Spanish phrases that actually help when you travel
The Spanish you'll really use on a trip, organised by situation, with notes on where Spain and Latin America say things differently.
· 3 min read
Phrasebooks tend to give you sentences you'll never say ("My suitcase has been stolen by a monkey") and skip the ones you'll say twenty times a day. Here's the Spanish that actually gets used on a typical trip, organised by situation.
The essentials
- Hola / Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches: greet people when you walk into a small shop or café. It's expected, and skipping it can come across as cold.
- Por favor / Gracias / De nada: please, thank you, you're welcome.
- Perdón or Disculpe: excuse me, sorry. Disculpe is the polite way to get someone's attention.
- ¿Habla inglés?: do you speak English? Asking in Spanish first is appreciated, even if you switch afterwards.
- No entiendo. ¿Puede repetir, más despacio?: I don't understand. Can you repeat, more slowly?
In a café or restaurant
- Una mesa para dos, por favor. A table for two.
- ¿Me trae la carta, por favor? Could you bring the menu?
- Quería... / Me pone... I'd like... Me pone un café is very common in Spain; quería or me da work everywhere.
- ¿Qué me recomienda? What do you recommend?
- La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.
- ¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta? Can I pay by card?
In Spain, waiters usually won't bring the bill until you ask; lingering at the table is normal. If you want to try the local food vocabulary first, our Spanish food expressions are more idiom than menu, but fun once you've ordered.
Getting around
- ¿Dónde está...? Where is...? ¿Dónde está la estación?
- ¿Cómo llego a...? How do I get to...?
- ¿Está lejos? Is it far?
- Un billete / un boleto para... A ticket to... (billete in Spain, boleto in much of Latin America).
- ¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren / autobús? What time does the next train / bus leave?
Directions come back fast, so it helps to know the key words: a la derecha (right), a la izquierda (left), todo recto or derecho (straight on), la esquina (the corner). Asking for directions has a fuller guide.
Shopping
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? How much does it cost?
- Solo estoy mirando, gracias. I'm just looking, thanks.
- ¿Tiene otra talla? Do you have another size?
- Me lo llevo. I'll take it.
When something goes wrong
- Necesito ayuda. I need help.
- Me he perdido (Spain) / Estoy perdido/perdida. I'm lost.
- ¿Dónde hay una farmacia? Where is there a pharmacy?
- Llame a un médico, por favor. Please call a doctor.
Spain or Latin America?
Spanish is one language, but everyday vocabulary varies. A few that come up on almost every trip:
| English | Spain | Much of Latin America |
|---|---|---|
| car | coche | carro, auto |
| mobile phone | móvil | celular |
| juice | zumo | jugo |
| bus | autobús | bus, camión (Mexico), colectivo (Argentina) |
| to take (a bus) | coger | tomar |
You'll be understood with either version almost everywhere, so don't worry too much. Locals are used to visitors from all over the Spanish-speaking world.
Practising before you go
A couple of weeks of short daily practice before a trip makes these phrases come out naturally rather than from a phone screen. The Spanish A1 flashcards cover the core words behind most of them. Once you've arrived, using the language while you travel is the best practice there is.