Spain is a popular destination for travelers all over the world. The country boasts beautiful beaches, historic architecture, and delicious cuisine. However, if you don’t speak Spanish, it can be challenging to communicate with the locals. Knowing a few key phrases can make your trip much more enjoyable and less stressful. In this article, we’ll cover the essential Spanish phrases you need to know before you travel to Spain.
Greetings and Basic Phrases
When you arrive in Spain, the first thing you’ll need to know is how to greet people. Here are some basic phrases:
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
Hello | Hola | oh-lah |
Good morning | Buenos días | bway-nos dee-as |
Good afternoon | Buenas tardes | bway-nas tar-days |
Good evening/night | Buenas noches | bway-nas no-chays |
How are you? | ¿Cómo estás? | koh-moh es-tahs |
Thank you | Gracias | grah-see-us |
You’re welcome | De nada | day nah-dah |
Goodbye | Adiós | ah-dee-ohs |
Directions and Transportation
Getting around in a foreign country can be challenging, but knowing how to ask for directions or how to use public transportation can make it a lot easier. Here are some useful phrases:
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
Where is…? | ¿Dónde está…? | dohn-day es-tah |
How do I get to…? | ¿Cómo llego a…? | koh-moh yay-go ah |
Is it far? | ¿Está lejos? | es-tah lay-hos |
Can you help me? | ¿Puedes ayudarme? | pway-dace ah-yoo-dar-may |
Bus | Autobús | ow-toh-boos |
Train | Tren | tren |
Subway/metro | Metro | may-troh |
Taxi | Taxi | tak-see |
Food and Drink
A trip to Spain wouldn’t be complete without indulging in some of the country’s delicious cuisine. Here are some phrases you should know when dining out:
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
Menu | Menú | may-noo |
Water | Agua | ah-gwah |
Beer | Cerveza | ser-vay-sa |
Wine | Vino | vee-no |
Bread | Pan | pan |
Meat | Carne | kar-nay |
Fish | Pescado | peh-ska-do |
Vegetables | Verduras | ver-doo-ras |
Bill, please | La cuenta, por favor | lah kwain-tah, por fah-vor |
Emergencies and Health
While we hope you won’t need to use these phrases, it’s important to know how to ask for help in an emergency.
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
Help! | ¡Ayuda! | ah-yoo-dah |
Police | Policía | po-lee-see-ah |
Hospital | Hospital | hos-pee-tal |
Doctor | Médico | may-dee-co |
Pharmacy | Farmacia | far-mah-see-ah |
I’m allergic to… | Soy alérgico a… | soy ah-lair-hee-ko ah |
Where is the nearest hospital? | ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? | dohn-day es-tah el hos-pee-tal mas thair-kah-no |
Call an ambulance | Llama a una ambulancia | yah-mah ah oo-nah am-boo-lahn-see-ah |
Conclusion
Learning a few basic Spanish phrases can make your trip to Spain much more enjoyable. Even if you don’t speak Spanish fluently, showing an effort to communicate with the locals can go a long way. We hope this guide has been helpful in preparing you for your travels to Spain. ¡Buen viaje!