25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Tourists

We understand that it can be daunting going to a foreign country without knowing how to speak or understand the language. It can be tricky even with hand gestures and miming to get local people to understand you. The good thing is though that just by learning a few of the basic words and phrases, you can make yourself understood and find out what you need to know. This can make your experience abroad much more enjoyable and stress-free.

In today’s blog post we have put together a list of 25 key Spanish words and phrases that would really help you get by on a holiday in a Spanish-speaking country:

1. Perdón / Disculpe – Excuse me

2. ¡Hola! – Hi / hello

3. Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches 
(Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening/night)

4. ¿Dónde está …? – Where is …?

5. ¿Cuánto es? – How much is it?

6. Quiero … – I want …

7. Me pone … – Can you give me …

8. Por favor – Please

9. Gracias – Thank you

10. ¿Puede decirme …? – Can you tell me …?

11. ¿A qué hora abre / cierra? – What time do you open / close?

12. ¿Hay un/una …. por aquí? – Is there a … around here?

13. De nada – You’re welcome

14. agua / vino / cerveza – water / wine / beer

15. Hasta luego / Adiós – See you later / Goodbye

16. ¡Salud! – Cheers!

17. ¿Cómo te llamas? – What are you called?

18. Me llamo … / Se llama … – I am called … / He/She is called …

19. ¿Qué tal? / ¿Cómo está? [more formal] – How are you?

20. Bien, gracias – Good thank you

21. No entiendo – I do not understand

22. ¿Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?

23. Más despacio, por favor – More slowly, please

24. Lo siento – I’m sorry

25. ¿Qué me recomienda? – What do you recommend me?

Learning these words and short phrases will go a long way to making local Spanish people warm to you as they really like it when anyone makes an effort to learn their native language. They will want to help you learn Spanish and teach you how to pronounce words correctly!

Spanish Pronunciation Tips

The good thing about speaking Spanish is that you say the words exactly as you see them written. There are just a few sounds to be aware of:

• h is always silent
• ll is pronounced as a y
• j is almost like an h sound as in the word ‘loch‘
• ge- or gi- are pronounced as an h sound
• ce- or ci- are normally pronounced as a th sound *
• v is more like a soft b sound
• z is a th sound

* unless in Andalucia and other areas with different accents, then this is an s sound.

If you would be interested in learning a little more Spanish in time for a holiday or business trip in Spain or South America, please contact us for more information.