" is universal and works the same way in Spanish.

• Bye bye (Adiós) - Pronunciation: ah-dee-ohs
  "Adiós" is the traditional way to say goodbye in Spanish.

Dining

• Menu (Menú) - Pronunciation: meh-noo
  When dining out, ask for the "Menú" to see the list of dishes.

• Check (Cuenta) - Pronunciation: kwen-tah
  Ready to pay? Say "Cuenta" to ask for the bill.

• Credit card (Tarjeta de crédito) - Pronunciation: tar-heh-tah deh kre-dee-toh
  For card payments, say "Tarjeta de crédito." You can also use "Tarjeta" as a short form.

• Cash (Efectivo) - Pronunciation: eh-fek-tee-voh
  Use "Efectivo" when paying with cash.

• The food is great! (¡Qué Rico!) - Pronunciation: keh ree-koh
  Compliment the meal by saying "¡Qué Rico!" meaning "The food is great!"

• Water (Agua) - Pronunciation: ah-gwah
  Stay hydrated by asking for "Agua."

Asking for Prices

• How much? (¿Cuánto?) - Pronunciation: kwan-toh
  Whether shopping or dining, "¿Cuánto?" is a handy phrase to ask for prices.

Numbers

Understanding numbers is vital, especially when dealing with prices.

• One (Uno) - Pronunciation: oo-noh
• Two (Dos) - Pronunciation: dohs
• Three (Tres) - Pronunciation: trays
• Four (Cuatro) - Pronunciation: kwah-troh
• Five (Cinco) - Pronunciation: seen-koh
• Six (Seis) - Pronunciation: says
• Seven (Siete) - Pronunciation: see-eh-teh
• Eight (Ocho) - Pronunciation: oh-choh
• Nine (Nueve) - Pronunciation: nweh-beh
• Ten (Diez) - Pronunciation: dyez

Navigating Places

• Toilet (Baño) - Pronunciation: ban-yo
  "Baño" is crucial when you need to find a restroom.

• Airport (Aeropuerto) - Pronunciation: ah-eh-roh-pwer-toh
  Ask for the "Aeropuerto" when you need to get to the airport.

• Bakery (Panadería) - Pronunciation: pah-nah-deh-ree-ah
  Find delicious pastries at the "Panadería."

Food and Drink

• Spanish Omelette (Tortilla Española) - Pronunciation: tor-tee-yah es-pah-nyoh-lah
  A must-try dish in Spain, the "Tortilla Española" is a potato omelette.

• Coffee (Café) - Pronunciation: kah-feh
  For a caffeine fix, order a "Café."

• Wine (Vino) - Pronunciation: vee-noh
  "Vino" is the word for wine, perfect for enjoying a glass with your meal.

• Bread (Pan) - Pronunciation: pahn
  Bread is a staple in Spain, and "Pan" is the word you'll need.

Download the app "LocalSpeaks"

Looking for a quick language guide for multiple languages while traveling? Great news! I created an app for that. LocalSpeaks is a mobile app that provides simple and essential phrases along with their pronunciations, which you can listen to. It works offline, so it's very convenient when you're on the go.

I made this app to help make locals smile.