If you are planning on visiting us here in Spain in the near future, you may find this blog post of particular use, especially if your Spanish isn’t up to scratch!
Although many Spaniards do speak English, this applies mainly to the younger people and mostly on the coast in the main tourist destinations. Even so, the vast majority of Spaniards do not speak English, so by arming yourself with just a few key phrases, it will help in the event that you need to get your point across.
In this two part post, we list what we believe to be the most important Spanish phrases you can use when on holiday here.
The list below could quite easily be expanded considerably, but in the interests of brevity, sixty should be a good starting point and should be enough for you to digest in a reasonably short space of time.
We have also broken the phrases down into categories and everyday situations that you are most likely to experience while on holiday.
Many of the phrases include the basics such as “Where is”, “Can you tell me”, “Do you have”, so in many cases it will just be a case of becoming familiar with these core structures and then learning those separate nouns that may not be included in this post.
By learning the 60 phrases below (and in part two), you will no doubt feel more confident and empowered while on your travels here in Spain and will enable you to interact with the locals far more easily.
Remember that unlike in English, you don’t need to constantly say “Por Favor” or thank you when asking for something. It’s more about the tone in which you ask. It’s not rude, it’s just the way the Spanish language works.
BASIC SPANISH WORDS
English | Spanish | Pronounciation |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Si | see |
| No | No | noh |
| Right | A la derecha | a la de-re-cha |
| Left | A la Izquierda | a la is-kyer-dah |
| Straight ahead | Todo recto | toh-doh reck-toh |
| Here | Aqui | a-key |
| There | Alli | a-yee |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-bor |
| Thank you | Gracias | grah-see-ahs |
| Your welcome | De nada | day nah-dah |
| Hello | Ola | oh-lah |
| Hows things? | Qué tal? | keh tahl |
| I am sorry | Lo Siento | loh see-ehn-toh |
| Goodbye | Adíos | a-dee-os |
| What | Qué | keh |
| When | Cuándo | kwon-doh |
| Where | Dónde | dohn-day |
| How | Cómo | Koh-moh |
| Who | Quien | kee-en |
| Why | Por qué | Por-keh |
ESSENTIAL SPANISH PHRASES
English | Spanish | Pronounciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | Dónde está …? | dohn-deh eh-stah |
| Where is the closest...? | Dónde está el/la … más próximo/a? | dohn-deh eh-stah el/lah...mahs prok-see-moh / mah |
| What time is it? | Qué hora es? | keh oh-rah es |
| Is there... around here? | Hay ... por aqui? | eye ... por ah-kee |
| I would like... | Me gustaria... | meh goo-stah-ree-ah |
| I want... | Quiero... | kee-airo |
| I need... | Necesito... | neh-seh-see-toh |
| Excuse me | Perdon or Con Permiso | pehr-dohn |
| Do you have...? | Tiene... | t-eh-neh |
| Can you tell me...? | Me puede decir / Puede decirme... | meh pweh-deh deh-seer |
| Can I have...? | Puedo tener | pweh-doh tehn-air |
AT THE AIRPORT
English | Spanish | Pronounciation |
|---|---|---|
| When does the flight leave? | Cuándo sale el vuelo? | kwon-doh sah-leh el bweh-loh |
| When does the flight arrive? | Cuándo llega el vuelo? | kwon-doh yeh-gah el bweh-loh |
| Where is baggage reclaim? | Dónde está reclamo de equipaje? | dohn-deh eh-stah reh-clah-moh deh eh-kwee-pah-heh |
| My suitcases are lost | Mis maletas están perdidas | miss mah-leh-tahs eh-stahn pehr-dee-dahs |
| I have nothing to declare | Yo tengo nada qué declarar | joh ten-goh nah-dah keh deck-lah-rah |
| I can’t find my passport | No puedo encontrar mi pasaporte | noh pweh-doh en-con-trah mee pah-sah-por-teh |
GETTING DIRECTIONS
English | Spanish | Pronounciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where can I get a taxi? | Dónde puedo coger un taxi? | dohn-deh pweh-doh cog-air oon tax-ee |
| How do I get to...? | Cómo puedo ir a...? | koh-Moh pweh-doh eer ah |
| Are you going to...? | Vas a...? | bas ah |
| Hello, can you help me? | Hola, me ayuda? | oh-la meh ah-yoo-dar |
| Where are the toilets please? | Dónde está los servicios? | dohn-deh eh-stah lohs ser-bee-see-ohs |
| Where is the nearest bank? | Dónde está el banco mas cercano? | dohn-deh eh-stah el ban-coh mahs ser-cah-noh |
| I have to go to... | Tengo que ir a… | tehn-goh keh eer ah |
| What is the address? | Cuál es la dirección? | kwahl es lah dee-reck-see-ohn |
EATING OUT
English | Spanish | Pronounciation |
|---|---|---|
| Can I have the bill please? | La cuenta, por favor | lah kwen-tah por fah-bor |
| Do you have a table for four people at 8pm? | Tiene una mesa para cuatro personas a las ocho? | tee-ay-nay ooh-nah meh-sah pah-rah kwah-troh per-so-nas ah las oh-cho |
| Can I have a menu please? | La carta, por favor | lah cah-tah por fah-bor |
| At what time is breakfast? | A qué hora es el desayuno? | ah keh oh-rah es el des-ay-yoo-noh |
| At what time is lunch? | A qué hora es la comida? | ah keh oh-rah es lah coh-mee-dah |
| At what time is dinner? | A qué hora es la cena? | ah keh oh-rah es lah say-nah |
Part two can be found here, and covers “At the Hotel”, “At the Shops”, “Medical/Emergencies” and “General Conversation”.
You can print out this post using the “Print PDF” button below.
Don’t forget, if you are visiting the Costa del Sol for your holidays and are in need of transportation, please consider us here at B-MET Malaga Transfers. Click on the image below for an instant online quote.
